this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2023
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Fuck Cars

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A place to discuss problems of car centric infrastructure or how it hurts us all. Let's explore the bad world of Cars!

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[–] [email protected] 81 points 2 years ago (12 children)

We should really be investing more in public transit, it's way better than electric cars and could be way more convenient if implemented properly

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 years ago

It all starts with fixing the zoning code. Cars will always be "more convenient" if we keep destroying our cities to make space catering to them.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Design a city around electric wheelchairs and you’ll have a system accessible to everyone.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Conveyor belts everywhere ♥️ no need for electric wheelchairs.

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[–] [email protected] 44 points 2 years ago (3 children)

The problem is that citys are built around cars.

The first question is not how people can reach shops by foot, or with public transit. The first step is always to build streets to stuff and later figure out if you can might fit in a bus route, or maybe a cycling lane.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

In the USA at least. In Europe it's everything but perfect, of course, but at least we have some public transport in cities and between them.

But yeah, the bike paths here in Austria are just getting bigger since some years again - and every cm seems to be a hard fight...

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Cities were not built around cars, they were bulldozed for the car.

Cities were built to be walkable, and had trams for everything else. Then we invented the car and General Motors essentially took america by the balls and forced everyone in americs to become dependant on the car

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

The problem is that destinations are spread too far apart for walking, viable transit, etc. because the zoning code forces developers to build low density and massive amounts of parking.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 2 years ago (6 children)

I can spend 17 minutes driving to work, or 1.5 hours catching buses. Easy choice for me.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Right, that's why we need to stop subsidizing streets and roads, make users pay the cost of them, and put the tax money toward transit. It's really impossible to ask anybody but the most devoted to make extremely inconvenient choices. Certainly, there are some lunatics who'd drive a car even if it took 1.5 hours, but most people would choose the 17 minute bus.

Cheaper, sustainable, safer, better for mental health, better for non-drivers (children, elderly, disabled). It just makes sense.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago

I really underestimated the effect on my mental health. My commute takes double the time now but that's alright because since switching to public transit, I'm getting to work and back home much calmer.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago

You are right, if a bus ride was 17 or even 30 minutes to work I would take the bus. But in my area a bus ride is 2 hours one way.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 years ago

I also had a commute of about 17min with car. The same route with an electric bike takes me 35min. I'm not out of breath with it and I still have some exercise. I still take my car when it rains.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

Alot of people forget that just becuase a bus commute works for them doesn't mean it works for everyone.

Alot of people have a legitimate reason for owning a car, and if we want then to use public transit then we need public transit to fit their needs in travelling.

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 years ago

Sure, I'll just take the...

Oh wait, I'm in the US and they would have rather destroyed the planet than set up public transport

Oh wait again...

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (9 children)

Genuene question, how am i supposed to transport myself everyday to the city from my rural area without a car if the city is 40 minutes of biking on a pothole ridden road away?

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You don't have to replace your commute, if its not feasable. But you could try replacing other smaller trips with a bike if you can. Like trips to the grocery store or doctors appointment.

Truthfully if the infrastructure to do these things doesn't exist for you, then don't endanger yourself.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (6 children)

40 minutes is a long ride, true. Maybe buy a foldable bike or a bike rack for your car, park your car outside of the city and reduce car traffic by riding from there to your workplace by bike? It sure would make this city a better place.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago (2 children)

That sounds reasonable maybe I will start doing that.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

You'll also keep fit and you won't have to spend time stuck in traffic!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

park your car outside of the city

I like this kind of scheme, it should be promoted more maybe if it's not being pushed much

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I used to do a 40 minute bike commute twice a day. Once it becomes part of your routine those 40 minutes are easy to conquer. Now I do the same distance by speed pedelec in 25 minutes. I'm faster at work now than when I used to go by car.

If you can't make the trip safe though, than you shouldn't. But you can, like me, start out on nice days and incorporate into your days as a workout just to try an see.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago

You're allowed to drive if there's no other infrastructure connecting point A to point B. This post is dumb because it lacks nuance. There are some cases where driving makes sense. If you live in a city where other options are safe and reliable, you should use those instead. And if you live in a city where there should be safe and reliable options but there aren't, well that's what you should be really upset about.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Nobody is trying to get rid of cars for those in rural areas, as that's unfeasible. The ONLY place people genuinely care about cars existing is in cities where they can be built and changed to be walkable. I shouldn't NEED a car to get to a grocery store. I shouldn't NEED a car to get to work. I should NEED a car to get to anything fun to do. This is a feasible goal.

It's about choice. I have no choice but to have a car. I don't want a car. I am forced to have a car because the alternative is... There is no alternative, right now.

It's about the freedom to have the choice to not drive.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Doesn't you rural area come with horses or donkeys?

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago

Question. How did they move that sign there?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago

This is a hack of matrix boards like these that I can 100% get behind.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (14 children)

The comments on this post are such a joke. The name of the community is literally 'fuck cars' and people are getting bent out of shape because we're posting about our dislike of cars.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago

In case anyone wants to correct a corrupted sign that the department of transportation hasn't gotten around to: https://www.safetysign.us/my_weblog/2011/07/instructions-on-how-to-hack-electronic-road-signs.html

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What purpose does this serve other than alienating the people you're trying to get on your side?

You have to have the alternatives in place before you can convince people to make a change.

Buses already take hours vs. minutes and any road construction that closes stops & routes down adds time and distance to an already long commute.

If you want people to choose your option, you have to make it an option worth choosing.

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