To be efficient and fair, a transportation system must serve diverse demands. Physically, economically and socially disadvantaged people, in particular, need diverse mobility options: walking and cycling for local travel, public transit for longer trips, and automobiles (ridesharing and taxi travel) when necessary. As a result, transportation must be multimodal - offering many options for mobility purposes.
Not everybody uses all travel options, but most communities include people who need each one. For example, not everybody uses public transit or needs universal design features such as curbcuts and ramps. Still, most communities include some people who require them to travel independently, and most people will need them sometime in their lives. As a result, even people who don’t currently use a particular mode may value having it in their community.