Thursday, October 27, 2005
Automobile Apartheid?
Extreme smart-growth advocate Joel Hirschhorn has a new take on Hurricane Katrina: the problem was "automobile apartheid" in which first-class citizens drive autos while second-class citizens walk, cycle, or ride transit. That's nice rhetoric, but it doesn't cover up the fact that poor people as well as rich who had cars were able to escape from Katrina and Rita.
If you haven't read it, my view of the problems in New Orleans can be found in this article.
If you haven't read it, my view of the problems in New Orleans can be found in this article.
Comments:
From the Article:
>>>>>Be clear. Automobile apartheid means that anyone who wants mobility through walking, bicycling or public transportation suffers discrimination by a built environment and government structure designed for automobiles<<<<<<
Agreed.
Mobility throught walking and bicycling can only exist in urban centers or smart growth communities. Unfortunately, our recent cities located in the middle of nowhere do not provide this simple luxury forcing you to spend thousands on unnecessary motor transport.
>>>>>Be clear. Automobile apartheid means that anyone who wants mobility through walking, bicycling or public transportation suffers discrimination by a built environment and government structure designed for automobiles<<<<<<
Agreed.
Mobility throught walking and bicycling can only exist in urban centers or smart growth communities. Unfortunately, our recent cities located in the middle of nowhere do not provide this simple luxury forcing you to spend thousands on unnecessary motor transport.
I guess a lot of us "car-haters" just can't feel secure unless we make direct hits on automobiles and highways. If we focused more on the constitutionality of prohibiting new development that is not at least as accessible and functional for non-motorists as it is for those who drive we might find a way to achieve the goals of Smart Growth without having to subsidize the developers.
Aw nuts, I forgot! There still might be automobiles after the dust settles.
Aw nuts, I forgot! There still might be automobiles after the dust settles.
That's hilarious. Disaster preparedness is the biggest reason to encourage decentralized development and build highways everywhere.
There isn't a public transit system in the world(okay that's a wild guess but I think a reasonable one)designed to handle a mass evacuation situation. The cost of such a system--that could handle not just individuals but families with pets and belongings--would be incomprehensible, it would be far more stressful for the people using it than sitting in your own car in traffic no matter how slow and Murphy's Law being what it is the one time it'd be needed would be in the middle of a labour disruption.
There isn't a public transit system in the world(okay that's a wild guess but I think a reasonable one)designed to handle a mass evacuation situation. The cost of such a system--that could handle not just individuals but families with pets and belongings--would be incomprehensible, it would be far more stressful for the people using it than sitting in your own car in traffic no matter how slow and Murphy's Law being what it is the one time it'd be needed would be in the middle of a labour disruption.
>>>There isn't a public transit system in the world(okay that's a wild guess but I think a reasonable one)designed to handle a mass evacuation situation<<<<<
I was in New York City during 9/11 and the blackout were the subways were not working. Living only 15 miles away from the city, I simply took a bus and ferry home and arrived only 1 hour later than usual.
During the blackout when the subways were not working either, I simply rode my bicycle home while those living 20 miles or more ended up sleeping on the streets.
The advantages of urban living give me plenty of options other than motor transport. Where I live, there are 10 bus lines that cross my street with a lightrail just blocks away. Should a natural disaster happen, I can take either bus, rail or bicycle to safty.
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I was in New York City during 9/11 and the blackout were the subways were not working. Living only 15 miles away from the city, I simply took a bus and ferry home and arrived only 1 hour later than usual.
During the blackout when the subways were not working either, I simply rode my bicycle home while those living 20 miles or more ended up sleeping on the streets.
The advantages of urban living give me plenty of options other than motor transport. Where I live, there are 10 bus lines that cross my street with a lightrail just blocks away. Should a natural disaster happen, I can take either bus, rail or bicycle to safty.
