I can’t help but think that cars (EV included) just aren’t the answer. I feel like bikes aren’t the answer either. I feel like the metro and high speed rail are.
Most people don’t drive because they like driving (US), most people drive because they have to. And that sucks. You shouldn’t feel like you’re forced to drive. Because that’s auto insurance and auto registration that you have to pay.
You can’t eliminate roads altogether. You need at least one or two lanes for fire trucks, ambulances, garbage trucks, etc. but you can create pockets of no car zones.
People like me who like cars, should be able to have places we store our cars. We should have places where we can explore the limits of our cars instead of driving through traffic. But that should be a strictly extracurricular activity.
In the no car pockets, you should be able to walk to a grocery store, hardware store, that has what you need. You should be able to have mixed zoning. Single family units shouldn’t be the norm. If I own a car but it’s not my dedicated form of transportation, I can buy a cooler car and I don’t need a garage next to where I live to store it. I can store it outside no car pockets so that I can take public transport to my car and then take my car to the track.
Yes, it’ll take awhile to get there but why aren’t we doing more to that end? Am I too idealistic?
I expect what will eventually happen is self drive cars will make owning cars pointless.
If you need a car, you’ll summon it Uber style on your phone or your watch, or schedule regularly scheduled pick up and drop off times.
The car shows up, picks you up, takes you to your destination.
Even in cases where people want to own their own cars, they can just drive themselves home when not in use and return when summoned.
The streets are going tp be full of empty self driving cars, because uber and the competitors are going to flood the streets of cars to be sure they’re always one ready for their clients.
I feel like their business models are dependent on that happening.
Anytime you want a ride you have it within a minute and it’ll take you down the block or across the country nonstop. Safer than a human driver for multiple reasons.
This could be achieved just as easily with a good mix of high frequency transit options, most Americans are just so used to the car that a 5 minute walk is a deal breaker.
A five minute walk is a dealbreaker if you’re carrying groceries for your family. God forbid you have to use a laundromat.
When people have grocery shopping at 5min walking people go to the grocery when needed, walking pass from work or school, every couple of days to buy what they need for a couple of days. Going to Walmart to buy a 300 toilet paper rolls package is a car dependence symptom.
Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYHTzqHIngk
Or a “family of four” syndrome.
I grew up in a family of 5, in a walking neighborhood without a car and didn’t starved to death. I guess me and my friends from our neighborhood should be special.
What’s the point of maintaining the roads for self driving cars when public transport can eliminate most of that cost?
Public transportation still needs maintained roads…
Only if you’re including trolleys and buses?
Otherwise you maintain enough for infrastructure and support