I agree with the need to modernize our cities, but it won’t be enough to “make cars useless”. From an individual point of view, the car have too many advantages that people won’t let go. At least here in France were I live.
The modern occidental urban world is build with cars and trucks at the heart of society. It is much harder to find a job if you don’t own a car, and for pretty much any business (apart from pure service) your supplies have to get to your by road. If we wait to get to the point of “modernizing cities” enough to get real alternatives competitive enough to change people on a individual “free” choice basis, it will take decades or even a century.
Banning car thanks to a collective political action is much more effective and will bring the amelioration to the city much much faster. As long as cars are allowed in cities, public money, private money, and political action have to keep on managing them, maintaining the infrastructure, the cars, while keeping the city less enjoyable for cyclist and pedestrians.
Bonus point : This is a great example of what I would call a “collective prisoner’s dilemma”. I would personally never end up choosing to never ever have a car because it would make my individual life much difficult and less free. But Collectively, I am convinced I have a personal interest in a law that would ban cars for everyone including me. Because that wouldn’t penalize me when I’m looking for a job or try to create an urban economic activity. That would actually let me with more freedom to do what I want. A counter intuitive situation where imposing a collective restriction of freedom actually benefit to everyone.
I agree with the need to modernize our cities, but it won’t be enough to “make cars useless”. From an individual point of view, the car have too many advantages that people won’t let go. At least here in France were I live.
The modern occidental urban world is build with cars and trucks at the heart of society. It is much harder to find a job if you don’t own a car, and for pretty much any business (apart from pure service) your supplies have to get to your by road. If we wait to get to the point of “modernizing cities” enough to get real alternatives competitive enough to change people on a individual “free” choice basis, it will take decades or even a century.
Banning car thanks to a collective political action is much more effective and will bring the amelioration to the city much much faster. As long as cars are allowed in cities, public money, private money, and political action have to keep on managing them, maintaining the infrastructure, the cars, while keeping the city less enjoyable for cyclist and pedestrians.
Bonus point : This is a great example of what I would call a “collective prisoner’s dilemma”. I would personally never end up choosing to never ever have a car because it would make my individual life much difficult and less free. But Collectively, I am convinced I have a personal interest in a law that would ban cars for everyone including me. Because that wouldn’t penalize me when I’m looking for a job or try to create an urban economic activity. That would actually let me with more freedom to do what I want. A counter intuitive situation where imposing a collective restriction of freedom actually benefit to everyone.