General Discussion

JVS

(61,935 posts)

16. That's not really true.

Thu May 1, 2014, 11:20 AM

May 2014

In Europe you can get a lot of places for fairly low prices, but there are a lot of situations where you either go a slow route or pay a high price. For example, I was at a university once and there was another university with a particularly good library about 60 miles away. My university ID allowed me to travel free on slow trains and I could go there for free but it would take 3 tp 3.5 hours of train rides. I could get a fast train there in 1 hour and 1:15 minutes but then I'd need to pay 29 euros each way. I had a similar situation in England where getting to Oxford (60 miles away) would 30 pounds for a morning train and 10 pounds for an off-peak return. In both situations I was overjoyed when a colleague from the area happened to be making the trip with their automobile. It was so much cheaper even with gas costing more.

You might not need a car for every day's activities in Europe, but having one at your disposal really opens up a lot of possibilities. Zipcar might be a really great thing to do over there.

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Europe Pays Almost TWICE As Much For Gas To Drive Cars [View all] KittyWampus May 2014 OP

They also have superb public transit LittleBlue May 2014 #1

They use the gas taxes to subsidize public transportation Major Nikon May 2014 #4

Makes me so damn mad. Mira May 2014 #5

That's not really true. JVS May 2014 #16

Yes. I understand. We would like little personal hovercrafts provided at birth. Mira May 2014 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author JVS May 2014 #21

I'll make a note of it, maybe I will once Mira May 2014 #23

Point-to-point travel is going to be more expensive for obvious reasons Major Nikon May 2014 #24

I did not think it was that great hfojvt May 2014 #30

Europe also has superior modern public transit. myrna minx May 2014 #2

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2014 #9

Russia is much more spread out than the US and has much more extensive rail coverage Recursion May 2014 #13

And wonderfully walkable spaces in most cities Blue_Tires May 2014 #50

That's been true since forever frazzled May 2014 #3

Yeah, but 'Murka. We drive for dirt cheap or it stops being America. Or something. Recursion May 2014 #6

Al Gore might have become president if he'd voted the other way FarCenter May 2014 #8

Yup, that and the Assault Weapons Ban Recursion May 2014 #10

Why on earth do you think farmers wouldn't be affected by tolls? Lars39 May 2014 #34

Their combine doesn't Recursion May 2014 #36

They still have to get their produce to market and yes, that is done on the interstate system, too. Lars39 May 2014 #43

Sure, most things are transported using roads, which is why gas taxes are regressive Recursion May 2014 #44

And quite a few of them already get subsidies that help cover that cost. Lars39 May 2014 #45

So the fuck what? We pay way more for a far shittier healthcare system. JVS May 2014 #7

Heh. +1000000000000 nt Zorra May 2014 #11

Exactly! +a couple of million. Gemini Cat May 2014 #39

It's all tax and they get something for it. hobbit709 May 2014 #12

What are you trying to link this to? NCTraveler May 2014 #14

she thinks that paying a toll to travel the interstate system is just ducky.. frylock May 2014 #42

I'd rather have the higher gas price than tolls. More efficient and reliable. randome May 2014 #15

One huge difference is that America is huge PumpkinAle May 2014 #17

They have streetcars that at the edge of town can leave the town, Mira May 2014 #19

Wow! I had no idea...it's a lot better than the first time I went across the pond. sir pball May 2014 #20

That kind of tax here would absolutely kill rural Americans. Nye Bevan May 2014 #22

Yes and no. Xithras May 2014 #29

Europe and the US are very different gollygee May 2014 #25

They also pay twice as much for food, twice as much for housing and their salaries are twice as high dilby May 2014 #26

What gave you that impression? FBaggins May 2014 #31

I am just going with the UK. dilby May 2014 #32

Ah... that's more granular. FBaggins May 2014 #38

Europe =/= Florida Harmony Blue May 2014 #27

I just heard on the radio about a new rail that opened today for Orlando. tammywammy May 2014 #37

Closer to three time as much in Italy FBaggins May 2014 #28

Rail is also much more available in Europe liberal N proud May 2014 #33

Public Transit - National Health Care - Better schools truebrit71 May 2014 #35

I know, I've spent time in Europe. Crunchy Frog May 2014 #40

they also have socialized healthcare, shorter work weeks, longer vacations.. frylock May 2014 #41

Norway "uses oil profits to fund free college education" Estrella Fugaz May 2014 #46

the interesting question is German rafeh1 May 2014 #47

My state is larger than most European countries. Throd May 2014 #48

There's a map, too? 1000words May 2014 #49

To be fair, they offset this cost with trains, buses and bikes shenmue May 2014 #51

I would glady pay EU prices. deathrind May 2014 #52

Europe also does not allow straights to discriminate aginst gay people, but the US does and I've Bluenorthwest May 2014 #53

And how do they compare on health care costs? Did you advocate for European style health care Bluenorthwest May 2014 #54