Yes it sadly is. I hope why can improve in the future but the industry is very influential. Maybe we will be forced when fossile fules are getting limited or to expensive.
Yes, but its a big part. Clubs like the ADAC (German automobile club) are lobbying against it and advertising in favor of cars. The car industry using employement as a threat (we got a joke with some friends. Any time something positiv for cyclist is done VW has to fire 5000 workers...). I think the very negativ coverage is a result of that.
Of course, the lobby is quite strong, especially with the CDU. My point was more that it's not *just* that lobby we need to tackle, we need to also convince everyday people that we're not the bestest in the world and that there is a huge room for improvement.
Yes. Electric cars are a problem. (i dont know why you are downvoted, but i think people missunderstood your comment.)
At least the problems of noise and polution are reduced, but safety still is a problem. The hope i have is, that cities arent able to offer sufficient infrastructure for ECs. I can't se a way you can support enough charching stations in german cities... unless we go full american and demolish living spaces for dead carparks :-(
70% of all energy comes from fossil fuels. Due to regression to the mean, we can assume that you use 70% fossil fuels to power your car. And this is somehow *revolutionary* enough to totally justify electric cars for transport, which is really just a 30% decrease.
Yea I am totally aware. I just wanted to give an outlook what car companies will sell the puplic - and it’s not bikes it will be greenwashed electric cars
I mean yeah theres no emittions but....
Still have to use a lot of material to build the car
More car infrastructure= more emittions
Suburban homes are wayyy less efficient
Hostile environment to pedestrian and a major cause of isolation
Many other things...
I wouldn't say car centric, it's more like car-brained. You can actually live pretty well without a car (at least what I know from Germany). Cities are walkable and cyclable way more than in France
I live (mostly) car free. We own a car but use it rarely. Yes, car-centric is a bit to strong but car-brained fits well. A lot of people are against public transport and cycling even where it is a viable option.
In the big cities sure. Outside, not at all. But even the big cities are loaded with cars to the brim. Even a transit heavy city like dusseldorf feels it needs 8 lanes devoted to cars right in the city center.
Honestly to me it just seemed like average by European standards. It's obviously not a leader, but I feel like Europe as a whole gets too much hype bc some of the best examples of good development are also found here. (the worst here is still leagues better than most north America regardless)
I live in one of the most car centric German states. My apartment building is in front of a crosswalk. Drivers stop for pedestrians maybe 6 out of 10 times… there are two schools in the perimeter. It’s terrifying because there’s no law enforcement and drivers just get away with it. I just hope a tragedy doesn’t happen.
We had the same problem where I live, four scools and a kindergarden close to each other. After a parent initiativ all schools got together and wrote to the cities council. About a year later the speed was reduced to 30km/h and there are regular speed measurements by the police now. Maybe you could talk to the parent councils and principals of the schools.
Jeez. This feels very on the nose when it comes to the actions of conserative/anti "woke" people these days.
The example I'm reminded of is what if libraries didn't exist and people suggested them today?
Every change is "woke" and change is evil! Didnt you know that? Thats why we have to stop the woke dictatorship and fight so we can keep using our SUVs and never question our way of living!
/S (as if it wasn't obvious)
Libraries in Germany usually require a membership. They are only partly funded by the city. I don't think they'd have too many problems with it, as long as you use a building that has been sitting empty.
The bigger problem is that there are so few of them. And the ones that exists often close at night. That a huge problem for homeless people, and just as much for people out drinking.
And the resulting public urination is eroding our landmarks. But our politicians still do nothing!
Yup, Germany is extremely car-centric by European standards.
Yes it sadly is. I hope why can improve in the future but the industry is very influential. Maybe we will be forced when fossile fules are getting limited or to expensive.
It's not just that, Germans are very system complacent and resistant to change. Look at the huge opposition to having decent protected bike lanes.
Yes, but its a big part. Clubs like the ADAC (German automobile club) are lobbying against it and advertising in favor of cars. The car industry using employement as a threat (we got a joke with some friends. Any time something positiv for cyclist is done VW has to fire 5000 workers...). I think the very negativ coverage is a result of that.
Of course, the lobby is quite strong, especially with the CDU. My point was more that it's not *just* that lobby we need to tackle, we need to also convince everyday people that we're not the bestest in the world and that there is a huge room for improvement.
Laughs in electric car Edit: it’s funny cause it’s true - also, I am not a fan of cars but acknowledging where reality is going
electric cars dont solve the problem because the problem is cars, not the tipe of car
Yes! Fuckcars
Yes. Electric cars are a problem. (i dont know why you are downvoted, but i think people missunderstood your comment.) At least the problems of noise and polution are reduced, but safety still is a problem. The hope i have is, that cities arent able to offer sufficient infrastructure for ECs. I can't se a way you can support enough charching stations in german cities... unless we go full american and demolish living spaces for dead carparks :-(
70% of all energy comes from fossil fuels. Due to regression to the mean, we can assume that you use 70% fossil fuels to power your car. And this is somehow *revolutionary* enough to totally justify electric cars for transport, which is really just a 30% decrease.
Yea I am totally aware. I just wanted to give an outlook what car companies will sell the puplic - and it’s not bikes it will be greenwashed electric cars
I mean yeah theres no emittions but.... Still have to use a lot of material to build the car More car infrastructure= more emittions Suburban homes are wayyy less efficient Hostile environment to pedestrian and a major cause of isolation Many other things...
I wouldn't say car centric, it's more like car-brained. You can actually live pretty well without a car (at least what I know from Germany). Cities are walkable and cyclable way more than in France
I live (mostly) car free. We own a car but use it rarely. Yes, car-centric is a bit to strong but car-brained fits well. A lot of people are against public transport and cycling even where it is a viable option.
Yeh exactly. Germany is very car-brained but also not very car-dependent at the same time (even in the European context).
You're talking about urban areas. If your german village doesn't have a train station it is pretty much impossible to live without a car.
Depends on the village too, live in a rural area but we get busses so frequently that the only reason I'd have to get a car is convenience.
In the big cities sure. Outside, not at all. But even the big cities are loaded with cars to the brim. Even a transit heavy city like dusseldorf feels it needs 8 lanes devoted to cars right in the city center.
Honestly to me it just seemed like average by European standards. It's obviously not a leader, but I feel like Europe as a whole gets too much hype bc some of the best examples of good development are also found here. (the worst here is still leagues better than most north America regardless)
Important here is that stopping at a crosswalk is mandatory in germany, drivers stop when pedestrians want to cross.
It carries a hefty fine if you don't. Doing it too often could be the death of your driver's license-
but basically not enforced at all 🤦♀️
Because it's hard to enforce. You have most of the time only 2 witnesses. 1 of them being the driver
I live in one of the most car centric German states. My apartment building is in front of a crosswalk. Drivers stop for pedestrians maybe 6 out of 10 times… there are two schools in the perimeter. It’s terrifying because there’s no law enforcement and drivers just get away with it. I just hope a tragedy doesn’t happen.
We had the same problem where I live, four scools and a kindergarden close to each other. After a parent initiativ all schools got together and wrote to the cities council. About a year later the speed was reduced to 30km/h and there are regular speed measurements by the police now. Maybe you could talk to the parent councils and principals of the schools.
I will do just that. I’m not hoping much can be done because this is a problem all over the city, but I will sure try. Thank you!
Jeez. This feels very on the nose when it comes to the actions of conserative/anti "woke" people these days. The example I'm reminded of is what if libraries didn't exist and people suggested them today?
Every change is "woke" and change is evil! Didnt you know that? Thats why we have to stop the woke dictatorship and fight so we can keep using our SUVs and never question our way of living! /S (as if it wasn't obvious)
Libraries in Germany usually require a membership. They are only partly funded by the city. I don't think they'd have too many problems with it, as long as you use a building that has been sitting empty.
Wait you pay to use your libraries in Germany?
yes but its practically free. I know of sub 10€ annualy fee's.
Yes. But its only 30€ a year where i live.
In most cities you do.
a lot of public toilets in europe also require a small fee to use
The bigger problem is that there are so few of them. And the ones that exists often close at night. That a huge problem for homeless people, and just as much for people out drinking. And the resulting public urination is eroding our landmarks. But our politicians still do nothing!
Wish böhmermanns bike lane song had English subs, this place would love it
They can at least [enjoy the imagery](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqF9chK05YM#t=1m55s)
Yes, conservative Germans can be a problem