this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2024
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Fuck Cars

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Pros of golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) replacing all private cars within a city:

  • Only goes as fast as a bicycle, so isn't a viable suburban commuter vehicle, meaning you'll probably only take it to the nearest transit station
  • Only goes as fast as a bicycle, so isn't likely to kill people
  • Excellent visibility, so less likely to run over children
  • Much smaller and lighter, so building parking garages for park-and-rides would be a lot cheaper and less objectionable than with our current style of cars
  • Electric
  • Smaller batteries than jumbo EVs
  • Compatible with dense, transit-oriented city development
  • Could be installed with mandatory speed limiters

Cons:

  • Less profit for GM and ExxonMobil
(page 2) 37 comments
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (7 children)

My mom lives 100km away from the city, there are no busses or trains going there. How long should I need to travel to go visit my mom for the day? In a car it takes between an hour and an hour 20. At an average bicycle speed (for a fit cyclist) it would take me 4-5 hours to get to her, I can then have a cup of coffee, turn around and start heading back so I don't get home too late.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (3 children)

You use a train like the rest of the civilised world. Should take 30 minutes or something like , you can spend the time you saved helping end car dependency

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

You need to read and not skim read..

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

there are no trains going there though.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This looks incredibly American. As far as small vehicles go this is still roughly the size of a small car, granted it probably weighs less(d safer), but storing it still requires a fair amount of dedicated parking. An E-bike or even better a pushbike seems like a more reasonable choice then.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (13 children)

The reason cars became so popular in rural areas is that they're the thing that allows people who live there to be connected with their neighbors. They divide densely populated areas and connect low population areas. The relationship cars have to people's lives is incredibly complex and putting forth solutions like this will alienate people from joining the movement. Advocating for walkable cities makes sense because rural communities aren't going to be atomized by regulations like that, and thus it becomes easier to implement.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

This post is talking exclusively about cities, I'm not sure why this argument about rural areas comes up so often when it's not relevant.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Rural people know their way of life is utterly unsustainable and feel very defensive because of that

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (12 children)

Really? That is very naive of you. I don't see a lot of farming In city centers. Rural life is just as sustainable as city life. I have always driven much less when I have lived in the country. Being able to live where you work makes a commute unnecessary. So just the once a month drive to town for supplies.

Both cities and the country have its place. One is not better, the worst way to get people to listen to you is to insult one of the basic qualities of who they are.

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

What about safety in crashes e.g. off a bridge?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is driving a car off a bridge really a typical crash? Christ the concern trolling here is really scraping the barrel

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The lower mass, speed, and center of gravity of these vehicles would mean even the lowest cost guard rails would be more than sufficient to stop anyone going off a bridge.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Needs AC & Heat & Doors/Windows. Weather is a thing that people need to deal with. Not everywhere is 70 and sunny every day.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah I find many of these not car cars have a very narrow used case, making them impracticable to scale.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

My state allows towns to decide if they'll allow golf carts to drive on roads. It's great for small towns with lots of older people.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There is a small city in Georgia, USA that does this. Tom Scott video on it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I knew a guy that grew up there, he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and was kinda shocked that all the other folks we worked with (most of us from other parts of Georgia than Peachtree City) didn't have golf carts growing up. Actually seems like a cool idea, although it only works if you can afford a golfcart

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Tbf, the current system only works if you can afford a car which is typically more expensive than a golf cart

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

True, but all these people also have both, often multiple of both, it's a pretty well off part of metro Atlanta

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds similar to a mobility scooter, but more practical for carrying much heavier loads.

I'd prefer a cargobike personally, but most of the ones I like are too heavy to move when you're not riding it, let alone with a 1/4 ton load. Those also can't fit into most apartments, you've got to leave them outside or in bicycle storage...

This kart/NEV thing kind of seems like a good compromise, with quadricycle vans possibly being an alternative option if you aren't carrying people

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

I agree that a bike is generally preferable, but an NEV seems a good compromise for people who need to move multiple people at once or more cargo than a cargo bike can carry. Max one of these per household + bike for everyone + walkable, transit-oriented development seems like a suitable compromise that would be a significant improvement over the status quo.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Just based on the picture, do you expect this to be used anywhere that gets a decent chance of snow in the winter?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This used to be my point against winter bicycles, but when I think about it, these kinds of individual transports shouldn’t be used for long distances anyway, and you’ll still need good winter clothing for walking to the destination after parking anyway.

I just decided to improve my winter gear, and that means I can walk, or bike, or use one of these electric golf carts, or whatever I choose.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Exactly. I'm in Canada, and I often ride my electric scooter to work in the winter, and many ride bikes in the winter here, too. The windshield on a glorified golf cart plus proper winter clothing is all you really need, although maybe detachable side flaps to keep out the wind might help, too.

And I wear full coat in a car anyways for the exact reason you mention: I still need to walk between car and final destination.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Just get the AWD trim with a winter tire package. Keep chains handy too

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

People still walk in those places too.

Give it some vinyl doors and you'll be fine in winter time.

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