Yes. As things become more expensive we as a humanity look to cheap or cheaper options. If things are cheap why change ? During the largest push from Russian gas and OPEC cranking up the price, there’s been a huge push for renewables.
Most people seem quite happy to stay with the status quo and not look to push the new technologies. It’s quite infuriating as those with are happy and don’t want to change or improve. We those without are screaming into abyss
Electric cars are so stupid. They won’t work for 99.9999% of America. I’ll just keep driving my 0.4mpg F350 super duty to work and back every day thank you very much. (My work, which is well within the (low end) 200 mile electric range of my house where I could easily install a charger, by the way, but for some goddamn reason I’m too afraid of change to even consider this option)
I had a friend literally tell me “Well, I don’t know, it couldn’t make it on a road trip from X city to Y city (about 400 miles)”, and I was like well for 1, it could probably, and for 2, you could just buy one electric car for your commute which is 99% of your driving, and then keep 1 gas car for longer trips, have you never thought of that? He’s a fucking 3 car house
Yup. Cars are getting up to that distance. Long distance cars could easily achieve that distance and more. But also we don’t need cars for long distances.
We should have fast trains with a hub and then go from there. Why drive slowly in a car when you can cruise at triple the speed in comfort.
We need fast rail links with transport hubs.
Could pick up a hire car at the destination and use that.
Definitely think it used to be, but now that (in my area) it’s pretty routinely above $5/gallon it’s finally starting to get car-oriented people to think about alternatives. I’m going to a concert in a couple weeks and we’re all taking public transit, even those that think our transit system is “stupid and expensive”.
It’s not, it costs $2 one way, and with gas prices that’s a steal
I personally hate the idea of living in an urban area. But I think more suburban areas really need better public transport as well. Whether that’s buses, trains, people pulling others around in a little buggy or something.
Personally I love my urban area, walk to my favorite restaurants, bars, parks, without ever needing to spend money on gas. But yes, in suburban areas the basic “hub and spoke” pattern of getting commuters into the city is a necessity. Even in smaller cities in the US we desperately need trains going from park and rides into the city.
Plus not only commuters, but it’s so nice to go out drinking and no one has to worry about how we’re all going to get home safe.
Exactly! I would just love there to be options. Generally speaking, you either live in a city and can walk everywhere, or you live elsewhere and have to drive. There are very few in between situations.
This assumes Urbanization is a good thing. It’s not for everyone, and higher fuel prices hurts everyone.
