4 ms·

I really like the visual way this article is presented. I also largely disagree with this "carless world" argument that seems so popular with young journalists

I really like the visual way this article is presented. I also largely disagree with this "carless world" argument that seems so popular with young journalists living in dense, poorly-designed, and poorly-managed metropoli. Every time these urban development subjects comes up on HN, I point at the Japanese examples of Tokyo and Osaka. Clean streets and sidewalks, pedestrians and bikes are everywhere, low rate of fatalities....and yet cars are everywhere too, and Tokyo has one of the most vibrant "car cultures" on the planet. So obviously we don't HAVE to get rid of cars to make a city of 10 million people function correctly. The Japanese accomplish it via: 1) almost no curbside parking for POVs 2) commonly available yet expensive parking lots, with extremely narrow parking spaces 3) exorbitant vehicular taxes & registration 4) world-class public transit so the "plebs" are discouraged from needing a POV in the first place. Not having half of their population overweight or obese is probably also a factor (smaller vehicles which can take advantage of smaller parking spots, and fit people are probably more willing to walk/bike/etc.) I DO like that the author covered how reducing road traffic is good for car enthusiasts too, and I very much agree: please give inattentive commuters who are hating life driving from Point A to Point B superior transit options. As an aside, I visited NYC about a year ago with my Japanese significant other....the subway infrastructure is so archaic I felt embarrassed for our nation.

Gangbusters 6y ago
Japan is also completely ethnically homogenous. People don't want to use public transport in many cities in America because the risk of violent and property crime is too high. I think the solution is a private system of autonomous minibuses, that people can subscribe to and that generates routes automatically.
- NotSammyHagar 6y ago
  People are afraid to ride mass transit because other races or colors might be on the bus? That's just racism. Are you, I mean these other people, afraid to go on an airplane if it has minorities on it?
  - lowdose 6y ago
    Aren't you aware that people on airplanes are per definition almost excluded from public buses?
nanomonkey 6y ago
Not to mention that in Japan there is an in depth inspection of every vehicle for road worthiness. The Shaken vehicle inspection program keeps modified and poorly maintained vehicles off the road, which probably reduces a significant amount of noise, pollution and reckless drivers.
- CapricornNoble 6y ago
  It's definitely better than some of the egregious violations of road safety that I saw living in Florida. But the culture is different; most Japanese drivers, even the young ones, are damn diligent about maintenance. There are still easy ways around the Shaken: typically swapping on your stock exhaust system for the inspection, and then taking it off immediately afterwards to install your straight pipe. You just re-attach the catalytic converter every 2 years. Or you can just pay for a "paper inspection", where a mechanic rubber-stamps your documentation. However, the police have been harshly cracking down on that the last few years. My Supra has a US-sourced custom single-piece driveshaft, which is apparently totally illegal, so I need to either cobble together a 2-piece shaft from OEM Toyota parts, or pay a shady shop. The Japanese police almost never do any sort of snap roadside inspection though, which is much better than the nightmare stories I hear from California.
Ghjklov 6y ago
I'd avoid using Japan as an example for things like this. I won't even mention the whole homogenity thing. It's the culture. Culture is the most important thing. Japanese people, or people who live in Japan, on average more likely give some shit about other people, or the overall society. Shame is also big in Japan, while not a thing at all in most Western, individualist societies. Shame alone can make a Japanese person or someone living Japan think twice about littering. Shame alone makes a Japanese salaryman clean up his own vomit off the street after spewing his guts after a long drinking night. You will never get most Americans to do anything on this level. Hell, they take pride in not giving a fuck about others.

Gangbusters 6y ago

Japan is also completely ethnically homogenous. People don't want to use public transport in many cities in America because the risk of violent and property crime is too high. I think the solution is a private system of autonomous minibuses, that people can subscribe to and that generates routes automatically.

NotSammyHagar 6y ago
People are afraid to ride mass transit because other races or colors might be on the bus? That's just racism. Are you, I mean these other people, afraid to go on an airplane if it has minorities on it?
- lowdose 6y ago
  Aren't you aware that people on airplanes are per definition almost excluded from public buses?

nanomonkey 6y ago

Not to mention that in Japan there is an in depth inspection of every vehicle for road worthiness. The Shaken vehicle inspection program keeps modified and poorly maintained vehicles off the road, which probably reduces a significant amount of noise, pollution and reckless drivers.

CapricornNoble 6y ago
It's definitely better than some of the egregious violations of road safety that I saw living in Florida. But the culture is different; most Japanese drivers, even the young ones, are damn diligent about maintenance. There are still easy ways around the Shaken: typically swapping on your stock exhaust system for the inspection, and then taking it off immediately afterwards to install your straight pipe. You just re-attach the catalytic converter every 2 years. Or you can just pay for a "paper inspection", where a mechanic rubber-stamps your documentation. However, the police have been harshly cracking down on that the last few years. My Supra has a US-sourced custom single-piece driveshaft, which is apparently totally illegal, so I need to either cobble together a 2-piece shaft from OEM Toyota parts, or pay a shady shop. The Japanese police almost never do any sort of snap roadside inspection though, which is much better than the nightmare stories I hear from California.

Ghjklov 6y ago

I'd avoid using Japan as an example for things like this. I won't even mention the whole homogenity thing. It's the culture. Culture is the most important thing. Japanese people, or people who live in Japan, on average more likely give some shit about other people, or the overall society. Shame is also big in Japan, while not a thing at all in most Western, individualist societies. Shame alone can make a Japanese person or someone living Japan think twice about littering. Shame alone makes a Japanese salaryman clean up his own vomit off the street after spewing his guts after a long drinking night. You will never get most Americans to do anything on this level. Hell, they take pride in not giving a fuck about others.