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I just came back from the valley, and I get that the american society and infrastructure is encouraging the to use a car. Like Australia. I also get that, livi

I just came back from the valley, and I get that the american society and infrastructure is encouraging the to use a car. Like Australia. I also get that, living in a city in France, it's easier to avoid having a car. yet I note that you could have a motorbike. You could not have kids. You could move close to your work. You could move in an area requiring less car. You could change your job to one not needing a car. You could bike. You could care pool with friends/neighbors/coworkers. You could use public transports. Etc. But the car is an important artifact of the american culture. You kinda build the country around it, not the other way around.

nightski 8y ago
Meh I live in the Midwest, in an area that pretty much requires a car. Yet my use is extremely limited (a few thousand miles per year). Mostly going to stores and back as I work from home. Yet we travel around the area to state parks, bike trails, etc.. every weekend. Even if I lived in a city, that doesn't mean I would want to be confined to the same 10 square miles my entire life. We live in a vast, beautiful country. Why isolate yourself to a tiny little block? Life is too short for that.
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moate 8y ago
Yes/No? Keep in mind, the shift from farming being a major employment sector happened while the current US infrastructure was being built. The highways and population distribution were in part because of that. Also the US is one of the world's largest in area, and while urbanization is being pushed due to changes in the labor needs, it's something that happens over time not over night. As for "you could do X" most of your statements aren't really proof of an American obsession with cars, just a different infrastructure choice relative to other nations. http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Transport/Road/Motor-vehicles-per-1000-people http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Transport/Roa... The US has 27% more cars than France per capita. That's statistically significant and reflects difference in city planning/culture, but IDK that I'd draw the same conclusions as you.
notyourwork 8y ago
I guess you are convinced your generalization is sound in basis. Not everyone can afford to move closer to work, that’s a silly assumption. Big cities that lend well to public transportation are not affordable for everyone. You can’t always move closer to work, what if your spouse and you work on opposite parts of a region? I suppose next solution is one finds a new job or quits. Life’s not as simple as your naive point of view indicates.
- sametmax 8y ago
  If I guaranty 5 million dollars in 3 years for somebody that can go without a car for so long, half of america would find a way. It's just a matter of priority and way of life, with constraints yes, but a choice none of the less.
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billbrown 8y ago
Or you can just have a car? Why is not having a car an ideal for you? Why do you have to bike? Can't you just walk places? I don't have a car because society is telling me to have a car. I have a car because it's faster to get places I want to go; it's damn hot in the summer; and it's great for carrying around purchases and the family.
- sametmax 8y ago
  I'm just amazed, not mad.
  - rconti 8y ago
    As a childless American with 3 cars, 1 motorcycle, and 3 bicycles... I must say that plenty of folks would find your "don't have kids" comment equally bizarre. And on the flipside, cars are cheaper than kids :)
    - jpetso 8y ago
      My reading of the GP's comment was that those were not suggestions, but a mere observation, where out of many possible and viable alternatives, one is utterly dominant to the point where the others aren't generally considered as alternatives anymore.

nightski 8y ago

Meh I live in the Midwest, in an area that pretty much requires a car. Yet my use is extremely limited (a few thousand miles per year). Mostly going to stores and back as I work from home. Yet we travel around the area to state parks, bike trails, etc.. every weekend. Even if I lived in a city, that doesn't mean I would want to be confined to the same 10 square miles my entire life. We live in a vast, beautiful country. Why isolate yourself to a tiny little block? Life is too short for that.

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moate 8y ago

Yes/No? Keep in mind, the shift from farming being a major employment sector happened while the current US infrastructure was being built. The highways and population distribution were in part because of that. Also the US is one of the world's largest in area, and while urbanization is being pushed due to changes in the labor needs, it's something that happens over time not over night. As for "you could do X" most of your statements aren't really proof of an American obsession with cars, just a different infrastructure choice relative to other nations. http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Transport/Road/Motor-vehicles-per-1000-people http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Transport/Roa... The US has 27% more cars than France per capita. That's statistically significant and reflects difference in city planning/culture, but IDK that I'd draw the same conclusions as you.

notyourwork 8y ago

I guess you are convinced your generalization is sound in basis. Not everyone can afford to move closer to work, that’s a silly assumption. Big cities that lend well to public transportation are not affordable for everyone. You can’t always move closer to work, what if your spouse and you work on opposite parts of a region? I suppose next solution is one finds a new job or quits. Life’s not as simple as your naive point of view indicates.

sametmax 8y ago
If I guaranty 5 million dollars in 3 years for somebody that can go without a car for so long, half of america would find a way. It's just a matter of priority and way of life, with constraints yes, but a choice none of the less.
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billbrown 8y ago

Or you can just have a car? Why is not having a car an ideal for you? Why do you have to bike? Can't you just walk places? I don't have a car because society is telling me to have a car. I have a car because it's faster to get places I want to go; it's damn hot in the summer; and it's great for carrying around purchases and the family.

sametmax 8y ago
I'm just amazed, not mad.
- rconti 8y ago
  As a childless American with 3 cars, 1 motorcycle, and 3 bicycles... I must say that plenty of folks would find your "don't have kids" comment equally bizarre. And on the flipside, cars are cheaper than kids :)
  - jpetso 8y ago
    My reading of the GP's comment was that those were not suggestions, but a mere observation, where out of many possible and viable alternatives, one is utterly dominant to the point where the others aren't generally considered as alternatives anymore.