Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics • Hacker News Board

Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics

#631

Post by andsoitis » Thu, Oct 05, 2023, 2:18 AM UTC

TaylorAlexander wrote: post #465

andsoitis wrote: post #439

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But this is not an inherent property of cars. It is only true because we invested all our transit dollars in highways. Cars are not inherently better and roads are not free. If we invest more in public transit we can reduce our need for cars. Personal modes of transport like cars and bicycles give you more degrees of freedom compared to public/shared modes with respect to: a) space (can go to more places point to p…

Maybe this is true but I’m not convinced “more degrees of freedom” is a useful metric here. It’s not as simple as three bullet points - there is an entire infrastructure that must be built up around cars and that infrastructure has serious problems of cost and land use. But if you like bullet points, cars are: a) expensive to operate b) dangerous to pedestrians c) more polluting than trains or bicycles Now I don’t ac…

If it is self-evident that bullet trains and their infra are superior to cars and their infra (as your response implies), what are the reasons you think bullet trains have not spread?

Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics

#632

Post by infecto » Fri, Oct 06, 2023, 12:10 PM UTC

ruined wrote: post #483

infecto wrote: post #311

So many comments here about American spread which I agree on but how to fix it? Even in the Bay Area where cars are hated it’s pretty much a requirement at some point. I always had a dream that some commercial developers built tried building some communities where green space and commercial store front was baked in. Essentially building some tasteful strip malls in the center of the community and making sure a grocer…

americans do want to live in such places. the most valuable real estate in the country is filled with exactly that kind of construction

Yes there is a subset that does and those individuals move to New York City to get it. Thats not true for the vast majority though which is my point.

Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics

#633

Post by shard » Sat, Oct 07, 2023, 7:43 PM UTC

Kirby64 wrote: post #349

oatmeal1 wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Generally agreed, but the noise from cars is mostly friction and turbulence (and honking/sirens). Switching to electric won't solve that.

The car noise problem is partially solved (or improved) by EVs, actually. The tires used on EVs tend to be efficient (low rolling resistance), which translates to less noisy tires. Additionally, their body shape tends to aim towards very aerodynamic so they have less turbulence noise. If they didn't do this, their efficiency would be much worse so it essentially becomes a necessity. It's pretty evident when you drive…

I was in Shenzhen recently, walking around the shopping districts, and I was constantly feeling a sense of unusualness. Eventually I figured out that it was because that despite all these cars and scooters on the road, I felt like I was waking in a forest, as most of the sounds I hear are from people, and the cars and scooters are pretty much silent, since so many of them are electric.

Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics

#634

Post by feitingen » Mon, Oct 09, 2023, 2:09 AM UTC

yokem55 wrote: post #383

wizofaus wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd only add "...because they're incredibly useful, AND government policy has consistently favoured such a mode of transport over all other alternatives". The amount spent by governments on maintaining road infrastructure dwarfs all other transport spending, the amount of land dedicated to parking and driving space is mindboggling, and of course the amount spent on ensuring the global oil industry has been able to re…

You aren't wrong that government support of automotive transport is immense. But that government support comes from decades of popular electoral support for those policies from all across of the political spectrum. Why? Because cars give people more convenient and independent transportation then just about any other mode. And people push their politicians and representatives to support that kind of transportation. If…

> Because cars give people more convenient and independent transportation then just about any other mode.

In the US, this is true.

In most European cities, you can just walk instead, or take the metro or a tram.

It's really convenient to just walk to where you want to go, and when the grocery store is a 10 minute walk away, you don't need to fill a car with groceries. Just go more often.

Need to go further? Clean and safe public transportation is often more convenient than having to drive yourself.

I really like being able to read a book on my way to work rather than paying attention to the road and making sure i don't kill myself or someone else.

Re: Tire dust makes up the majority of ocean microplastics

#635

Post by Animatronio » Sat, Oct 14, 2023, 1:46 PM UTC

dragontamer wrote: post #406

CableNinja wrote: post #338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats just buying a shopping cart with extra steps

Then why don't we make the shopping cart carry people and suddenly its just a car with a lot of extra steps. Like, a car _is_ your shopping cart you take to-and-from the grocery store. It also carries you to work and does all sorts of other things. These "crappier than a car" solutions seem to be from people who haven't really thought this through IMO. --------- The solution is to have a store walking distance from t…

Your solution is even worse! Not only it means opening stores everywhere, but you haven't even considered the fact that not everyone wants to go shopping daily. Buying in bulk is a thing, bc of time and money saved. Besides, I was thinking of something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Foldable-Lightweight-Shopping-Capacit... which is already popular with the old ppl in many countries in Europe.