davidzipper

davidzipper, 9 months ago to cars

I’ve spent much of this year examining car bloat, the process through which smaller vehicles are being replaced by increasingly massive SUVs and trucks.

What I’ve learned: Huge cars are terrible for society, often in ways that are hidden.

Some basic facts:
◆ >80% of US car sales are now trucks/SUVs.
◆ Models keep expanding. For example, the F-150 is now ~800 lbs heavier and 7 inches taller than in 1991.
◆ EVs can make the problem worse due to huge batteries.

Continued (THREAD)

#cars #climate

davidzipper, 7 months ago to climate

The US Department of Justice announced that it's suing eBay for selling 343,000+ "rolling coal" devices that enable automobiles to violate the Clean Air Act. Fines could reach $2 billion.

We love to see it.

#climatechange #cars

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/11/doj-sues-ebay-for-rolling-coal-devices-fines-could-hit-2-billion.html

davidzipper, 1 month ago to random

As I told NBC News:

“If we’re serious about reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, we have to be serious about reducing transportation emissions, and in order to do that we have to address the main source of those emissions, which come from cars and trucks on highways."

“And to that extent, we need to rethink how much we want to expand highways.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/countries-spurn-cars-us-continues-embrace-highways-rcna145681

davidzipper, 3 months ago to random

Wow. Carmakers are going to hate this, but I think it's great:

A new California bill would require all new cars to contain speed governors that prevent them from going 10 mph+ over the speed limit.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/car-speed-governors-bill-18624126.php

davidzipper, 9 months ago to random

Something I love about Oslo: This city is incredibly quiet.

Lots of people are walking/biking/scooting. And most vehicles are electric, while speed limits are typically 30 km/hr (19 mph), so engine/tire noise is negligible.

A reminder that cities aren't loud; cars are loud.

davidzipper, 9 months ago to SanFrancisco

In The Atlantic, I explained why I welcome the uproar over robotaxis in California.

Even if self-driving cars work flawlessly (which definitely isn't the case now), they could be a calamity for cities and the planet.

We should think long and hard before letting them scale.

THREAD

#AVs #sanfrancisco #transportation #cities

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/robotaxis-san-francisco-self-driving-car/674956/

davidzipper, 7 months ago to random

The Estonian capital of Tallinn is a fare-free pioneer, charing residents nothing to ride buses and trams since 2013.

The policy has been a flop. Locals are driving more than ever.

My new article in Fast Company:
www.fastcompany.com/90968891/est...

davidzipper, 1 year ago to random

Good news: Automakers are finally realizing that car touchscreens are a disaster.

Drivers hate them, and they're also dangerously distracting. Buttons and knobs are poised for a comeback.

My new article in Slate:
https://slate.com/business/2023/04/cars-buttons-touchscreens-vw-porsche-nissan-hyundai.html

#cars #safety #technology

davidzipper, 8 months ago to Norway

Visiting the Norwegian city of Bergen, I cycled along a stunning 3-km bike path blasted through a mountain.

It's the longest bike tunnel in the world -- and a centerpiece of Bergen's plans to reduce driving.

I wrote about it in Bloomberg CityLab.

#norway #bergen #bike #cycling

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-09-21/how-norway-built-the-world-s-coolest-bike-tunnel

davidzipper, 5 months ago to cars

“We need bolder regulation to redirect the automobile industry towards smaller instead of bigger.”

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/16/paris-us-size-cars-europe-emissions-suvs-france

#paris #cars

davidzipper, 11 months ago to cycling

In Fast Company, I argued that it's time for the US and Canada to end right-on-red, a policy that needlessly endangers pedestrians and cyclists.

#safety #walking #biking #cycling

https://www.fastcompany.com/90908929/its-time-for-a-nationwide-ban-of-right-on-red

davidzipper, 6 months ago to cars

My latest in Fast Company:

Last week the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that speed-limiting technology be required on all new cars.

It’s an excellent idea. USDOT should do it.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90985257/you-shouldnt-be-driving-over-100-mph-and-your-car-shouldnt-let-you

#cars #safety #regulation #crashes

davidzipper, 7 months ago to cars

Ahh, so the US can declare vehicles too dangerous for public use -- but only if it's a niche product (in this case, one involved in 4 deaths over 3 years).

It still won't touch the oversized trucks/SUVs that endanger all Americans who walk, bike, or use a smaller car.

#safety #cars #suvs #regulation

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/01/us/onewheel-electric-skateboard-recall-deaths/index.html

davidzipper, 8 months ago to Norway

Norway has one of the lowest crash death rates in the world, with fatalities dropping ~50% in the last decade. I asked a senior Norwegian transportation official what role car technology has played enhancing safety.

“None,” she replied. “We focus on road design and enforcement."

#norway #safety #transportation #autonomousvehicles #selfdriving #cars

davidzipper, 9 months ago to random

A new book argues that Uber’s arrival was an unmitigated disaster for cities like Washington DC.

My take in CityLab: Ridehail has worsened many urban problems, but let’s remember that it also forced taxis to improve their atrocious service.

https://t.co/OGimjGiKyW

#cities #transportation

davidzipper, 9 months ago to ebikes

In the last 6 days the NY Times has run 4 articles about e-bikes -- all of them negative.

A few other stories the paper might consider:
🔹 E-bikes pollute far less than even electric cars
🔹 Compared to autos, e-bikes pose minimal risk to other people
🔹 Unlike cars, e-bikes provide exercise

#ebikes #bikes #journalism

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davidzipper, 2 months ago to random

"No one I spoke to for this piece could name a recent sizable pedestrianization or traffic-reduction scheme that had been reversed once it had been given time to have an effect."

https://www.wired.com/story/car-free-cities-opposition/

davidzipper, 7 months ago to cars

According to The Guardian, Australia may expand the size of parking spots in order to accommodate huge SUVs/trucks.

Disappointing. To fight climate change, we need policymakers to regulate car bloat rather than enable it.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/15/australia-may-increase-standard-car-parking-spaces-as-huge-vehicles-dominate-the-streets

#cars #climatechange #suvs

davidzipper, 6 months ago to random

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

— Upton Sinclair

davidzipper, 4 months ago to scooters

Me in @FastCompany:

We should be rooting for e-scooter companies – not gloating when they go bust.

They may look weird, but e-scooters reduce urban car trips, making cities safer and less polluted. So show them some love.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91005446/e-scooter-companies-are-going-bankrupt-that-should-alarm-you-even-if-you-hate-them

#scooters #cities

davidzipper, 5 months ago to transit

Transit never needed "reinvention." It just needs service that's frequent, reliable, and extensive.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-21/hyperloop-one-to-shut-down-after-raising-millions-to-reinvent-transit

#hyperloop #transit #transportation

davidzipper, 10 days ago to cars

In Fast Company, I wrote about how wild it is that Ford, GM, and Stellantis no longer offer any sedan models in the US.

That's bad for Americans -- and it's risky for the Big Three.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91123174/detroit-killed-the-sedan-we-may-all-live-to-regret-it

#cars #SUVs #transportation

davidzipper, 8 days ago to Montreal

Here’s an idea for better cities: Make owners of big SUVs & pickups pay more to park.

That's what Montreal now does -- and it's the first North American city to try it.

In Bloomberg CityLab, I explored a groundbreaking way to fight back against car bloat.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-05-15/in-montreal-suv-drivers-must-pay-hefty-new-fees-to-park?srnd=citylab-transportation

#montreal #cars #cities

davidzipper, 3 months ago to cars

Wow. Paris just voted to triple the parking costs for SUVs.

A huge victory in the fight against car bloat.

https://www.bfmtv.com/paris/direct-votation-sur-le-stationnement-des-suv-a-paris-les-bureaux-de-vote-ont-ouvert_LN-202402040118.html

#paris #cars #safety #climate

davidzipper, 8 months ago to random

"We need a weight tax on vehicles, including one on electric vehicles, to encourage cars of all types to become lighter and less damaging to the environment, roads and pedestrians."

Agreed!

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-rolling-suv-fatsos-including-their-plumper-electric-versions-need-to/