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... except I know way too many people who voluntarily subscribe to 50-60 minute commutes in a car instead of simply living closer to work. Optimizing for less
by potatolicious 15y ago
... except I know way too many people who voluntarily subscribe to 50-60 minute commutes in a car instead of simply living closer to work.
Optimizing for less time spent in transportation is nice, but there's a balance - both for yourself and society. A bunch of gas-guzzling one-ton hunks of steel squeezing their way down a packed freeway, with only a single passenger inside each... hardly seems beneficial to the economy, society, or the environment.
- nitrogen 15y agoThe commute isn't necessarily voluntary -- living closer to work may not be viable (especially for non-programmer types who work in the city but don't make enough to afford living there with their family), or may lack certain features (like a private yard or swimming pool) that make the commute worth it. I'm not advocating for the status quo of one giant inefficient beast of steel per person, just explaining why some drivers get upset about small delays. It is my opinion that any transportation system that completely replaces the current road system will need to allow for the type of minimal-latency point-to-point mobility we now enjoy with cars (during off-peak hours, at least). The reason I believe this is that people are easy to move, but businesses, houses, and other resources are not. Extra mobility allows us to match the right people with the right resources in less time.