The modern city is built to service the needs of the rich and/or powerful. It is run on the backs of people who are not that different from slaves. Many people are hand to mouth, but wait! They can choose where to live and which flavor of slavery they prefer.

Humanity never escaped slavery, we just call it something else now. My preferred definition is "hard work and subjection".

So, when you are working hard to survive as a subject of the powerful, and you constantly see those who appear to be "free" in the media you consume, it starts to mess with your mind.

I think that's the ultimate cause of all of this. People who take public transport, in general, are going to fall under this definition of slavery.