7 Comments

Excellent article, the new options of micromobility, shared cars and autonomous shuttles give hope for lower car ownership. And then we can imagine all the space that would be available in cities from unused garages, carparks in streets, so many opportunities for transformation. Thanks for sharing

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I'm starting to see a bit more mention of where the bike parking is located, or that there are special bike valets, for big music events/festivals in Seattle. And, I am so here for it. When you assume/only mention parking to your customers, that's what you get. In the same way, this is one of the reasons I talk and write about, and interview, folks with influence (often local political leaders like city council members or mayors) who themselves are seen biking for transportation. When you see your rep riding around, you might be nudged to trust them more on transportation infrastructure policy and other efforts to create safer communities. The more people write and share about how they, too, have tried carshare or eBikeShare, or are seriously considering giving up one of their cars, the more a whole lot of others might see themselves doing the same. We need first movers! Thanks for your work, Diana.

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Good post, and allow me to say that you may be interested both in these other reasons why "End of Private Cars" is close:

https://mfioretti.substack.com/p/how-cars-are-dying-why-and-what-comes

and in this plan for cities of 2070: https://mfioretti.substack.com/p/the-city-reboot-for-2070-that-we-122

also, PRIVATE, not rented scooters: https://mfioretti.substack.com/p/in-praise-of-scooters-and-of-the

Let me know if you are interested in exchanging ideas/ posts, or collaborating in general!

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"I bought a local theater subscription package recently, and in advance of the show, the theater mailed me coupons to use at a nearby parking lot. Now I can park the RAV4 for $10 for the night — so cheap it’s the same as roundtrip bus fare for two. We’re already paying $25 an hour for a babysitter, so the time we’d spend getting across town by foot or transit is money. Isn’t that the American way?"

Amen, we also drive to theatre in our private car because of the cost of babysitting.

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I actually got a note from the restaurant where we're eating dinner before the show and they have informed me that parking at their lot is even less -- just $9. It's incredible how we not only publicly subsidize parking but privately do as well.

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public transportation is unsafe in most urban areas. and discusting at the least. with crime running rampent in cities, even small ones, defunding of police, and public transportation doondoggles, like Houstons rail service, the ownership of cars becomes more important, not less. The choice to own a car is mine, not yours or any gov't agency. Do you know how many transfers it would take for persons living in the 'burbs would have to do to get to downtown? The wasted time?

and most people still buy "cable" it's called your internet provider.

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Yes owning a car is your choice and nobody is trying to take them away, it's almost like you didn't even read the article...

You sound like someone who doesn't live in an urban area and use transit regularly but rather regurgitates whatever Fox News tells you.

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