> The one instance where public transport works well is when you want to travel 5-10 blocks, there's a lot of traffic, and you are carrying nothing, and there just so happens to be a subway going the right way.
This really depends on each region/city. Cities like Paris or Munich have a very dense network of public transportation - Even getting from point A in city center to point B in a 30km away suburb can be easier using public transportation.
Here's an example: https://arpeco.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191231_143830... Can you see those big hatches? They're almost the depth of the bus