Submitted 13 hours ago by LifeLemons@lemmy.ml to greentext@sh.itjust.works
https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/c8146fd8-611b-4469-b89b-8e1304f60cf4.jpeg
I know a couple of people my age (about 40) who really prefer not to drive, but it’s such a strange preference IRL that I suspect most people with it have just never experienced how much better it is to have a car and live somewhere where driving is convenient.
I know that sounds patronizing but I was a bikes/mass transit supporter myself when I was younger and it was 100% because I never learned how to drive and I didn’t know what I was missing.
That’s fun. I was a driver kid and didn’t know what I was missing till I moved to a place with good bike/public transport infrastructure.
I suspect people who claim that they prefer to have a car never experienced how much better life quality is in a place without cars where cycling is convenient.
(The noise pollution alone is worth it!)
Where have you been that both has few drivers and is quiet? The much lower population density that is made possible by driving reduces noise much more than cars increase it.
I wouldn’t assume everyone who disagrees with you is naive just because you were naive in your past agreement with them. Really, going to bike friendly places with lots of busses, trains, sidewalks, paths, etc… it’s just very nice. Yes there are conveniences to cars, but the biggest convenience a car can ever offer is freedom from the inconveniences of not having a car in a car-based society.
I drove cars for years until I was fed up that I need more time to clear the windows of ice in the winter than the actual drive. That’s when I switched first to a moped, then to an e-scooter (the small one which you stand on) and then to an e-bike.
It’s such a difference to be out in the open. It’s fun.
I’ll never go back owning a car. They cost a lot more than my bike and I always feel stressed using them (driving = maintaining focus all the time, that is stress).
I now don’t need to go to a gym anymore. Cycling is enough to keep me fit.
because the entire transport infrastructure is geared towards making cars the safest, quickest and most convenient way of getting places.
i own a pedal bike and enjoy riding, but i can get places nowhere near the speed and safety. i almost always need at least a bus ticket to get halfway there, which forces me to rent the damn bikes wherever i go if i want to use them. a basic city motorcycle or scooter is probably fucking cheaper and quicker, which is probably why they seem to be so popular where i live.
in north america - go to NL and it’s the opposite - it’s a political decision.
i’m on south america. sadly, the NL is one of the exceptions, not the rule in the world.
Because they made a lot of mmmmoneyyyy for their producers.
ITT: people who don’t understand how geography works.
Just build low angle switchbacks, bro. We already do this for our automotive infrastructure. If you’ve got a really high elevation, you can consider implementing one of the most efficient modes of mass transit in existence - the elevator.
Bicyclists live for hills. 😈
They might be inexpensive where you live. I’ve paid half of my paycheck for my bicycle, and it’s not even that good.
Gift a man a bike, and he will ride for a year. Gift him bolt cutters, and he will ride forever.
Try riding a bicycle 105 kilometers to your parent’s house and see how that feels
the thing is, this thread has everyone looking at things as sort of a cycling-only society. in actuality, any improvements to human transportation on a societal level would have to encompass a variety of transportation options. the current system in NA emphasizes cars above all else. if they were to transition away from car dominance, it would look like expansion of cycling, busses, and trains at minimum. they all would be expected to run in harmony with one another, meeting the various transportation needs such as distance, accessibility, etc.
Take your bike on the train. That’s what I did last time I had somewhere to be that was >100 km away, and it was a fantastic trip
Ride Bike 5-10k to train station, take train for an hour or two with bike, ride Bike 5-10k to my parents house. I do it once or twice a month.
In nice weather? Pretty good, as long as you are staying the night… And don’t mind being tired… And don’t need to bring much with you… And can wash your clothes there before you cycle back.
Unregulated? I got ticket for an unregistered bicycle in 2011.
Unfortunately if you live in a city it will get stolen at least once a week and that gets pretty costly pretty quick
Inb4 they just remove regulations so it becomes the vehicle of freedom
AnimalsDream@slrpnk.net 11 hours ago
Bikes are only cheap if you rarely use them, or are just starting out. Spend enough time on them and you will start looking at all the gear, components, and upgrades that can improve your quality of life. There is definitely a point where insurance becomes necessary, but luckily even bike insurance is much less expensive than auto insurance.
Krik@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 hours ago
Commuters ride cheap bikes. The most expensive stuff is usually your clothes, they are like Star Trek tech today.