We Compared Public Transit in Texas and Japan

Video Description

We compared public transit in Texas and Japan Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ThinkBiggerTV Why can Japan fly trains while Texas can't even build a subway? We explain the history of the GM Streetcar conspiracy, the new Maglev technology, and the real cost of car culture. Japan moves millions of people daily. Shinjuku Station alone handles 3 million passengers a day. Meanwhile, in the US (specifically here in Texas), we are stuck in gridlock. But it wasn't always this way. American cities like Austin and San Francisco once had thriving trolley systems before they were dismantled. We break down the General Motors conspiracy that converted rail lines to bus routes, the impact of the 1956 Interstate Highway spending, and why Project Connect in Austin was such a hard sell compared to Japan's post-war reconstruction. Plus, we race a Shinkansen (Bullet Train) in Tokyo against a car trip from Austin to Houston to see who actually gets there faster. Maglev Technology: How Japan’s new "floating" trains will hit 300+ mph . The GM Conspiracy: Did General Motors and Firestone actually buy trolley systems just to destroy them? (Yes, and they paid a fine). Texas vs Japan: A travel time comparison between a Nagano to Tokyo commute and an Austin to Houston road trip. The Cost of Traffic: Why car dependency creates isolation for the elderly and higher costs for everyone. Future Projects: The status of Project Connect and light rail in Los Angeles (LAX). ----- 0:00 - Intro: Why you can't get out of your neighborhood 0:21 – The Maglev: Japan's trains that fly 0:51 – We’re in Japan (Shinjuku Station stats) 1:14 – How Japan prioritized public transit 2:21 – What is the Shinkansen (Bullet Train)? 3:17 – More train innovation: The "Ring of Fire" problem 4:30 – The General Motors Streetcar Conspiracy explained 6:07 – The rise of Car Culture & The Highway Act 6:47 - Commute Race: Nagano to Tokyo vs. Austin to Houston 9:04 – Support Think Bigger! 9:38 – Why it’s hard to build (NIMBYism & Costs) 11:01 – US Solutions: Project Connect & LA Light Rail 12:32 – The Future of Transit ----- What you’ll learn: • Why Japan’s public transportation is so efficient • How the U.S. lost its trains and trolleys • The hidden costs of car dependency • Why maglev trains could change travel in Japan • What it would take for U.S. cities to embrace transit again ----- • Watch till the end to see Ryan’s “trip” to Houston… without a car • Leave a comment: What public transportation do YOU wish your city had? • Subscribe for more surprising stories that reveal how the world really works. ----- 🧠 It's Time to Think Bigger. CTC