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> Living in a suburb/rural area that is more than a half-hour drive from your place of work (in no traffic). That this situation is so common is a symptom of t

by swift 13y ago

> Living in a suburb/rural area that is more than a half-hour drive from your place of work (in no traffic). That this situation is so common is a symptom of the fact that our cities and towns have been designed around driving. The geography of the US is a comparatively small factor, since (as you mention) most people here live in cities or suburbs. > When that happens, a car is typically the most sensible form of transportation. For these sorts of occasional needs, car sharing services work well. > I also find your enthusiasm for passing laws to legislate your cost/benefit analysis on everyone else to be deeply disturbing, but I'll leave that one be. This assumes that the status quo doesn't already constitute legislating one group's cost/benefit analysis on everyone else.

burntsushi 13y ago
> That this situation is so common is a symptom of the fact that our cities and towns have been designed around driving. I live outside Boston. Which was most certainly not designed for driving. And yet, my analysis holds there too. > The geography of the US is a comparatively small factor, since (as you mention) most people here live in cities or suburbs. I think you've taken what I said out of context. I went on to qualify that by saying those people, due to the lower overall population density, have a decent chance of knowing people in suburbs/rural areas that they visit. > For these sorts of occasional needs, car sharing services work well. In urban areas, yes. In suburb/rural areas, no. My friend had a similar dilemma, and her solution was to rent a car. Plausible, but is of varying pain depending upon use cases. Her use case was "I need a car infrequently but for long stretches of time." > This assumes that the status quo doesn't already constitute legislating one group's cost/benefit analysis on everyone else. No it doesn't. I said nothing about the status quo. I didn't even argue in favor of the status quo. Do you acknowledge that geography plays a big role in the viability of cycling as a primary mode of transportation? From your response, I can only assume that you don't. If my assumption is right, then I suggest we focus the conversation on that.
- Retric 13y ago
  Your also assuming an ether or situation if you drive less having a cheaper car seems more reasonable. I bought a 30k car back when I spent 2 hours a day in it, now that I drive ~2 hours a week and kind of wish I had bought a Honda civic instead.
  - burntsushi 13y ago
    > Your also assuming an ether or situation if you drive less having a cheaper car seems more reasonable. Where did I assume that? This isn't about whether you have a $30K car or a Civic, just that you have a car...

by swift 13y ago

burntsushi 13y ago

> That this situation is so common is a symptom of the fact that our cities and towns have been designed around driving. I live outside Boston. Which was most certainly not designed for driving. And yet, my analysis holds there too. > The geography of the US is a comparatively small factor, since (as you mention) most people here live in cities or suburbs. I think you've taken what I said out of context. I went on to qualify that by saying those people, due to the lower overall population density, have a decent chance of knowing people in suburbs/rural areas that they visit. > For these sorts of occasional needs, car sharing services work well. In urban areas, yes. In suburb/rural areas, no. My friend had a similar dilemma, and her solution was to rent a car. Plausible, but is of varying pain depending upon use cases. Her use case was "I need a car infrequently but for long stretches of time." > This assumes that the status quo doesn't already constitute legislating one group's cost/benefit analysis on everyone else. No it doesn't. I said nothing about the status quo. I didn't even argue in favor of the status quo. Do you acknowledge that geography plays a big role in the viability of cycling as a primary mode of transportation? From your response, I can only assume that you don't. If my assumption is right, then I suggest we focus the conversation on that.

Retric 13y ago
Your also assuming an ether or situation if you drive less having a cheaper car seems more reasonable. I bought a 30k car back when I spent 2 hours a day in it, now that I drive ~2 hours a week and kind of wish I had bought a Honda civic instead.
- burntsushi 13y ago
  > Your also assuming an ether or situation if you drive less having a cheaper car seems more reasonable. Where did I assume that? This isn't about whether you have a $30K car or a Civic, just that you have a car...