Q: So if Atlanta hadn't embraced our automobile commuter culture...

[hunter]

... how would this snow storm have affected them?

A: Nobody would be stuck anywhere.

[Scootaloo]

1. Non-starter

Name any city in America - the exact same question could be applied there. Every US city revolves around car culture.

[hunter]

2. Lots of work to do, no doubt.

We can choose better, or we can wait until worse happens.

Worse will happen, this automobile culture is not sustainable.

Next up maybe, a heat wave and a failing electric grid.

No point driving to work, there's no power, it's dark and a 130^oF inside.

[Javaman]

4. Read up on the great snow storm of 1888. then get back to me. nt

[Warpy]

3. Sure they would

Ice and snow storms shut down the Boston MTA more than once. Any surface trains are susceptible to ice on the tracks. Ice happens in heavy snow when the trains compact the snow.

However, I find Atlanta's rush hours particularly hellish experiences. There are about five times as many cars as the roads were designed for, bumper to bumper, moving six inches at a time. Something to reduce congestion certainly should have been attempted a long time ago.

[GliderGuider]

5. Reduce congestion or prevent congestion?

Ways to prevent congestion (in any city, not just Atlanta):

Limit urban growth and sprawl
Plan walkable, livable cities
Implement good public transit systems
Ban cars from urban cores

etc. etc.

That didn't happen, and now it's too late for anything but half-hearted half-measures for remediation - which in any event are being stoutly opposed by developers and their urban planning sock puppets.

How may ways are there to spell screwed?

[Warpy]

7. Try reading the post next time

because if you had, you'd discover that mass transit is also prone to being a mess during weather emergencies.

Your ideas would work on warm days.

Mass transit is great and if Atlanta had it, their daily commutes wouldn't be so nightmarish. However, it's no panacea against ice storms and workers would still be stranded and sleeping in stores.

[kristopher]

6. And if a frog had wings it wouldn't bump its ass

Your profound insight into how we might improve our lives is truly staggering.