Kevin Murphy I have to say, as a member of the non-commuter set, the new roads they've put in my area have made it much easier to keep touch with, not to mention hang out with, friends in other cities. I visit San Francisco every Friday. At non-commute hours. Before, it would have taken 2 hours. Now it takes just slightly over one, since Hwy 85 works as one big diagonal.
Transportation is an important aspect of social function.
Remember, when you were a little, little kid, you could only go visit the kids next door or down the block. And if they were boring or stupid, tough. Then you get friends all over the city, or in other cities. Cars are the only simple option. I have a number of friends in San Francisco and Santa Cruz who don't have cars, and while there's a fair bit of social activity going on in walking distance of their houses, there's a lot they miss out on.