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But I’m not sure this is a widely held preference. Seems to be a vocal minority trying to impose their will on others.

omosubi 7y ago
That may be true but it's largely how our political system works. Regardless, you can try to fight back or just move to someplace that has the density and mobility you want.
audunw 7y ago
Any data on that? Here around Oslo, there is quite a bit of opposition to banning cars from the city - but mostly from people living outside of it. People who live in the city, and who should have the most say, seems to like it. The green party grew in the recent election. Data has shown that businesses are doing well. Some do better, some the same, some worse (like furniture stores, which is a silly thing to have in a city centre anyway). There's certainly a growing preference for car-free cities. Seems to me like younger people prefer it. Not just because they don't have cars.. I do now, but I really don't like to use it in the city. My wife and I take it to the closest metro station with free parking, and take the metro the rest of the way. Much less stressful. Seems to me like it is mostly old people who are opposed to banning cars. When they were young, the cities were not as dense, cars not as prevalent, and people didn't care as much about air pollution. They could drive straight into the city centre and park wherever. They don't want to give up on that, even if it means being stuck in traffic and driving around the city centre for half an hour to find a free parking spot. It's an inconvenience they've gotten used to. But the inconveniences of public transportation? Unbearable!
- rubyboss 7y ago
  Last time I was in Oslo it looked like the network of motorways in the city were well developed relative to London. It would be a shame if they banned cars in a city that is so well-equipped to handle them.
kiliantics 7y ago
That's how all change begins. And in this case, it's pretty easy for any reasonable person to understand that less cars in cities is better for almost every reason other than a simple selfish desire to be inside a car and take up a car's worth of space and air pollution rather than a human's worth.
bobbylarrybobby 7y ago
Pretty sure cars are the vocal minority imposing their externalities on everyone who doesn’t drive. In New York that’s most people.

That may be true but it's largely how our political system works. Regardless, you can try to fight back or just move to someplace that has the density and mobility you want.

audunw 7y ago

Any data on that? Here around Oslo, there is quite a bit of opposition to banning cars from the city - but mostly from people living outside of it. People who live in the city, and who should have the most say, seems to like it. The green party grew in the recent election. Data has shown that businesses are doing well. Some do better, some the same, some worse (like furniture stores, which is a silly thing to have in a city centre anyway). There's certainly a growing preference for car-free cities. Seems to me like younger people prefer it. Not just because they don't have cars.. I do now, but I really don't like to use it in the city. My wife and I take it to the closest metro station with free parking, and take the metro the rest of the way. Much less stressful. Seems to me like it is mostly old people who are opposed to banning cars. When they were young, the cities were not as dense, cars not as prevalent, and people didn't care as much about air pollution. They could drive straight into the city centre and park wherever. They don't want to give up on that, even if it means being stuck in traffic and driving around the city centre for half an hour to find a free parking spot. It's an inconvenience they've gotten used to. But the inconveniences of public transportation? Unbearable!

rubyboss 7y ago
Last time I was in Oslo it looked like the network of motorways in the city were well developed relative to London. It would be a shame if they banned cars in a city that is so well-equipped to handle them.

kiliantics 7y ago

That's how all change begins. And in this case, it's pretty easy for any reasonable person to understand that less cars in cities is better for almost every reason other than a simple selfish desire to be inside a car and take up a car's worth of space and air pollution rather than a human's worth.

bobbylarrybobby 7y ago

Pretty sure cars are the vocal minority imposing their externalities on everyone who doesn’t drive. In New York that’s most people.