Cars Almost Killed Our Cities, But Here's How We Can Bring Them Back | Gabe Klein | TEDxMidAtlantic

Our cities are making us - and the planet - sick, and the problem lies in the automobile, which has taken over how we live and use space. Thankfully, new technology like autonomous vehicles and 3D printing has opened the door for us to bring our cities back from the brink, says transportation expert and city planner Gabe Klein. But we need to act quickly to ensure cities will be places we want to live.
Gabe is the former Commissioner of the Chicago and Washington DC Departments of Transportation. In both cities he revamped technology platforms and government processes while focusing on putting people first vs. automobiles on city streets. This included launching two of the first and largest bikeshare systems in the U.S. and building protected bike lanes and better pedestrian infrastructure for vulnerable citizens citywide, as well as facilitating private services like carshare and rideshare that could help each cities mobility goals.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@captainchaos3667]

I disagree that you need technology to make all of this happen. As he points out himself, in Europe we've been doing this for decades, without any special technology, let alone autonomous cars. All that's needed is changing the infrastructure. If cycling is more convenient, safer and cheaper, that's what people will do, regardless of whether they still need to drive their cars themselves or not. The Netherlands is living proof of that.

[@kalel0192]

You hit the nail

[@casheddy8922]

Definitely; the world over needs to go back to building development/communities with pedestrian (& now biking) traffic accommodated & encouraged alongside/in addition to the automobile traffic/infrastructure!

[@vincewhite5087]

I have cycled in Amsterdam in 90’s. It’s flat, and the winter is mild. Very good for cycling. But in smaller towns like Venlo, I saw few people cycling. I talked with many in the factory, lots of cyclists, but none I met cycled to work work. They would load bike on car & drive somewhere to cycle but none commuted.

[@xmusquatro8932]

I agree, but all American cities are built around the car. Everything is much more spread out and there are so many streets to cross because they are meant for cars. Changing the infrastructure would be counter-intuitive at this point, at least in the short term, due to the cost and time. Technologies are way cheaper and adaptable to the pre-existing streetscape. Cycling is absolutely safer, cheaper, and more efficient, but owning a car is so built into an American's mentality that this is hard to realize. Cities are starting to promote and support cycling more, though. I'm not sure if this addresses what you meant.

[@joshuaforsythe1936]

We are talking about longer distances generally and more importantly fatter, lazier people.

[@mattpfeifer9302]

This is one of the smartest ted talks i have heard and ironically i searched for this specific lecture because of a very spirited conversation i had with a man outside walmart as we both were locking up our bikes. I asked about his e-bike, and that began a long discussion about quality of life, conveniences, modern society, people in a hurry to get stuck in traffic; and i think it mutually restored a bit of hope that ideas and intelligence still exists. Me a 29 year old construction worker sunburnt and tore up clothes(and probably stunk from working all day) and a 70 year old man, retired professor, shared the most intelligent and interesting conversation i have had in more than a year or more. He referenced this lecture and when i finally found it i was dumbfounded to see only 17k views when these ideas and others regarding community revival and happiness are the most important for the progression of society and sadly the least spoken of. Dust off the old bicycle or lace up some walking shoes and remember the value of the journey far exceeds that of the destination.

[@paszczak30]

this is what shocked me in us as european - you guys are addicted to those machinenes - even in cities

[@jrus690]

James Kunstler TED talk, I have watched a few TED talks videos, still think his is the best

[@marklonguet-higgins6041]

Matt Pfeifer : If you want to know where these Ideas originally come from then look up Jan Gehl (city planner of Copenhagen, ... ) and read/watch "The Human Scale". Yes, in Europe we do wonder why the US population is addicted to the automobile, soap opera Presidents, inhumane lifestyles, unhealthy food, and socially irresponsible capitalists. Life can be much happier and more productive when the social and cultural aspects are enhanced. In the US (and 2020 indistrial China too) you need to cut your carbon footprints, regreen your cities, reduce waste to zero, recycle, and learn to walk and cycle again.

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

Have hope. Covid sucks but it has made many many people open their eyes. Paris and London are now aboard and China has changed its ideas of building new 'American' cities for building new 'European' cities (the bike is back there big time). The US has no choice to follow or it will have a serious brain drain problem.

[@evanflynn4680]

Two years on and I'm just getting on these types of videos. I live in a regional town in Australia, which is almost completely reliant on everyone having a car. Was looking up more livable cities on KZbin and videos espousing car free living started to come up in my feed. Not just bikes is one of my favourites, and he expands on this topic really well. Highly recommended if you haven't found it yet.

[@rondale8722]

I live in Europe and don't even own a car. I have a bus stop, tram stop, and metro station a 5 minute walk from my apartment and I can get anywhere in the city in a half hour max by public transport. The supermarket is also 5 minutes walking.

[@saltwotter]

Very supportive of many ideas in this talk. However, I don't think the conclusion one should take from this is "if we wait for autonomous cars, our issues will be solved" because it'll take decades to get to that point. Even he says this. Like he says at the end, the core of it is that we need to ensure our cities are places that we want to live and we don't need 3D-printing or autonomous cars to do that, we need smart policy and planning.

[@aaronchilds4279]

2016 sounds so optimistic and hopeful from the vantage point of 2020.

[@Octoviking]

Denser cities are going to be a much tougher sell now unfortunately :(

[@bikeericaustin1541]

But look back now just a couple years..., the pandemic may have been the ^ 'tipping point', think Paris right now..., it's pretty wild to watch from afar while I have my hands in this same-such here in ATX, right now as we speak our annual time-machine into the future with the crowd-scene SXSW = aka you must walk or bike.., :) bikeeric

[@Steve-nq8jc]

Bicycles are the future of personal transport. I gave up my car back in sept and will never look back. We cannot build anymore roads there are far too many cars on the road. Especially in cities. I'm all for the congestion charge in London I say double it and spend that money on public transport and bicycle lanes. I'm personally a car fanatic but cities have to change.

[@Bertuzz84]

Agreed, with the bicycle you are usually almost as or more efficient with your journey compared to a car. Walking only works well if you live in the area with the highest density. Trying to replace a car by walking is the wrong approach, walking is too slow.

[@recyclespinning9839]

In America our roads are just so many that we can't afford to maintain them. When you drive here you need an TRUCK. the roads are cracked and filled with potholes.

[@johnhaide7939]

@@Bertuzz84 That is why in the Netherlands they look at the bike as just a faster way to walk or walking on wheels. Now many are adopting eBikes as range extenders.

[@Beery1962]

What's killing our cities is the fact that we have made our cities serve automobile traffic to the exclusion of everything else. Cars are prioritized and the speed limits have been raised every decade until roads are no longer safe for pedestrians or any vehicles other than cars, trucks and buses. There is a simple solution to this, and it doesn't involve technology: make the speed limit of every highway 30mph and every city road 20mph, and make public transport (buses, metro rail, etc.) free.

[@PkrBarMovie]

Sure, or you can also just relax zoning regulations, incentivize mixed-use developments and let the free market do its thing. Mixed-use zoning allows for a symbiotic relationship between residential and commercial spaces, which leads to an increase in population density (which contributes to lowering violent and property crime), resulting in higher demand for walkability and public transit (which I agree, like sidewalks, should be free to use), leading to a better economy, better health, and overall better quality of life.

[@bikeericaustin1541]

@Prometheus1962 : if you have not, you really should meet your brother "Epimetheus"..., 'Epi' as I call him/ me sometimes seems more aligned with your values??? :) bikeeric

[@Beery1962]

@@bikeericaustin1541 If you think thestate of our transport infrastructure is just fine, you're delusional.

[@achalhp]

Whether it is Electric car or a petrol car, the personal 4-wheeled road transportation takes too much materials and space. *Electric trams, electric trains, walking and biking are sustainable modes of commuting.*

[@achalhp]

Electric tram = Streetcar

[@mihirm3632]

Also shared automated 4 wheelers with 6-8 people

[@yashagrawal88]

Right!

[@googleuser6201]

Dude you go take a train... Don't tell me what to do!.... Moron!

[@nobodynothingberg4886]

Google User brainwashed polluter

[@iamthelazerviking23]

As a deliberate pedestrian living in a high density east coast city, I loved this. I can’t emphasize the life quality changes that occur when you’re on your feet in transit to work, groceries, entertainment, etc.

[@philutcher4302]

1h of commuting burns 500 kcal btw. 1h of training burns 700-900 kcal 1h of driving a car burns $10 in gas.

[@MrHealfi]

Check the Walk Score website before you buy a home next time! Maybe you don't need a car after all (or maybe just one car for two people).

[@jairomejiamatiz7978]

Great presentation. I totally agree with your presentation. This is a world wide problem that should be dealt with as soon as possible, I admire The Netherlands and the northern countries European which are so much more intelligent than we have been. They are not only a step in front of us........ They are hundreds of miles ahead. We have a lot work to do to catch up.

[@rogerwilco2]

Go watch NotJustBikes on KZbin. He does a much better job describing the issues than this guy.

[@spacedoutorca4550]

Definitely.

[@evanflynn4680]

Agreed. Because driverless cars is much further down the line than Elon Musk claims. And not necessary to fix the car problem. Building a city street system based on pedestrians, bikes and public transport is enough.

[@wernerrietveld]

I fully agreed with this talk, until mr. Klein started to talk about how autonomous vehicles will help. I think they can have an opposite effect on our cities. When you can commute without having to drive yourself you can use the commuting time to work, read, sleep or do other useful or agreeable things. Very nice for any individual. It makes living 2h away from work quite bearable. In turn this allows for more sprawl. And although shared autonomous vehicles need less parking space, they will, especially when used for longer commutes, need more road space, If anything should be autonomous, it should be buses and trams (or streetcars as you across the pond call them)

[@astroposyt2898]

Autonomous cars don't drive like humans, they can drive efficiently and can communicate with each other to say don't take this route allowing more traffic flow.

[@rollopost]

Werner Rietveld something in that.

[@markedconn2]

Autonomous card is a buzz technology. If you have public transit that goes where you need to go, and us frequent, then you don't need cars except for shen carrying a lot of stuff, or heavy itrms.

[@otishaschemeyer8194]

Oh Lord, not more "public-private" partnership! We need public infrastructure that people in the community own collectively, and end our civic gov't's working for corporations.

[@Minecraftizawsom]

Socialized projects under the control or influence of corporations killed our cities and communities.

[@michaelclark9210]

Great, started bike/bus commuting in Las Vegas. They are doing a great job here.

[@mihirm3632]

What a great talk!

[@WILL_E_1]

Bravo! Big picture synthesis happening here

[@nischalanamburu3542]

"What kind of city do we want to live in?" Who is watching in 2021 while working from home!

[@user-kc4db3bi5b]

We could solve or at least greatly improve so many major problems as well as making our cities vastly better if we designed/retrofitted them to encourage walking, cycling and public transit. I talk about this in my own TEDx talk on Imagining a car-free city. It's up to us to resist the influence of the car makers and restore quality of life to our urban areas.

[@thejoeyd9207]

I live in an inner ring suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. In Cleveland the inner ring is very urban too. I recently quit driving to work and plan to sell my car. Public transportation is more relaxing, I get stuff done on the commute, it’s cheaper and it’s safer. It’s truly a no brained. AND I get more exercise just walking to the damn bus stop. I’m going to pay cash for a cheap Honda and only use it on needed occasions. Besides that, I’m walking, biking or taking public trans. Enough is enough, this is ridiculous. Great Ted Talk!

[@rarefolkrecordings9380]

Exactly. I spend all of my bus trips reading, which is something I could never do if I drove, obviously. It puts me in a good mood by the time I reach my destination and I get through more books, as well as being better for the environment.

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

The mother of all creation. Necessity . If you dont need a car to get you where you need to be. Why would you.

[@linkadesserttray8709]

I like the idea of closing cities to auto traffic. It is a harsh action, however in time people will move away and move in and compliment the change. If you had 100% volunteer participation to live in Micro Housing, I believe you would have human behavior issues - My opinion is based on how I see people behaving around us on a daily basis. I would like to see bicycle avenues in place of a number of streets. The intersections are the only stumbling block as I design my solutions. Thanks for the Talk, Thanks TEDx

[@jpgmccabe]

Mr. Klein, very nice production.

[@victormn47]

First step: Internalise the externalities of transport.

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

"And by the way, it's good business".... Amen!

[@EmberHarrington]

Honking Car Locking Wakes People Up and Causes Noise Stress. PleasePlease Break the Honking Habit and Lock Your Car Quietly with Light Flash Only. For Neighbors Sleep and Peace of Mind.

[@kolloduke3341]

FORGET THE ELECTRIC CAR!!! OUT DATED STILL USING FOSSIL FUELS TO MAKE THEM TO POWER THEM , AND THE MINING FOR THE BATTERIES IS HORRENDOUS !!!!

[@gevorgnersesyan4904]

How can I have the transcript of this video? Thanks

[@TheLilboy6]

Thanks a lot, I learnt a lot from you. Ps: I Know you will get rid of the red Jaket because you bought it specially for TED talks 😂

[@kolloduke3341]

Whats wrong with the jacket ? its the shirt that dosent suit him . lol

[@kylevining8741]

Excellent talk that highlights the crippling effect of personal motor vehicles on cities and public spaces. However, I also disagree that autonomous cars and technology will fix these problems. Many localities lack political will to enact policies that prioritize transit and human-modes of transportation over personal vehicles and trucks. Even in "liberal" or "progressive" cities, like Cambridge, Mass, city leaders move at a dangerously slow pace, while cyclists and pedestrians are killed on their streets and while carbon emissions from cars continue to increase. In Boston and Cambridge, effective proposals to reduce vehicles in our cities sit at a standstill during "community engagement" and "outreach," because leaders are fearful of public backlash to anti-car policies. First, we need to elect new city governments that commit to prioritize humans over cars and will take risks to enact anti-car policies. Only after effective policies are in place, will technology transform our cities for humans instead of cars. But first it needs to come from radical and progressive policies to make cities more sustainable and equitable.

[@willem1703]

Yay! I'm possibly excited for the future again! When you start to walk or bike, it's obvious how nasty cars are.

[@aidasings100]

We do not have the raw materials to prioritize single passenger vehicles. We need to move to prioritizing public transit first and get with the more advanced country's with rail, trolly's and buses. We MUST get back to a simpler time if we are to survive. Creating denser cities and stopping urban sprawl put WAY more money into city economies.

[@lawrencewei3583]

“Cheap gas” uhh, not in Australia

[@FrameDrumAndFlute]

To get the public to use alternative transportation you must convince them it's more efficient than the car. This solution still means people can be stuck in traffic.

[@Basta11]

Technology is not the solution. All the solutions we need have already been tried and tested in Europe, Asia, and ironically by North American cities of the past. We just need the political will to stop subsidizing the car, stop subsidizing suburbia, fix our zoning laws, building codes, and other laws that make it harder to make walkable communities.

[@keltiboissonneault4263]

Watching this in 2023 is real fun.

[@joffroyboutin7456]

I agree with captain chaos. People get excited about technologie, but it's the low tech, boring solutions that work.

[@yashagrawal88]

Shanghai may be giving importance to public transportation, but it is not sustainable enough. Metros are not good. And the density of tall buuldings built together is not good.

[@koc63695]

It is all about interducing new material to gain more money

[@KristoKorps]

I think alot of what he says was on point I'm identifying the problem, but his prescription of what the solutions are either unrealistic or needs to be politically effective to work.

[@katherandefy]

So my question is this… what about the boiling hot places? Hope public space is less heat island and more tree shading

[@OrthodoxofUSA]

17:00 Where has this guy seen parking spaces that are 330 sq ft?

[@MrHealfi]

You need to count in the access driveways...

[@OrthodoxofUSA]

@@MrHealfi That makes sense.

[@christophermotte7532]

why so little views?

[@kolloduke3341]

HES talking at some point of electric cars ! thats maybe why ?Whats the point in electric cars when your still using fossil fuels to create them and destroying land so that you can mine and pollute the planet with your eco batteries ? lol

[@brrrt6666]

Light wheigt autonomous mini tram cars anyone?

[@hellequin04]

0:55 Is not the number 1 cause of pollution! It's farming!

[@estebanperal9488]

I'm guessing he meant carbon dioxide emissions.

[@googleuser6201]

That's right Moron , Ban farming so everyone starves.. Hey but think how green and clean the planet will be then!!!

[@marcl4701]

How reddish blazers almost killed good taste! With that being said, very interesting speech!

[@amjedhussain7954]

Take a bike is better for good environment. I wish no more production a cars only buses for public transportation and to save our planet. But the negative is the industries bankruptcy and too much jobless. I wish not too much cars and we will used to take a buses and take a bike as well. This will increase quality of air for each city.

[@akash_goel]

I blame all these problems squarely on Keynes. That guy single-handedly inspired more government-interventionists than Marx or other socialists/communists ever did.

[@roy1299]

Dutch way is the way

[@Turbo_TechnoLogic]

Or move to smaller human-sized cities and use bike. Makes all the difference.

[@kayakman9845]

so where are we going to put the spent batteries of these electric cars a bikes walk or peddle a bicycle

[@poohthewinnie7396]

u look like my therapist

[@yashagrawal88]

Unlimited free energy is a myth. We may not know now but some problem will come up with excess extraction and consumption of energy.

[@jrnamida5470]

Please update this talk with AI - that is coming rapidly - I love my bicycle

[@drew031127]

A car and a home are both liabilities.

[@PkrBarMovie]

@Fred Jaminson No, "being alive" doesn't fit the definition of "liability". A car and a home do.

[@Bertuzz84]

A car is a liability, and a home is an appreciating asset.

[@drew031127]

@@Bertuzz84 a home is not an asset unless it produces income.

[@Bertuzz84]

@@drew031127 Well you a true technically, but it saves me a ton of money in housing costs. Plus it builds a ton of equity without having to do anything. I can't say the same about a car, where you spends hundreds per month on something that loses value very fast.

[@drew031127]

@@Bertuzz84 buy a multi unit, depreciate, collect income, write off expenses, retire early.

[@greynolds17]

although I love american car culture..i cant stand the cities

[@zhl8412]

Why do you use the word "although"?

[@googleuser6201]

You'd like cites less without cars lol. Think about it for a while.

[@nobodynothingberg4886]

Google User less cars, more green space, more healthy walking and biking and more cleaner buses and trains. Take a trip to Europe or Japan plz

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

@@googleuser6201 If you change the parking places to public space and the parking lots and garages to homes and small businesses those cities will be amazing.

[@penguinsfan251]

@@nobodynothingberg4886 Poland is building a modern highway network.

[@eugentomas1922]

I has try planing walking and cycling cities with best public transport. But my pc is dead and i don't have money for buy new one, powerfull pc is to expensive for me. For grow and make new ideas i has watch hundreds videos like this, and its all is for me a old school., i has make this ideas about 10 years ago, i have a lots of more of them, 1000 times more. I hope in one day i will get good job with good salary, then i will be able buy powerfull PC and make my plans in 3D for show my future city for all the world. But in UK impossible get a good job.

[@franzzrilich9041]

Look, when I was was last working, I commuted inside a thousand square mile circle to up to four clients at a time. It paid well. The reason I moved from job to job was that business changed, constantly. My car was used and cost me two month's income, and lasted ten years. My clients were leaving cities because parking was not available. Also, in urban studies evaluations of the neighborhoods that the firms were originally in, the independent evaluators pointed out that the inner city locations so frightened visitors, vendors, and would be workers that the firms decided to relocate to suburban areas in the seventies, and to exurban areas in the nineties. Currently, where I live, high income jobs are in small towns. The bulk of the new housing is located on two-three acre lots per house. Basically, people move here, to Medina County--the fastest-growing county in Ohio, to raise their kids. I agree that energy prices will collapse, and that we shall have flying cars. Big cities in the US are terribly managed, and are corruptly run. I don't think one urban solution approaches will work, but it would make sense to start demolishing large cities. Well-paying jobs cannot be created there, and there are too many crazy people living in the big cities, and running them into the ground.

[@superiorslush5147]

If streets really are public domain why should they be mainly used for the minority of people outside of the city who drive there when the needs of the many would be prioritizing public and personal forms of transit ?

[@linuxman7777]

The thing is though that cities also need to provide silence for the residents, and unfortunately American cities fail to do that, not just because of cars but also the quality of the residents there. When I was in Japan, I was in Cities many times larger than my closest American City and they were all very quiet compared to my city. Americans just won't accept high density because there is alot of hostility in this country and forcing people to live near eachother who are clearly incompatable such as Liberals and Conservatives or Introverts and Extroverts. I would love to live in a city, but unfortunately all of the cities in this country are filled with Hostile Liberal Extroverts and I am a Conservative Introvert so I will be miserable having to constantly fear these people. In Tokyo and other Japanese cities it was far from the case, because I knew the people there were just as afraid of me as I was of them, and it was nice not being harassed or insulted directly like what happens in America.

[@IcelanderUSer]

You’re an emotional person who lets his emotions overpower his reasoning abilities. Combine that with all the absurd assumptions you make and people need to watch out.

[@vincewhite5087]

Renewable energy represents less then 5%. Will take time.

[@nispen]

transport is nr. 2. Keeping livestock is nr. 1

[@masterjacob5163]

As much as a well-organized public transport, infrastructure for cyclist etc. in cities is a good and desired thing, taking away cars from people is something terrible and it should never happen. Even if we assume that the means of public transport would be capable of handling all the citizens, there will always be places you can't reach with public transportation or locations within the city limits that are simply too far to efficiently get to without a car, because you would have to take 3 or more trains/buses/trams (not to mention countrysides or other remote places where it's IMPOSSIBLE to move without an automobile). You can't just take away something from people (unless you're a ruler of a tyrannical goverment and you say it's for their own good or you don't even say nothing at all). This brilliant and unique advantage of a car is that you can use it wherever you want, whenever you want and however you want. There's no waiting at the bus stop, no standing in a crowded bus during a hot summer, no such thing as being dependent on sth. This is YOUR car, it gives you freedom of transportation and you can go wherever, whenever, do whatever you want with it. As mentioned in this video in 1903 in New York people commuted with trams, bicycles but mostly by foot. Ok the population there was 3,437,202 in 1900, in 2010 it was 8,175,133. Even though New York has a good subway system other cities don't. There would have to be some serious actions taken to build a public transit system capable of moving ANYONE from ANYWHERE in the city and transporting him/her to any given location within the city limits. Additionally as now lots of people live in the suburbs you would have to extend all that infrastructure so that they can get to work downtown, because right now almost all of them drive to the city with a car. Another aspect is car culture itself. Imagine what would happen if you close down the streets for people wanting to drive their automobiles. All the car enthusiasts, repair shop owners, car dealers, basically anyone whose business and/or life is strongly connected with cars would suffer major consequences. They would have to move out from the city. The whole automotive industry would suffer a lot. That on the other hand is killing business. Summing this up, public transport, bicycle infrastructure and autonomous cars are all good idea as long as built parallely to the road - NOT at the cost of those who want to drive their own cars. Instead of improving a city it would only make it worse.

[@sunkickr]

There should be a compromise. New York works pretty well but most cities in america basically have no public transportation, and rely entirely on cars. If infrastructure was improved in these cites people that don't want to spend all there time in cars (while commuting) can bike, walk, and take public transport. Roads can be made smaller to accommodate, and those that want to drive cars can still drive with a lot less traffic. I think that this is a Win/Win for everyone.

[@rudolfkreuz5304]

As far as I am concerned, the advantage of a car in a city, something that you really outlined, does only apply to a certain extent and then becomes invalid. While on the countryside it is true that a car gives you a certain amount of freedom, in a crowded city you mostly get stuck in traffic or traffic significantly slows you down and thus is hindering the capabilities of a car. In cities like Moscow or multiple supercities across Asia this has become a serious issue for the population. And cities aren’t shrinking, they are constantly expanding. So think about it and I would be happy to discuss this topic further. Greetings

[@masterjacob5163]

@@rudolfkreuz5304 Well, if there are traffic jams so big (in those places You are talking about) then someone who lives AND works in the city center doesn't really have any advantage of using a car. I wouldn't use it to go to work. But what if someone lives on the outskirts? Or lives in the center but often uses the car to go somewhere else than the city? Or just drives for fun/relaxation when the traffic is low? You know I don't really see why we couldn't develop good public transport while still having roads.

[@masterjacob5163]

@@sunkickr yup that's what I'm saying. We don't have to entirely replace roads with rails for trams and transform the rest of them into pederastian area. Public transport and roads should be both developed

[@Lafv]

I think a compromise is important. We definitely can't/shouldn't get rid of cars entirely, but people definitely shouldn't be so dependent on them. You say public transit & bicycle infrastructure shouldn't be built at the cost of personal cars, but I'd actually disagree. North American highways were too often built at the cost of transit & active transportation, so I think it's definitely okay to sacrifice some roads/conveniences for cars to improve other infrastructure. Also, many cities had great streetcar networks that were bought and destroyed by car companies. I think it would be cool to see city centers ban cars entirely and then they can become even more dense (and maybe put the streetcars back in). About the suburbs, the fact that they are car reliant is exactly the problem. Their infrastructure needs to be improved so that cars become an option, not a necessity. Your point about the Automotive industry is interesting, and I haven't really thought about it much before. I have a hard time feeling bad for car dealers as they have repeatedly destroyed neighborhoods in the past (even in the past few years, houses in the city center have been demolished to make room for a Honda dealership in my city). Also, big car companies have lots of money and they could just move to a different area where cars are allowed. But it's true that small, independent businesses would suffer a lot. However, this is almost certainly going to happen anyway because of the rise of electric cars, which require far less maintenance. So I think in the long term, auto businesses can't blame their decline just on transit & active transportation. Car enthusiasts can certainly continue to enjoy cars in places where they are welcome. But there are also lots of bike & transit enthusiasts (such as myself), and we'd like to have our share :)

[@kayem3824]

America was America because of its beautiful big cars, all in lovely colors. Yes, let's get rid of all the soulless cars made now.

[@yashagrawal88]

About first half of the video is very interesting. But the rest is not. Autonomous driven vehicles are not good, and are not a solution. We need to have good public transportation such as trams, buses, trains and boats. They are the solution. This mentality of desire and obsession for private vehicles has to go away. This video is about USA but it is also applicable in many other countries. Autonomous driven vehicles will not reduce traffic much. They don't have the benefits which modes of public transportation like trams and buses have, such as building community spirit. The selfish nature in travelling would remain as it is with autonomous vehicles.

[@vincewhite5087]

Look at mess of rental bikes in China.

[@hcw199]

agenda 21

[@37_zadidahsankhan8]

The future is underground transportation.

[@Zarrx]

Ever heard of a subway?

[@timmccaul]

Free highways? Free parking? Not where I live...the war against the Auto must stop...

[@Bertuzz84]

Same, here the car owners pay massive taxes including when they buy gas. But congestion on the road has been getting worse no matter how high car ownership is taxed. If it were up to me, the car would mostly just be something for the countryside where there isn't enough population density for public transportation. In the city the car just pollutes too much, so it's bad for the public health.

[@karikling8812]

Automated technology will not decrease fatalities. Technology malfunctions and can be hacked. If you don't computerize cars and there's a vehicle malfunction, to some extent the driver can adjust til they can pull over. We can't guarantee an automated car that malfunctions will do that without hitting anyone. Then, if a car has been hacked it for sure won't self correct. I was sort of with him up until that argument for automated technology, although I don't think he supported his arguments well.

[@TrelliessRose]

How about no?

[@marklonguet-higgins6041]

Putting people in moveable shoeboxes (as shown in this talk) is not going to make them happy either. Give people good public transport, and good, attractive, zero energy and socialy meaningful housing. Do not treat people like objects. Investing in environmentally healthy, lasting quality living space, tailored to all the social needs, is a fundamental base for improving education, the quality of life, and fair distribution of wealth within a nation. Why do slums always get worse? Why do the rich get richer? And what happens then to societies? Equality and distribution of wealth keeps societies stable and flourishing.

[@googleuser6201]

More people means more plague.... Get out of the cities!!! Get a beautiful car, plant a garden and breathe clean air , without living in crime and poverty. Live the good life and live a healthy life.

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

You are never going to be 3D printing thing like iPhones. Suggest to drop the BS talking points and stay on subject.

[@winstonsolipsist1741]

If this man's life and the lives of his fellow US citizens are so horrible, why doesn't this gentleman just leave the US move to one of the cities he likes? If the pre-industrial life is so wonderful, beautiful, healthy and carefree then why does it have to be forced on people? Wouldn't it just happen organically? Everyone could live like those people in central Africa. They ride bicycles and walk a mile or two the fetch water and get fresh produce right out of the field. They live in close communities and they don't need cars or AVs or 3D printers to do it. Worse yet, a society where people don't work or only work a little bit and couple will spend all their time together will destroy a bunch of marriages!

[@googleuser6201]

if you need to go to the hospital for an emergency your not going to want to take a bus or wait for an ambulance... your going to ride your bike lol.. well as long as your leg wasn't ripped off. Be smart people ... buy a car and get out of the city... heck you can even keep your bike!

[@marieblackbird89]

Or maybe, just maybe if there weren't so many cars on the road, then you won't have to wait that long for the ambulance

[@googleuser6201]

@@marieblackbird89 Look dude We know the liberal agenda... It is to get rid of cars all together so people are not free to travel long distances anymore. You scuzzy people want to take away the rights of all Americans as well as your own. I will never understand this thinking. You claim to be progressives when all I see is regressive ideas.. Oh and for the record the Global warming is a myth that they have been talking about for hundreds of years. in the 70's it was going to freeze over lol. How did that work out for ya? Now were all gonna burn up. Once you open your eyes and realize its all a power and money grab your going to feel like a real sucker... But it will all be too late. You won't be able to get your freedom back. I feel sorry for you but I feel more sorry for me because you are ruining my life with your stupidity and that should not happen.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

@@googleuser6201 lol.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

@@googleuser6201 you do realise cycling needs to be a viable form of commuting right? Not some weekend warrior hobbyist stuff. That means trips under 20km.

[@googleuser6201]

@@ANTSEMUT1 You do realize you'll never replace cars with cycling right?

[@cosminpopan]

what a silly man

[@hamishashcroftplaysminecra6262]

why?

[@death2pc]

Tell this to geriatrics. Tell this to those who need to go shopping for groceries, various items inclusive of those common to hardware. Tell this to geriatrics, again.............. Tell this to anyone when there's rain, sleet, snow. Tell this in cities where the landscape is hilly. Get a clue. Get a shave.

[@aaronhunter2301]

Boy I really want a car with a straight piped exhaust to release more emissions just to annoy this guy

[@ScholasticChad]

Who hurt this man😂 his adversity to cars scares me. Show him how an engine works. Let him build his "micro"/"modular" infrastructure on the moon.. or Atlantis😂