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Japan manages to have a capitalistic hellscape with many fewer cars…
Cars are a problem, but they definitely aren’t the only problem.
I think the “fuck cars” movement has latched on to one particular symptom of a problem and are laser-focused on it, which probably isn’t the best way to address it in the long run.
Addressing actual issues by proposing workable solutions like more public transport is actually the only way in the long run to do anything useful. While I agree with the overall sentiment, vaguely gesturing at capitalism is far less actionable and useful and more often than not stifles more useful activism.
It’s not capitalism that I’m vaguely gesturing at, it’s city planning. Public transport is one element of that.
except you dont actually say that in the comment i responded to… thats like the definition of being vague
I didn’t gesture at anything in particular. “Capitalism” was entirely from you.
they definitely aren’t the only problem
Who’s even claiming they are, though
Why not? It’s just a distraction from real dreams of not having my city clogged with pedestrian maiming cars.
Yeah, those cars. They always jump right up onto the sidewalk, striking without warning from the shadows.
I can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not. Cars absolutely do jump onto sidewalks and hit pedestrians and cyclists. A curb is nothing to stop a drunk or distracted driver in an SUV.
Early in the pandemic there was a driver who launched their vehicle into a restaurant. And when I say launch, I mean up over an approximately 2 1/2 foot high curb. All the way into the restaurant, the driver was about to put 'er in reverse and back right out again. A quick thinking patron reached into the car, turned the car off, and pulled the keys. Someone described the driver as ‘unusually calm’. So yeah, striking without warning from the shadows seems fair.
Driving into buildings is far more common than it should be
Agreed. That particular ‘strip mall’ has a huge parking lot out front, such that one couldn’t readily sort of zip off the road and into the building. Tho’ within 6 mos, a year another car drove into a shop, further down the mall, in a much easier spot. I’m thinking bollards, big HONKING BOLLARDS, might just help.
The plural of ‘anecdote’ is not ‘data’.
And singular of data is datum. ;-)
Cars absolutely do
So often that it’s statistically crucial and we should talk about that all the time.
Wait a sec. Had to dodge a meteor in that quick strike.
Want to save the electric car dream? Subsidies aren’t enough. Large EVs are far more expensive than conventional large vehicles, and road-tanks like the F150 represent a threat to the kind of small vehicles that we should be supporting. Subcompacts, e-bikes, and new things filling the space in-between (eg enclosed electric motorbike-class vehicles like the Arcimoto) are an important part of the post-fossil-fuel future, but they’re not safe to take on to a road full of gigantic motor bricks. I drive a Prius Prime and the darn thing’s roof is lower than the hood of some jacked-up pickups.
I’m not saying that pickups and similar vehicles should be illegal, but we need stronger disincentives for people buying such things. Like rate vehicles based on various objective criteria - bumper-compatibility, mass, front cross-section, front visibility, visual obstruction to other drivers, etc. and then classify the more dangerous ones as “high risk vehicles”, and give those ones stricter licensing requirements (like a class D) and stricter penalties for infractions. Need a pickup for your job? Then you’re a professional, and you can deal with professional vehicle licensing requirements.
I mean, if you need one to pull a boat? Well, you can afford some extra fees (or fines for infractions), and to go through a stricter licensing process.
Also, PHEVs are a seriously underrated option. I think we leapfrogged something important with this jump to full BEVs. I love my Prius Prime - I live in Hamilton, which is built as an old-fashioned streetcar-suburb, and daily commute rarely hits the gas-engine.
Electric cars sound great, it just sucks that they are all luxury vehicles right now. Like there’s no $3000 used electric car out there for regular people to buy. Hell there isn’t even a new $20k electric car.
Most people won’t do mass transit because they’ve been socialized to see it as gross. And it is gross. In my town there are always crazy people riding the bus harassing the driver because they are lonely, and the bus smells like pee. And the bus never gets you there faster than a car, so why ever ride it.
Mass transit is not a bus. Buses are one of the lowest tiers of transit.
Many people would use mass transit if it was well maintained, clean, easy to use, and as fast or faster than a car. That level of transit service is rare in Canada.
When there finally are $3000 used electric cars, the batteries will be completely shot and they’ll have a range of 10 miles.
Yep. There will be no affordable used electric cars, all the cost is in the battery.
I do think the “used cars not around” criticism is a little silly. Cars have to be new before they’re used, and used cars will come down the pike eventually.
More availability on the cheaper end would be nice. Tesla really missed the boat on that, I think, focusing on the Cybertruck instead of working on a light vehicle for the Asian, European, and Indian markets. As a result, BYD may eat their lunch.
Thankfully in Vancouver public transit is quite good, though intercity options aren’t that great. If only conservatives weren’t allergic to bike lanes… the city has the potential for great transportation projects. Mass transit is still in its infancy here, it needs to grow.
Welcome to 2010, there’s no good 3k$ used cars anymore!
I used that number because I just sold my used car for $3k.
Electric bikes is where it’s at. Cities has to be built with bikes in mind though
How am I supposed to carry my 40-count toilet paper pack for my big fat American ass? I’ll have to use my daily commuter tractor trailer
