Cory DoctorowJun 26, 2024

EVs won't save the planet. Ultimately, the material bill for billions of individual vehicles and the unavoidable geometry of more cars-more traffic-more roads-greater distances-more cars dictate that the future of our cities and planet requires public transit - *lots* of it.

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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/26/unplanned-obsolescence/#better-micetraps

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Pluralistic: Cleantech has an enshittification problem (26 Jun 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

Show threadPeter BrownJun 26, 2024

@pluralistic two unintended consequences of the move towards electric vehicles is that they are at their best on short journeys, not travelling transcontinental.
And they are also at their best at speeds under 40 miles an hour, becoming very greedy over 60.

Both of these factors will help modal shift to mass transit across longer distances and should help to reduce average traffic speeds.

Show threadBrianaryJun 26, 2024
@peterbrown
@pluralistic
The US needs much more investment in rail before we can stop using cars, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where train service is perfunctory at best. I really hoped this would be a major benefit of Biden in the White House.
Show threadCodhisattvaJun 26, 2024
@brianary @peterbrown @pluralistic those tracks in the PNW are not safe. Entire new rails, stations and cities would need to be built east of the cascades in WA and OR to improve service.
Show threadBrianaryJun 26, 2024
@Codhisattva
@peterbrown @pluralistic
I don't know about cities and stations, but I agree we need to lay new track.
Show threadCodhisattva

@brianary @peterbrown @pluralistic there’s just not the kind of places that’ll support a passenger rail. Klamath Falls and Bend and Pendleton? Susanville? Walla Walla?

The trains can’t follow the I5 corridor.

Jun 27, 2024 at 1:22amIvory for iOS