There is an assumption that I actually want to interact with random members of the community. I don’t. Cars give me the freedom to choose my interactions and just generally be left alone. I don’t like waiting at bus stops, I don’t like having to watch my bag carefully or worry about forgetting things. I also don’t have to be exposed to whatever cold is making the rounds. I also don’t have to deal with psychotic, drug addicted homeless harassing me for money. Nor do I have to ride on a bus that makes twenty stops before it gets me to where I need to go. For me, cars represent freedom. If I want cold AC, I can do that. If I want to make a random diversion, I can do that too. Try to stop by Home Depot on the way home from work using public transit. Not only do you have to figure out the route and wait for the bus and possibly transfer and then tote whatever you buy back to a bus stop to do it all in reverse. If that makes me a bad person, then I am ok with that.
How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
111–120 of 226 posts
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#112I personally love driving - but I work from home. Nothing makes me happier than remote starting my F150 and hearing its V8 roar from inside the house through several walls/doors. Have kids? When your kid spikes a fever at 1am and you have no car and you need to go buy some children’s ibuprofen, what are you going to do? I can run to my local 24/7 grocer or Walmart and be back in 10 minutes flat. My son had a bad reac…
This satire right?
> what are you going to do?
err, take a taxi? Or have ibuprofen always at home?
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#113Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's true that America isn't only New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, but those three areas do make up over 10% of the population, which is nothing to sneeze at.
While that is true, LA makes up a big portion of that "over 10%" hardly anyone in LA lives in anything remotely like high-density housing or lives there for much beyond the fantastic weather and job opportunities. Also, you don't do anything to address the parent comments point that plenty of people who live in higher-density areas would prefer to move to somewhere more rural, but can't because of life.
Hundreds of thousands of people live in high density areas of Los Angeles with densities far exceeding San Francisco's most dense areas. Also people live in LA for the same reason they live in other big cities, because it's incredibly diverse and vibrant. Traffic may be bad, but most people aren't in transit for that long anyways since the city is still pretty dense, and you can get everything you need within your neighborhood (where many neighborhoods are totally walkable).
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#114Those who are able to afford to live in affluent areas have high income jobs and can purchase the land surrounding their workplace, enabling non motorized conveyance or transit. The low and middle class, are forced out of the area, however these middle to low income jobs still exist and they need to be accomplished; think how far out a janitor is pushed away from a high income residence area before they can afford a…
It's apparent you have never been to Chicago or spent much time in New York. Affordable housing is available 30 minutes in transit away from the Chicago business district, and a less than one hour subway ride from Manhattan's.
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#115I'm a little torn. I don't remember my apartment days fondly (except during college and in Houston where apartments can be LARGE). Noise/smell/bugs from neighbors is awful to deal with, crummy stairwells (never an elevator), fighting for a parking spot and hauling groceries was a hassle. But I dislike driving for a commute, I've done as little as 30 minutes and up to 1.5 hours of commute, it's very stressful to be co…
I think all of the things you mention can be addressed, it's just that cities often build apartments as a way to increase density only when it's needed rather than to think things through in a density/walkability first way.
Cities can have family sized apartments, with the needed amenities in a way that's designed both for cars/walking/biking/ect.
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#116Those who are able to afford to live in affluent areas have high income jobs and can purchase the land surrounding their workplace, enabling non motorized conveyance or transit. The low and middle class, are forced out of the area, however these middle to low income jobs still exist and they need to be accomplished; think how far out a janitor is pushed away from a high income residence area before they can afford a…
I live in an area of Berlin where about half the residents are on social security. Everybody is within walking distance to a bus stop, buses come every ten minutes or so, and trains and subways take you to the city center in less than half an hour. An hour in public transport connects almost any two points in Berlin. Public transport is an effective alternative to cars in cities with decent density.
Biking to the city center is also possible and takes about half an hour as well.
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#117I personally love driving - but I work from home. Nothing makes me happier than remote starting my F150 and hearing its V8 roar from inside the house through several walls/doors. Have kids? When your kid spikes a fever at 1am and you have no car and you need to go buy some children’s ibuprofen, what are you going to do? I can run to my local 24/7 grocer or Walmart and be back in 10 minutes flat. My son had a bad reac…
> Have kids? When your kid spikes a fever at 1am and you have no car and you need to go buy some children’s ibuprofen, what are you going to do? I can run to my local 24/7 grocer or Walmart and be back in 10 minutes flat.
I can cycle to mine in 5 minutes, taxi, uber, run, walk, etc..
Or use one of the car share services near me.
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#118Earlier quoted context omitted.
I suspect when your kids become older, your life will become more dictated by your kids activities that you don’t control as much. Sports practices and games, school, etc. These will be unlikely be centered around walking distance from home. And, then, I will welcome you back to the fold of parent indenturedness. :)
Why would anything change? I live car free and everything is either walkable or public transportable distance away. Same for the activities you mentioned. When I was a kid and played a lot of sports if there was an out of town meet the team bus would take us.
You don’t have kids, that much is clear. And if you do, you certainly don’t have more than one.
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
What happens if/when you have kids. I’ve seen many people biking around Amsterdam with their kids in protective bike high seats. But this is unheard of in many US cities. Minivans are the usual solution. Would you teach them to take public transport or try to live within walking distance of everything? Obvs doesn’t apply if u don’t plan on it, but curious if anyone has found a solution in US cities.
This is part of the reason I moved with my wife and two kids to The Netherlands. My girls were 5 and 8 at the time. Almost everyone here rides bikes here in a city of 350k (Utrecht). We don’t own a car and either ride our bikes or walk everywhere. If we’re going to another city we take the trains. My older daughter goes to school on here own bike 1 mike away and goes over to friends houses on her own. Decent used bik…
I love the USA, but I hate the car culture. The two really do seem inextricable.
Re: How the Car Keeps Americans Apart
#120This is true of larger cities and metros, but the size of the US is too large to get rid of cars. I’m currently on a road trip through at least 7 states, and the car is the only way I pull that off.