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0 pointsrayiner2y ago0 comments

> In properly designed large cities the metro beats the car by a huge time margin unless they made cars so expensive by policy that nobody has a car and there is no traffic at that city as a result.

What’s a properly designed city? Even in Tokyo a car usually beats the train unless it’s an inter-regional trip. Im a huge Japan nerd and love their train system. But I just got back from carting three kids around Tokyo and daily life is just far easier in my American exurb.

Do Americans have it bad? The median Parisian spends 69 minutes per day commuting: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/eurofound/news/budapest-paris-and.... The median commute time in Dallas is under an hour round trip: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/B080ACS048113 (28 minutes one way). And the folks in Dallas live in huge houses compared to those in Paris.

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lapetitejort2y ago

I would rather sit in a train for 69 minutes than sit in a car for 45 minutes. In a car if my attention slips for a second I can kill myself and others. In a train if I fall asleep I may have to take another train.

lotsoweiners2y ago

Cool! You do you. I’d personally rather spend an hour in the car comfortably vs 20 minutes on public transportation where I’ve got a stranger sitting next to me, no privacy, and potentially no seat during rush hour commute times.

iamacyborg2y ago

Having to stand for 20 minutes is not such a bad deal if you’re in decent health. Hell it’s probably good for you if you spend most of your day sat at a desk.

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stouset2y ago

You seem to be under the significantly confused impression that working to density cities and improve transit options is somehow an attempt to pry your car and single-family home from your cold, dead fingers.

It isn't.

It's about changing incentive structures over the long-term, so more people choose options which have a better set of societal externalities.

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0 pointsrayiner2y ago0 comments

> In properly designed large cities the metro beats the car by a huge time margin unless they made cars so expensive by policy that nobody has a car and there is no traffic at that city as a result.

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lapetitejort2y ago

lotsoweiners2y ago

iamacyborg2y ago

Having to stand for 20 minutes is not such a bad deal if you’re in decent health. Hell it’s probably good for you if you spend most of your day sat at a desk.

1 more reply

stouset2y ago

It isn't.

It's about changing incentive structures over the long-term, so more people choose options which have a better set of societal externalities.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse