Living in the suburbs, I have eliminated most of these random encounters. When I get into my car to drive to work, I feel like I'm travelling through town in my own isolated box. When I get out of my car at work, the only people that I interact with are co-workers, and when I return home, the only people that I interact with are family. The possibility of random encounters with strangers are still there (when I visit the supermarket, for example) but I have reduced the window for this to occur from an everyday experience to a couple of hours on the weekend. I have to go out of my way and place myself in public to interact with my neighbors and others that live in my town, rather than it being a natural part of my day. The places where I shop and visit target my demographic, and so I'm constantly surrounded by people that are similar.

I often wonder if not having those small everyday interactions with strangers has a greater psychological effect on us than we realize?

Discrimination

Getting around in a car dependent environment is fine if you're old enough to drive, but not too old, have no major mental or physical disabilities, passed the test, and can afford a car and all of the associated costs. Everyone else is treated like a second class citizen; they are either a burden to their friends and family to escort them around, isolated at home and get out very little, have to rely on mobility services, or they tough it out and walk, cycle, or take transit.