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It’s time for Americans to embrace small cars
(arstechnica.com)
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this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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americans will embrace small cars like they embrace gun control
We embraced the shit out of them during the oil crisis in the '70's. Then when gasoline got cheap again we snapped right back.
"But my SUV makes me feel so 'safe' and gives me a commanding view of the road!!!!!!"
I am of the opinion that everyone ought to just get a motorcycle.
Have you ever seen Americans drive? Or the ones that ride motorcycles?
Give everyone a motorcycle and half the country would be dead in a week
Well, that'll keep 'em off my damn roads, won't it?
Yeah that's a net win
They'd all get those goddamn ear splitting harleys too. Like there isn't enough noise already.
Honestly, fuck motorcycle drivers. I know there's plenty of them out there who operate your machines properly, but there SO MANY absolute asshats on motorcycles, always making the highway way more dangerous for everyone around them.
If I could remove one vehicle from the earth it would be motorcycles. Idgaf how fun they are for you, people can't be trusted with them in general.
Like most drivers you probably just don't notice the ones that aren't loud / ridden by asshats.
Many bikes have basically the same performance as a civic, you are painting with far too broad a brush here.
In a decade running a motorcycle as my only transport, I've never been remotely a threat to the 5,000 pound tanks I'm forced to share the road with, but almost been taken out by left turning stop sign and red light runners more times than is reasonable.
Yep couple assholes ruin it for everyone, I recognized that already,but also, it's a particular type of danger that isn't posed by anything else, and I dont think your pleasure is worth my stress tbh.
To be clear when I'm talking about danger I'm talking about the motorcyclist turning into an unrecognizable pink streak on the asphalt, not "hurting my car"...
If you pull some stupid shit and die on the road next to me that affects me more than you, since youre fucking dead then, so therefore: I should get more say in it than you.
Wrap it in whatever guise you want, you'll never convince me that riding a motorcycle is anything other than selfish.
I don't use it for pleasure, I use it to get around. If car drivers are stressing about rider safety (I don't get that impression) they can show it by putting their phones down and paying better attention to the world around them.
So wait. I am transporting one person, not taking up much space, obeying the rules of the road, don't have loud pipes nor speed, and you're telling me I'm selfish? When you literally just said you don't care about our pleasure?
I don't think it's us thats the selfish one here.
You don't like them weaving in and out of traffic and blowing past you at 40+ mph over the speed limit?
Weird right
I think there should be a separate license to drive SUVs and Trucks over a certain size. And that maintaining that license should be a bit of a hassle - like a required in-person written and practical test every 2 years. If people want that commanding view of the road and "safe" feeling that comes from endangering everyone else on the road, then they should have to put in some extra effort - not enough extra effort that it's unattainable for those who actually have a need for a vehicle of that size, but enough effort that it would discourage the widespread use we have currently.
Also, during your SUV probationary period you have to drive a Suzuki Samurai for two years or so.
I'd love to have a motorcycle that would replace my current vehicle, but it would need to be capable of keeping me warm while handling well in heavy snow. Afaik, there aren't any enclosed bikes out there
When you need a fucking step ladder to get into your jacked up pickup just so you can commute or get groceries you might have lost your mind.
I'd rather not die tyvm.
But only if it's a dual sport, right? ;)
Well I mean preferably.
The US EPA currently penalizes smaller cars thanks to a poorly thought out rule for fuel economy that scales by wheelbase size, making larger cars easier to meet requirements for. The EPA has made many embarrassingly backwards decisions, but this might be the worst.
I was taxed an extra $150 to register a 2002 Honda Insight last year. It was for a "Hybrid Tax" because hybrid owners buy less gas and therefore are paying less tax on gasoline. Like, that's the whole point of driving a small car!
They did for a while in the 70s-80s until giant SUVs got everyone hot and bothered
With their face?!?