8 ms·
It's also interesting how people don't see public roads in the same way—people don't expect roads to cover their own expenses directly, expect free parking as a
by tikhonj 8y ago
It's also interesting how people don't see public roads in the same way—people don't expect roads to cover their own expenses directly, expect free parking as a human right and bridle at toll roads or gasoline taxes.
People need to see public transport as "roads that don't need cars".
- r00fus 8y agoOne feeds into the petroleum economy and one doesn't. Guess which one is "preferred"?
- Zhenya 8y agoThe one that provides people (the illusion of) liberty through movement.
- dwaltrip 8y agoCars and roads have plenty of problems, sure, but I have no idea what you mean by this "illusion of freedom".
- TheSoftwareGuy 8y agoHe's likely referring to how (some) people enjoy driving because of the sense of freedom & control it gives them. But he is asserting that this is just an illusion. Honestly, I feel the same way, since most time I spend driving I spend sitting in traffic or something.
- Zhenya 8y agoThat's right (I'm the OP) - I love driving and work in the auto industry. The biggest pitch of the car(look at the commercials) is that your car defines you, and provides you a lifestyle and freedom. However, there really is an element of freedom. You can drive where you want when you want. It's just that the average person sits in bumper to bumper traffic.
- megablast 8y agoI guess you just don't care about the 40,000 people killed every year.
- jimmy1 8y agoThere are few things I get more enjoyment out of than driving a car that corners well through a beautiful mountainous road like the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Appalachian, or up through Yosemite from Fresno. When I need to clear my head, I still hop in the car and go for a drive with music. Not also afraid to admit -- I've had some of my most cathartic, emotional-cleansing crys in the vehicle by myself. In this day and age where there are fewer and fewer places to go to truly be alone with one's own thoughts, sometimes my vehicle is my own personal sanctuary.
- 1stranger 8y agoOf course other countries with excellent public transit also have plenty of scenic country roads. It's not like we have to pick between the two. (I don't think you were claiming we do, I just wanted to highlight that argument.)
- adrianN 8y agoHow many of the miles driven are cornering on interesting roads in the mountains and how many miles are dull city traffic during rush hour? I'd wager that most people never drive a road that you'd find interesting in a car that would make it worth their time.
- francisofascii 8y agoSounds like your typical car commercial. I wish cars were only used for these types of infrequent trips, rather than for nearly all of one's transportation.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- illirik 8y agoI used to feel that way, too, but since I moved to Seattle, I traded my car in for a motorcycle, and that feeling of freedom has returned in full force. Maybe it is just a different illusion, but the wind and the noise on my morning commute wake me up better than any coffee I've ever had. Getting forty-some-odd miles to the gallon on a vehicle that can go 130 MPH ain't bad, either.
- ALittleLight 8y agoYeah, plus you don't incur the health risks associated with dangerous coffee.
- francisofascii 8y agoIf you always need a car to go places (work, groceries, visit friends, church, etc.), is it still freedom?
- Nition 8y agoAnd additional public transport reduces the need for roads and road maintenance as well.
- elhudy 8y agoPeople might see roads different from public transportation because they are directly affected by poor Management on the part of public transportation companies. If your bus is always late, you can't sit on the subway because the seat is soaked in piss, and there is no customer support for the $100 card you just purchased which isn't working, you might become disinclined to defend the exorbitant costs of public transportation. As paradoxical as that might seem.
- yongjik 8y agoAt the same time, I've yet to see an American complaining that the government is spending too much money on roads because it's riddled with potholes.
- brianwawok 8y agoI would be in favor of many country roads returning to gravel, and the savings used to make more bike and foot paths.
- 1123581321 8y agoUsually the complaint is that road money is misallocated to surface fixes that result in more potholes in the long run. In some states and municipalities, this has to do with how government employees steer construction contract awards. I see wanting to change this as analogous to the desired reforms in public transportation.
- seizethecheese 8y agoRoads have a marginal cost near zero.
- ProfessorLayton 8y agoExcept that most of the wear and tear on our roads isn't caused by people's cars. People pay much more than their fair share of road maintenance via gas taxes etc than the industries that cause the most damage to the roads. Semis cause 1,400x more wear than cars [1]. [1] https://www.lrrb.org/pdf/201432.pdf https://www.lrrb.org/pdf/201432.pdf
- RhysU 8y ago> People pay much more than their fair share of road maintenance via gas taxes etc than the industries that cause the most damage to the roads. Maybe. Reduced transportation costs to businesses permit lower cost goods to end consumers. Your car transporting you to work isn't your only reliance on the road grid.
- ProfessorLayton 8y agoYou are correct, however, I was refuting the post that said that those paying gas taxes and tolls aren't covering their own maintenance costs. We're all subsidizing the industries that cause the most damage to roads, whether you commute by car or by train.
- gameswithgo 8y agoit is my potatoes in the trucks. I can pay the road tax, or more for potato. doesn't matter.
- haberman 8y agoTo me it matters a lot. Capitalism only works when the true costs of things are accurately reflected in their prices. If the road maintenance cost of transporting the potatoes is priced into the potatoes, then the potato company might opt to transport the potatoes in a different (cheaper) way. But if the road maintenance costs appear free or near-free to the potato company, they have no incentive to care about it. Also it makes drivers who don't eat potatoes subsidize the potato consumers.
- sjg007 8y agoWell businesses and truckers/lorries should pay more to use the roads. They cause the most damage.