What happens when a city bans cars from its streets? • Hacker News Board

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#21

Post by pchristensen » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:30 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #11

aeharding wrote: post #4

I've dreamt about this. I would immediately move to the first US city that bans SOV commuters from a significant portion of the city (let's say, a couple square miles), and establishes superblocks where no vehicles are allowed whatsoever, with the old streets converted to green space. Of course, I doubt this will happen in my lifetime.

Isn't the USA empty enough that you could still start such a city today?

Availability of land is the limiting factor inside existing cities, but not for the development of new cities. To build a new city, your limiting factor would be a self-sustaining cluster of economic activity that can attract participants. And that's difficult to bootstrap for a lot of reasons.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#22

Post by jah » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:30 PM UTC

scarejunba wrote: post #15

jacquesm wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the USA empty enough that you could still start such a city today?

Are there good city locations still available? (By water, large enough area available, not actively attempting to kill you)

Sure, but they're probably only available by car.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#23

Post by timerol » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:31 PM UTC

bananabiscuit wrote: post #7

I’m guessing so many people on HN are anti-car because they live their lives through their computer and never feel the need to travel outside their immediate area? What are you supposed to do if you like to take trips to places hundreds of miles away? What if your job involves visiting many different locations in your city throughout the day? I have family that lives in the same city as me and the difference between…

The model for banning cars from cities is either establishing a car-free core of less than a square mile, or establishing "superblocks" where car travel is only allowed on the perimeter of the block. Exceptions are made for deliveries and emergency vehicles, sometimes public transit, and sometimes resident street parking.

So, the answer to all of your hypothetical scenarios is that they drive. And then possibily walk the last bit, less than a quarter-mile.

I don't own a car, even though I take long trips regularly. I go hiking about 100 miles away once a month or so. (Rental car split with friends, generally.) I travel 300 miles about every two months to see family. (Overnight bus for a long weekend, generally.) Buying a car would be an awful financial decision for me. Not having to use a car for day-to-day trips saves me money and peace of mind.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#24

Post by ceejayoz » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:31 PM UTC

bananabiscuit wrote: post #17

mikestew wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you supposed to do if you like to take trips to places hundreds of miles away? Here we are, a crowd of folks that solve hard software and hardware problems everyday, and this is all it takes to stump you?

Yeah it does stump me. mass transit doesn’t cover this case 99% of the time. Sometimes there is a greyhound bus line or Amtrak that will get you where you need to go, but even in the best case driving will usually get you there faster and cheaper.

In the US, that's true.

In Switzerland, you won't find many places further than 10-15 minutes walk from a transit stop, and all the transit options are integrated so the bus is timed to connect with the train which is timed to connect with the boat which is timed to connect with the cable car, and they're all covered by your monthly/annual transit pass.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#25

Post by paulgb » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:31 PM UTC

bananabiscuit wrote: post #17

mikestew wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you supposed to do if you like to take trips to places hundreds of miles away? Here we are, a crowd of folks that solve hard software and hardware problems everyday, and this is all it takes to stump you?

Yeah it does stump me. mass transit doesn’t cover this case 99% of the time. Sometimes there is a greyhound bus line or Amtrak that will get you where you need to go, but even in the best case driving will usually get you there faster and cheaper.

What does going places hundreds of miles away have to do with car-free streets in cities?

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#26

Post by dudul » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:31 PM UTC

drstewart wrote: post #10

bananabiscuit wrote: post #7

I’m guessing so many people on HN are anti-car because they live their lives through their computer and never feel the need to travel outside their immediate area? What are you supposed to do if you like to take trips to places hundreds of miles away? What if your job involves visiting many different locations in your city throughout the day? I have family that lives in the same city as me and the difference between…

No, you're guessing that because you live in a world that's been designed for cars for 50 years, so you naturally see it as the most convenient option -- because it's been designed that way. Even in NYC. Design cities for people first and not automobiles and you'll be asking why anyone would take a car over a train/bus/bike because it's more expensive, takes longer, and is more of a hassle.

If at 3AM my kid starts feeling very sick, how do I get him to the doctor/hospital in a city where cars are banned?

And I'm not trying to be facetious, I think the theory of car-less cities is really appealing, but I honestly don't see how this is a good solution.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#27

Post by scarejunba » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:33 PM UTC

jah wrote: post #22

scarejunba wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are there good city locations still available? (By water, large enough area available, not actively attempting to kill you)

Sure, but they're probably only available by car.

Haha, I'm kinda curious. And no problem, I own an SUV in San Francisco.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#28

Post by StreamBright » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

bananabiscuit wrote: post #7

I’m guessing so many people on HN are anti-car because they live their lives through their computer and never feel the need to travel outside their immediate area? What are you supposed to do if you like to take trips to places hundreds of miles away? What if your job involves visiting many different locations in your city throughout the day? I have family that lives in the same city as me and the difference between…

It would be the same 40 minutes with a car sharing service? We could reduce the amount of cars by such service quite a bit. Just look into the cars any morning when you are commuting to work to see how many cars has a single driver. Think about that.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#29

Post by judge2020 » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

paulgb wrote: post #18

bananabiscuit wrote: post #7

I’m guessing so many people on HN are anti-car because they live their lives through their computer and never feel the need to travel outside their immediate area? What are you supposed to do if you like to take trips to places hundreds of miles away? What if your job involves visiting many different locations in your city throughout the day? I have family that lives in the same city as me and the difference between…

> I’m guessing so many people on HN are anti-car because they live their lives through their computer and never feel the need to travel outside their immediate area? Not at all! I just rent when I want to go camping. Although, the commuter trains open up a lot of nice options for weekend trips that don't require a car. And that way I can read a book or enjoy the scenery instead of driving. > What if your job involves…

> I don't think this describes many of the cars on the streets.

That's part of the reason people favor(ed) cars over train - they effectively accommodate everyone and work for every use case.

Re: What happens when a city bans cars from its streets?

#30

Post by jcranmer » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 7:34 PM UTC

bananabiscuit wrote: post #7

I’m guessing so many people on HN are anti-car because they live their lives through their computer and never feel the need to travel outside their immediate area? What are you supposed to do if you like to take trips to places hundreds of miles away? What if your job involves visiting many different locations in your city throughout the day? I have family that lives in the same city as me and the difference between…

> I’m guessing so many people on HN are anti-car because they live their lives through their computer and never feel the need to travel outside their immediate area?

I travel lots of places, by car, and I still bemoan the fact that several of those trips ought to be easily transited by rail but our rail system doesn't make it feasible to make those trips. If I'm anti-car, it's because I know that cars are used in many scenarios where transit alternatives are totally feasible; it's not because I don't know there are scenarios were cars are the only viable transportation option.