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Many on HN seem to forget that not everyone lives near the city or works in a city, where “city” is defined by an area with enough commercial, residential, and

Many on HN seem to forget that not everyone lives near the city or works in a city, where “city” is defined by an area with enough commercial, residential, and industrial within walking distance of each other to support a car-less lifestyle. But in fact, only a portion (of the US, at least — 31% [1]) live in urban areas that would allow them to go car-less, even if you take the housing issues out of the equation. If the rest (69%) even lived right next to work (which many couldn’t, since in many areas, there isn’t housing close to their workplace), they’d still have to commute everywhere else. [1] https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/05/22/demographic-and-economic-trends-in-urban-suburban-and-rural-communities/ https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/05/22/demogra...

amanaplanacanal 5y ago
The term “commute” is typically used for the daily drive to work. You seem to be using it for something else.
- jader201 5y ago
  No, it’s that commuting is only part of why most people need cars. But a) this only addresses commuting, and b) many people have no housing options that would allow them to eliminate commuting. My point is that I’ve seen many highly upvoted comments on HN lately (this one included) that seem to think living near work would put a dent in the climate change problem, when the data suggests this isn’t the case. Many people on HN either live — or if they could afford it, would live — near work allowing them to go car-less, and therefore assume most of the world is like that, when, in fact, most of the world could not go car-less in their current job/residence.
- throw0101a 5y ago
  > The term “commute” is typically used for the daily drive to work. You seem to be using it for something else. Maybe in the US where driving is prevalent, but in many other places your "commute" is simply your trip to work. In Toronto, Canada, many people commute via transit (TTC). We have a commuter rail system for the region (GO).
  - amanaplanacanal 5y ago
    You are of course correct. I was distinguishing it from all the other trips one might take other than the daily trip to work.

amanaplanacanal 5y ago

The term “commute” is typically used for the daily drive to work. You seem to be using it for something else.

jader201 5y ago
No, it’s that commuting is only part of why most people need cars. But a) this only addresses commuting, and b) many people have no housing options that would allow them to eliminate commuting. My point is that I’ve seen many highly upvoted comments on HN lately (this one included) that seem to think living near work would put a dent in the climate change problem, when the data suggests this isn’t the case. Many people on HN either live — or if they could afford it, would live — near work allowing them to go car-less, and therefore assume most of the world is like that, when, in fact, most of the world could not go car-less in their current job/residence.
throw0101a 5y ago
> The term “commute” is typically used for the daily drive to work. You seem to be using it for something else. Maybe in the US where driving is prevalent, but in many other places your "commute" is simply your trip to work. In Toronto, Canada, many people commute via transit (TTC). We have a commuter rail system for the region (GO).
- amanaplanacanal 5y ago
  You are of course correct. I was distinguishing it from all the other trips one might take other than the daily trip to work.