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> We need more pollution controls, clean power, and less driving. I don't know about the less driving part. Less driving implies higher density living and mass

> We need more pollution controls, clean power, and less driving. I don't know about the less driving part. Less driving implies higher density living and massive reliance on public transport. I think the higher density and massive reliance on public transport have been one of the big reasons why New York City has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the US and a much higher mortality rate than the rest of the country. Speaking of cars, I for one have been very happy that I can go get needed supplies without having to ride a public transport system. My exposure risk with driving is basically zero no matter how far I travel, and depends only on my endpoints. However, with a public transport system, it increases with the time and number of stops since that brings me into contact with more people for longer periods who may be infected. Throughout history, high density cities have shown themselves to be magnets for plagues and pandemics. I hope people and companies learn the value of spreading out and maybe allowing workers to work remotely, instead of insisting all their workers crowd into high density, expensive cities.

jedberg 7y ago
I think the outbreak in NYC is somewhat cultural. There are asian cities far more dense than NYC, and have much better control of the outbreak. They also have cultural norms that include wearing masks and gloves and more hand washing after using public facilities, and fewer handshakes and touching in general.
zip1234 7y ago
Hong Kong and plenty of other cities have had the same exposure to the virus as NYC but have handled it better. There are plenty of places that are much nicer to live and have a medium density but are much more friendly to other ways of getting around than cars. The only options for getting around are not public transport or a car. Biking, electric scooters, and so many more.
outworlder 7y ago
> I think the higher density and massive reliance on public transport have been one of the big reasons why New York City has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the US and a much higher mortality rate than the rest of the country. There is a trade-off. NYC is not a plague city, we are suffering a global pandemic. How many times have we had these? Once every few decades? So what about all the other times where things are normal? Urban sprawl is inefficient and not sustainable in a world with 8 billion people (and growing fast).

jedberg 7y ago

I think the outbreak in NYC is somewhat cultural. There are asian cities far more dense than NYC, and have much better control of the outbreak. They also have cultural norms that include wearing masks and gloves and more hand washing after using public facilities, and fewer handshakes and touching in general.

zip1234 7y ago

Hong Kong and plenty of other cities have had the same exposure to the virus as NYC but have handled it better. There are plenty of places that are much nicer to live and have a medium density but are much more friendly to other ways of getting around than cars. The only options for getting around are not public transport or a car. Biking, electric scooters, and so many more.

outworlder 7y ago

> I think the higher density and massive reliance on public transport have been one of the big reasons why New York City has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the US and a much higher mortality rate than the rest of the country. There is a trade-off. NYC is not a plague city, we are suffering a global pandemic. How many times have we had these? Once every few decades? So what about all the other times where things are normal? Urban sprawl is inefficient and not sustainable in a world with 8 billion people (and growing fast).