Here are a few images to reinforce my idea of making public transit better than private vehicles. Believe it or not in this first image taken before and during WWI, that dirt road had mostly horse pulled carriages and riders on horseback on it, just a few Model Ts were around. Speed on the dirt road maybe 20-25 mpg, speed of the interurban around 60 mph.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/26281...-1/s-l1000.jpg
Main Street Dallas
https://cdn.onlyinyourstate.com/wp-c..._b-700x441.jpg
Advertisement for interurban
http://hometownbyhandlebar.com/wp-co...5-1926-dmn.jpg
Black and white images do not do them justice, here is a color photo pf the parlor car
http://hometownbyhandlebar.com/wp-co...-car-inset.jpg
and the motor car
https://fthmb.tqn.com/2yghfDUD0S1B8D...595088cea6.jpg
Those seats are well padded, the service provided was superior to other modes of transport at that time. They were competitive.
Automobiles got far better, they did not. Hence they are museum pieces now.
And by the way, the dirt road in that first image was the old Bankhead Highway before becoming the old US 80 between Dallas and Fort Worth, which is now a 4,5, and 6 lane avenue with commercial properties most of the way, and you can reach speeds far higher than 25-30 mph.
