The Sunday New York Times comes with its own Automobiles section. Nothing unusual about that. Many papers have one as a convenient way to cash in on whatever is left of the classifieds. Certified pre-owned BMWs anyone?

The section also comes with a couple of articles, none worthy of a Pulitzer but many illuminating nonetheless. As of late, they have shown a preponderance of stories on hybrid and electric cars. That’s a clear sign of the times, and it’s all good.

It’s also rather narrow-minded. Electric cars are much much better cars, but they are still cars. All the problems associated with the gunk coming out of tailpipes go away — and that’s a huge deal — but all the problems associated with driving in the first place stay — and that’s at least as big.

Why not step back and look at what’s really important: getting from A to Z? Sometimes the best way of doing that is by car. Often it is not.

The Automobiles section doesn’t allow for that possibility. Jill Abramson, where’s the Transport Times?

Photo by mmagallan.