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Commuter rail is hilarious for this. All the same people that were in orderly lines, holding doors open, giving seats to older or disabled people, and saying “oh you go first” for the last hour spend thirty seconds back in the “safety” of their white SUV and they’re acting like absolute animals to all the same strangers.
I had the extremely good fortune to move to a place where I don’t need a car and I am always surprised by how quickly the hate returns when I get behind the wheel.
I’d say “you don’t hate driving, you hate capitalism”, but I guess that applies to mostly everything.
I’m not saying capitalism doesn’t have a lot to answer for, but I’m pretty sure road rage has separate and distinct causes related to cars themselves, including but not limited to:
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When you’re enclosed in a car you become more anonymous and may feel less accountable for your bad behavior than you would if you were exposed as a pedestrian. Conversely, other drivers are also enclosed so it becomes easier to dehumanize them.
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You’re driving what’s likely your most expensive piece of personal property, so you’re prone to be defensive when it’s threatened by other drivers’ behavior.
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A car is also a very personal choice that’s designed to provide the comfort of a private space, so it’s easy to feel like the presence of other road users is intruding on your space.
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Nah. Assholes will be assholes regardless of their mode of transportation. The car/bike is an instrument and a conduit that helps express one’s assholeishness, but that state of mind exists even on foot where it gets even more up close and personal.
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The majority of human history has shown us that no, in fact, walking does not inherently make you kinder.
