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>The whole auto industry today is a large scale scam where we trade the environment and our health for corporate profits In theory, it should be easy to solve

>The whole auto industry today is a large scale scam where we trade the environment and our health for corporate profits In theory, it should be easy to solve transport within a metro area with low-carbon solutions such as walking, bicycling and public transport. I'm continually amazed by how good public transport and walkability are in some cities outside America. Bicycles also have amazing potential and a few successes in the world as mass transit. It seems the issue is not with engineering a solution, but with the politics of what gets implemented through our politicians and bureaucrats.

Red_Leaves_Flyy 7y ago
Biking in a foot of snow, on roads with pot holes large enough to swallow a tire, or that flood, or turn to black ice, is dangerous and sucks. Add the lack of actual bike lanes on all but a few block long stretches and biking becomes a death wish. Sure I can get a studded fat tire bike, and bike down the middle of the lane with dozens of pissed off people behind me honking and screaming at me, but that still doesn't solve the other problem of rampant unprosecuted bike theft in my city. Nor do I have a place to shower once I get to work. So I'd need two bikes, one with specialized winter tires, that I'm replacing frequently when they get stolen. Another gym membership to shower at before I go to work. Better health insurance to lessen the financial blow of the inevitable hit and run. More time to account for the longer commute. In my case it's 4-6x longer to bike than drive. Time I'm not making any money and time I'm at substantially greater risk of getting seriously injured. The politics of it certainly do suck. There's too much money pushing for the jobs that our car dependence create.
- baot 7y ago
  You only chose to live that far from work, in a place that gets a foot of snow, because you assumed you could make the journey in a petroleum car. It wouldn't have been possible 100 years in the past and it won't be possible 100 years in the future. Same for your employer choosing not to provide showers.
  - thedaemon 7y ago
    You are making wild general assumptions about this person's life. Most people in the USA can't really choose where to live, they are forced into a particular zone based on income or some other factor. You are also suggesting that they move from the place that gets snow. This is a ludicrous suggestion and very rude. We can't all live on the beach front property.
    - baot 7y ago
      Let's be honest, people on HN aren't limited in where they live by poverty. As I said, it was possible 100 years ago. We -as a society- have brought this rut on ourselves.
      - thedaemon 7y ago
        I certainly am. I don't understand why everyone here thinks this is a private club for rich investors in silicon valley.
      - Red_Leaves_Flyy 7y ago
        Goodness gracious. You seem to be completely unaware of the lengths average people go to in order to survive. Here's a thought. Educated people can simultaneously be impoverished and current on world affairs.
  - WalterBright 7y ago
    Unfortunately, zoning laws in American cities segregate residential from commercial areas, resulting in transportation problems.
  - Red_Leaves_Flyy 7y ago
    The choice is between living in a decrepit shoebox an hours bike from my job, or living in someone's closet to be within walking distance. I'm a contractor though. I could be sent an hours drive in any direction. How do you suggest I plan for this? Do I buy a house with my nonexistent wealth everywhere I could be asked to work? Do I quit my job and take a massive pay cut to flip burgers so I can bike to my job from the closet said burger flipping affords me?. Your attribution of choice in this matter is absurd. Maybe you're so lucky and wealthy that you can choose for whom you will work, where/when that work occurs, and how you'll get to work. That's an exceptionally privileged position and you should check your privilege before making such inane assumptive, and accusatory comments as this one.

Red_Leaves_Flyy 7y ago

Biking in a foot of snow, on roads with pot holes large enough to swallow a tire, or that flood, or turn to black ice, is dangerous and sucks. Add the lack of actual bike lanes on all but a few block long stretches and biking becomes a death wish. Sure I can get a studded fat tire bike, and bike down the middle of the lane with dozens of pissed off people behind me honking and screaming at me, but that still doesn't solve the other problem of rampant unprosecuted bike theft in my city. Nor do I have a place to shower once I get to work. So I'd need two bikes, one with specialized winter tires, that I'm replacing frequently when they get stolen. Another gym membership to shower at before I go to work. Better health insurance to lessen the financial blow of the inevitable hit and run. More time to account for the longer commute. In my case it's 4-6x longer to bike than drive. Time I'm not making any money and time I'm at substantially greater risk of getting seriously injured. The politics of it certainly do suck. There's too much money pushing for the jobs that our car dependence create.

baot 7y ago
You only chose to live that far from work, in a place that gets a foot of snow, because you assumed you could make the journey in a petroleum car. It wouldn't have been possible 100 years in the past and it won't be possible 100 years in the future. Same for your employer choosing not to provide showers.
- thedaemon 7y ago
  You are making wild general assumptions about this person's life. Most people in the USA can't really choose where to live, they are forced into a particular zone based on income or some other factor. You are also suggesting that they move from the place that gets snow. This is a ludicrous suggestion and very rude. We can't all live on the beach front property.
  - baot 7y ago
    Let's be honest, people on HN aren't limited in where they live by poverty. As I said, it was possible 100 years ago. We -as a society- have brought this rut on ourselves.
    - thedaemon 7y ago
      I certainly am. I don't understand why everyone here thinks this is a private club for rich investors in silicon valley.
    - Red_Leaves_Flyy 7y ago
      Goodness gracious. You seem to be completely unaware of the lengths average people go to in order to survive. Here's a thought. Educated people can simultaneously be impoverished and current on world affairs.
- WalterBright 7y ago
  Unfortunately, zoning laws in American cities segregate residential from commercial areas, resulting in transportation problems.
- Red_Leaves_Flyy 7y ago
  The choice is between living in a decrepit shoebox an hours bike from my job, or living in someone's closet to be within walking distance. I'm a contractor though. I could be sent an hours drive in any direction. How do you suggest I plan for this? Do I buy a house with my nonexistent wealth everywhere I could be asked to work? Do I quit my job and take a massive pay cut to flip burgers so I can bike to my job from the closet said burger flipping affords me?. Your attribution of choice in this matter is absurd. Maybe you're so lucky and wealthy that you can choose for whom you will work, where/when that work occurs, and how you'll get to work. That's an exceptionally privileged position and you should check your privilege before making such inane assumptive, and accusatory comments as this one.