Railway lines once connected the Middle East • Hacker News Board

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#41

Post by Mirioron » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 8:54 AM UTC

dr_dshiv wrote: post #39

0x0nyandesu wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speak for yourself. The last thing I want during covid is to be stuck in a metal box with 100 strangers uncomfortably wearing masks instead of in my own car blasting music with the window down.

Avoiding car dependence in cities doesn't mean they will take away your car. It just means that I don't need to use a car to live there.

It kind of does though. People online cheer when city centers become closed to cars. Spreading it further probably means restricting cars more.

I don't really disagree with your overall stance, but those two do often go hand in hand. Perhaps that's why progress is slow on that front.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#42

Post by aaron695 » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 8:55 AM UTC

No post body was provided.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#43

Post by beebeepka » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 8:57 AM UTC

What a sad, sad read. Kind of makes my blood boil, too. We've barely started but half the comments are already grey.

As a side note: anyone else wonder why the English speaking world refers to the region as "the middle East"? To me it is the near East. Not just because of proximity but I've never heard or read about a near East from anglo sources. What is the rationale?

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#44

Post by oaiey » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 8:58 AM UTC

Bloody British. Just think how many died building them.

Great achievement and good progress. But it came with a price.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#45

Post by Gigachad » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 9:07 AM UTC

foxes wrote: post #5

We really need to eliminate car dependence in our cities.

Life is so much more enjoyable when you move away from the suburbs and get rid of your car. The freedom to just walk to your destination and having everything within walking range is priceless.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#46

Post by Gigachad » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 9:08 AM UTC

Mirioron wrote: post #41

dr_dshiv wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Avoiding car dependence in cities doesn't mean they will take away your car. It just means that I don't need to use a car to live there.

It kind of does though. People online cheer when city centers become closed to cars. Spreading it further probably means restricting cars more. I don't really disagree with your overall stance, but those two do often go hand in hand. Perhaps that's why progress is slow on that front.

You still get to have your car, it just means you can't drive it right through the middle of a dense living area, you'll have to park on the edge and walk/tram/scooter in. Which is the best for everyone.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#47

Post by pjmlp » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 9:22 AM UTC

Gigachad wrote: post #46

Mirioron wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It kind of does though. People online cheer when city centers become closed to cars. Spreading it further probably means restricting cars more. I don't really disagree with your overall stance, but those two do often go hand in hand. Perhaps that's why progress is slow on that front.

You still get to have your car, it just means you can't drive it right through the middle of a dense living area, you'll have to park on the edge and walk/tram/scooter in. Which is the best for everyone.

Except for those in a condition not to easily walk or use any kind of two wheels device.

Then there is the whole issue that local city transportation is pretty lousy, even in Europe.

Sure big cities have it good on the innermost district, live a bit more on the outskirts or in a smaller town and taxi becomes the only option for those not willing to wait between 1-2h for each bus into each direction plus additional commute.

A 30m drive quickly turns into 2h.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#48

Post by meitham » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 9:23 AM UTC

beebeepka wrote: post #43

What a sad, sad read. Kind of makes my blood boil, too. We've barely started but half the comments are already grey. As a side note: anyone else wonder why the English speaking world refers to the region as "the middle East"? To me it is the near East. Not just because of proximity but I've never heard or read about a near East from anglo sources. What is the rationale?

I have recently seen a campaign in Middle Eastern media to rename the region to West Asia, probably for similar reasons to what you mentioned.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#49

Post by Gigachad » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 9:32 AM UTC

pjmlp wrote: post #47

Gigachad wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You still get to have your car, it just means you can't drive it right through the middle of a dense living area, you'll have to park on the edge and walk/tram/scooter in. Which is the best for everyone.

Except for those in a condition not to easily walk or use any kind of two wheels device. Then there is the whole issue that local city transportation is pretty lousy, even in Europe. Sure big cities have it good on the innermost district, live a bit more on the outskirts or in a smaller town and taxi becomes the only option for those not willing to wait between 1-2h for each bus into each direction plus additional co…

Electric wheelchairs are likely the best option for the first group. Good thing is making an area better for walking makes it better for disabled people as well. A car centric area is extremely hostile for people with disabilities which make it difficult/illegal to drive.

Re: Railway lines once connected the Middle East

#50

Post by foxes » Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 9:37 AM UTC

pjmlp wrote: post #47

Gigachad wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You still get to have your car, it just means you can't drive it right through the middle of a dense living area, you'll have to park on the edge and walk/tram/scooter in. Which is the best for everyone.

Except for those in a condition not to easily walk or use any kind of two wheels device. Then there is the whole issue that local city transportation is pretty lousy, even in Europe. Sure big cities have it good on the innermost district, live a bit more on the outskirts or in a smaller town and taxi becomes the only option for those not willing to wait between 1-2h for each bus into each direction plus additional co…

In an ideal world you would not wait for 2 hours for a bus.