let's measure the standard of living with auto sale, instead of GDP

[Dungeness]

Yeah but you know from being in the US that people can't bring their boat/canoe/surfboard/RV/ATV/skis etc on a bus or train. When I was young I wouldn't even consider taking a date on a bus/train ride to some movie/restaurant/whatever.

Honey we are taking the car.

We are taking the bus..don't worry we'll have a fun time.

I know, to a teenager, a car under his name means freedom and Independence.

In America, there is not way you can have a decent life without a couple of cars or trucks. I need a family van to haul kids, so I bought a Sienna, then I thought I I could use the van to tow a boat, so I bought 19' Bayliner, only to find out what I really need is a full size truck. But all of these, has really not much to do with our daily life, stuck in traffic for one hour plus a day is not fun. I would rather take public transportation if I had choice.

 

[AndrewJin]

thats good to hear. but doesnt chinese cities lack comprehensive underground metro systems like those found in newyork, london or paris ? i have heard only Guangzhou has a dense metro system which was build when some games took place in the city.

Bro, apparently, u have never come to China. Currently, Shanghai and Beijing top in metro mileage.
Urban rail transit in China - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Every major 1st-2nd tier cities are building a huge metro network at least 300km.
My city now has 3 metro lines, next month a new 28km line will be open. Next year, 2 lines plus one intercity high-speed rail. Besides metro, BRT is also a popular public transport method in China.

 

[GS Zhou]

bad idea. highly developed countries have excellent public transport systems. they buy less private cars.

this concept is wrong. Car penetration in US is about 700 cars per 1000 persons, in Japan 600 cars per 1,000 persons. But the same rate in China is about 100 cars per 1000 persons.

 

[AndrewJin]

this concept is wrong. Car penetration in US is about 700 cars per 1000 persons, in Japan 600 cars per 1,000 persons. But the same rate in China is about 100 cars per 1000 persons.

Europe and Japan has high car penetration, but they also use public system. This is what I'd like to see in China. US is another case, a total failure. In many suburban cities in China, people have more cars than those living in downtown, but they also choose public transport system. It's better to use car for weekends as opposed to daily use.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I know, to a teenager, a car under his name means freedom and Independence.

In America, there is not way you can have a decent life without a couple of cars or trucks. I need a family van to haul kids, so I bought a Sienna, then I thought I I could use the van to tow a boat, so I bought 19' Bayliner, only to find out what I really need is a full size truck. But all of these, has really not much to do with our daily life, stuck in traffic for one hour plus a day is not fun. I would rather take public transportation if I had choice.

Depends upon traffic. For me the commute is shorter by car (thanks Big Dig ). The problem is parking fees are insane. I was paying over $5000/yr. Now taking the bus/train and spending that money elsewhere.

Thumbs up on your boat!

 

[Dungeness]

Depends upon traffic. For me the commute is shorter by car (thanks Big Dig ). The problem is parking fees are insane. I was paying over $5000/yr. Now taking the bus/train and spending that money elsewhere.

Thumbs up on your boat!

I heard the "Big Dig" last more than 10 years? In my part of the states, the city saw the 50% inflow, but they manage not to add a inch of freeway in the last 10 years! I just wish we had better public transportation, so I can just play with my cellphone on my way to work.

 

[CHN Bamboo]

My wife and I had 4 cars at one point. How many couples in China have 4 cars?

That's cool,most people living around my family own one car a family,when I am in junior middle school even those whose father/mother are engineering contractor,fivestar hotel owner,etc,their familys have only one car at that time.

bad idea. highly developed countries have excellent public transport systems. they buy less private cars.

Yes,I do think our cities should have more subways.
If there are more subways,many people can own big houses with cheap price,then they can buy more rather than save everyday in order to pay for small apartment.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Europe and Japan has high car penetration, but they also use public system. This is what I'd like to see in China. US is another case, a total failure. In many suburban cities in China, people have more cars than those living in downtown, but they also choose public transport system. It's better to use car for weekends as opposed to daily use.

Keep in mind many corporations are in the suburbs as opposed to downtown (cold war dispersal of risk). They have large free parking lots. Ideal for someone in the suburbs who loathes going into the city.

Microsoft headquarters

Apple headquarters

 

[CHN Bamboo]

My city now has 3 metro lines, next month a new 28km line will be open. Next year, 2 lines plus one intercity high-speed rail. Besides metro, BRT is also a popular public transport method in China.

太少了，真的……
得让平民都住上 @dy1022 家的那种房子比较好，他们有一套就够了。
To dy1022,where are your houses located and how much are they?

 

[Nilgiri]

China has even better public transport system. In China, u don't have to wait for a bus for too long like in Europe.

Yah these people certainly don't need to wait too long at all:

@Gauss

Comment: 0:31 - 0:35 Watch that guy in white shirt got pushed back in!! LMAO!

Seems Chinese have a problem letting people get off first.

Of course when theres no rush hour or there is enough capacity, things are decent:

Basically I would take the "China is the land of milk and honey" propaganda with a large handful of salt....be it public transport or anything else. There are always two sides to every coin and high degree of variance in such a large country

 

[AndrewJin]

Keep in mind many corporations are in the suburbs as opposed to downtown (cold war dispersal of risk). They have large free parking lots. Ideal for someone in the suburbs who loathes going into the city.

View attachment 272737
Microsoft headquarters

Many is how many? Here there are a lot of corporations in the suburbs too. How about those working in high-density American style CBD? Nearly all high-tech parks and many corporations in China are not in downtown.

Yah these people certainly don't need to wait too long at all:

@Gauss

Comment: 0:31 - 0:35 Watch that guy in white shirt got pushed back in!! LMAO!

Seems Chinese have a problem letting people get off first.

Of course when theres no rush hour or there is enough capacity, things are decent:

Basically I would take the "China is the land of milk and honey" propaganda with a large handful of salt....be it public transport or anything else. There are always two sides to every coin and high degree of variance in such a large country

This explains why megacities need more subways and suburban rails.
Check metro system in Tokyo. It's even more congested than Beijing, but they still use it.
Why?

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Many is how many? Here there are a lot of corporations in the suburbs too. How about those working in high-density American style CBD? Nearly all high-tech parks and many corporations in China are not in downtown.

Enough that it is easy to never have to take a job downtown. A good percentage of white collar workers have never actually worked in the city.

 

[AndrewJin]

Enough that it is easy to never have to take a job downtown. A good percentage of white collar workers have never actually worked in the city.

More big corporations no matter in downtown or suburbs, provide free shuttle coach.
My father only works 2-3 half-days per week as a university teacher. He only takes school's shuttle bus to his campus 15km away.

 

[Nilgiri]

This explains why megacities need more subways and suburban rails.
Check metro system in Tokyo. It's even more congested than Beijing, but they still use it.
Why?

Agreed friend. Capacity is an issue worldwide for all megacities, especially very densely populated ones.

I only have issue with you saying that China has better public transport than Europe. Chinese public transport is certainly very good (compared to most countries) and is improving (capacity, quality and otherwise)....but it is not on the overall level of Western Europe yet. Especially because the people themselves have to become a lot more orderly and organised. In Japan I did not see this kind of pushing and shoving like in China. Yes they cram people in like sardines in rush hour but they always let people come out first and people are careful to maximise the efficiency of such operations....in everyones interests.

Europe has the advantage of not being so crushingly densely populated in the cities like in Asia...so its a bit apples and oranges to compare the public transport situation directly.

But yes more capacity is always the best way like you said. Just like more GDP is the best way to solve poverty.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I heard the "Big Dig" last more than 10 years? In my part of the states, the city saw the 50% inflow, but they manage not to add a inch of freeway in the last 10 years! I just wish we had better public transportation, so I can just play with my cellphone on my way to work.

The plan was simple enough. Get rid of the eyesore elevated interstate highway by replacing it with an underground tunnel. The elevated highway was a perpetual traffic jam.

The problem with it was it had to go over/under 3 subway lines, some core fiber optic backbone lines, numerous core sewer/water mains, and under the elevated interstate highway that was impossible to close/tear down without a major disruption. Also the area to be dug was actually once part of the harbor that was filled in 200 years ago with miscellaneous unstable debris.

They had to freeze the soil, dig new foundations for the elevated highway footings, and try not to break anything.

It was a mess. But it worked. No more traffic jams.

More big corporations no matter in downtown or suburbs, provide free shuttle coach.
My father only works 2-3 half-days per week as a university teacher. He only takes school's shuttle bus to his campus 15km away.

Yep, many do the shuttle thing. Some larger ones even buy limo companies.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

There is also a Big Mac Index. The Toyota Corolla comes with different features and options in different countries so you really cannot compare BMW sales in Germany to mehran sales in Pakistan.

Most people in China only buy the German cars and American cars.