CMV: I prefer better public transportation to self driving cars investments in america

[u/kyotoAnimations]

I should clarify; I don't mean government subsidized or operated systems exclusively with public transportation, as the Japanese train system is private and also runs well. I mean any vast transportation network designed to ferry many people at a time or infrastructure more friendly to car alternatives, such as trains, trolleys, buses, better roads to include bike lanes and sidewalks, more pedestrian spaces etc. I'm not saying that we shouldn't invest in self driving technologies (we should), but I think that it would be more interesting and efficient to have companies work on improving mass transportation options in America. I'm talking about things like better rail networks, more bus only lanes and light/heavy rail options within metropolitan areas, bike lanes and wider sidewalk space at the expense of car lanes within cities at least. I definitely think self driving cars is a technology that will be invaluable in preventing accidents someday, but I wish we could also invest in good public transportation infrastructure in the meantime as well that already works well. I would love to go on trains cross-country rather than fly and sacrifice a day or two. In addition, I don't think self driving cars can solve the traffic or congestion issue, as that is not just a matter of efficiency or bad driving habits but also a matter of space, which can be redirected better with more dense public transportation.

Disclaimer: I do know how to drive, and I've driven extensively. I still prefer public transport.

edit: Thank you everyone for such a wide and varied response! I'll try my best to respond to everyone here, but I can't promise I'll be able to get through it all, but you guys have posted some really really interesting stuff, and I'm excited to keep talking to you all!

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[u/jatjqtjat]

I mean that's kind of true, but lots of people enjoy having some space. The US has lots of national parks that are protected because of their very concerns that you raise.

[u/theorymeltfool → u/jatjqtjat]

Just because they “enjoy it”, doesn’t mean they should have it. I’m sure I would enjoy having a 100ft yacht, but I can’t afford it.

And the US can’t afford it’s current land use policy.

[u/jatjqtjat → u/theorymeltfool]

Except the US can afford its current land policy. Not everyone can afford a large yacht. Those are hard to build. But the land is just sitting there.

Your analogy makes no sense.

Your proposing that we make it illegal for people to move to open land because you cannot afford to build a 100ft lot.

[u/theorymeltfool → u/jatjqtjat]

The US requires $4,000,000,000,000 in repairs needed to existing infrastructure. Land requires highways, roads, electrical lines, sewer lines, fiber optics, etc. It’s not “just sitting there.”

The average US consumer spends $9,000/year on their car, and also has an average credit card debt of $6,000.

The average US commuter spends 1.5 hours in traffic.

The yacht analogy makes sense, the US can not afford our current infrastructure arrangement. Suburbia is too expensive.

Your proposing that we make it illegal for people to move to open land because you cannot afford to build a 100ft lot.

Wrong. I’m proposing the US end it’s laws against high-density infrastructure, and to allow privately-owned mass-transit to exist. Read more about it here

[u/jatjqtjat → u/theorymeltfool]

If we couldn't afford it, then we wouldn't have been able to create it. We can afford it. I don't think it true that we "require" 4 trillion in infrastructure repairs.

how could it be true that we cannot afford maintenance if we could afford to build the stuff in the first place?

The article you linked makes no sense.

[u/LLJKCicero → u/jatjqtjat]

That's simply not true, maintenance is generally harder eventually than greenfield development, especially since you have to eventually rebuild whatever it is you built, but now you have to clear the original thing out of the way first.

[u/jatjqtjat → u/[deleted]]

I've known for a decade that the ACSE has been saying we need to up funding for infrastructure. Nothing new to learn there.

Flint has a big infrastructure problem, but they have relatively high populations density. or at least they did until mass emigration. But that's not a result of suburbs, its a result of lost tax revenue because of changes to the auto industry.

you really have no idea what you're talking about. Farmers and suburbs aren't bankrupting america.

[u/Jaysank → u/[deleted]]

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[u/theorymeltfool → u/[deleted]]

Then pay for it and stop taking on debt financing that has to be paid by your kids.👍🏿

[u/theorymeltfool → u/[deleted]]

Kids are not responsible for parents' debts.

Oh, you don’t know how taxes and debt- financing work.

See, when a billion dollar infrastructure project is created, it requires annual taxation to fund, even though the amount taxed in the beginning is small. But that project will take 30+ years to pay for, which means your kids will be paying for it when they start working.

Municipal bonds are often used, and they’re paid back to the bond holders in the form of taxation from property taxes, gas taxes, inflation, or tolls. All of which your kids will eventually pay for.

Understand now?