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Are there any strawmen around? This thread was about replacing cars with trains, where it makes sense. Not to declare cars are the only way.

mcv 3y ago
Obviously you need a healthy mix. Trains are great for some situations, not for others. Same with every other mode of transportation. For best results, make sure you use them all for the situation they're best at.
palata 3y ago
> This thread was about replacing cars with trains Was it? My opinion is that we should invest much more into public transportation and much less into individual cars. Those who really need an individual car should get a small electric vehicle, not a Tesla.
- robertlagrant 3y ago
  It's hard to have threads about topics when people just push their own other things into it. I made a comment countering the idea that roads are from some sort of carspiracy, when they are just exceptionally useful, general-purpose ways of getting people and goods around, and have been for over 2000 years. You then straw-manned that into only 5-lane highways. I can't see a good reason for you doing that, so I am assuming you're forcing the conversation into an argument of your own making that you can then feel justified in venting in. I could be wrong, but it doesn't really matter. I just wanted to make my point and not steer the conversation into any personal catharsis.
  - palata 3y ago
    Sorry, maybe sarcasm was not the best way to convey my idea. I just visited the US and was absolutely shocked by the size of their roads and the surface covered by parking lots :-). Anyway, my point was that roads are useful, but you certainly don't need 5 lanes for emergency vehicles, just one. Still, the tendency everywhere is to add road not for emergency vehicles and bikes, but because there are more and more cars out there. Instead we should invest in public transportation and push for fewer cars. Not everyone needs a big car, and therefore we would not need 5-lanes roads if most people were taking the train. I am not saying that we should remove roads. But maybe we should stop adding more of them (or making them bigger or faster) and instead invest in trains.

mcv 3y ago

Obviously you need a healthy mix. Trains are great for some situations, not for others. Same with every other mode of transportation. For best results, make sure you use them all for the situation they're best at.

palata 3y ago

> This thread was about replacing cars with trains Was it? My opinion is that we should invest much more into public transportation and much less into individual cars. Those who really need an individual car should get a small electric vehicle, not a Tesla.

robertlagrant 3y ago
It's hard to have threads about topics when people just push their own other things into it. I made a comment countering the idea that roads are from some sort of carspiracy, when they are just exceptionally useful, general-purpose ways of getting people and goods around, and have been for over 2000 years. You then straw-manned that into only 5-lane highways. I can't see a good reason for you doing that, so I am assuming you're forcing the conversation into an argument of your own making that you can then feel justified in venting in. I could be wrong, but it doesn't really matter. I just wanted to make my point and not steer the conversation into any personal catharsis.
- palata 3y ago
  Sorry, maybe sarcasm was not the best way to convey my idea. I just visited the US and was absolutely shocked by the size of their roads and the surface covered by parking lots :-). Anyway, my point was that roads are useful, but you certainly don't need 5 lanes for emergency vehicles, just one. Still, the tendency everywhere is to add road not for emergency vehicles and bikes, but because there are more and more cars out there. Instead we should invest in public transportation and push for fewer cars. Not everyone needs a big car, and therefore we would not need 5-lanes roads if most people were taking the train. I am not saying that we should remove roads. But maybe we should stop adding more of them (or making them bigger or faster) and instead invest in trains.