My belief is that Americans want walkable cities except they fundamentally hate other people. Not personally, just existentially. Other people take stuff that the average American wants - a parking spot next to the door, getting a coffee right away, being seated instantly in a restaurant. Or simply having to see people they dislike.
So the drive, which means they have to see even fewer people.
What a bizarre take. I've experienced Americans doing the following for me as a stranger:
- Waving hello as I walk past
- Holding open doors as I approach, despite being able-bodied
- Creating an opening for me in busy traffic when they don't have to
- Picking stuff up for me that I've accidentally dropped
The list goes on.
The reason why Americans drive is that they have a large population living across a sprawling landmass. Trains used to be the norm as American cities were being developed in the 1800s through the early 1900s. But because the scale of cities grew, they became less efficient than cars for most people to get around
So the drive, which means they have to see even fewer people.