4 ms·

When I was living in America, I'd drive 300m to the grocery store because I could, so I understand the feeling. I'm also sure it's hot & humid much of the time

When I was living in America, I'd drive 300m to the grocery store because I could, so I understand the feeling. I'm also sure it's hot & humid much of the time, which makes walking & biking a sweaty affair.

k99x55 3y ago
So you need a 3 ton machine to avoid sweating? Shades and trees are cheap to install and maintain, not to mention the wind whilst riding which gives you a nice cooling effect. The only reason you do not have shading+trees around roads is because they are removed in name of "traffic flow".
- devoutsalsa 3y ago
  Have you ever tried to carry an air conditioner? When you include the power source, it’s really heavy. Do you think someone who drives 300m is capable of carrying that kind of weight? I suppose I could carry a car door and just roll down the window.
- rchaud 3y ago
  That's not why, it's so that business signage is not blocked by foliage, and so that police can scan areas more quickly while on patrol.
  - masklinn 3y ago
    That's an impressive level of carbrain. Roadside trees is completely standard all over the world, and Nukuʻalofa certainly has them: https://www.google.fr/maps/@-21.1406571,-175.2050866,3a,75y,352.09h,115.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAF1QipOpEegMv2yzJaVQqCYuCSQcZRGP1pCp9TngKS_i!2e10!7i7680!8i3840?entry=ttu https://www.google.fr/maps/@-21.1406571,-175.2050866,3a,75y,... > it's so that business signage is not blocked by foliage That's patent nonsense (https://www.google.fr/maps/@52.3653572,4.8753188,3a,75y,95.47h,86.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRxT3KH9wUP4NpoRC2BOw2A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu https://www.google.fr/maps/@52.3653572,4.8753188,3a,75y,95.4...) but even if it were not, why would it matter? Making the environment at large better should be the foremost guiding principle, businesses can adapt their signage habits. > and so that police can scan areas more quickly while on patrol. If roadside trees prevent your police from doing their job, you really need better police. Then again, we know the US needs better police.
    - rchaud 3y ago
      My comment was more about the interest groups that wield disproportionate decision making power at local levels. But have at it if you must.
- masklinn 3y ago
  To be fair (and balanced) Tonga does have a hot and humid (tropical rainforest) climate. The "cold" season means "it rarely gets over 27C (80F)", and humidity only dips a bit below 75% during the "dry" season.
  - k99x55 3y ago
    Fair enough, but the solution cannot be cars. Its simple geometry. Cars do not scale in cities and small spaces. Enough brainstorming would give a cycle-friendly non-car solution to this. I don't know: sprinklers + shading + narrow streets (shading) etc. Car-centric cities only make cities hotter if anything.
    - masklinn 3y ago
      Oh I completely agree, I’m sure there are a number of issues (salt, natural disasters, wealth) but it seems insane that a sunny, windy, tropical island 30 miles long would be reliant on ICE cars for anything but maybe emergency. I feel like that’s a complete personal and systemic failure.
tonyedgecombe 3y ago
>When I was living in America, I'd drive 300m to the grocery store because I could, so I understand the feeling. One of the best things about getting rid of my car was it took those opportunities away from me. No matter how lazy I feel I can't take the easy option.
- devoutsalsa 3y ago
  I walked a lot more in San Francisco, which is a very walkable city in most places. Just keep an eye out for poop.
  - peanuty1 3y ago
    Ah yes, the open defecation capital of North America.
    - devoutsalsa 3y ago
      Is a search for "sidewalk poop" mentioning SF in the top #1 search result for you, too? https://www.google.com/search?q=sidewalk+poop https://www.google.com/search?q=sidewalk+poop

k99x55 3y ago

So you need a 3 ton machine to avoid sweating? Shades and trees are cheap to install and maintain, not to mention the wind whilst riding which gives you a nice cooling effect. The only reason you do not have shading+trees around roads is because they are removed in name of "traffic flow".

devoutsalsa 3y ago
Have you ever tried to carry an air conditioner? When you include the power source, it’s really heavy. Do you think someone who drives 300m is capable of carrying that kind of weight? I suppose I could carry a car door and just roll down the window.
rchaud 3y ago
That's not why, it's so that business signage is not blocked by foliage, and so that police can scan areas more quickly while on patrol.
- masklinn 3y ago
  That's an impressive level of carbrain. Roadside trees is completely standard all over the world, and Nukuʻalofa certainly has them: https://www.google.fr/maps/@-21.1406571,-175.2050866,3a,75y,352.09h,115.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAF1QipOpEegMv2yzJaVQqCYuCSQcZRGP1pCp9TngKS_i!2e10!7i7680!8i3840?entry=ttu https://www.google.fr/maps/@-21.1406571,-175.2050866,3a,75y,... > it's so that business signage is not blocked by foliage That's patent nonsense (https://www.google.fr/maps/@52.3653572,4.8753188,3a,75y,95.47h,86.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRxT3KH9wUP4NpoRC2BOw2A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu https://www.google.fr/maps/@52.3653572,4.8753188,3a,75y,95.4...) but even if it were not, why would it matter? Making the environment at large better should be the foremost guiding principle, businesses can adapt their signage habits. > and so that police can scan areas more quickly while on patrol. If roadside trees prevent your police from doing their job, you really need better police. Then again, we know the US needs better police.
  - rchaud 3y ago
    My comment was more about the interest groups that wield disproportionate decision making power at local levels. But have at it if you must.
masklinn 3y ago
To be fair (and balanced) Tonga does have a hot and humid (tropical rainforest) climate. The "cold" season means "it rarely gets over 27C (80F)", and humidity only dips a bit below 75% during the "dry" season.
- k99x55 3y ago
  Fair enough, but the solution cannot be cars. Its simple geometry. Cars do not scale in cities and small spaces. Enough brainstorming would give a cycle-friendly non-car solution to this. I don't know: sprinklers + shading + narrow streets (shading) etc. Car-centric cities only make cities hotter if anything.
  - masklinn 3y ago
    Oh I completely agree, I’m sure there are a number of issues (salt, natural disasters, wealth) but it seems insane that a sunny, windy, tropical island 30 miles long would be reliant on ICE cars for anything but maybe emergency. I feel like that’s a complete personal and systemic failure.

tonyedgecombe 3y ago

>When I was living in America, I'd drive 300m to the grocery store because I could, so I understand the feeling. One of the best things about getting rid of my car was it took those opportunities away from me. No matter how lazy I feel I can't take the easy option.

devoutsalsa 3y ago
I walked a lot more in San Francisco, which is a very walkable city in most places. Just keep an eye out for poop.
- peanuty1 3y ago
  Ah yes, the open defecation capital of North America.
  - devoutsalsa 3y ago
    Is a search for "sidewalk poop" mentioning SF in the top #1 search result for you, too? https://www.google.com/search?q=sidewalk+poop https://www.google.com/search?q=sidewalk+poop