Driving to your destination will almost always save time over walking or riding a bike. But taking your car means losing the opportunity of getting exercise and fresh air, while being less friendly to the environment.
When it comes to efficiency, we often focus on the benefits more than the costs. That seems to be particularly true with technology. We like to celebrate advances in productivity, not dwell on any trade-offs.
More convenient isn’t always better, and believing that’s true is a trap. It’s up to each of us to understand and be willing to pay the costs before accepting an innovation to be part of our lives.
And even if we believe cars are a net positive, you don’t always have to drive.