America’s transit issues is a problem 80 years in the making and covers everything from a post WW2 economic boom to intense lobbying of congress by car manufacturers. Gas is one part of the function, but seems pointless to make up a hypothetical about undoing 80 years of history when we’re discussing current events

If you make gas expensive today it doesn’t shorten anyone’s commute. Maybe it applies pressure to build public infrastructure, but it’s going to take decades to restructure the US. In that time the people suffer and have no other option but to endure the cost