Mastodawn

HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Jan 14, 2023

While true, this commonplace #Green thinking ignores the needs of the many handicapped or frail elderly people or stressed-out parents with several younger kids who already feel guilty about spending too little time with their family.
Using public transport in off-peak times often doubles or triples travelling times + involves quite some walking.
Furthermore, in rural areas, #PublicTransport is mostly too rare and often too expensive due to low population density.

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Badtux the Snarky Penguin Jan 15, 2023

@HistoPol @JessTheUnstill @[email protected] In short, your observations about the handicapped and public transit are totally divorced from the reality. Public transit is the most friendly form of transit for the handicapped, and that has been true for decades.

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HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Jan 15, 2023

@badtux @JessTheUnstill @[email protected]

Interesting observation.

A longer time ago, I was managing a driving service for the handicapped. All of our clients would not have shared your opinion. In particular, as almost all would not have made it even to the next bus stop half a mile away by themselves.

The ones that might have made it would still mostly have preferred a cab/taxi.

Most of the people I know aged up to 80/85 who are not nursing-home residents still manage to drive...
1/2

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HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Jan 15, 2023

@badtux @JessTheUnstill @[email protected]

2/3
...however, many would not manage more than walking to a bus station and back 600m/half a mile (and back) and then still go shopping downtown.

Also, someone merely having an injured foot would not make it out of the unfathomable undergrounds in the #CityOfLondon when the #escalators are out of order.
...

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HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Jan 15, 2023

@badtux @JessTheUnstill @[email protected]
3/3
...Oh, and if you are not #CrocodileDundee, taking an underground train in metropolises like #MexicoCity might prove too much adventure, in particular at night. 😉

So, all I am saying is that while #PublicTransport might be the best, often only solution in urban areas, it is not for a significant number of people.

Also, an e-bike, for many, is an even faster solution for short and medium distances if there are bike lanes.

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Badtux the Snarky Penguin Jan 15, 2023

@HistoPol @JessTheUnstill @[email protected] An e-bike is useless to my mobility-impaired mother and visually-impaired brother. Furthermore your person riding an e-bike is not going to handle snow and ice very well, which is over 25% of the population of the United States during the winter. Here, tell me how well an eBike is going to do in this weather:

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HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴

@badtux @JessTheUnstill @[email protected]

Abysmally, in general, though I have an acquaintance using #Spikes, prohibited for cars im most countries. 😉

Many countries and #US regions do not experience snow on the ground.

But this is not really the point.
A well-designed #PublicTransport system will provide oeople with alternative means of transport infrastructure, too, like bike lanes and rental bikes/cars.

Buses and metro trains/subways will not be the panacea for all people/regions/climates.