• Beeko🐈@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    I like this because it paints us as the victims we are. Americans are not car-dependent by choice. We’re forced into it by the infrastructure designed by our corporate overlords.

    • RaoulDook@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m not a victim of car infrastructure, I’m a beneficiary of it. I’m glad we have roads I can drive on to get to stores and work and interesting venues for entertainment. I live in a nice rural area with woods surrounding my house. All this discussion about “car centric” everything seemingly assumes that city life is the only life from the start, and that’s not the case. I would never want to give up my awesome rural life for a stifling crowded city.

      • chumbalumber@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        No one is really suggesting we get rid of cars for fully rural areas; it’s completely impractical, and the cost-benefit ratio is abysmal. It’s more about allowing people in cities and suburbs to experience what you already do; being able to go and walk around the area in which they live, have easily accessible green spaces, and unpolluted air to breathe.

        This is something that can easily be accomplished without removing your ability to drive around your rural area; interfacing at railway stations or park and rides still allows access to urban spaces for car users.

        Transit between distant rural areas could also be accommodated under a public transport system with car share schemes like co-wheels at either end.

        It’s not about taking away people’s cars; it’s about making it so the majority of people don’t have to own one, so that we can have a more efficient, less polluting transport network.

  • KuroJ@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I loved when I lived in Japan. There was really no need for a car for the three years I lived there. I really wish we had a train system in the US

  • MrSangrief@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Very true. A modernised, cheap train system would be wonderful… I live in Europe so I can’t complain that much but still, better collaboration across European borders would be amazing.

    • STUPIDVIPGUY@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      lmao ‘better collaboration across european borders’

      I mean we should always be working towards more progress but the EU has been collaborating in a peaceful manner never seen before in human history, and to hold EU citizenship gives you privilege over pretty much the entire rest of the world. Public infrastructure is super advanced compared to shitholes like the US.