It is a commonly held belief that cars bring freedom and independence, but the reality may be the opposite. Car dependent cities are Orwellian in many aspect...
You’re right, when I left that comment I hadn’t watched the video. Now that I have, I feel like I’m covered in awkward teenage angst.
The video gives examples of “look at these cities with thousands of years of culture compared to cities in North America.”
And doesn’t highlight any of the benefits cars bring. Heres some arbitrary arguments (to keep in the style of the video):
Person needs to do a midnight move from an abusive situation, but can’t because they have to wait for the bus/train and can only carry on a few belongings.
Person needs medical care, not ambulance worthy, but can’t stand on a train for an hour.
Hit rock bottom and lost your shelter? You can sleep in your car. It’s way better than a train station.
Want to go camping/hike/climb anywhere? Public transit can’t accommodate everyone’s schedule/place to be.
Agree though, we need a better solution for parking.
None of the places outside North America mentioned in the video have completely banned cars. The video is mostly talking about reducing car dependence and increasing options for transport rather than banning them completely.
Also every situation you mentioned can be solved with a taxi or rental car. We can still do those things without having to drive everywhere for everything.
Yeah but all taxis look the same, most have a monopoly or at best an oligopoly in major cities. Doesn’t that “rob us of our individualism?” and ability to break free of massive corporations/governments?
Why rely on yet another corporation for a car when I can just use my own at any time on a whim?
Right, leave it to our very efficient and trustworthy governments to create non restrictive 15 min cities that everyone will enjoy lol. What could go wrong?
I never said roads, I said car centric infrastructure. You can have roads without being car centric. And elaborating on that, car centric infrastructure restrict the movement on everyone who don’t drive, for example poor people who can’t afford a car, gas, insurance… or younger people who can’t drive yet, or older and people with disabilities that can’t safely drive.
How does it impede on those who can’t drive? Because they’re not allowed to move as freely as someone with a car? How would taking away everyone’s car help that scenario?
You’re right, when I left that comment I hadn’t watched the video. Now that I have, I feel like I’m covered in awkward teenage angst.
The video gives examples of “look at these cities with thousands of years of culture compared to cities in North America.”
And doesn’t highlight any of the benefits cars bring. Heres some arbitrary arguments (to keep in the style of the video):
Person needs to do a midnight move from an abusive situation, but can’t because they have to wait for the bus/train and can only carry on a few belongings.
Person needs medical care, not ambulance worthy, but can’t stand on a train for an hour.
Hit rock bottom and lost your shelter? You can sleep in your car. It’s way better than a train station.
Want to go camping/hike/climb anywhere? Public transit can’t accommodate everyone’s schedule/place to be.
Agree though, we need a better solution for parking.
None of the places outside North America mentioned in the video have completely banned cars. The video is mostly talking about reducing car dependence and increasing options for transport rather than banning them completely.
Also every situation you mentioned can be solved with a taxi or rental car. We can still do those things without having to drive everywhere for everything.
Yeah but all taxis look the same, most have a monopoly or at best an oligopoly in major cities. Doesn’t that “rob us of our individualism?” and ability to break free of massive corporations/governments?
Why rely on yet another corporation for a car when I can just use my own at any time on a whim?
Again, the point is more about car dependence. Why be forced into driving everywhere when you could have other options available?
The solution to car dependence is to depend on another corporation gate keeping the cars?
Help me unsee the irony here
The solution is in the video… It’s walkable, cycle-able cities with good public transport.
Right, leave it to our very efficient and trustworthy governments to create non restrictive 15 min cities that everyone will enjoy lol. What could go wrong?
lmao nice conspiracy theory
I’ll relieve you of this debate so you can return to your regularly scheduled echo chamber time. Sorry to disturb.
Gas companies are the biggest oligopoly. How can you “break free” from those corporations when you depend on a car to basic subsistence?
Yeah agreed, I’m all for getting rid of them too. Restricting peoples movement isn’t the answer though
Like the restriction of movement car centric infrastructure impose kver everyone that dosen’t bow to big oil and big auto.
What? Can you elaborate on how roads impose restricted movement on everyone?
I never said roads, I said car centric infrastructure. You can have roads without being car centric. And elaborating on that, car centric infrastructure restrict the movement on everyone who don’t drive, for example poor people who can’t afford a car, gas, insurance… or younger people who can’t drive yet, or older and people with disabilities that can’t safely drive.
How does it impede on those who can’t drive? Because they’re not allowed to move as freely as someone with a car? How would taking away everyone’s car help that scenario?