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posted by martyb on Tuesday April 30 2019, @01:34AM   Printer-friendly
from the bipedal-locomotion dept.

Phys.org:

The authors are calling on national and local governments to set targets for the proportion of trips made on foot, by bicycle and by public transport, including national targets of:

  • Doubling the proportion of trips walked to 25 per cent by 2050.
  • Doubling the proportion of cycling trips in each of the next decades, with the ultimate goal of 15 per cent of all trips being on bicycles by 2050.
  • Increasing the proportion of all trips by public transport to 15 per cent by 2050.

The report's authors further recommend:

  • The government develop a national promotion and education campaign to persuade people to walk or cycle to schools and work-places
  • That investment is made in liveable cities and creating urban environments designed for people, rather than cars
  • That new regulations are introduced to make walking and cycling safer

The report prominently cites health concerns as a key reason to not drive, because people need to exercise more. Is it a tacit acknowledgement of electric vehicles' (EVs) imminent takeover of global car fleets?


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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @02:56AM (10 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @02:56AM (#836497)

    OR we need to reduce atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion. More mass transit, fewer cars, and make the cars electric.

    "The authors of a University of Otago report on active transport say urgent steps must be taken to encourage New Zealanders to walk, cycle or take public transport, with our use of cars harming both our health and our environment."

    Hmm, hard to imagine how they are going to profit off of this report. Perhaps your skepticism of all scientists is a misplaced behavior.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @03:02AM (7 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @03:02AM (#836502)

    Hmm, hard to imagine how they are going to profit off of this report

    Not for me... I can't even believe someone would say that so I won't bother providing all the obvious ways. I'll start you with one though: reliance on public transportation = less freedom of movement and more reliance on government.

    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @03:32AM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @03:32AM (#836511)

      Lololol ok then, just support anti-surveillance regulation. To get popular support you will have to convince people to care about camera surveillance though.

      Cars wouldn't disappear in my ideal world, there would just be more convenient and cheaper alternatives. Also, even with a car you will be tracked by your phone or street cameras. The only solution there is the same I said above, get people to care about privacy / anti-surveillance laws.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @03:57AM (2 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @03:57AM (#836524)

        What are you babbling about surveillance for?

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @04:15PM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @04:15PM (#836744)

          You are correct, surveillance wasn't specifically mentioned I just assumed that was what was meant. There would be little to zero reduction in freedom of travel with public transit because it isn't like that would be the only option. Such a view was so ridiculous that in my haste I did not seriously consider the literally stated opinion.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @07:18PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @07:18PM (#836833)

            There would be little to zero reduction in freedom of travel with public transit

            Have you ever met someone with vs without a car? I mean, you live in a fantasy land if you think public transport is comparable.

      • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @04:00AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @04:00AM (#836525)

        It's like you are laughing at some strawman your malfunctioning brain cooked up rather than comprehend the post you were responding to. Strange to see mental illness on such obvious display.

    • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @08:36AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @08:36AM (#836579)

      reliance on public transportation = less freedom of movement and more reliance on government.

      Relying on public roads = less freedom of movement and more reliance on government. Relying on gas powered vehicles = less freedom of movement and more reliance on government. So obviously, the best way to increase freedom of movement and stop relying on government is to WALK and BIKE.

      I know, some people can't comprehend that roads, gas infrastructure (gas pipelines thanks to eminent domain) and standards (ie. no lead gasoline), traffic law enforcement, safety standards == all government!

      • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @11:23AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @11:23AM (#836623)

        That is obviously false, cars can drive off road if need be, the gov roads are a convenience. Also, obviously you can travel much farther in a car so even if using the government road you have more freedom of movement than being stuck biking/walking. What is with the idiots responding to this post?

  • (Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @07:01AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @07:01AM (#836563)

    they own stock in shoe companies.

    • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @11:26AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 30 2019, @11:26AM (#836624)

      Or Tesla... Which has a mysteriously levitating stock.