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I take the bus everywhere and I see lots of young mothers on the bus with their babies and toddlers. Ever since the 70's strollers have been allowed on buses. My mom raised three kids and always took them on Chicago buses during the time when strollers were not allowed on them. I don't know how she did it but she did.
Of course, not every city has a transportation system like Chicago, but I voted for the second option as where I choose to live because I have always lived in places where I would not be dependent upon a car to get around.
Density is really expensive. While i complain of high gas prices, I also complain of higher rent prices and ppsm, and longer standing lines at the grocery store.
I have to go with densly populated because it forces people to get out and do what nature intended: get people to interact with natural greenspace, sunlight, and it gives you some exercise.
In real life, I've encountered very few people in their 20's and 30's who prefer to use public transportation instead of driving. I'm in my 20's.
However, on the other hand, it seems like the vast majority of most posters on C-D are vehemently against driving and much prefer public transportation.
I was belittled on a different thread earlier tonight by a couple of posters for saying that I vastly prefer car-centric cities over cities where one must rely on public transportation to get most places. Jeez, you would've thought I uttered the filthiest slur in the English language based on how some posters reacted to that comment! My goodness! I can understand why someone would prefer to use public transportation over driving, but I don't belittle people who prefer public transportation and walking, even though it's not my thing. Gosh, some of the posters really need to grow up!
Thankfully, I've never encountered folks like this in real life.
Why should it be either or? It really depends on your situation. In cities such as New York or San Francisco, it's often easier and more convenient to take public transportation. But in more spread out cities such as Los Angeles or San Diego, a car is often more practical and convenient. That doesn't mean you can't have a car in NYC or take public transportation in San Diego. I know, because I took public transportation in SD for a couple years. Very inconvenient but doable (an yes I managed to haul groceries and even laundry on the bus).
It shouldn't be either or but if a place is car-centric, the public transit is most likely not good, likewise if a place is walkable and offers good transit, it's not auto-centric.
I'm in my early 20s and even in my state I know many 20 year olds that would like to ditch a car, but you need it here lol. When you hit the 40 year old bracket here, there were a lot of people that worked for the auto companies and they are passionate about cars. They'd view my type as crazy or if you buy international car they say you don't support the state.
Freedom > fascism. I'll take freedom every day of the week. Freedom of movement is one of the most important and essential freedoms there is. Fixed transit systems are a relic of the past except in the most clogged, congested, crowded, overpopulated places.
I rather be traveling my route on my schedule than be another marching ant. The absolutely worst thing about transit is that people who love transit want me and other people who loathe it to pay for it. It is time for a separation of road and transit funding. Let's let people vote with their feet and wallets.
The biggest part about cars is people want me to pay for it out of my tax dollars...bailout big auto, and fund highway and road systems I don't use...
The biggest part about cars is people want me to pay for it out of my tax dollars...bailout big auto, and fun highway and road systems I don't use...
lol @ fascism.
Every time you buy something from the store you are 'using' the roads and highways.
I get the feeling a lot of people are basing their opinions on what they are used to. Lots of assumptions about the cost and hassle of car ownership, which may be true for some places, but not true for others. For a lot of us paid parking, parking garages, lack of street side parking, etc are non issues. I also think a lot of posters are thinking about this from the POV of being single, add in the cost of public transportation for up to 4 people and suddenly the cost of owning a car seems like more of a bargain.
Every time you buy something from the store you are 'using' the roads and highways.
I get the feeling a lot of people are basing their opinions on what they are used to. Lots of assumptions about the cost and hassle of car ownership, which may be true for some places, but not true for others. For a lot of us paid parking, parking garages, lack of street side parking, etc are non issues. I also think a lot of posters are thinking about this from the POV of being single, add in the cost of public transportation for up to 4 people and suddenly the cost of owning a car seems like more of a bargain.
I was being sarcastic. Talk to the poster saying PT is fascism.
Anyway, I'll address your erroneous point.
Ummm kids mostly ride free in every system I know of. A student in Chicago can ride pt for an entire semester for a whopping 5 dollars.
Where I grew up any high school student or college student with ID rides PT, entirely free! Infants ride free. I'm sure other cities are similar I just know those off top of my head.
To make your point on non children, which I'm assuming that would be. It would have to assume 4 people are all car pooling back and forth everyday.
Cars are only cheap as they are and roads b/c of government subsidies with big auto companies and your tax money. If anything, automobiles have been FAR.. FAR more subsidized for than public transportation post WWII. So when somebody tries to claim "fascism" I'm going to call them out, deservedly. I might even send them a tin foil hat.
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