Cars everywhere in Canada
You love cars and driving, don't you?
Cars may have become the scourge of every modern, Western society - but Canada is faring very badly in this regard.
As a Canadian you actually use the car for everything. To take the children to school, to go shopping, to work, on holiday, to church, to recreation ... just for all your transport needs.
Even if you go to a cemetery, you can drive straight through it, past the graves. Parking and walking would be unthinkable.
The parking lots at the shops are so oversized that you can always park there. If you go to the next store, you drive that distance. That has to be because sometimes there isn't even a sidewalk, even if the shops are next to each other.
At many shops and eateries you can be served while driving, these are the so-called "drive-in" establishments.
But what happens if you don't want to take the car for once?
You will get strange looks in almost all of Canada if you try to get anywhere on foot or by bike. It is often even a perilous adventure because the roads are not suitable for it.
There are often no footpaths and pedestrian crossings are only available if this is really mandatory. You will spend a long time waiting at the traffic light while the rushing and smelly traffic passes by.
If you try to get somewhere by public transport, that is usually not possible. In many places that simply won't work.
The timetables are often unclear and not focused on the needs of travelers.
In general, Canadians think the wretches who have to take "the bus" are pathetic. It is a last resort for people who are too old or too poor to drive themselves.
The bus just sits in a traffic jam waiting for the cars to leave.
For those who don't like cars and driving
It is not inconceivable that you will be disappointed that everything in Canada revolves around cars and driving.
Everywhere you see gigantic parking lots and endless avenues of car companies. In the cities, parking garages dominate.
Canadians mainly drive very large vehicles. The pick-up truck is very popular, but also the SUV. The more cylinders, the better.
Also take a look at the Canadian infrastructure (link)