> taking a 5 minute car ride round trip to the grocery store instead of a 40 minute bus ride round trip is worse for the environment,

1.) I walk to a shop cause that is the easiest way to get there.

2.) If the difference bwtween a car and bus trip is 5 vs 40 min, the bus system majorely sux.

Basically, you described situation where people settled at bad uncomfortable setup and consider it "good enough" for tradition reasons.