The Atlantic's Edward Humes on Cars

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 04/12/2016 at 16:19 • Filed to: (please don't) ban all cars

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“The Absurd Primacy of the Automobile in American Life” - I think he and Alissa Walker would get along...

No solutions, of course. Just stating how bad they are and implying how bad we all are for using and enjoying them.

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pjhusa > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/12/2016 at 16:29

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Ah. They would make a great couple then.

Moves-Like-Senna > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/12/2016 at 16:44

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I’m going to play devil’s advocate to the popular opinion here. I think the article does have a point to an extent.

The number of unecessary resources, money, trips and vehicles out there is staggaring. There are manytimes when one could do X without a vehicle but simply wont.

For example, my father is the typical male back in a more rural part of Canada.

When going for a flight, he drives his truck into the city and parks it for two weeks. When it’s anyone else in the family, we get dropped off at the ferry, and hop on a bus followed by a short subway ride. The difference in costs is in the hundreds, the resources used is not comparable and it’s completely unnecessary.

Another example is Montreal. Here the city is on an island and there are many people who live on the south and north shores which are not serviced by the subway. From the south shore however, there is a bus with mass parking (three stops in the lot) to take. I do know some people who choose this option making their commute shorter (bus lanes) and far cheaper. Though the majority of people I know are too stubburn or too good to hop on the bus for 15 minutes easing traffic, polution and time in the vain of needing to drive.

For many people it’s become a ‘need’ in their heads rather than a ‘want’. Owning a car for enthusiast reasons like an M3 for the weekends or if you live in an area that requries one, work, have kids or other needs I support ya. But I think people need to think twice about the primacy of the automobile.

I’m a die hard car enthusiast and well, as posted on Oppo I drive over 40k Miles a year for leisure but while on those trips if I need to go to the 7/11 down the street and around the corner, I’ll walk. I don’t drive daily as it’s more efficient to take transit and while I may be moving a new city I’m thinking of remaining free of car ownership and spending the equivelant on living within a 10 minute walk of work.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > pjhusa 04/12/2016 at 17:01

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We’ve already learned, however, that Alissa’s husband is a serious gearhead.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Moves-Like-Senna 04/12/2016 at 17:14

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I don’t disagree with you that many people use their car way more often than they need to for no other reason than convenience.

In many large cities, the options really are there to get around for most of your day (or your year) without the need of an automobile, but in many, many other places there really just aren’t these options.

Do I have more car than I need? Absolutely.

But what do any of us really need? Do we need to take vacations? Do we need to eat in nice restaurants? Do we need to go to a concert, or a museum or the movies? We choose to spend our movie on many things purely for our own personal enjoyment, and some people feel this same way about the car they drive.

I went to school and worked hard and saved for years in part to be able to do things I want to do. I agree that we can all do a better job of thinking how our choices and actions might affect others and the world around us, but at some point, we’re also here to live our lives and enjoy them.

I do envy your option of a 10 minute walk to work, fwiw.

pjhusa > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/12/2016 at 17:24

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Wait. Legit?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > pjhusa 04/12/2016 at 17:28

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Yup. Forget exactly, but has owned or currently owns a 2002, classic Mustang, others. And she drove a Saab, with a manual.

pjhusa > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/12/2016 at 17:38

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Hmm. Wonder where the hatred stemmed from... hungry for clicks, perhaps?