The problem with this line of reasoning is it basically precludes any change in the future. To break away from car dependency, you have to actually break away from car dependency. There are plenty of existing homes all across the city that are suitable if you need to own a car—almost literally every other home in the city. Building newer high density developments to also be car-dependent is just entrenching the problem.
And fwiw, unless you’re driving multiple times per week, it’s far better financially to rent a car when you need it. Let someone else deal with the depreciation, registration, insurance, and maintenance costs.
If you’re literally in walking distance to your nearest major shopping centre, to multiple food options, and to the train station, it’s very viable to live car-free, and only going to become more viable over time.
Nice reply. It certainly is the chicken or the egg story.
We went car free when we were in New Farm (back when rents were more affordable) and that was probably the nicest period of my life. Big walk to the city but it was doable.
When the artist’s rendition has you surrounded by busy roads and the rest of Brisbane is made up of First Nation’s walking tracks converted to 2 lane roads that are barely coping as is, I can’t imagine any change in our immediate future. Entrenched is right.
It’s going to get smoggier. Some of the “stroad” videos have designs to make cars less of a viable option but have cars (buses) remain a main form of transport. Anyone reading this, watch this video and have a guess how our roads are designed. Badly, basically:
I lived in a little unit above a shop in spring hill for a while when I was single. It was probably my favourite residence as I could just walk to almost anything I wanted.
The problem with this line of reasoning is it basically precludes any change in the future. To break away from car dependency, you have to actually break away from car dependency. There are plenty of existing homes all across the city that are suitable if you need to own a car—almost literally every other home in the city. Building newer high density developments to also be car-dependent is just entrenching the problem.
And fwiw, unless you’re driving multiple times per week, it’s far better financially to rent a car when you need it. Let someone else deal with the depreciation, registration, insurance, and maintenance costs.
If you’re literally in walking distance to your nearest major shopping centre, to multiple food options, and to the train station, it’s very viable to live car-free, and only going to become more viable over time.
Nice reply. It certainly is the chicken or the egg story.
We went car free when we were in New Farm (back when rents were more affordable) and that was probably the nicest period of my life. Big walk to the city but it was doable.
When the artist’s rendition has you surrounded by busy roads and the rest of Brisbane is made up of First Nation’s walking tracks converted to 2 lane roads that are barely coping as is, I can’t imagine any change in our immediate future. Entrenched is right.
It’s going to get smoggier. Some of the “stroad” videos have designs to make cars less of a viable option but have cars (buses) remain a main form of transport. Anyone reading this, watch this video and have a guess how our roads are designed. Badly, basically:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORzNZUeUHAM
I lived in a little unit above a shop in spring hill for a while when I was single. It was probably my favourite residence as I could just walk to almost anything I wanted.
100% agree, and I hope as working from home becomes more popular/more of a standard, I will be much less dependent on my car.
obviously this can’t be the case for everyone but i’d be happy not driving 2 hours a day for work, let alone 3-4 hours on public transport.