not replying because its mastodon't and they probably blocked us already but

if you want less cars, bring back towncars

RE: https://mastodon.scot/users/kim_harding/statuses/111471389511239758

@icedquinn What are town cars?

In any case the real culprit with cars is poor urban planning, not the mere existence of cars. If we’re talking about the “not just bikes” perspective.

@realcaseyrollins these rolly things that Good Year et all conspired to shut down to sell more tires

@icedquinn Maybe they work well in practice but I hate them in theory. All it takes is one crash with a car to stop up the whole line, right?

I’m more in favor of underground forms of public transit, like a metro system.

@realcaseyrollins

We have trollies here. There are usually many paths of tracks. If a trolled gets stuck they can just by pass it by going down the next street... basically most roads have tracks embedded in them so they have almost as much freedom to divert as a car.

That said im not sure what advantage they are getting other than the cost of tires maybe

@icedquinn

First, one engine's mass can be amortized over multiple cars trained together. Also the rolling friction of a steel wheel on a steel rail is significantly lower than that of rubber tires on pavement. Finally your load capacity is much higher.

Most of the benefits are accrued at scale.

But, yes, the cost of tires — including the environmental costs of manufacturing and distribution and the labor costs of installation/replacement are significantly higher for rubber due to their much shorter operational lifespans.

Basically, the tradeoffs are all: higher capital investment (infrastructure and materials) vs. operational expenses and flexibility.

@58ee1ae59943750475900a48b5a9ba929f07b786004cc0d8703fe59d796968c1

Yes but those have trade offs too... a steel railed vehial for example is much slower to get moving due to the decreased friction and much harder to stop quickly for example.

@realcaseyrollins @icedquinn

@freemo @58ee1ae59943750475900a48b5a9ba929f07b786004cc0d8703fe59d796968c1 @realcaseyrollins i'm not sure the stopping quickly bit matters much. cyclists and pedestrians just need to not loiter on the little tracks on the ground. it's the only place the train can go

as opposed to cars where its open season on the bike lane.

@icedquinn

Ideally it isnt. But in reality we all know people make mistakes and it can save a life.

@58ee1ae59943750475900a48b5a9ba929f07b786004cc0d8703fe59d796968c1 @realcaseyrollins