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Comment by ofrzeta | Hacker News Reader

Yeah, so called "Vision Zero": "The EU’s long-term goal is to move as close as possible to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050"

https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/publications/eu-road-safety-towar...

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It's a good start, but a grander vision would be to reduce or eliminate the need for cars altogether. You can build and sustain a mighty civilization without automobiles at all.

Per Poi Dog Pondering:

Well the ancient Egyptians and the other Africans

The Mayans, the Incas, and all the Polynesians

All around the world, a long long time ago

People would walk wherever they had to go

Europe has generally done a very good job with urban transit. The real problem is that long-distance train trips cost a fortune, typically several times more than a budget airline. And ticketing systems between countries (within the EU) are poorly integrated.

Despite many years of hand-wringing about environmental impacts of air travel, almost nothing has been done to address this.

Agreed. Electric cars are frankly a pretty poor solution to the issue of carbon emissions. A far better, more long term solution already exists - high density, walkable neighbourhoods and high frequency, well run public transport systems.

Here in the UK, almost 17% (about nine million people) live outside towns and villages. A trip to the local shop can be several miles on roads that don't have pavements and public transport is of the "one bus a day" type if you are lucky. There are a few people who cycle but they're dedicated and for most it is not an option. Cars are an essential.

As I understand it, that’s not _strictly_ true. 17% live in “rural” areas, but this includes towns and villages in rural areas. It’s 8% for “rural village and fringe” [0], or much less for actually outside of towns and villages. Unless you have other stats to share?

[0] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/661d3b95ac3da...

I have lived in several towns and cities in the UK.

The problem is that even in reasonable sized towns not having a car is very limiting. The solution is much better public transport - more frequent is the big thing. That is the difference

On the other hand I did not have a car in London (which has very frequent public transport until quite late in the night), nor in Manchester (not as good, but OK) until I had a child. It was no problem. paying for the occasional taxi and hiring cars for trips when needed was a lot cheaper than running a car and more convenient too.

There is no way to provide a public transport service from the village 9 miles away with 4,000 people to my village of 150 at 2145 on a Friday night. It would have to literally be a taxi going out and back to transport one person.

E-bikes to the rescue!

If you’re fine with having the same QoL as the people living in those societies then sure… why would anyone want to though?

> People would walk wherever they had to go

Or had their slaves carry them in a litter

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