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“Electric cars are still cars. The focus on electric cars stands in the way of truly transformative change: better public transit and better laid-out cities that encourage active modes of getting around, such as cycling.”

Fewer (& smaller) cars, less driving, more choices, better cities.

#cities #urbanism #cars #EVs #bikes #transit

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-electric-cars-emissions-climate-change/

No, electric cars are not the magic pill to save us from climate change

The Liberals are under pressure to match the U.S. in pledging billions in subsidies for electric cars, but such vehicles are not the panacea
Willem Klumpenhouwer (The Globe and Mail)
#cities #bikes #urbanism #transit #cars #evs

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in reply to Brent Toderian

Mike Fraser :Jets: :flag:
Mike Fraser :Jets: :flag:
• •
I think small cities within big cities is the way to go. I live in New Westminster part of metro Vancouver. It has a small downtown and a small uptown. It has density with new 40 story high rises but also has detached housing neighborhoods. It's home to 70,000 people within a metro area of 2 million. You could realistically walk across it's width in an afternoon. I own a bitchin car but ride an electric scooter to work.
in reply to Brent Toderian

Peter Butler
Peter Butler
• •
I remember an article from the mid-1990s, maybe in Harper’s Bazaar (I was abstracting periodicals at the time) …. it was something like “You Don’t Need to Give Up Your SUV to Save the Planet.”

Electric cars always remind me of it.

I disagree with those who say it will take decades and billions. If the intent is there, it can happen quickly and some policies will save us money.
in reply to Brent Toderian

MMCLXXII
MMCLXXII
• •
yep! cars should just be sport, and maybe means of getting around in big distances. innercity driving kills a lot

Seyyed-Amin Nabipur reshared this.

in reply to Brent Toderian

Johan Empa
Johan Empa
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Step one is to replace all fossil vehicles with electric vehicles. Debating it is to delay climate action.

It takes minimum 90 years for North America to reach EU levels of public transit and bike lanes.

Despite EU already having what you're dreaming about, there are still millions of cars.

We all bicycle and use public transit. Cars still exist. They need to become electric. It's the only realistic way to become net-zero within 27 years
in reply to Brent Toderian

Heskie
Heskie
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The clue to the inherent bias in this post is the hashtag #urbansism
About 40% of the world's population love in rural areas.
There are no magic pills to our problems, simple "solutions" to complexity are the stuff of #dictatorship and #populism.
#Dictatorship #populism #urbansism
in reply to Brent Toderian

Brian Claus
Brian Claus
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I take the point, but these reductionist arguments are bit tired. We can do more than one thing at once. The scope of the challenge demands it. Yes, we need to aggressively scale up alternative modes of transport. Yes, personal EVs are still a part of the transportation transition equation. These are still only a small part of the larger efforts necessary for full decarbonization.
in reply to Brent Toderian

David Penfold :verified:
David Penfold :verified:
• •

that doesn't really work for rural populations though.

My 2013 Zoë is great for well over 90% of my transport requirements.

in reply to Brent Toderian

Mr E McKissock
Mr E McKissock
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Meanwhile in London:
https://road.cc/content/news/bikes-most-popular-transport-mode-city-roads-299693

When it becomes harder to use cars, people will change. Even when I lived in London (early 90s) driving was miserable. It once took me 2 hours to drive 8 miles (roughly 13km).

The tube system there was considered more effective - it still took my wife nearly two hours to get to work, and yet that was better than driving.


Bicycles become most popular mode of transport on City of London roads

Bikes most popular transport mode on City roads
Simon_MacMichael (road.cc)
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