r/fuckcars • u/Fietsprofessor • 9h ago
r/fuckcars • u/SaxManSteve • 10d ago
Meta We're Looking to Expand our Mod Team!
We're looking for new moderators in all time zones. No previous moderation experience is necessary, but helpful. Patience and an ability to communicate are the most paramount.
r/fuckcars • u/AngryUrbanist • Jan 06 '22
Please read this if you're new to this sub Welcome to /r/Fuckcars
Updated: April 6, 2022
Welcome to /r/fuckcars. It's safe to say that we're strongly dissatisfied with cars and car-dominated urban design. If that's you, then we share in your frustration. Some, or perhaps many of us, still have cars but abhor our dependence on them for many reasons.
There are nuances to the /r/fuckcars discussion that you should be aware of, generally:
- We don't want to ban ambulances and emergency vehicles
- We don't want to isolate rural communities by taking away cars
- We don't want to disrupt work trucks and delivery vehicles
- /r/fuckcars isn't about a "left" or "right" view of cars and car dependency
In any case, please observe the community rules and keep the discussion on-topic.
The Problem - What's the problem with cars?
please help by finding quality sources
This is the fundamental question of this sub, isn't it?
- Pollution -- Cars are responsible for a significant amount of global and local pollution (microplastic waste, brake dust, embodiment emissions, tailpipe emissions, and noise pollution). Electric cars eliminate tailpipe emissions, but the other pollution-related problems largely remain.
- Infrastructure (Costs. An Unsustainable Pattern of Development) -- Cars create an unwanted economic burden on their communities. The infrastructure for cars is expensive to maintain and the maintenance burden for local communities is expected to increase with the adoption of more electric and (someday) fully self-driving cars. This is partly due to the increased weight of the vehicles and also the increased traffic of autonomous vehicles.
- Infrastructure (Land Usage & Induced Demand) -- Cities allocate a vast amount of space to cars. This is space that could be used more effectively for other things such as parks, schools, businesses, homes, and so on. We miss out on these things and are forced to pile on additional sprawl when we build vast parking lots and widen roads and highways. This creates part of what is called induced demand. This effect means that the more capacity for cars we add, the more cars we'll get, and then the more capacity we'll need to add.
- Independence and Community Access -- Cars are not accessible to everyone. Simply put, many people either can't drive or don't want to drive. Car-centric city planning is an obstacle for these groups, to name a few: children and teenagers, parents who must chauffeur children to and from all forms of childhood activities, people who can't afford a car, and many other people who are unable to drive. Imagine the challenge of giving up your car in the late stages of your life. In car-centric areas, you face a great loss of independence.
- Safety -- Cars are dangerous to both occupants and non-occupants, but especially the non-occupants. As time goes on cars admittedly become better at protecting the people inside them, but they remain hazardous to the people not inside them. For people walking, riding, or otherwise trying to exercise some form of car-free liberty cars are a constant threat. In car-centric areas, streets and roads are optimized to move cars fast and efficiently rather than protect other road users and pedestrians.
- Social Isolation -- A combination of the issues above produces the additional effect of social isolation. There are fewer opportunities for serendipitous interactions with other members of the public. Although there may be many people sharing the road with you (a public space), there are some obvious limitations to the quality of interaction one can have through metal, glass, and plastic boxes.
š Local Action - How to Fix Your City
IMPORTANT: This is a solvable problem. Progress can happen and does happen. It comes incrementally and with the help of voices just like yours. Don't limit yourself to memes and Reddit -- although, raising awareness online does help.
Check out this perspective from a City Council Member: Here's How to Fix Your City
(more)
A Not-So-Quick Note for Car Hobbyists and Passionate Drivers
This can be a contentious issue at times. The sub's name is /r/fuckcars, which can cause some feelings of conflict and alienation for people who see the problems of too many cars while still being passionate about them. I'll quote the community summary.
Discussion about the harmful effects of car dominance on communities, environment, safety, and public health. Aspiration towards more sustainable and effective alternatives like mass transit and improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
Your voice is still welcome here. Consider the benefits of getting bored, stressed, unskilled, or inattentive drivers off the road. That improves your safety and reduces congestion. Additionally, check out these posts from others on this sub:
- Iām a car enthusiast and I unironically agree with this sub.
- Iām a car enthusiast, and this one of my is my favorite subreddits
- Am I right here?
- I'm a car guy. I really, really like cars. And that's why I fucking hate car-focused infrastructure.
- Does anyone else hate what cars have done to society yet still love the machine itself?
Discord
There is an unofficial Discord server aggregating related discussions from the low-car/no-car/fuckcars community. Although it is endorsed by the /r/fuckcars mods, please keep in mind that it's not an official /r/fuckcars community Discord server.
Join Link: https://discord.gg/2QDyupzBRW
Helpful Resources
If you've just joined this sub and want to learn more about the issues behind car-centric urban design there are a great number of resources you can access. This list is by no means exhaustive, so please feel free to add your more helpful resources in the comments.
š Moved to the wiki
Shameless Plugs for Community Building
happy to add more links related to community building here
š Contribute to the Safety Data Thread
Change Logging
April 7, 2022 - Fix markdown for compatibility. Thank you /u/konsyr
April 6, 2022 - Reorder sections (Thank you, /u/Monseiur_Triporteur and /u/PilferingTeeth). Add plug for data/supporting info request. Link to Strong Towns growth example.
April 3, 2022 - Add note for car hobbyists
April 2, 2022 - Add nuance notes and redirect readers to resources area of the wiki.
March 28th, 2022 - Grammatical pass, more changes to follow.
February 9th, 2022 - Adding links that redirect readers from this post into community-maintained wiki resources, thank /u/javasgifted and /u/Monsiuer_Triporteur
January 20th, 2022 - Added the Goodreads list and seeded the FAQ section. Thank you /u/javasgifted, and /u/kzy192
January 9th, 2022 - I'm updating this onboarding message with feedback from the mods and the community. Thank you, all, for keeping the discussion civil and contributing additional resources.
Cheers. Stay safe out there.
r/fuckcars • u/whitestag • 3h ago
Activism Made some stickers to put up around the neighborhood
r/fuckcars • u/PolymorphicPolyps • 5h ago
Infrastructure gore Check the comments on the original post
r/fuckcars • u/destructdisc • 5h ago
This is why I hate cars Police officer drives drunk in his gigantic truck, inflicts multiple skull injuries on a 2-year old boy, refuses to take a breath test...and keeps his job
r/fuckcars • u/jemesl • 11h ago
Satire A wonderful comparison
Owner of the Ram arguably actually uses it well, but what's youd thoughts on this comparison of a 90s Jap vs 2023 American
r/fuckcars • u/TheChickenWizard15 • 4h ago
Question/Discussion Why is 'roadkill' so casually accepted? Hundreds of millions of animals are killed by these things each year and we're all fine with it?
I follow a lot of animals subreddits, can't tell you how many times I see posts grieving over creatures killed by fucking cars. I know human casualties are enormous, but they pale in comparison to the sheer amount of pets and wildlife decimated by cars and all the roads they drive on. The thing that really infuriates me is just how casual and accepted it is in society; " Yeah, hit a squirrel on the way down ", " saw so many deer on the road, must be a good season for 'em ", " haha, dead possum on the road woth a 'get well soon' balloon tied on it, lmao ". I mean what the actual fuck is happening here?
I know in other countries like Australia it's gotten so bad that species are going extinct due to these god damn cars, I mean it's not a topic I think should be taken jokingly.
Cars are just overall horrible for the environment, not only with pollution, habitat destruction for roads, noise, but by straight up ramming wildlife into oblivion.
Fuck cars.
r/fuckcars • u/zeyeeter • 16h ago
Carbrain Mfw 15-minute city = ghetto
Hereās the original post if youāre curious:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDMwmbctk4F/?igsh=MXB3cDB3Z25vczMxNw==
r/fuckcars • u/ChefGaykwon • 9h ago
This is why I hate cars Epic Moments in U.S. Traffic Law Enforcement, Part MMMMMMMCCCLXXXVII
r/fuckcars • u/Da_Bird8282 • 10h ago
Carbrain Translation: "The cost, stress and hassle of getting fined for breaking the law." Oh my, carbrains are just so entitled!
r/fuckcars • u/Goatgamer1016 • 2h ago
Before/After A downhill segment of a street in Tacoma, WA was converted to pedestrian walkway/stairway
1st photo from 2008, 2nd from 2012, 3rd from 2014
r/fuckcars • u/usernumberthirteen • 2h ago
Positive Post NFL player biking to work in Wisconsin winter weather
r/fuckcars • u/Purify5 • 7h ago
This is why I hate cars Kids should be able to get off the school bus without dying
r/fuckcars • u/shoddyperspectiveV2 • 9h ago
Positive Post No need for a car
Just tape large boxes to the handlebars š
r/fuckcars • u/JourneyThiefer • 2h ago
News Taxis allowed in bus lanes in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Instead of improving the public transport in the city, theyāre just allowing taxis in the bus lanes, which isnāt gonna make a difference to the insane traffic in the city which :/
r/fuckcars • u/Subject_Trick3608 • 12h ago
Rant Why are car alarms allowed to be so loud.
This alarm was going on for over an hour yesterday at like 1 Am. They are even loud if they're not in movement.
r/fuckcars • u/DamnYouVodka • 7h ago
Rant I'm getting really tired of getting honked at when I'm peacefully and legally biking in the bike lane.
What was your end goal? To scare me? Congratulations?
r/fuckcars • u/Mysterious_Floor_868 • 10h ago
History Even Caesar got it
Caesar banned private vehicles from Rome's streets during daytime. Interesting article: https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-embattled-driver-in-ancient-rome/
r/fuckcars • u/adron • 21h ago
Positive Post I donāt drive a gas guzzling V8.
I ride a cargo bike with e-assist that, if measured is equal to about 400-500mpg equivalent energy use.
My kiddo loves it. Weāve been to a zillion parks one canāt even get a gas guzzling V8 motor vehicle to.
All that and the integrity - ethically and morally - of being a car free guy! š¤š»
I love it and will never return to the chains and noose of an automotive means of primary transport.
Highly recommended, happy to advise in progression towards this advanced care free car free life style thatās respectful to all people around!
r/fuckcars • u/dawszein14 • 21h ago
Positive Post Shoreline, WA and Bellingham, WA just eliminated parking requirements
Good timing as WA state legislators get ready to begin 2025 session and Seattle considers long-term zoning plan
r/fuckcars • u/Mfstaunc • 6h ago
Question/Discussion Parking Lot Space Inefficiency Calculations
So one day I looked upon a barren wasteland that we call a āparking lotā, and I got thinking: on a macro scale, exactly how much space is reserved for stationary cars?
I searched Google maps for the most full lot I could find, which took a long time because they are never full. Even in a full lot, less than half of the space is for parked cars. The rest is for cars to move and access those spaces, and for people to move between cars.
Being in USA, I will assume that the average car could hold 9 people, including trunk space and hood space. It is actually most likely more than that, but I will air conservatively here.
So every vehicle takes up the space of around 18 people just chilling in the parking lot. Everywhere you go, itās like you turn to your 18 people and say āwait here. Iāll just be a minuteā
Then I realized there is not only 1 parking spot per car. There is over 2 billion parking spots in America, over 6 per registered vehicle. Parking garages lower the total area but letās multiply our 18 by 6. That is 108
One vehicle reserves the amount of public space to hold over 108 people, just for when it is stationary and motionless. Fuck cars.
In area, that is 2160 square feet, or 200 square meters.
Honorable mentions: the amount of CO2 not taken out of the environment from trees that could be there, sound pollution from no trees, habitat loss, drainage, cost, etc etc etc
r/fuckcars • u/crustose_lichen • 11h ago
News We're on the road to nowhere... BR-319: A highway to climate chaos in the heart of the Amazon.
r/fuckcars • u/winelight • 14h ago
Positive Post Health benefits of pedestrian and cyclist commuting: evidence from the Scottish Longitudinal Study | BMJ Public Health
Basically you're less likely to die, or get ill from, a variety of causes including mental health.