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An article over at Motherboard covers the growing inequities in the US resulting from the cultivation of individualized transport options.
Carsharing, ridesharing, ride-hailing, public transit, and cycling—"all of those things are needed to replace personal cars," said [Robin Chase, co-founder of Zipcar].
It's a nice idea, but to actually kill car ownership, we're first going to need to have some very uncomfortable conversations about class and equity in the United States. Public transit used to be the great equalizer, but affordable private rides have become the new favorite of the middle class. When richer people give their money to private ride-hailing or carsharing companies, public transit loses money—and that's not good for cities, societies, or the environment.
[...] This dependence on ride-hailing is having the adverse effect of increasing traffic congestion, which in turn makes bus service slower and more frustrating. Besides, until cities change dramatically—i.e. more parks, fewer parking lots, less sprawl, better accommodations for active and public transit—decreased rates of car ownership likely won't benefit the environment if we're still travelling the same distances in cars.
Those living in countries that still have good or remnants of good mass transit will have different insights. It is unlikely that without good, reliable, vast public transit networks, there will be social and economic equity, assuming that is a goal. While public transit can suck, especially in the US, it is sometimes necessary to take one for the team and vote with your wallet. Unfortunately the situation is often framed as a false dilemma, that there can only be private cars or only mass transit, but not both coexisting and used for different ends at different times by the same people.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 14 2018, @01:10AM (26 children)
It's easy to bitch and whine about the state of public transportation. Even easier to complain that some of us have private vehicles, but you can't afford one, or won't make the sacrifice necessary to get one.
But, what's the solution? Buses and trains smell bad? Will you authorize vigilante groups to deal with the lowlifes who shit in them? No?
Dangerous people inhabit public transportation. Will you authorize concealed carry, so that individuals may deal with those dangerous people? No again?
Public transportation is time consuming, and never on time. Will you agree that management needs to be fired when they can't make a stupid train run on time? No again?
So, you don't have any solutions to offer, but you want me to give up my private transportation, and join you in your misery. Hmmmmmm. Let me think about this. Get back with me in my next life, alright? I'm considering asking the Great Lord of Karma to allow me to come back as a mass transit predator. I'm not sure which is the better delicacy - lesser predators, or SJW activists. Guess I'll have to wait and see!
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Wednesday February 14 2018, @01:13AM (1 child)
------V
People who drive cars eat their young.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday February 14 2018, @05:11PM
That's some twisted thought. How about, people who drive cars, do so to feed their young? Good Mass Transit systems are typically developed in areas that have dense population. Areas, that would benefit greatly from a Good Mass Transit system. Trying to apply Mass Transit everywhere is dumb. I would really like it, if the byproduct of our cars was water vapor, instead of carbon monoxide. Better yet, it would be nice, if said "clean alternatives" were "affordable clean alternatives".
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 5, Insightful) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:11AM (18 children)
Yes! ^^^ This! What I want is derelict insane homeless people on public transit, smelling like shit, AND PACKING HEAT! It would make the daily bus ride soooo much more interesting.
You see, if I have a right to concealed carry, these fellow citizens of yours that you are so kind as to call "low-lifes" also have that right. And as Machiavelli said, "If you are going to ruin someone, it is best to kill them, for no one is so poor as not to be able to afford a dagger." Same could be said today about firearms. And if I was homeless, and shitting myself, and people just complained that it made public transportation to "ickky" for them, I might be drawn to Second Amendment Solutions!
So once again, shut up, Runaway1856, you are talking about things you do not understand. Yes, I know that covers almost everything, but some times the best post is no post at all. Tell us again about the population of China, or all about Byzantine law under the Ottomans! Fascinating stuff!
(Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:19AM (15 children)
So - you're afraid of people who can defend themselves. Interesting. Are you a predator, or a parasite?
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2, Informative) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:39AM (11 children)
I TOLD you to shut up, Runaway! Stand down, Sir! Do NOT make me fart in your general direction!
(This is a test, only a test, to see if Runaway1956 can actually resist responding to a shitpost. So far all our data suggests not. But we want to test the limits, we may have found an infinite suppy of hot air, with which we could create a perpetual motion machine, and free public transportation, and sanitation. Stay tuned for results)
(Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:45AM (10 children)
Yes, you told me. A test? You failed.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2, Funny) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @03:40AM (9 children)
This is why I do not believed that Runaway ever served in any navy. If orders are not followed, the vessel is put in danger. You have been ordered (well, as close as it gets to an order on SN, without being sub-suppressed) to take the high road, to not respond to posts that contribute nothing but to raise your ire. And once again YOU, our resident hillbilly Runaway1966, have failed the test. But we are generous. I dare you to fuck off, and not respond to this post.
(To those in the viewing audience, this is the crucial point, where we have made clear to Runaway that he is being tested, and we have also indicated what the correct course of action on his part should be. Can he do it? This is what science and experimentation is all about. And it beats riding a bus full of armed crazy people that Reagan kicked out of asylums. )
(Score: 1, Insightful) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @05:01AM (8 children)
For those of you viewing the experiment from home, evidently the Runaway1945 has opted not to respond, as ordered, but has dropped a troll mod on the prior directive. Such negative reaction is not unexpected from test subjects. Now we have to see if he can resist this:
Runaway! You coward! I called you a insubordinate! Have you nothing to say, seaman? Respond! I order you to respond! Bosun's Mast at O-dark thirty!
(Score: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @05:33AM (3 children)
And, nothing. Experiment concluded. Runaway1956 loses, fails the test, and now we will have to just fund public transportation, and public medical care, and public mental health care, and not allow crazy persons and Republicans to carry weapons concealed upon their bodies as if they were assassins, or murderers, or otherwise very bad persons that no sane society, not even Dodge City, Kansas, at its peak, would allow. You are not allowed to defend yourself, your craven coward and piece of Arkansawian shit, to defend yourself against any human being that has an equal right to defend themselves against you, and I imagine, but maybe it is just me, that most of them have, given your fucking hillbilly racist position on most everything, a presumptive right to fuching nail you, before you even have a chance to stroke your piece, you goddamned ammosexual. We surround you, Runaway. We are the majority. You are a looser.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:23PM (2 children)
Sounds like someone can't handle not having the last say.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:41PM (1 child)
You nailed that one!
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:17PM
Aw! Runaway! You were doing so well!
(To those looking on: the infinite energy project is back on! A solution to all our public transportation issues is at hand! Rejoice!)
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:39PM (3 children)
Dumbass. In order to be INsubordinate, I must be your subordinate. That ain't happenin' in this lifetime, or the next ten lifetimes, nor in any of your numerous past lifetimes. And, it is just this kind of screwup that proves that you ain't half as smart as you wish you were.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:21PM (2 children)
It wasn't me that ordered you to stop the shitposting, Runaway! Evidently you do not know the chain of command here on SoylentNews!
(Score: 1, Troll) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 14 2018, @05:04PM (1 child)
Chain of command - once I've wrapped the dog choke-chain around your throat, you are only to happy to follow commands. I understand the chain of command quite well.
You would look less silly if you stopped with what you believe to be military references. You're about as convincing as some pale-faced Englishman playing the part of an Indian chief in the old movies.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Wednesday February 14 2018, @06:56PM
Please stop, Runaway1138! For the sake of all that is good and decent, for your own sake, for the sake of SoylentNews, I implore you, please do not respond to this post! Do not allow yourself to be lead on by intentional mis-use of military technology, by allegory or geographical desparagement! Just don't do it, Runaway! Please!!
(Prognosis: He will respond. We await experimental confirmation)
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @06:42AM
Maybe, but at least he's not a moron.
(Score: 2) by TheRaven on Wednesday February 14 2018, @12:11PM (1 child)
sudo mod me up
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:44PM
*cough*
Exploited by me? We need to reflect on who's who here. There is no Greek blood in my veins. Aristarchus is apparently 100% Greek. How many catamites do you suppose a 2000 year old Greek has had? Exploitation? Uh-huh - we really need to think about this . . .
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday February 14 2018, @05:20PM (1 child)
In what world do you think a "derelict insane homeless person on public transit" wouldn't sell that gun to a local pawnshop? So, they could do things like eat, or drink booze, or any number of other things that would make their miserable experience less miserable. Assuming, they were the kind of person to use a gun to assault someone and could afford to have a gun. They probably wouldn't be a "derelict insane homeless person on public transit".
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @06:47PM
Are you saying they would be Runaway, instead?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:09AM (4 children)
Really? If that's the case where you live, then you need to vote out the scum who ruined your public transportation system or, more likely, refused to fund a decent one in the first place.
Where I live, using public transportation is much, much faster than trying to drive. From where I live to where most of the offices are, it's anywhere from 10-25 minutes on public transportation, and easily 45-90 minutes by car.
And most folks (whether rich or poor, sane or mentally ill, bathed or not) use public transportation here for that reason. Stop being so provincial. Not every place is like it is in whatever shithole you live.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:48PM (3 children)
Shades of "Communism is great, it just hasn't been tried hard enough yet". Ignoring the whole issue with we tried hard last century to the tune of 100M dead, and I suspect 101M or even 1B this century is unlikely to exceed some imaginary threshold and finally succeed.
Naah, Occam's razor suggests that if it worked everywhere it was built more than a century ago and approximately nowhere since, then everywhere it could work, it was built a long time ago. You can point at Hoover Dam as a source of electricity and stomp your feet and wave signs all day, but the engineering constraints permanently limit that individual technological artifact to certain locations where it works and you're never going to get every county in the USA to build a Hoover Dam size hydroelectric plant. Heck some counties don't even have rivers at all...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:06PM
Public transit is communism now. I think you RWNJs have slipped over the edge. It must be trumps amazing approval ratings, that shit be dank yo.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @05:41PM
Okay. So the democratic process (you know, voting and representative government) is communistic? That's an interesting take. Please, tell me more.
I find your ideas interesting and I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @06:52PM
If you think that is funny, What About Kansas? Have you ever taken public transit in Kansas? They even quit paying for roads in Kansas, to cut taxes further which produced stupendous economic growth. And then they had to cut spending further, because they "couldn't afford" roads, or education. So now if you want, you can "hail" an Uber, especially if it is actually hailing, but there will be no passable roads for the Uber to Uber on. Disruptive tech! Kansas leads the way! No stinky riders on public transit in Kansas, no siree! No public transit!