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It's interesting how you put it that way. Another way of looking at it is that you depend on your car to explore the world. Can you imagine depending on a drug

It's interesting how you put it that way. Another way of looking at it is that you depend on your car to explore the world. Can you imagine depending on a drug to enjoy the world? That's what dependency is.

AnimalMuppet 2y ago
By your standard, either you're walking, you're riding a bicycle, or you're dependent on something - a car, a bus, or a train. And most of us don't want to be limited to bicycle range.
- rckclmbr 2y ago
  I don’t think anyone is saying we don’t need cars. They want to decrease dependence on cars. The things that are in bicycle range should be accessible by bicycle. Today, they typically aren’t
- kazinator 2y ago
  Most transit and car trips are well within "bicycle range". For that matter, bicycle trips too.
- kazinator 2y ago
  Most transit and car trips are well within "bicycle range". For that matter, bicycle trips too. In a congested urban area, the time range of a bicycle is better than that of an automobile, let alone transit. I.e. the radius where you can be by a certain elapsed time.
- bossyTeacher 2y ago
  This is why I find the American way of thinking so interesting. You are equating your body to a piece of metal and rubber. Your car is not your body. It is something external to you. Not only that but is also something that apart from being financially taxing on you, also leads you to destroy the planet and contribute to respiratory issues as well increasing rates of obesity by significantly reducing what's arguably the main source of human physical activity. This reminds me of the tobacco industry trying to defend a dependency on something that is clearly bad for you. And please note that I am talking about private cars here. And note that my response was to your "My car opens the world to me" which is not too different to alcoholics being unable to enjoy the world without unhealthy use of alcohol. It is possible to have a city where amenities are within biking or walking distance. Those cities already exist. But the car first mentality will definitely go down in history as one of the leading factors in the poor health outcomes in the US. People think that fitness implies gym when it doesn't. For most of human history, there were no gyms. People engaged in casual walking
ipaddr 2y ago
Eating food is the strongest dependency we have aside from oxygen and water. Sleep is also a strong dependency. Imagine requiring a constant supply of air.
- thfuran 2y ago
  What exactly is your point?
  - ipaddr 2y ago
    Parent poster couldn't imagine having a dependency in their life. Your body uses drugs called food. We think we are more isolated and self reliant then we are as a species
- bossyTeacher 2y ago
  You are comparing life functions with private car usage. Read the previous sentence again. That's what dependency is. People who have a dependency on something feel that their dependency is a need. You won't die because you don't use a car. If anything, using your car tends to lead to a bunch of negative health outcomes for you and a bunch of negative health outcomes for your neighbours. Do you imagine people smoking and blowing the smoke on your face everyday because they feel that they need to smoke as much as you need to eat or sleep? That's what dependency is. Eating and sleeping are needs. Gambling regularly, smoking regularly or using your car regularly is more of a dependency. I am not telling you to stop using your car but that you use it when you NEED it. And if you are needing it too much, just like the person smoking or the person drinking too much, you should evaluate your decisions. Every time you use a car you chip your health a little bit and everyone's health a little bit. Visualise it.

AnimalMuppet 2y ago

By your standard, either you're walking, you're riding a bicycle, or you're dependent on something - a car, a bus, or a train. And most of us don't want to be limited to bicycle range.

rckclmbr 2y ago
I don’t think anyone is saying we don’t need cars. They want to decrease dependence on cars. The things that are in bicycle range should be accessible by bicycle. Today, they typically aren’t
kazinator 2y ago
Most transit and car trips are well within "bicycle range". For that matter, bicycle trips too.
kazinator 2y ago
Most transit and car trips are well within "bicycle range". For that matter, bicycle trips too. In a congested urban area, the time range of a bicycle is better than that of an automobile, let alone transit. I.e. the radius where you can be by a certain elapsed time.
bossyTeacher 2y ago
This is why I find the American way of thinking so interesting. You are equating your body to a piece of metal and rubber. Your car is not your body. It is something external to you. Not only that but is also something that apart from being financially taxing on you, also leads you to destroy the planet and contribute to respiratory issues as well increasing rates of obesity by significantly reducing what's arguably the main source of human physical activity. This reminds me of the tobacco industry trying to defend a dependency on something that is clearly bad for you. And please note that I am talking about private cars here. And note that my response was to your "My car opens the world to me" which is not too different to alcoholics being unable to enjoy the world without unhealthy use of alcohol. It is possible to have a city where amenities are within biking or walking distance. Those cities already exist. But the car first mentality will definitely go down in history as one of the leading factors in the poor health outcomes in the US. People think that fitness implies gym when it doesn't. For most of human history, there were no gyms. People engaged in casual walking

ipaddr 2y ago

Eating food is the strongest dependency we have aside from oxygen and water. Sleep is also a strong dependency. Imagine requiring a constant supply of air.

thfuran 2y ago
What exactly is your point?
- ipaddr 2y ago
  Parent poster couldn't imagine having a dependency in their life. Your body uses drugs called food. We think we are more isolated and self reliant then we are as a species
bossyTeacher 2y ago
You are comparing life functions with private car usage. Read the previous sentence again. That's what dependency is. People who have a dependency on something feel that their dependency is a need. You won't die because you don't use a car. If anything, using your car tends to lead to a bunch of negative health outcomes for you and a bunch of negative health outcomes for your neighbours. Do you imagine people smoking and blowing the smoke on your face everyday because they feel that they need to smoke as much as you need to eat or sleep? That's what dependency is. Eating and sleeping are needs. Gambling regularly, smoking regularly or using your car regularly is more of a dependency. I am not telling you to stop using your car but that you use it when you NEED it. And if you are needing it too much, just like the person smoking or the person drinking too much, you should evaluate your decisions. Every time you use a car you chip your health a little bit and everyone's health a little bit. Visualise it.