[Age of Reason]

The foremost villain of this story is the invention and popularization of the automobile.

If people walked or rode bicycles our streets would be safer.

Though no means of transport are immune from accidents, serious injury to pedestrians would be rare except for the motor car.

Even on horseback--should the rider be drunk, the horse at least would be sober.

[7 x 77]

Even on horseback--should the rider be drunk, the horse at least would be sober.

Actually, there were lots of fatal horse accidents. Pretty fast speed, unprotected passenger.

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"The foremost villain of this story is the invention and popularization of the automobile. "

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"Foremost villain"?

Yeah...and guns kill.

[weegee]

If people walked or rode bicycles our streets would be safer.

There are several accounts of bicycle/pedestrian accidents in this thread: Bicyclist Hits, Kills Pedestrian on Sidewalk

Being a ludite in Texas would mean that cities like Houston and the Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex wouldn't even exist. Things are far to spread out to be accessible by such means of travel.