max225 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 1:57 pm
D Griff wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 1:10 pm
Seems kinda like you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t… what with gas also being $5 and outside of maybe SF and Oakland, all of CA is super car dependent, no?
As noted I’m very anti car dependency BUT it feels kind of unfair to make cars inaccessible before really pushing out any other options for getting around (transit, cycling infrastructure, walkable neighborhoods, etc). I did notice West LA had much more bicycle friendly roads when I was there a few weeks ago compared to 5+ years ago when I was going a lot.
It sucks because we pay a mystery tax of $2 per gallon which I’m assuming is added by the overlords to make everyone switch to electric … but now that a lot of people did … they literally increased costs 100% since 2021. And are going to increase them even more in the near future …. Now people who paid a premium for evs in 21 and 22 are completely fucked. This is state level robbery.
This entire country is not walk friendly outside of maybe 3-4 cities. 98% of the population is car dependent.
We know the government is completely unable to run anything. The “jewel” of public transit in this country aka New York subway. Is an absolute crime ridden cesspool, 120f in the summer … filled with loonies and also running an epic deficit every year requiring bail outs. As fares only cover 30% of the budget.
Agreed on the bolded but that doesn't make it right. Just seems like it should be more of a focus than forcing everyone into EVs which really don't solve anything for most people due to costs, charging infrastructure, etc. I mean Californians and most Americans who bought EVs faced likely the highest vehicle ownershit costs of anyone as their vehicles depreciated like absolute rocks; making charging as much/more than gas just adds insult to injury. I wonder if they 'had to' do it because of the large EV adoption in CA adding additional strain to an already fragile grid? I don't really know enough to say.
I have used the subway in NYC quite extensively and find that it really does work quite well. Sure, you run into some homeless, but I also have them walking up to my car for money anywhere I drive. Driving in major cities isn't exactly the enjoyable task it was years ago.
IMO these are all just symptons of the massive post WWII 'suburban experiment' that doesn't really work. I'm not anti-car by any means, I love driving (in the right conditions), road trips, the freedom/exploration piece, but the fact is cars are very resource intensive.