One unique aspect of American culture is our reliance on cars and the centering of the car in planning and infrastructure. The United States is the third largest country by land in the world and spans a whole continent. We are connected by highways and interstates and our cities rely on them for transporting goods and commuting to jobs. The car also has a place in American culture because of its symbolic nature. To many, a car represents a freedom of movement and the ability to go where one pleases. This need for free movement is very American as we are a more individualist culture that focuses on personal freedoms. To really do much in most towns and cities you must drive. This is reflected in the infrastructure of American cities, strip malls, Walmarts, and drive-thrus are all a product of the centering of cars in our culture. Cars and driving are a part of American culture, but I think it is a negative part of it. It is a burden on many people financially and time-wise. Cars cost thousands of dollars and hundreds of dollars in gasoline and other upkeep; this takes up a large part of people’s income that could go to other aspects of their lives. Centering the car also prevents walkable cities and creates long distances between necessities. This reduces the ability of people to easily get groceries, go to school, or to work. Furthermore, there are negative health impacts to limiting people’s ability to walk or bike places. Also, there is a reduction in social interactions because of cars. If you were to walk places you would interact with people as well as be able to more easily meet with friends or family at a location. I also think that the reliance on cars and roads has a negative impact on the Earth, many drive alone and have a large carbon footprint. Public transport releases less carbon and allows more people to travel together, which also reduces prices. I think many people outside the US don’t realize this aspect of our culture or view it negatively. When people from outside the US visit they tend not to realize the size of our country. Even in Florida people visiting from outside the US are shocked when I tell them Miami is four hours from Orlando. So when people visiting plan to go from New York to Orlando to California in a few days they are in for a rude awakening. Other people are shocked by the amount of driving we have to do as well as the lack of public transport in the US. Many cities do not have any public transport or they are limited to poorly funded bus systems. Trains between cities are slow and are really limited to the Northeast corridor. I think that it is interesting to see this aspect of American culture with the knowledge that a lot of the world relies on a very different system. I also think as an American it can help relay some further aspects of our culture to those outside ours.
