@manton

Well, I'd say public vs private transportation solve different type of problems, so one isn't a direct replacement for the other.

Public transport is great for bulk transport of people with generally homogeneous needs, but it's inefficient for groups of the population who don't fit the mold.

Society, and our systems, have and need both populations to function well.

There is so much room for gains in efficiency of private transportation, so it's arguably worth investing in that direction.