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if you imagine that they'll transition to all electric self driving cars, it would only be a net benefit right? the transactions are still happening, in increa

if you imagine that they'll transition to all electric self driving cars, it would only be a net benefit right? the transactions are still happening, in increasing volume, and the environment won't be more adversely affected just because there might be congestion isn't a negative

c3534l 9y ago
Congestion is certainly a negative externality. At the extreme, traffic can increase to the point where roads can no longer function to facilitate the movement of cars - constant traffic jams and decreased speed relative to walking or biking. Additionally, driving in traffic is unpleasant, increases accidents, reduces the desirability of living in the surrounding area, is smelly and noisy to be around, and increases wear and tear on the road. Increased use of public transportation is one of those weird things that probably benefits drivers as much if not more than the people who actually take it.
- StudentStuff 9y ago
  Well, if we were actually reasonable about mass transit in the US, you wouldn't see cities like LA giving priority to cars over light rail (with poor excuses like "cars can only wait 50 seconds at an intersection"). Quite a bit of LA could also do with dedicated HOT lanes for buses, bikers and those accessing local destinations (eg: within 4 blocks), combined with signal priority for buses you could easily see a bus beating driving by 5 to 10min, but LA's car culture is toxic to reasonable ideas.
  - FullMtlAlcoholc 9y ago
    That can certainly have an effect. At the end of the day, a lot of people in LA prefer serene private transport in an environment under their control that runs on their own schedule over public transport. I commuted via bike and public transit for 3 years more or less every day. I work remotely now, but I'd be reluctant to use it regularly even if it was faster and free.

c3534l 9y ago

Congestion is certainly a negative externality. At the extreme, traffic can increase to the point where roads can no longer function to facilitate the movement of cars - constant traffic jams and decreased speed relative to walking or biking. Additionally, driving in traffic is unpleasant, increases accidents, reduces the desirability of living in the surrounding area, is smelly and noisy to be around, and increases wear and tear on the road. Increased use of public transportation is one of those weird things that probably benefits drivers as much if not more than the people who actually take it.

StudentStuff 9y ago
Well, if we were actually reasonable about mass transit in the US, you wouldn't see cities like LA giving priority to cars over light rail (with poor excuses like "cars can only wait 50 seconds at an intersection"). Quite a bit of LA could also do with dedicated HOT lanes for buses, bikers and those accessing local destinations (eg: within 4 blocks), combined with signal priority for buses you could easily see a bus beating driving by 5 to 10min, but LA's car culture is toxic to reasonable ideas.
- FullMtlAlcoholc 9y ago
  That can certainly have an effect. At the end of the day, a lot of people in LA prefer serene private transport in an environment under their control that runs on their own schedule over public transport. I commuted via bike and public transit for 3 years more or less every day. I work remotely now, but I'd be reluctant to use it regularly even if it was faster and free.