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Proposal for the US: shift teens from cars to smaller vehicles: mopeds, scooters, and very small displacement motorcycles - 50, 100, 150 cc engines - and tie ad

by dmckeon 11y ago

Proposal for the US: shift teens from cars to smaller vehicles: mopeds, scooters, and very small displacement motorcycles - 50, 100, 150 cc engines - and tie advancement in license class/engine size to both age and other achievements: graduating high school or getting a GED, completing an associate degree or technical program, graduating college, completing military or national service, or being employed for X hours per week. Put strong negative incentives in place for motor vehicle violations - temporary downgrade in license class, bump in insurance costs, delay in advancement to next license class. This would significantly increase the number of small vehicles on roads while decreasing the power and weight of vehicles being operated by less experienced drivers. It would provide a easily visible way for young people to display their level of age and accomplishment (or lack of it). Operators of larger vehicles would have to deal with the presence of many more smaller vehicles, which could have a herd immunity effect - with 10x scooters on the street, car drivers would be more likely to notice and avoid two-wheelers of all sizes. Reduced carbon output would be another benefit.

001sky 11y ago
Huh? what about rain, snow, sleet, and fog? What about the desert and mountainous western states? What about the wind in the midwest? 2 wheel transit requires actual expertise unless limited to mediterranean climates. you also have no way to deal with practical concerns like injuries, spare tires, designated drivers, and transit of things like gear for sports. that is all stuff that is the bread and butter of yound people needing cars/transit and why the parents delegate it out. on the flipside, smaller cars & motorsycles are more dangerous. EG, when hit by all the massive SUVs and crazy f150 class vehicles favored by commercial drivers. their is a logic to why americans drive the cars they do. in part that's why the story is more akin to a tradgedy than a farce. the issues don't solve themselves with trivial remedies. Untill their is public transit that is safe, all-weather, and comprehensive, the public will need de-centralized and private transit solutions. unfortunately, the geographic and population topography of the country does not suit the european model of public transporation. there are also many issues now that it is "too late" to save places like california, who now have such massice entrnched residential real estate that new transit corridors cannot be built by the state without paying in essence ransom to current deed holders. ...etc.
unethical_ban 11y ago
"Hello parents, please put the light of your life on a two-wheeled vehicle so if she gets on an accident on the highway going to school, she won't hurt anyone else."
- sgift 11y ago
  "Or put him/her in a four-wheeled vehicle which will drive far faster than the two-wheeled one and kill the light of your life in case of an accident. The choice is yours!"
bruceb 11y ago
"...tie advancement in license class/engine size to both age and other achievements: graduating high school or getting a GED, completing an associate degree or technical program, graduating college, completing military or national service, or being employed for X hours per week." Why should driving a car be tied to education? Shouldn't it be tied to how well you drive? If an 18 yearold adult wants to work and not go to college why should they not be able to get a license? On a practical level those who are not getting the GED probably come from poor backgrounds and less likely to have a car anyway.

by dmckeon 11y ago

001sky 11y ago

Huh? what about rain, snow, sleet, and fog? What about the desert and mountainous western states? What about the wind in the midwest? 2 wheel transit requires actual expertise unless limited to mediterranean climates. you also have no way to deal with practical concerns like injuries, spare tires, designated drivers, and transit of things like gear for sports. that is all stuff that is the bread and butter of yound people needing cars/transit and why the parents delegate it out. on the flipside, smaller cars & motorsycles are more dangerous. EG, when hit by all the massive SUVs and crazy f150 class vehicles favored by commercial drivers. their is a logic to why americans drive the cars they do. in part that's why the story is more akin to a tradgedy than a farce. the issues don't solve themselves with trivial remedies. Untill their is public transit that is safe, all-weather, and comprehensive, the public will need de-centralized and private transit solutions. unfortunately, the geographic and population topography of the country does not suit the european model of public transporation. there are also many issues now that it is "too late" to save places like california, who now have such massice entrnched residential real estate that new transit corridors cannot be built by the state without paying in essence ransom to current deed holders. ...etc.

unethical_ban 11y ago

"Hello parents, please put the light of your life on a two-wheeled vehicle so if she gets on an accident on the highway going to school, she won't hurt anyone else."

sgift 11y ago
"Or put him/her in a four-wheeled vehicle which will drive far faster than the two-wheeled one and kill the light of your life in case of an accident. The choice is yours!"

bruceb 11y ago

"...tie advancement in license class/engine size to both age and other achievements: graduating high school or getting a GED, completing an associate degree or technical program, graduating college, completing military or national service, or being employed for X hours per week." Why should driving a car be tied to education? Shouldn't it be tied to how well you drive? If an 18 yearold adult wants to work and not go to college why should they not be able to get a license? On a practical level those who are not getting the GED probably come from poor backgrounds and less likely to have a car anyway.