“What’s finally sunk in with many people is that we have parking minimums and yet housing maximums, which means we have too many cars and too little housing. We have things the wrong way around."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/26/us-cities-parking-lots-climate-walkability
@TheWarOnCars ppl say this but if you live in the suburbs, where housing and office space is much cheaper, and schools are better, you need a car. War on cars is great for the childless and affluent but for everyone else there are cars.
Housing shortage: you don't like it then buy land and build your own home. A friend who did this got financing just like for a morttage except it came with a checkbook so he could pay contractors who built it
@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars
"If you live in the suburbs, you need a car..."
So close to getting it.
@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars The argument is not against cars in general. It's that cars are far too easy and that we're giving up crucial city density in exchange for free & easy parking. People who have a choice will be more inclined to use public transportation, walk, or bike and the rest will always drive. That's okay.
This is an argument for urban life, where single-family homes don't get built. The suburbs just aren't very efficient for most of the population.
@segv11 @TheWarOnCars many ppl don't live in cities- compare the cost of a 2BR apartment in the city vs the suburbs, and I'm not even counting the cost of private school tuition if (like most cities) the schools are terrible. Office space: $25/sq' for suburbs vs $75+ for cities so middle-class employers won't locate there either.
Easy- a few die-hards like bike riding in the cold & wet but even in good weather it's time consuming unless you're just going a couple miles. There's a reason why "easy" wins every consumer choice.
The city-density advocates don't understand demographics- it's as if they were completely blind to the experience of others, particularly middle-class families who need a good school system and can't afford private school. urban life is essentially ruled out- the economics are terrible- but the urbanists don't get it. It's as if they were all highly-paid and childless professionals
@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars I think the point is finding a reasonable balance. It doesn't need to be a culture war. Just bear in mind that those who live in the urban environment should have more influence over their local city planning. The suburbs and your plentiful parking spaces aren't going anywhere.
Also, bear in mind that these advocates are working to reduce mandated parking space requirements. This is what less government intrusion would look like.
@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars lots of people live without cars because they can't afford them, it's strange to cast this as an affluent position.
Buying land to build your own home, on the other hand, is an option only available to the affluent.
@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars
The suburbs were made possible in their current form by the car but the car has overstayed it's welcome and we need to embrace alternatives
Further, it's amazing how much distance it's possible to cover by bike, even with a child and shopping, if you are not shit-scared of being mown down
@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars I totally agree
Denigrating those who do do what you want them to do is also unhelpful
@TheWarOnCars "we have parking minimums and yet housing maximums"
Not sure who hit on the idea of presenting it this way, but they're a genius and seem to have gotten through to a lot of people who weren't getting it before!
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