stee
将軍職
Basic question but really gets you thinking. DISCUSS!
-
We are currently performing site maintenance, parts of civfanatics are currently offline, but will come back online in the coming days (this includes any time you see the message "account suspended"). For more updates please see here.
Is America too dependent on cars?
- Thread starter stee
- Start date
Mowque
Hypermodernist
Dependent? Yes. Too dependent? How do we judge that? We are VERY dependent on the Sun as wel...
Trajan12
Deity
Absolutely. America's newer cities and suburbs are far too sprawled and disorderly to be pedestrian friendly. To say nothing of the shameful excuse for transit in this country.
On the plus side, it seems like the transit and pedestrian options are getting better all around. But the sprawl is still a huge problem.
On the plus side, it seems like the transit and pedestrian options are getting better all around. But the sprawl is still a huge problem.
Perfection
The Great Head.
No, it's too dependent on fossil fuels.
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
People could stand to use public transportation more often.
amadeus
Bishop of Bio-Dome
What garbage! I've said it before and I'll say it again: cars are freedom.
Trajan12
Deity
So if you build your environment around the car to the point that you cannot get around on foot, with transit, or with a bike, how has that added to your freedom? It would seem that it has detracted.
We've gone from being able to go anywhere with a car to having to go everywhere with the car in many places.
amadeus
Bishop of Bio-Dome
In the last 2 years, I've gone a total of about two non-consecutive weeks without a car. While those two weeks were unpleasant, the rest of the time has been wonderful.
With my car I can visit my friends, bring home more than two bags of groceries, go to places at late night, and go to multiple locations all in a short span of time.
Here's a good example; Friday night I went to Wendy's at about 12:30AM. By car, it took me a total of six minutes to get from my home to the restaurant. By bus, it's impossible -- there's no 12:30 service to Wendy's, and certainly no return service once I've picked up my food (which would be cold by the time I got home if I rode the bus anyway.)
And it isn't just at late night there's no service; there's no service during the daytime either on weekends or weekdays. Wendy's, however, isn't even 2 miles from my apartment.
History_Buff
Deity
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2001
- Messages
- 6,529
Yes, North America has a serious car addiction problem. While there are solutions, namely public transit, the problem is that our cities are badly planned and too spread out.
Right now we're all in the same situation as Amadeus, where our options are take a 45 minute bus trip, or a 6 minute drive. Given that choice, it's obvious which we'll take. Better public transit will fix it, but our cities need a redesign first for it to be cost effective. And then we all have to get into the mindset that we will take public transit at times outside rush hour, and that we will expect it to be good. Even that might be tough, as there's a lot of culture stacked in the way.
Right now we're all in the same situation as Amadeus, where our options are take a 45 minute bus trip, or a 6 minute drive. Given that choice, it's obvious which we'll take. Better public transit will fix it, but our cities need a redesign first for it to be cost effective. And then we all have to get into the mindset that we will take public transit at times outside rush hour, and that we will expect it to be good. Even that might be tough, as there's a lot of culture stacked in the way.
If we weren't so car dependent, hours of availabile public transportation would likely increase.
And the fact that you are driving instead of walking or taking a bike demonstrates overdependence.
Perfection
The Great Head.
You don't take a bike at 12:30 AM, you'll get stabbed in the face by hobos.
If you are going to Wendy's on a regular basis, a bike may be out of the question anyway.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Wendy's food is perfect cyclist fuel!
Desmond Hawkins
Deity
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2002
- Messages
- 9,922
If enough people are out using transit you won't! The Wendy's also won't be a six minute drive away in a transit-based city. It will be a 6 minute walk.
Of course, amadeus is probably perfectly justified in needing a car in Minneapolis. The question is why is he so lacking in the freedom of reasonable choice?
Finanly, Wendy's friggen rocks. Such good meat compared to the other places, and the greater use of lettuce is appreciated.
amadeus
Bishop of Bio-Dome
Wonderful. So if we switch from the freedom of a car to the massive inconvenience of public transportation, my misery will be only slightly less because there'll be more buses? Sign me up!
Or it demonstrates that I do things in the way that will waste my time the least, and I'm certainly not going to be out walking in the middle of the night.
GoodGame
Red, White, & Blue, baby!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2004
- Messages
- 13,725
This and automobiles that have crappy MPG ratings.
Don't you view the contradiction between saying "cars are freedom" and describing a way of life where cars are necessary?
Because your time at 12:30 am is so valuable that you are making it Wendy's. I'm not saying take away the choice of driving. I'm just of pointing out overdependence in driving to anything that is within easy walking distance.
