While I agree that
you don't *have* to drive in order to be a normal person, it's very hard for some people to do normal things without their own transport. The town I used to live in is only 12 miles north of the centre of Bristol (and only 5miles from a regularly serviced suburb of said city) but the buses are only one an hour (if that) incredibly expensive and unreliable.
There's no train station (ta Dr Porter) and no bus link to Gloucester. If you don't have a car, you ain't going anywhere fast.
Also, the bus route's only available course goes within spitting distance of the M4M5 interchange and as such enjoys a twice daily jam.
Practicality for people with limited spare time = car.
If I lived in London, I wouldn't have to own a car.
(tweebianmonkey Should be known as Widget, Mon 5 May 2008, 2:18, Reply)