Car Bloat: “Huge Cars Are Terrible for Society”

Re:Car Bloat: “Huge Cars Are Terrible for Society” by kulikalov on Monday August 07, 2023 @03:05PM (#37039227)

I've been living in Europe for many years. Never needed a car, and moved around cities on a bicycle, public transportation, and sometimes a cab. On a train/plane for longer distances. Safe, healthy, pleasant, loved it.

Moved to the US last fall. One can't live here without a car anywhere outside NYC (and maybe Boston/Chicago?).

The reason is not just the car-centric cities design. It's the individualism culture, the severe income inequality, and the crime levels. I'm not advocating for or against the US culture to be clear, just pointing out the slightly less obvious causes of the car use.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Car Bloat: “Huge Cars Are Terrible for Society” by rootusrootus on Monday August 07, 2023 @03:19PM (#37039505)

It's also not specific to the US. Canada has identical car culture. And even the utopias in Europe have lots of cars. And suburbia, too! It's fascinating how perceptions are manipulated on HN to fit a narrative.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Car Bloat: “Huge Cars Are Terrible for Society” by chrisco255 on Monday August 07, 2023 @03:12PM (#37039368)

Do you own your home and if so, how much land do you own?

If Europe is so great, why do you suppose Americans are not emigrating there en masse?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Car Bloat: “Huge Cars Are Terrible for Society” by d00mer on Monday August 07, 2023 @03:44PM (#37039911)

> why do you suppose Americans are not emigrating there en masse?

One still needs to know the local language to get a job in most European countries.

[ Parent | on HN ]