Unironically in favor. US gas prices are far lower than they should be, which produces a bunch of knock-on effects like car dependency and demand for car-centric living. Yes, it’s going to be painful, but I think it will be worth it if we get good pedestrian/mass transit/urban infrastructure out of it.
Generally, yeah, you’re probably right. That said, a lot of times these things are directly controlled on a MUCH more local level than you might think. It’s well worth your while to start showing up to city council meetings and giving them what for; at worst, it’s a fun hobby that’s affordable and the cops can’t stop you from enjoying. If your experience is like mine, though, it’ll put you in contact with other like-minded individuals with whom you can network, organize, and push for change. It’s how I ended up on my city’s bicycle commission.
Going even further, a lot of times, local elections are pretty accessible and have much lower barriers to entry. If you have the time and gumption, you could run for local office for a pretty low cost, especially if you’ve spent some time networking with other local advocates.
I can ride my ebike 15 miles to work over gravel farm-to-market roads, I actually kind of like it when the weather is nice, but I do not expect there to ever be bicycle infrastructure in my area. I’m just going to get expensive gas and have to live with it.
Most humans do live in a city. I’m not talking down at you for not living in a city, it’s strictly a practical application of an observation.
It’s worth noting a few things:
Idk about elsewhere, but in the US, you still have local elected representatives at the county level. They have regular public meetings that you can go to and demand change, just like a city council. I’d guess other places have something similar.
Better cities and better public transit are good for you too. It means fewer cars sharing the road with you and better road conditions overall.
Other countries that have rural areas still manage to provide them with public transit. Our towns deserve better connections than they have- should be trains, but busses should be much more frequent and reliable.
You’re probably right, but I’m going to be damned if I don’t try. One day, sooner than I want to believe, my kids, and lots of others, will inherit the world I’ve helped to make.
Yeah but knowing the US, if it does result in mass transit, it will likely be privately owned so it somehow costs more, delivers less and takes twice as long.
Yeah if there’s a plan and a mechanism for change. He’s just going to pump stock prices for his buddies while convincing his base that we need a 51st state and we’ll all be totally fucked when the billionaires finish getting all the money. This is not a case where doing the wrong thing will lead to the right outcome. We’re just fucked.
Unironically in favor. US gas prices are far lower than they should be, which produces a bunch of knock-on effects like car dependency and demand for car-centric living. Yes, it’s going to be painful, but I think it will be worth it if we get good pedestrian/mass transit/urban infrastructure out of it.
We won’t get anything.
We’ll get expensive gas and still won’t be able to ride our bikes to work.
They hate us.
Generally, yeah, you’re probably right. That said, a lot of times these things are directly controlled on a MUCH more local level than you might think. It’s well worth your while to start showing up to city council meetings and giving them what for; at worst, it’s a fun hobby that’s affordable and the cops can’t stop you from enjoying. If your experience is like mine, though, it’ll put you in contact with other like-minded individuals with whom you can network, organize, and push for change. It’s how I ended up on my city’s bicycle commission.
Going even further, a lot of times, local elections are pretty accessible and have much lower barriers to entry. If you have the time and gumption, you could run for local office for a pretty low cost, especially if you’ve spent some time networking with other local advocates.
Not all of us live in a city.
I can ride my ebike 15 miles to work over gravel farm-to-market roads, I actually kind of like it when the weather is nice, but I do not expect there to ever be bicycle infrastructure in my area. I’m just going to get expensive gas and have to live with it.
Most humans do live in a city. I’m not talking down at you for not living in a city, it’s strictly a practical application of an observation.
It’s worth noting a few things:
Idk about elsewhere, but in the US, you still have local elected representatives at the county level. They have regular public meetings that you can go to and demand change, just like a city council. I’d guess other places have something similar.
Better cities and better public transit are good for you too. It means fewer cars sharing the road with you and better road conditions overall.
Other countries that have rural areas still manage to provide them with public transit. Our towns deserve better connections than they have- should be trains, but busses should be much more frequent and reliable.
Nothing will ever get better. This is America.
You’re probably right, but I’m going to be damned if I don’t try. One day, sooner than I want to believe, my kids, and lots of others, will inherit the world I’ve helped to make.
A better world is possible.
But not with the United States.
I can dream, okay?
Yeah but knowing the US, if it does result in mass transit, it will likely be privately owned so it somehow costs more, delivers less and takes twice as long.
You know, the one thing you can say for US transit is that it has effectively resisted privatization.
Most older US cities had functioning trolley networks that were bought up and ripped out so not really
I live in a city that is referred to as a “streetcar suburb.” Every main road here had tram tracks, then the 50s happened and everything was torn out.
No lol, Ztrip does the public transit in a ton of US cities
wtf I bet DJ Z-Trip is kinda pissed off about this company
To be fair, mass transit is almost impossible to profit off of, even in the US, so private interests want nothing to do with it.
Ironic that the us was the mass transit country in the 19th century.
Only time Amerika could build trains was when it was still linked to genocidal land grabs
Yeah if there’s a plan and a mechanism for change. He’s just going to pump stock prices for his buddies while convincing his base that we need a 51st state and we’ll all be totally fucked when the billionaires finish getting all the money. This is not a case where doing the wrong thing will lead to the right outcome. We’re just fucked.
I was hoping to get back into biking once spring starts rearing its head. ❤️
Same. Gained some weight over the winter since it’s too damn cold to bike anywhere!