The War on CarsDec 26, 2022

“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

Shifting gears: why US cities are falling out of love with the parking lot

Cities are loosening rules on building parking spots with new buildings: ‘It’s about the climate, it’s about walkability’

The Guardian
Show threadSmokeyGeoDec 26, 2022

@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

Show threadA land fit for all our futuresDec 28, 2022

@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

Show threadSmokeyGeoDec 28, 2022
@PenguinJunk @TheWarOnCars just because it's "possible" doesn't mean it's desirable, especially in cooler temperatures (below the mid-50's) or wet or dark.
Have you ever done consumer research? Like ask them do they prefer A or B and if only A, what are the obstacles to B? And an obstacle could be a handle being somewhat inconvenient or something? There are a BOATLOAD of much greater inconveniences to biking with kids & groceries even ONE (1) mile
Show threadA land fit for all our futuresDec 29, 2022
@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars I cycle in the rain, cold and dark, so does my kid. I'll agree it's not for everyone, but the dismissal by the majority who won't even try, nor consider how much better it makes places for everyone, especially children, is an indictment of the selfishness of Western societies
Show threadSmokeyGeo
@PenguinJunk @TheWarOnCars when I've researched consumers, what doesn't work is blaming the consumer for the features & choices they feel are important even if that's not what you want them to do.
Dec 29, 2022 at 3:10pmWeb
Show threadA land fit for all our futuresDec 29, 2022

@smokeygeo @TheWarOnCars I totally agree

Denigrating those who do do what you want them to do is also unhelpful