Why Do We Need Cars At All?

SusanBrei

Before WWII, very few Americans owned cars. Cities were dense, walkable, and well-connected with electric trolleys. MUCH less energy was spent on the simple act of getting around. Our national train system was the envy of the world, so people could travel to most destinations without a car and businesses could ship merchandise without the need for trucks. Once again, MUCH less energy was spent for travel and shipping.

We now live in a society where you almost HAVE to own a car to function. Car companies dumped the cost of road building and maintenance on us to keep this system running. Retailers have dumped the cost of shipping/delivery on us as consumers. We have to buy a car, maintain it, insure it and fuel it just to go to work, school, church and the grocery store. It makes no sense. We could do all of these things without cars, save ourselves the money, and enjoy better health and air quality.

Sprawling suburbs are directly correlated with growing rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Kids can't walk to school or any other civic function anymore. I've heard it said that corporations such as Wal-Mart require this living arrangement, calling it an "economy of scale". Well, cities can be scaled up as well as out, and logically, why should we foot the bill to keep Wal-Mart in business?

Why do we need cars? Why not highly-efficient mass-transit, biking and walking (like many international cities)? If you feel it's because of "the market", please explain why most American cities have zoning laws that prevent walkable, car-free neighborhoods from being built. Please explain why car-free environments such as Disneyland or Venice are so popular. I want to know why we really NEED cars (not WANT them).

Answer
Yes, it's very unfortunate how much we rely on cars in Western culture, but going back now wouldn't be a practical option. There would be too much protest, and the infrastructure isn't currently in place to support a car-free population.
I believe the answer is in increasing the efficiency of our cars (the current average efficiency is less than 1%), and improving new technologies such as electric and hydrogen cars.

I am totally opposed to building the "new" suburbs that are like those little groups of cookie-cutter houses, without any stores, services, or facilities within walking distance, no public transit, and not even any sidwalks, to discourage people from leaving their homes without their cars, it would seem!

Do you remember anything unique about your parents car when you were a kid?

Q. Like my Dad's 1941 Packard had electric windows, how about your Dad's car?

Answer
The first I remember was a 40's- something Chevy ton and a half flatbed truck. Dad had built racks and a canvas tent on it that we lived out of and we were po' folk cherry pickers in Michigan (shades of Grapes of Wrath) . Soon after that season, dad got a good technical job in Dow Chemical, life was much easier after that (but not near as much fun)

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