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I think the right way to end the "obsession" (which is probably a poor term to use, since it's highly incentivized to drive), is to end the massive subsidies fo

I think the right way to end the "obsession" (which is probably a poor term to use, since it's highly incentivized to drive), is to end the massive subsidies for car based transportation. Require maintenance to be paid for by the users, and I'm sure we'll see car related costs skyrocket, and then many people will look for other options.

yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago
> end the massive subsidies for car based transportation. Require maintenance to be paid for by the users What maintenance / subsidies is that?
- coffeeedan 5y ago
  Example subsidy: In NYC, street parking in most residential neighborhoods is "free". This is a subsidy paid for by taxpayers, 55 percent of which do not own a car. These parking spaces take up 500 million square feet of public space. That's a lot of free real estate for storage of private property.
twelve40 5y ago
how about providing those non-car options _first_? before punishing regular people for trying to get from point a to point b.
hackeraccount 5y ago
That's going to be tricky. People want to be able to drive around and they don't mind paying for it. Getting rid of those subsidies would presumably lower everyone's taxes by a similar amount. If people really don't like driving they'll just spend the money saved on something else if not then they'll just spend the money required for infrastructure directly. I live in a city. I walk. I take public transport. I still own a car though because sometimes it's super handy. I'm sure there's a price where I'd decide the handiness is outweighed by the price but it's a pretty high price and I'm going to be reluctant to vote for people who make my life harder not easier.
- milkytron 5y ago
  > I'm sure there's a price where I'd decide the handiness is outweighed by the price but it's a pretty high price Have you considered car share programs?

yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago

> end the massive subsidies for car based transportation. Require maintenance to be paid for by the users What maintenance / subsidies is that?

coffeeedan 5y ago
Example subsidy: In NYC, street parking in most residential neighborhoods is "free". This is a subsidy paid for by taxpayers, 55 percent of which do not own a car. These parking spaces take up 500 million square feet of public space. That's a lot of free real estate for storage of private property.

twelve40 5y ago

how about providing those non-car options _first_? before punishing regular people for trying to get from point a to point b.

hackeraccount 5y ago

That's going to be tricky. People want to be able to drive around and they don't mind paying for it. Getting rid of those subsidies would presumably lower everyone's taxes by a similar amount. If people really don't like driving they'll just spend the money saved on something else if not then they'll just spend the money required for infrastructure directly. I live in a city. I walk. I take public transport. I still own a car though because sometimes it's super handy. I'm sure there's a price where I'd decide the handiness is outweighed by the price but it's a pretty high price and I'm going to be reluctant to vote for people who make my life harder not easier.

milkytron 5y ago
> I'm sure there's a price where I'd decide the handiness is outweighed by the price but it's a pretty high price Have you considered car share programs?