Christopher Mims
America's car culture is broken -- cyclists and pedestrians know this. But what's not acknowledged often enough is just how broken it is for *drivers* Our roads are deadlier than they have been at any point in the past ~20 years. And the average price of a new car now exceeds $40,000. It doesn't have to be this way! Pretty much the rest of the world is embracing micro- and mini-mobility. Here's what that looks like. (gift link) ๐งต/1 24 comments
Christopher Mims
~42,000 Americans die on our roads every year Other tremendous costs of our car culture are the anomie, alienation, environmental destruction and mass impoverishment of Americans brought on by the perceived necessity of buying ever-larger, ever-pricier vehicles just to keep from being slaughtered on our roads. The average weight of American vehicles goes up every year. This was true even before people started buying EVs which tend to be heavier on account of batteries. 2/
Christopher Mims
Gigantic vehicles with hundreds of miles of range is a bizarre way to use EV technology in a world where most drivers commute around 20-30 miles a day. The whole point of EVs is that they can be smaller, more compact, and do things no comparably-sized gas-powered vehicle can. Take the Swiss/Italian Microlino: 3/
Christopher Mims
Did you know the sole priority of the average transportation engineer is shaving a couple minutes off of the average car journey? In 4 of 5 jurisdictions across the U.S., there is almost nothing on the books saying streets should seek to be safer and more accessible to all. These policies haven't accomplished their stated goals -- by forcing everyone into cars, they create *more* traffic, which leads to average speeds low enough they could be matched with a more diverse mix of transit. 5/
Christopher Mims
Here's the thing -- we have the technology to move people around in more ways than ever. And a lot of it is personal transport which, like it or not, is what a lot of Americans prefer. But we can't unlock all this stuff without changing another technology, one which is controlled by tens of thousands of towns, cities and regional transit agencies -- safer, aka "complete" streets. The goal is simple: make people feel safe traveling on 2 wheels, 3, 4 (in a smaller vehicle) or on foot. 6/6
tobie
@mimsical My late father-in-law bought three Reva vehicles when they were first produced in India in 2001. All of them still work. They don't have great range but he figured for tootling around in traffic in Bangalore and Chennai, they would more than suffice. I had hopes when I heard Reva was going to open a plant in NY in 2009 but the initiative failed. What a shame. #electriccars #reva #india #smallvehicles #ev 
Brian Dear
@mimsical Why, itโs almost as if this is what you get when governments everywhere are completely, totally, utterly captured by the oil and gas industry, the richest most powerful industry in the world, for what, over a century. They want consumption of their product. So the world is designed to maximize consumption of their product. And in the US, suburbs are designed as a network of roads connecting houses to distant retailers, instead of local shops/markets within walking distance. 
ferricoxide
@mimsical@mastodon.social I dunno about you, but I can't afford the several $1000s to have an "around town" car and also a car that lets me drive home for family holidays or drive to the next city over for special events. That said, since I have no plans to drive anywhere for ten, continuous (no stops for restrooms, snacks, etc.) hours, I also don't need any car, whether ICE or EV, with a 500mi range.
Bob O'Shaughnessy
@mimsical Also some existing options for smaller vehicles are being removed, as states started revoking registration of imported Kei cars. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/jdm-kei-vehicles-in-georgia/ 
John Socks
@mimsical I am sympathetic Christopher, but I'm afraid the high median purchase price actually reflects a group choice. Many perfectly good cars are available under $30,000*. When people don't buy them, let alone the micromobility options, they are voting with .. their right foot so to speak. I personally consider it awful that Rivian's most recent innovation is not a smaller more efficient truck, but instead a 1000 hp version. * - conventional, hybrid, electric all available under that price
John Socks
@mimsical But sadly I think Rivian understands the modern electric car market. It is not made up of environmentalists.   
Chancerubbage
Peachtree City. Gee, I dunno, what do YOU want to name this place. How about Peachtree? Thatโs popular around here. Itโs decided then. Peachtree it is!
8r3nt gu14n0w5k1
@mimsical A different kind of inflation? Cars have scaled up with America's self-image, and the need to display it, as well as the mutual mistrust it spawns. America is not a land of sharing and harmony, but of opportunity, driven by vicious competition; of conflict and waste; of winners and losers; of injury, death, and despair. The cost is borne by the victims of past conflicts, and their heirs. Is there a way to have one without the other? America as it is would have to die. |
Gregory's Server
@mimsical Please stay on this beat for the rest of your career.