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Rob Ford's Toronto

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Wait ... Mayor Ford is really proposing to increase taxes to build a subway in Scarborough? Have aliens kidnapped him and replaced him with a double?

Seriously though ... it's amazing what happens after a few weeks of being off crack. A few more, and he might start being really inspiring!

Though it's hard for me to see how he's going to get city-wide buy-in from council to raise taxes, to build a subway in only one part of the city.
 
TheTigerMaster said:
Heres the second best way to improve road efficiency: eliminate drivers. Without them, cars will automatically coordinate the most efficient route to get where their going. They can also drive much closer together and faster, improving road efficiency as well. Couple this with transit ROWs throughout the city and we'll have incredibly transportation.

We have had the technology to do this for ages, but gov't and citizens are too infatuated with the "suburban dream" of a human driven car and a commute for everyone (I don't see the appeal) for it to become mainstream. Gov't should start giving out huge tax credits the moment driverless cars enter mass production. Hopefully in the next few 20 years.
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Actually, the real problem w/such "driverless car" advocacy is that it reflects an excessively utilitarian and commute-based view of automobile travel--keep in mind that the *real* appeal of the automobile for many is *freedom*. That is, not the point-A-to-point-B commute, but the free-form, leisurely road-trip meander, i.e. a projecting-out of how we use bikes, feet, etc.

Though what you're suggesting may suit those motorists why really don't have a feel for road-tripping or going off the beaten path and are incompetent at reading maps and depend on GPS for all their needs. (And strangely enough, getting back on topic: I can see Rob Ford as being incompetent in that end--that is, he's got the fancy Escalade, but I can't see him going much off I-75 en route to Florida, he'd get nosebleeds...)
 
Cars, driverless or not, would only make sense in urban environments if they were a third of the size of the average N. American car (and used a fraction of the energy).
 
nfitz said:
Wait ... Mayor Ford is really proposing to increase taxes to build a subway in Scarborough? Have aliens kidnapped him and replaced him with a double?

Seriously though ... it's amazing what happens after a few weeks of being off crack. A few more, and he might start being really inspiring!

Though it's hard for me to see how he's going to get city-wide buy-in from council to raise taxes, to build a subway in only one part of the city.
Click to expand...

It's a start... 0.25% won't cover the cost needed for the subway. Perhaps a bit more convincing and he'll settle for a tax increase that can actually build a subway.
 
RC8 said:
Cars, driverless or not, would only make sense in urban environments if they were a third of the size of the average N. American car (and used a fraction of the energy).
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Driverless vehicles are good, regardless of how large or small they are. But I do agree that our cars are ridiculously large for what the accomplish. I'm guilty of this myself.
 
nfitz said:
Wait ... Mayor Ford is really proposing to increase taxes to build a subway in Scarborough? Have aliens kidnapped him and replaced him with a double?

Seriously though ... it's amazing what happens after a few weeks of being off crack. A few more, and he might start being really inspiring!

Though it's hard for me to see how he's going to get city-wide buy-in from council to raise taxes, to build a subway in only one part of the city.
Click to expand...

Yes. I'm hoping that the rest of council will realize that they can just raise taxes a few more points and suddenly have enough to pay for several other projects.
 
TheTigerMaster said:
...but gov't and citizens are too infatuated with the "suburban dream" of a human driven car and a commute for everyone (I don't see the appeal) for it to become mainstream...
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Agreed, I don't really get it either, but I'm sure a lot of it has to do with a compensation for some inadequacy.:)

nfitz said:
Wait ... Mayor Ford is really proposing to increase taxes to build a subway in Scarborough? Have aliens kidnapped him and replaced him with a double?
Click to expand...

A wholly inadequate amount, with the same ultimatums as with the casino scenario. One might think that Fords plan for "subways. subways, subways" was just a boondoggle to play political games.

Personally, I think property taxes should be raised from 3% to 6% over 3 years, and sustain that 6% for the following 7 years. Go big or go home. Devs. should only be tapped for 45% extra, with a tax break for financial support of local transit construction to a pooled municipal transit fund. Couple this with a congestion levy for the downtown core (only for non residences) and per km tolls on all Toronto maintained roads and highways, where appropriate.

I know, I'm a dreamer, but so are all Johns.
 
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adma said:
Actually, the real problem w/such "driverless car" advocacy is that it reflects an excessively utilitarian and commute-based view of automobile travel--keep in mind that the *real* appeal of the automobile for many is *freedom*. That is, not the point-A-to-point-B commute, but the free-form, leisurely road-trip meander, i.e. a projecting-out of how we use bikes, feet, etc.

Though what you're suggesting may suit those motorists why really don't have a feel for road-tripping or going off the beaten path and are incompetent at reading maps and depend on GPS for all their needs. (And strangely enough, getting back on topic: I can see Rob Ford as being incompetent in that end--that is, he's got the fancy Escalade, but I can't see him going much off I-75 en route to Florida, he'd get nosebleeds...)
Click to expand...

I'm a huge car guy. I love the "freedom" of the roads that you've described. But my concern is getting people moving as quickly, safely and as efficiently as possible. Everything else is secondary.
 
Planning urban areas around the conventional car is an environmental, social, and practical disaster.

Automated cars won't change that, and won't solve almost any of the major problems we presently face with regards to the negative impact of cars or transportation.
 
RC8 said:
Planning urban areas around the conventional car is an environmental, social, and practical disaster.

Automated cars won't change that, and won't solve almost any of the major problems we presently face with regards to the negative impact of cars or transportation.
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Absolutely. Automated cars will help to mitigate the problem, but it certainly won't solve it. The fact of the matter is that personal transportation vehicles are probably the single most inefficient system of transport we could have used in our cities (I can't think of anything worse). Why people in the 1950s were so infatuated with the idea is beyond me. I have no doubt that people in the not to distant future are going to look back at today and wonder what the hell we were thinking when we decided to run millions of cars through our cities.

Johnny Au said:
What do you think of the prospect for personal rapid transit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_rapid_transit
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Just seems like a way for people to take rapid transit while avoiding eye contact with others. It's not much more efficient than cars and I'm sure that it's nearly as expensive as a traditional rapid transit system.
 
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The problem with cars is not that they are personal transportation vehicles, it's that they are large, heavy, dangerous, expensive, require lots of infrastructure, they are high-maintenance, pollutant, and energy-inefficient. That and that you must sit down and barely move so long as you are inside of one.

Personally I believe that high frequency automated LRT along important corridors coupled with proper infrastructure for active transportation and small vehicles can solve our mobility woes very easily.

The truth is that there is virtually nothing you need a huge 'average' car for within a city. Most people could get around by walking, on a bicycle (assisted or not depending on the person), or on one of these:

Hiriko-Fold.jpg


The main obstacle towards this is that we make it very unsafe to travel in our roads with smaller vehicles.

I love long road trips, especially on a 4WD vehicle and involving dirt roads. But if I wanted to drive that truck to Queen and Yonge I should be required to get a special permit and yield to all other users of the road.

Personal Rapid Transit is an appealing idea but I've yet to see a scenario where it would be convenient and financially viable.
 
People forget that you can already transport yourself without driving. It called public transit.

Unfortunately, there are people who refuse to let someone or anyone else drive them around. Doesn't Rob Ford drive himself around, refusing the use of a chauffeur, even though he could be "working" in the backseat.
 
Y'know, the best thing about Ford endorsing taxes is watching all his supporters trying to find a way to justify it. These guys really don't have a backbone. Whatever their master does is gospel.
 
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