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Comment by bfeynman | Hacker News Reader

In what world do you get that conclusion? Dense cities in other parts of the world rely on mass transit to move people. FSD so you can have self driving cars in the street -> ? -> increasing congestion. The point is you should have more effective volume transit not optimizing random ones. 1000 cars on FSD are an optimization better than 1000 taxi drivers, compared to a train or a few buses.

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> Dense cities in other parts of the world rely on mass transit to move people

But they don’t solve the fundamental problems with mass transit: comfort, convenience, and trip times.

I was just at Disney World and joking to my wife that the park is propaganda to get people to use public transit because Walt loved trains. (You can’t get into the parks by driving. Only the train, bus, or gondola. If you drive you have to park at this giant lot and take the train from there.)

But even within that self contained environment—where land for transit infrastructure is basically free because Disney bought it all decades ago—public transit still isn’t great. Trying to get three kids and all their shit out the door to catch a bus or train, having to fold up strollers, etc., just sucks in comparison to throwing them into a car.

Clarification: only Magic Kingdom has that extra step of train/ferry/bus transportation from the parking lot. For all the other parks at Disney World, you can drive in and walk to the entrance. (There are trams if you're far out, but you can also walk.)

Yes, Walt did want that extra step of separation from the real world. Then Disney realized the logistical problems with it and didn't repeat it for the other parks, but they're stuck with it at Magic Kingdom. (And it also acts as an upsell for the premium resorts that are positioned right next to Magic Kingdom in walking distance.)

Let me tell you something about Magic Kingdom: Everything between the parking lot and the rides exists the way it does in order to SLOW YOU DOWN so you spend more money. All of it! Okay, maybe not the parking lot trams, but all their other gimmicks are just part of a funnel to keep you away from the rides as long as possible and once you're inside, to keep you from leaving.

Would you even be in favor of a public transportation system that did what you’re asking for? If MAJOR_CITY had a bill for an Uber-like system where you could hail a car subsidized by the taxpayer or even free to give you a ride?

Or are you against the idea of “public transportation” (transportation costs shared by taxpayers) and your criticisms of its quality or convenience are really moot because you are ideologically against the premise?

1000 buses on FSD > "a few buses". Bus drivers union would never allow that though.

Even the current amount of buses with some automated routing and phone booking would be a tremendous improvement. (Sure, there are accessibility concerns to address)

If you have FSD you don't need a bus drivers union. FSD can drive the buses.

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