29th
Wapo metro columnist Robert McCartney noted that last week’s car-free day didn’t really have much impact. That’s true; for most, living without a car is unrealistic and doing so for a day is a symbolic - and self-inconveniencing - gesture at most. Maybe it should be marketed more honestly as Alternatives to Car-Centric Lifestyle Awareness Day.
McCartney mentions gas taxes, which will have to go up, but gas taxes are so problematic that they’re not really anything close to a reliable fix to anything. He also mentions the health benefits of going without a car. He also notes that people are more interested in time, money, and stress savings - not saving the world.
What he doesn’t mention is transit-oriented development, which is key, and TOD’s arch nemeses, wide freeways and sprawl, which must be curbed. No one’s going to get out of their cars for more than a day till it’s a realistic lifestyle.
