Location Transport

Why in the US do we have poor public transportation?

I know the one of the best public transportation is in New York, the eastren seaboard, and Chicago. However, in the rest of the US, it's crappy. If we have more an improved public transportation, then we wouldn't have to drive our cars around for work. In Europe, the gas prices are ridiculously higher than the US, so people uses either the buses or the trains to get to their destinations. So what is a good idea to help improve the US and their public transports?

Public Comments

1. I think the best way would be to tax fuel and use that money to bolster public transportation but I dont know how popular that idea would be since fuel is so expensive as it is.
2. to sell MORE Cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Well, a change of attitude for starters. Not gonna be easy. People seem to be keen on "individualism" and privacy. One of the few laws of economics I understand is that you need to create a need before consumers buy. So if you present an incredibly attractive PT system, the clients will come in droves. If you just partially patch PT needs, it won't work. So there needs to be some major investments and the US tax income won't allow the governments to do this.
4. What's the point? there are only a couple cities with dense populations that require for its citizens to voluntarily pack themselves into a train like cattle. No one in their right mind would do this unless or until traffic gets too congested. New york had clogged streets back when horses still clomped around , 175 years ago ! Until my home town gets that bad, im not setting foot on any friggin bus or train. It's a good way to get mugged or harrassed by the retards and homeless bums.
5. Money talks. The key is to make it more cost effective and convenient for people to take public transportation than it is to drive your own vehicle. Until then, it's all a good idea gone nowhere. The high fuel prices in Europe are both a cause and effect of good public transportation systems. I grew up on the West Coast, which was an area developed and settled largely in the booming automobile era where gas and land were cheap. Thus, cities took on an urban sprawl that grew horizontally rather than vertically as most cities on the East Coast that developed and were settled largely in the horse and buggy era. Most public transportations here have only a few lines, aren't well funded or patronized, and don't have a lot of stops where people want to go. When it cost $150 to fill up your tank in the US, you can bet that you will see investment in buses and light rails.
6. Americans love their cars, and dont want to pay for public transportation, look around while driving, at least 98% of the people I pass are alone in a car and I bet 60% or better are latched to a cell phone on their head
7. i recommend that the people (from every city) vote to build better public transportation. propose a bill to tax payers that would build or increase the public transportation. raise signatures from people that would ride the bus or train in a certain neighborhood. have rallies and raise the awareness of those who would like a greener world. i don't really know what to say about the US as a whole but, I'm from Portland, Oregon and the public transportation their is wonderful. we have buses that go almost everywhere and a light rail called the MAX. *MAX stands for the metropolitan. area. express.* we the tax payers voted and built the MAX. i know it's been around for at least 1decade.