Re:If we all cycled like the Dutch, global emissions would d...
by eesmith on Sunday January 08, 2023 @11:14AM
(#34300292)
As an ancestor comment by Vinnl points out, "The study authors recognise that not everyone lives in a cycle-friendly place - but call for an “urgent” expansion of cycling infrastructure worldwide."
If you are a plumber making home visits in suburbs best accessed through a high speed highway, and need to have supplies and tools with you, then of course a vehicle is better.
If you are a wind surfer, and need something to carry your gear with you back and forth to the beach, then of course a vehicle is better.
There are many people in exactly the situation you are, and for good reasons need a vehicle.
But those needs don't represent everyone.
And with the right infrastructure, some things which require a car now, disappear. If the kids can (e)bike to/from after-school events, then there's much less need for one of the parents to be a dedicated chauffeur.
With frequent bus service, it's easier to take the bus into town, so perhaps a family doesn't need one car per adult.
When those who decide to go car-free still need to be able to move more people and property, they use a taxi, rent a car, or join a car share club, depending on their needs.
But it's not easy! 50 years ago Amsterdam was car-centered, like US cities. It took decades to get where they are now. The point is to learn from that experience, not reject the possibility outright.
If you are a plumber making home visits in suburbs best accessed through a high speed highway, and need to have supplies and tools with you, then of course a vehicle is better.
If you are a wind surfer, and need something to carry your gear with you back and forth to the beach, then of course a vehicle is better.
There are many people in exactly the situation you are, and for good reasons need a vehicle.
But those needs don't represent everyone.
And with the right infrastructure, some things which require a car now, disappear. If the kids can (e)bike to/from after-school events, then there's much less need for one of the parents to be a dedicated chauffeur.
With frequent bus service, it's easier to take the bus into town, so perhaps a family doesn't need one car per adult.
When those who decide to go car-free still need to be able to move more people and property, they use a taxi, rent a car, or join a car share club, depending on their needs.
But it's not easy! 50 years ago Amsterdam was car-centered, like US cities. It took decades to get where they are now. The point is to learn from that experience, not reject the possibility outright.