Akseli  Dec 29, 2022
Mike W

I DON'T WANT SELF DRIVING CARS!!!!

✔️ I want boring things like public transit that comes so regularly I don't need to check a schedule.

✔️ I want fast passenger rail so accessible and easy it's preferable to suffering airports.

✔️ I want cities that aren't built around cars-as-default

✔️ I want the country to own it.

Dec 29, 2022 at 10:32amWeb
Show threadEliot 'Dukov' EarleDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I want private cars banned from the city centre.
Show threadLiam MacDec 29, 2022
@Spadge @mikew12 see plan for Paris
Show threadJona JoachimDec 29, 2022
@Spadge
Some cities are getting there. Certainly London and Paris are going this route in the long run
@mikew12
Show threadJersey GryphonDec 30, 2022
@mikew12 @Spadge Or at least restricted by converting normal parking spaces to seating / deliveries / accessible parking.
Show threadBellison22Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 👍🎯💙
Show threadKristinDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 Unsurprisingly the conservatives did this with the Beeching Report in the 60’s, the Privatisation in the 80’s and then the defunding of the 21st century. A steady decline of the mass transport system that was a great source of pride and value. Now it’s so bad, rural dwellers like those in my big village cannot get to work by mass transport at all, let alone be late sometimes 😞
Show threadElPamplina 🇺🇦Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 A city full of empty cars driving themselves, this will be a real nightmare!
Show threadTim RichardsDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 @fourlarks3d Hear hear. People seem determined to repeat all the same mistakes they made with the cars we have already.
Show threadJerry McDonaldDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 Late 20th century Americans sought and were sold convenience. Now it’s worshipped.
Public transit is perceived as inconvenient by a Congress who are generally elevated above such things. Thus they make unrealistic assumptions and are directed by leadership that is chauffeured about like Raj.
Show threadBouriquetDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 Cross the Atlantic. It’s your only hope.
Ever since GM, Firestone and oil companies conspired to kill interurban rail in the US to diesel powered busses running on rubber tires, the country turned the wrong corner. Mall developers in the 60s and 70s killed the small essential shops in small towns, making Americans dependent on a car to reach sprawling parking lots surrounding big box stores.
Show threadShadowy Cabal EnthusiastDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I agree with all of this but autonomous taxis will make all those sprawling suburbs livable without needing to own a car. It's still part of the solution.
Show threadMusic is the AnswerDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 love this Mike!! Hope you don’t mind, took a screen shot and sharing with my free transit campaign team in #HamOnt as inspiration! ✊
Show threadMike WDec 29, 2022
@JasonHindle steal away. None of my ideas are my own. They are a culmination of all the good ideas that surround me 😅
Show threadMusic is the AnswerDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 🙏
Show threadSam AdamsDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 And I want those things to extend to rural areas as well. We have so many people now for whom a reliable car or even any car at all is out of reach.
Show threadBrian KungDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 posting in earnest to learn, but as someone living in a suburb, how can suburbs transform into more public transit friendly places?
Show threadJonathan FredericksonJan 1, 2023

@briankung @mikew12 I think the details depend on the suburb, but broadly speaking:

- Eliminate single family exclusive zoning and allow small-footprint commercial in all residential zones. (Think coffee shops, restaurants, small retail, etc.) Separation of uses spreads things out, making transit less useful
- Narrow streets/expand sidewalks/install protected bike lanes. Making walking safer and enabling safe cycling complements transit well

(1/n)

Show threadJonathan FredericksonJan 1, 2023

@briankung @mikew12

- Identify which existing transit routes get the most use (usually by people who have no other choice) and invest in them. Think better bus shelters, dedicated lanes where possible, more frequent service. Make transit something that people want to use, not just something they have to use

(2/n)

Show threadJonathan FredericksonJan 1, 2023

@briankung @mikew12

- Eliminate parking minimums and encourage building more densely. (Take a look at suburban parking lots from a satellite view sometime - they usually take up more space than the buildings!) Suburbs with large parking lots are by nature less transit-friendly than those without, because once you get off transit you're on foot. As with separation of uses, parking lots typically spread things out too much to make walking practical

(3/n)

Show threadJonathan FredericksonJan 1, 2023

@briankung @mikew12

I'll leave you with this: these are both pictures of suburbs of Philadelphia in New Jersey, not far from each other. One of these is pretty transit-friendly (and in fact has a very highly-used rail line into Philly), the other is not. It should be fairly obvious which is which. Be more like Collingswood (though it's not perfect!) and less like Cherry Hill

(4/4)

Show threadBrian KungJan 1, 2023
@jfred @mikew12 thank you for the detailed answer!
Show threadJonathan FredericksonJan 1, 2023

@briankung @mikew12 Anytime!

I'm actually in the process of moving to a suburb of Philly from the city, so this is something I've been keenly interested in lately. Suburbs can be great too 🙂

Show threadANDO Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 i never have or will understand the logic behind self driving cares
Show threadLaser314Dec 29, 2022
@weirdmedia @mikew12 I the best case use that come to mind are seniors that can no longer safely drive, but still want the ability to get around by themselves. My father-in-law is reaching that point. He can still drive now, but no longer drives at night and keeps his trips shorter. Just 5 years ago he had no problem driving cross country on vacation (usa) now. 40 miles is too much hassle.
Show threadpaviDec 29, 2022

@mikew12 I want to add

* More Cyling lanes
* Ability to carry bicycles in the public transport for last mile connectivity.

Show threadAliceonboardDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 yes!!
Show threadCyber YukiDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 BTW are you following @notjustbikes ?
Show threadLaureen Wreggitt 🇨🇦Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 me too
Show threadDashtopDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 or the community
Show threadJeromeDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 You have this kind of public transport in most European capitals. Some Asian cities as well.
Show threadC. L. HamerDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I essentially have those things, and it's awesome!! (Though my neighborhood is still a bit more car-centered than I would like.) #publicTransit #trains #neverGoingBack
Show threadJoonasDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I want all those things. AND self-driving cars that run on electricity.
Show threadvga256Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12
Show threadRAKDec 29, 2022
@vga256: Watch out or they'll all rocket into space!
Show threadvga256Dec 29, 2022
@raktheundead the worst/best “ending”!
Show threadJosephDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I agree with part of this, just not the socialist parts
Show threadAlan Langford 🇨🇦🧤🧊摏Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I'm willing to accept a pool of self-driving vehicles, mostly of the pickup truck variety. Most pickups are put to use for something dumb like <1% of their trips. I'd like to be able to request one, have it show up at my door, load it up, and dispatch it to the person who needs to unload it, then have it return to the pool (or the next closest job). Then we'd need about 1/50th of what we currently use.
Show threadJason WiseDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I have said for a long long time if where I lived offered public transportation I would totally take advantage of it.
Show threadbeatyDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 @majorlinux word.
Show threadI-baLLDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I want self driving buses with their own lanes to act as a demand-adjustable public transportation system. I think that will revolutionize a bunch of things and routes could be created as needed without having to lay down new tracks. It'll be perfect for intra-city travel. For inter-city travel, trains would probably be best.
Show threadThe Book of KelsDec 29, 2022

@mikew12

One of the things about trains is it's easy to make them way more *comfortable* than planes, which can be a huge selling point.

Also for the business types, you can get them on board (literally) with promises of how easy it is to be productive during a trip that might take a little longer than an equivalent hop by plane. So it's not seen as "wasted" time.

Show threadlarsDec 29, 2022

@mikew12 So you want empty trains and buses driving around all day and night instead of an autonomous taxi that transports people as needed?

Please don't just think from the big city perspective! There are also smaller towns and rural regions!

Show threadBernd HerdDec 29, 2022
@ls @mikew12 could we first have trains all night before discussing the solution to hypothetical problems with non-existent solutions? Otherwise the Argument just sounds Luke an excuse to prefer cars, which are causing actual problems.
Show thread🌈 ✨Anxious Noodle Animal✨ 🌈Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 based Mike
Show threadMike Taylor 🦕Dec 29, 2022

@mikew12 I agree with all of this.

But most of it is only possible in cities. For everywhere else, we will still need cars. The best we can hope for is to greatly reduce how many of them we need.

Show threadMittelspechtDec 29, 2022

@mikew12

Me too.
Today in Germany.

https://www.rnd.de/panorama/tesla-faehrt-auf-autobahn-waehrend-mann-am-steuer-schlaeft-RSVPJ5ELI253VT53ZDDDXQTMXY.html

Mann schläft am Steuer, während sein Tesla mit ihm über die Autobahn fährt

Seelenruhig ist ein Mann in der Nähe von Bamberg über die Autobahn gefahren – und hat dabei geschlafen. Die Polizei wird erst stutzig, bekommt den Tesla-Fahrer dann aber kaum gestoppt.

RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland
Show thread Баба Лешиј♿️ Dec 29, 2022

@mikew12 If I may add to this:

I would also like to see more bicycle-friendly infrastructure as well.

Show threadJustin DearingDec 29, 2022

@mikew12 you want to nationalize local mass transit? We have plenty of local transit agencies and they work. We have bi-state agencies along borders What does nationalizing do? This seems like it's a local government function.

Obviously keep Amtrak national

Show threadwitlessDec 29, 2022

@mikew12 I want knobs and dials and switches instead of a massive touchscreen that you have to look at to use.

Touchscreens should be illegal in vehicles, it's utter madness forcing drivers to look down instead of at their surroundings.

Show threadTim NewmanDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 Vienna - is incredible . Within 30 minutes of being back in my home town I was rage tweeting the local bus company.
Show threadCharlie StrossDec 29, 2022

@mikew12

I want teleport booths.

Show threadJerimiah HamDec 29, 2022

@cstross @mikew12

Now you’re talkin’

Show threadJesse TovDec 29, 2022
@cstross @mikew12 @jerimiah797 Y’all ready for vaporizes-you-on-one-side-and-assembles-a-copy-of-you-on-the-other-side transporters?
Show threadJerimiah HamDec 29, 2022
@cstross @mikew12 @tov The newest copy of me will think it’s awesome. The old ones… not so much, probly
Show threadNathanael NerodeDec 29, 2022

@mikew12

Just a point I like to make: We already have self-driving trains. They've been in operation since the 1990s. You can ride them in London (UK) -- the DLR -- or Vancouver (BC, Canada) -- SkyTrain.

So for people who like self-driving...

Show threadKetakaterDec 29, 2022
@mikew12 I want all of the above with on-call self driving cars as an additional service.
Show threadMallory 🏳️‍⚧️Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 This is true for EVs too. I have an EV, and while I love it, I would get rid of it in a heartbeat if we actually had public transportation that was any good
Show thread@smartfilming Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 Re No.1: Would you need a *boring* company to achieve just that? 😏
Show threadThe Chaotic Good 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🖖Dec 29, 2022
@mikew12 amen
Show threadLynnBrennerDec 29, 2022
@mikew12
Yes
Yes
Yes
and
Yes