this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2024
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Fuck Cars

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[image] People would probably hate cars a lot less if they were limited in size and speed to a golf cart (lemmy.world)
submitted 10 months ago by Fried_out_Kombi to c/fuckcars
86 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Pros of golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) replacing all private cars within a city:

  • Only goes as fast as a bicycle, so isn't a viable suburban commuter vehicle, meaning you'll probably only take it to the nearest transit station
  • Only goes as fast as a bicycle, so isn't likely to kill people
  • Excellent visibility, so less likely to run over children
  • Much smaller and lighter, so building parking garages for park-and-rides would be a lot cheaper and less objectionable than with our current style of cars
  • Electric
  • Smaller batteries than jumbo EVs
  • Compatible with dense, transit-oriented city development
  • Could be installed with mandatory speed limiters

Cons:

  • Less profit for GM and ExxonMobil
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[–] [email protected] 42 points 10 months ago (10 children)

The reason cars became so popular in rural areas is that they're the thing that allows people who live there to be connected with their neighbors. They divide densely populated areas and connect low population areas. The relationship cars have to people's lives is incredibly complex and putting forth solutions like this will alienate people from joining the movement. Advocating for walkable cities makes sense because rural communities aren't going to be atomized by regulations like that, and thus it becomes easier to implement.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 10 months ago (19 children)

This post is talking exclusively about cities, I'm not sure why this argument about rural areas comes up so often when it's not relevant.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

allows people who live there to be connected with their neighbors

Why do you say that? Losing connection with community is the exact reason the Amish ban cars. You rested your whole argument on this, too, so you'll need to convince me a little harder that up is down.

[–] Ross_audio 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

You've just proven their point. Isolationists ban cars.

The Amish isolate themselves from others for religious reasons. Most people don't want to do that.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 10 months ago (1 children)

There is a small city in Georgia, USA that does this. Tom Scott video on it

[–] cmbabul 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I knew a guy that grew up there, he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and was kinda shocked that all the other folks we worked with (most of us from other parts of Georgia than Peachtree City) didn't have golf carts growing up. Actually seems like a cool idea, although it only works if you can afford a golfcart

[–] Cort 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Tbf, the current system only works if you can afford a car which is typically more expensive than a golf cart

[–] cmbabul 3 points 10 months ago

True, but all these people also have both, often multiple of both, it's a pretty well off part of metro Atlanta

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

Needs AC & Heat & Doors/Windows. Weather is a thing that people need to deal with. Not everywhere is 70 and sunny every day.

[–] Everythingispenguins 4 points 10 months ago

Yeah I find many of these not car cars have a very narrow used case, making them impracticable to scale.

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[–] HexesofVexes 14 points 10 months ago

Never change fuckcars, never change.

Every post on this forum is an S-tier masterclass in trolling, and I love it.

[–] MeanEYE 10 points 10 months ago

Already exists, Citroen Ami. It's a neat little idea. If you live in buildings, dozen apartments might have 3 vehicles always ready to go. Your key is your phone, as is your dashboard and the rest of the instrumentation. With range of 50 to 70km, it's good enough to run around the city for the day and get it charged over night. It's an interesting concept which people are not going to swallow because they need 6T coal rollers.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

My state allows towns to decide if they'll allow golf carts to drive on roads. It's great for small towns with lots of older people.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sounds similar to a mobility scooter, but more practical for carrying much heavier loads.

I'd prefer a cargobike personally, but most of the ones I like are too heavy to move when you're not riding it, let alone with a 1/4 ton load. Those also can't fit into most apartments, you've got to leave them outside or in bicycle storage...

This kart/NEV thing kind of seems like a good compromise, with quadricycle vans possibly being an alternative option if you aren't carrying people

[–] Fried_out_Kombi 3 points 10 months ago

I agree that a bike is generally preferable, but an NEV seems a good compromise for people who need to move multiple people at once or more cargo than a cargo bike can carry. Max one of these per household + bike for everyone + walkable, transit-oriented development seems like a suitable compromise that would be a significant improvement over the status quo.

[–] Delphiantares 6 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Just based on the picture, do you expect this to be used anywhere that gets a decent chance of snow in the winter?

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble 8 points 10 months ago

People still walk in those places too.

Give it some vinyl doors and you'll be fine in winter time.

[–] Katana314 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

This used to be my point against winter bicycles, but when I think about it, these kinds of individual transports shouldn’t be used for long distances anyway, and you’ll still need good winter clothing for walking to the destination after parking anyway.

I just decided to improve my winter gear, and that means I can walk, or bike, or use one of these electric golf carts, or whatever I choose.

[–] Fried_out_Kombi 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Exactly. I'm in Canada, and I often ride my electric scooter to work in the winter, and many ride bikes in the winter here, too. The windshield on a glorified golf cart plus proper winter clothing is all you really need, although maybe detachable side flaps to keep out the wind might help, too.

And I wear full coat in a car anyways for the exact reason you mention: I still need to walk between car and final destination.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Just get the AWD trim with a winter tire package. Keep chains handy too

[–] Demdaru 6 points 10 months ago

Ew.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

This looks incredibly American. As far as small vehicles go this is still roughly the size of a small car, granted it probably weighs less(d safer), but storing it still requires a fair amount of dedicated parking. An E-bike or even better a pushbike seems like a more reasonable choice then.

[–] XiELEd 4 points 10 months ago

tfw Americans realize that smaller cars were better all along

[–] perviouslyiner 5 points 10 months ago

The Miniature Microcars of Amsterdam (NJB on YouTube)

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