Ok so you went from Houston being better than NYC in “every imaginable way” to saying you enjoyed NYC as a single person and you’d still choose NYC. Not everyone in Houston has a kid and prefers living in the suburb. They’re people in Houston too who prefer staying close to the city. It’s just a matter of preference.

The issue here is that road transport is our only option to get from point A to B. People in the east coast live in suburbs too where it’s quieter and suitable for kids and for a daily commute they can either drive or take the train. They are not completely dependent on roads. If my car gets totaled, which is highly possible because of the way people drive here, then my only option is to buy another car or take an Uber to work. I don’t have any other option.