“Why do American cities waste so much space on cars?”
Uh, because they’re climate-controlled living rooms that go places?
A good newspaper not only reports the news, it stimulates debate on the issues of the day.
And this piece by Farhad Manjoo in The New York Times — “I’ve Seen a Future Without Cars, and It’s Amazing” — is certainly going to set some chins wagging.
But hoo-boy, talk about your roadblocks:
Given how completely they rule most cities, calling for the outright banishment of automobiles can sound almost ludicrous. (We can’t even get people to agree to wear masks to stop the spread of a devastating pandemic.)
In other words, don’t swap the Escalade for an e-bike just yet, Sparky.
One more minor quibble: I think this sentence — “Manhattan, already one of the most car-free places in the country, is the best place to start.” — is just a wee bit Noo Yawk-centric.
How about starting with a smaller space, like Santa Fe? Wall off the actual walkable/bikeable bits from the metastasis that surrounds them, provide car parks around the perimeter, and encourage people to engage in muscle-powered transportation.
Pedicabs will be available for hire, but you’re gonna have to show me a serious hitch in your gitalong or other qualifying infirmity before you make someone else haul your fat ass around town. The penalty is crucifixion (first offense).
Mad Blog Media 
July 9, 2020 at 9:00 am |
What’s your set-up for grocery hauling? Backpack, panniers, or can you recommend a basket combo? I seem to have acquired my first dorky hipster cruiser, and need to add some errand enablers. But I don’t want to make it too much of a wide load, (1) because it’s already carrying a 55 year old wide load, and (2) because everything with two wheels at some point ends up strapped to a four wheel internal
damnationcombustion.July 9, 2020 at 3:28 pm |
Read the NY article which in many ways makes sense. On the other hand, it’ll be very hard to get people to give up air conditioning with global warming here. For sport today I waited until the temp hit 96 with appreciable humidity and hit the bike path. Geezus…even in the shaded spots it was a scorcher and I thought my Kenda’s would melt. Over the 16 miles I saw six people 4 of which were teenagers headed for a swimming hole. And then the thunderheads began building (but sadly for naught). And there’s Northern American winters. I just don’t see how the average person will give up their climate controlled automotive world. I though the itty-bitty Smart car with all electric drive was the step in the right direction. Bikes are a great solution but again, it’s only going to get hotter and wetter in many regions. Sadly, the pandemic and those to come are pulling people away from mass transit planning.
July 9, 2020 at 3:54 pm |
Yeh, that’s the thing. We follow the path of least resistance. I nearly didn’t go out today because by the time I dealt with my chores and obligations it was already as hot as balls. Nevertheless, I persisted, and holy hell was I a sweaty mess by the time I got back to the ol’ rancheroo.
Thus I was not inclined to bike it to the Sprouts for some medium-heavy restocking of the larder. I fired up the rice rocket.
July 9, 2020 at 7:06 pm |
We’ve been pretty cool up here in the Oregon Gorge area. Our warmest day thus far has been about 94 degrees. But it’s a “windy” heat – 25 mph constant headwind with hills. I remember a time when I was passing through Vegas in the summer. I decided to skip the casino girls, free drinks and shrimp cocktail to do a mid-afternoon ride on the trails in Henderson. I don’t recall the temperature, but I think I was in Mordor looking into the eye of Sauron that day.
July 9, 2020 at 8:23 pm |
I covered a few Cactus Cups in the Phoenix metro and way too many Interbike/Outdoor Demos in the Vegas area. Sure gives a fella the 411 on what to expect come the afterlife.
July 9, 2020 at 3:45 pm |
A Wald basket zip-tied to a rear rack is a cheap, sturdy hauler if you keep the load light. On the Vespa I’ve used a Wald and a messenger bag to pretty good effect. Th’ow in a cold bag and you’re good to go. They do a couple nice front baskets too. Nice guys; met ’em at Interbike one year.
July 9, 2020 at 4:06 pm |
Baskets are an all purpose tool and work well with high tech attachments such as hose clamps and shock cords.
July 9, 2020 at 4:13 pm |
I use a pair of toe straps to clamp my basket to the Vespa’s rear carrier. Stylin’ brah!
July 9, 2020 at 9:45 pm |
I saw that Wald makes some custom bags, plain and insulated, that fit their baskets. Amazing prices. Apparently they’re not made by an artisan with an ironic mustache wearing organic hemp jeans. Sounds like the way to go.
July 10, 2020 at 6:35 am |
O, indeed. They’re the real deal. The Rivendell boyos call them “a true American classic.”
July 9, 2020 at 9:07 am |
Going to slap some links to my favorite twitter account here … Brent Toderian, an urban planning guru and the best friend of bikes, dogs, and trees everywhere.
July 9, 2020 at 9:08 am |
First, here’s Paris during the morning rush hour. Just beautify, yeah?
July 9, 2020 at 9:09 am |
Paris has an initiative they’re calling the 15 minute city, where everything you need is within a 15 minutes walk or bike trip.
July 9, 2020 at 9:12 am |
Quick video clip from Copenhagen showing how much more efficient bike are than cars:
July 9, 2020 at 9:13 am |
Bikes > buses > taxis > cars
July 9, 2020 at 9:15 am |
But this is what he does best: quick GIFs showing graphically how much smarter bikes are than cars:
July 9, 2020 at 9:12 am |
Manhattan car-free? Not the last time I was there.
July 9, 2020 at 9:19 am |
There was an old, old, old Saturday Night Live joke on Weekend Update about how Michael Bolton has sold a million albums, but no one knew anyone who owned one.
Same with cars. There are thousands sitting there in traffic, just as many parked on the side of the road, and twice that many sitting in parking garages. And yet no one knows anyone who actually drives anywhere except to the Hamptons on Saturday per month.
July 9, 2020 at 9:27 am |
Interesting piece on the history of bikes in cities:
https://themetropole.blog/2020/04/09/where-do-bikes-belong-they-usually-dont/
July 9, 2020 at 9:19 am |
Last time I was on the east coast, albeit a while ago, NYC was chockablock with cars. Kinda reminded me of a remake of that Yogi Berra comment: “No one drives to NYC any more. Its too congested.” Maybe that has changed.But I like his idea and it echoes the stuff coming out of Charles Marohn and Strong Towns.
There is actually a proposal in the works of the city council up here in the People’s Republic to cordon off the Plaza and a few surrounding streets as car-free. Its created quite the battleground about car free vs. traditional values. Stay tuned.
July 9, 2020 at 9:23 am |
“No one drives anymore, the roads are too congested.”
I had just typed that, was about to click the REPLY button, stopped to top off my coffee, and you beat me to the punch.
I guess there’s a “extra medium” version to the “great minds” saying!!
July 9, 2020 at 12:57 pm |
A quarter hour city is a great idea.
July 9, 2020 at 3:57 pm |
Chez Dog in Bibleburg, situated as it was in the fabled Patty Jewett Yacht & Gun Club, was a much better 15-minute-city kind of place than is El Rancho Pendejo.
Our little ’hood boasted flat terrain, low-traffic streets, and small islands of retail scattered around within walking distance: The Safeway of the Living Dead, a smallish Ace Hardware, a pharmacy, Ent Credit Union, a nice little coffee shop, a one-man auto-repair op’, a burger joint, etc.
We have some of that here, but every outing involves a shit-ton of vertical gain and a circuitous route to avoid high-speed multilane streets. And of course come summertime there’s the heatstroke.
July 9, 2020 at 11:37 pm |
Forgot to mention, re: pedicabs.
Maybe the most thriving market for these? Outside SEC and Big 10 football stadiums before and after games. In Lincoln, NE, you need to book a trip a week out, and there’s a $50 surcharge for the trip home.
July 10, 2020 at 9:40 pm |
WaPo piling on:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/03/02/buses-and-trains-thats-what-will-solve-congestion/