I felt like that for so long before moving and I kept trying and failing to convince people it could work there and that life would be better. Ohio is owned by the auto industry, I know, but also the fact that the 3CD corridor keeps being rejected and the fact that Columbus and Cincinnati dont have a light rail is insane to me. Like yeah it’s longer to ride than to drive (except during peak times) but if you build your society’s expectations around a reasonable train commute it’s not an issue. A half hour drive is mentally draining in a way that public transit isn’t. With a train about every 10 minutes I’m not leaving anything early to take the train, I’m just taking for granted the fact that anything in the city within a reasonable distance of a train stop is reasonably accessible. I’m sure it’s a real schlep from end to end but that’s not the default, that’s going between two distant suburbs, which is always a pain in the ass.

I will say this has lessened my freedom in one way: I don’t want to live far from a train station again.