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>Cars aren't individual choices. They are a societal choice that costs a trillion dollars a year to make work. The issue is cars. No matter which way you slice
by thereisnospork 5y ago
>Cars aren't individual choices. They are a societal choice that costs a trillion dollars a year to make work. The issue is cars. No matter which way you slice it, we need to remove cars, and that will necessarily mean making driving a car worse.
Where is the better option? Most of what I ever hear proposed or implemented are fair weather or inflexible solutions that don't replace my need for a car[0], and thereby only serve to make my transit experience worse.
[0]And this is having lived in a variety of minor to major urban centers in the States.
- thayne 5y agoI can see replacing cars in major urban cities with high population density. And I'd love to see more options for long distance travel in the US (like fast trains). However, arguments for getting rid of cars seem to ignore the fact that public transit just isn't economical in areas with low population density. And even in urban areas, there are situations where having a car is very beneficial, such as grocery shopping. If you're a single individual it's probably manageable without a car, but for a family of four, you probably can't carry enough food for more than two or three days. If there were no cars in the city, I have no idea how you would purchase larger items like furniture. Every anti-car argument I've seen has assumed a particular lifestyle. If you really want to get rid of cars, you'll need replacements that can solve the problems of almost everyone.
- tonyedgecombe 5y agoGrocery and furniture delivery is a thing. >Every anti-car argument I've seen has assumed a particular lifestyle. Yes, a no car lifestyle.
- thayne 5y ago> Grocery and furniture delivery is a thing. But doesn't the delivery driver use a car? Also, grocery delivery/pickup might work for some people, but my experience has not been good. For one thing, the store employee won't pick produce the same way I would. And if something is out of stock, I may want to change other items as well, rather than substitute it or omit it. Store employees often substitute differently than I would, which is especially problematic with a food allergy. > Yes, a no car lifestyle. I mean an urban lifestyle without kids.
- tonyedgecombe 5y ago>But doesn't the delivery driver use a car? They use a van and drop off at a hundred other customers homes in your vicinity.
- thayne 5y ago1. So you still need the infrastructure for cars 2. Again, that's only efficient in areas with high population density.