The big problem with this transition is not whether we need fewer cars but that modern cities are not designed for alternatives. Any near term solution has to include EVs. It’s going to take a large redesign and investment at a time we can’t wait while we need to electrify everything.
ironically australia is generally a great example of how easily american cities could unfuck themselves by just running trains on the railways they already have and building apartments near the train stations.
Like yeah brisbane isn’t a paradise by any stretch, but remarkably it’s not an endless hellscape of highways and single family houses! You can get a train to the airport! There’s an actual downtown rather than a sea of parking lots with 7 shops!
It’s the suburban sprawl that is driving the car based transport. Suburbs are established further away with no proper infrastructure, shops and facilities. Cars are the only way to get about as everything is so hard to get to. Extending freeways to them doesn’t help as the commute time is lowest in a car.
But 1) apartments don’t tend to be built in suburban sprawl, and 2) even the worst suburban sprawl in europe is still generally bikeable, there’ll be a lidl or something within a reasonable distance.
Got this thread mixed up with another, similar one. Ignore this reply lol.
but are poor people really living in the suburban sprawl? I’m not debating whether the sprawl forces you to drive, my point is that suburbs are for rich people.
i just realized this is not the thread i thought it was, whoops
The big problem with this transition is not whether we need fewer cars but that modern cities are not designed for alternatives. Any near term solution has to include EVs. It’s going to take a large redesign and investment at a time we can’t wait while we need to electrify everything.
Modern US cities.
Modern Australian cities too.
ironically australia is generally a great example of how easily american cities could unfuck themselves by just running trains on the railways they already have and building apartments near the train stations.
Like yeah brisbane isn’t a paradise by any stretch, but remarkably it’s not an endless hellscape of highways and single family houses! You can get a train to the airport! There’s an actual downtown rather than a sea of parking lots with 7 shops!
It’s the suburban sprawl that is driving the car based transport. Suburbs are established further away with no proper infrastructure, shops and facilities. Cars are the only way to get about as everything is so hard to get to. Extending freeways to them doesn’t help as the commute time is lowest in a car.
But 1) apartments don’t tend to be built in suburban sprawl, and 2) even the worst suburban sprawl in europe is still generally bikeable, there’ll be a lidl or something within a reasonable distance.Got this thread mixed up with another, similar one. Ignore this reply lol.
I was passing through the back blocks of Sydney, new suburbs that are a long way from anywhere. If you want to go anywhere it’s by car.
Infill of the inner areas especially around railways is happening which is great but the sprawl continues.
but are poor people really living in the suburban sprawl? I’m not debating whether the sprawl forces you to drive, my point is that suburbs are for rich people.i just realized this is not the thread i thought it was, whoops