DestrosSilverHammer t1_j3lqpqo wrote on January 9, 2023 at 1:11 PM

Reply to comment by Rugrats-theme-song in Car owners are always made to be a villain. by [deleted]

Of course a car makes sense in your case. You do understand that your situation is atypical, though, right?

MrDickford t1_j3mohmk wrote on January 9, 2023 at 5:09 PM

If you need to move a family around, move cargo, travel a long distance, or travel between points that public transportation doesn’t connect very well, then a bike doesn’t work and public transportation is often inadequate. The case of the single traveler who needs to get between two locations downtown and has time to burn is also atypical.

Improving public transportation is a worthy but long term goal that also involves increasing the density of the city to the point where mass public transportation is sustainable. In the meantime, insisting that everyone immediately ditch their car and start biking is unreasonable.

DestrosSilverHammer t1_j3ncfi7 wrote on January 9, 2023 at 7:35 PM

I’d agree that car ownership makes sense in most cases for exactly the reasons you’ve listed. What I oppose is superfluous, near-daily use that is more for convenience than necessity, and I’m pretty sure such cases are widespread even acknowledging your point about city density. (I’d also add that car commuters from MD and VA are more problematic along these lines than those staying within DC.)

Rugrats-theme-song t1_j3lra5q wrote on January 9, 2023 at 1:16 PM

Yes, but there are multiple people here, including the person I responded to, that are not being realistic. To say that less than half of the thousands of daily drivers actually NEED their vehicle is pretty disingenuous. But this sub acts like NO ONE needs a car while also complaining about the state of public transit. It’s silly to me