kelly Americar

  • Rom [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    8 months ago

    It’s clear that the pandemic had an “obvious impact,” StreetLight says. But beyond that, the group isn’t sure what’s keeping Americans off their feet.

    It couldn’t have anything to do with America’s entire transportation infrastructure being centered around cars as a result of the government being owned by the oil industry, resulting in nearly every possible destination worth visiting being either too far to walk to or the potential trip being downright dangerous due to the almost complete absence of sidewalks and the need to walk alongside and across 50+mph 6+ lane stroads, I’m sure.

    Weird that NYC, the city that famously has the best public transportation system in the US, densely built communities, and plenty of sidewalks, also has the lowest rates of automobile ownership and the highest number of average daily walking trips. Really makes you think.

    • dat_math [they/them]@hexbear.net
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      8 months ago

      I agree with everything you said and want to add that I think a less significant but noticeable exacerbator of this phenomenon is climate change, which has increased the number of places where the weather is less conducive to walking and also the duration of persistence of hotter and less pleasant conditions.

    • Judge_Jury [comrade/them, he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      8 months ago

      Infrastructure? No no, we just love cars:

      Driving, however, is only 4% below 2019 levels — yet another sign that America is a country of car lovers.

      Must be remote work that’s doing it:

      Some of this could be remote work, which can make it all too easy to become overly sedentary.