I’m getting a lot of ‘but my car is more convenient’ arguments lately, and I’m struggling to convey why that doesn’t make sense.

Specifically how to explain to people that: Sure, if you are able to drive, and can afford it, and your city is designed to, and subsidizes making it easy to drive and park, then it’s convenient. But if everyone does it then it quickly becomes a tragedy of the commons situation.

I thought of one analogy that is: It would be ‘more convenient’ if I just threw my trash out the window, but if we all started doing that then we’d quickly end up in a mess.

But I feel like that doesn’t quite get at the essence of it. Any other ideas?

  • Calavera@lemm.eeEnglish
    7·
    7 months ago

    You talk to about Europe like it was a monolith. Where are I live cars are hugely more convenient than public transport.

    Public transportation may be more convenient if you live and work on city centers, everything else not so much

    • Katana314@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      7 months ago

      I’m curious where you live. I was traveling well outside of the popular cities to small towns, and bikes seemed like a nicer option even when there was no tram (and there often was)

      • Calavera@lemm.eeEnglish
        4·
        7 months ago

        I live in the north of Portugal. Bikes(electric) might be good for single people, not for families with kids, even for single is not that safe here, most bike infrastructure is made toward leisure rather than a means of transportation