My original question was “How do we disincentivize the purchase of pickup trucks/SUVs” but then I thought it would be better to approach the larger problem of car dependency and car ownership. One option is, of course, to create public transit infrastructure and improve it where it already exist. This, however, doesn’t change the fact that some will still choose to drive. What would be the best ways to discourage people from owning personal cars?

  • hex123456@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    Public transportation should be provided for the public by the public. Quit wasting time with ticket booths and all that shit. Just free transportation. We aren’t charged per use for roads so people drive. Make public transport free so transportation is equally accessible by all social classes.

    Even with cheap fares now, moving a family is still more expensive by bus than vehicle. I don’t drive for my sake. I drive for the others that need me to drive for them.

    • Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com
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      5 months ago

      Long ago my city made all public transit free on spare the air days. (Days where particulate concentrations were predicted to be high) I do miss those, they were actually kinda fun. I would like them to come back someday.

    • residentmarchant@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Not to say that you’re wrong, but driving does cost money in the form of registration, excise tax, gas taxes, and inspection. It’s still heavily subsidized, but drivers don’t pay nothing to use the roads

      • calcopiritus@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Many of those are fixed costs. That means that if you use the car more, it becomes more worth it.

        Instead of making cars more expensive, we should make public transport cheaper. And it should also reach outside of cities.

        If you want to go outside of a city for whatever reason (maybe you even live outside a city!) the options for public transport are very few, very expensive, and very time consuming.

    • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      Well there are fees in registration, and gas, but it isn’t enough.