Is it possible for society to go back to living without cars?

Question

Is it possible to have communities with local shops and get a job near to where you live? What can the Government do to achieve this over time or have we moved on too far?

Answer 1

No it is not...No government can afford to lose the revenue that motorists pour into government coffers every day

Answer 2

NO. We just need new fuels and ways to make those fuels. Check out CoolingEarth.org

Answer 3

We've gone too far...people will always aspire to the convienience and freedom of car ownership. The government could increase taxes to discourage car use but that could create a two tier society of rich people who can afford to drive and poor people who can't, thereby giving rise to social tension and unrest.

Answer 4

nope not at all ever the way the gas prices are going people are buying scooters they get 125 miles to a gallon are start to right there bicycles to work cause the gas hikes are killing every one think god us americans dont live in the u.k. cause they all ready died over there with gas prices at 9 and 11 dollars a gallon are even more i bought a scooter in now i put about 125 miles on it in 3 weeks in sold the car no more worry of spending $300 are more in a month now im saving lol

Answer 5

I think we might soon find out the answer to this one.

Answer 6

Yes, if urban planners and city zoning boards do their jobs right, people wouldn't need cars at all.

Take Manhattan for example.  60% of households there don't have cars, not because they can't afford them, but because they aren't needed.

Answer 7

even if they were willing(and they're not) you won't live long enough to see it..chances are your kids won't live long enough to see anything like you're saying...Too much would have to be undone...and you can't undo quickly what it's taken this long to get into the shape we're in. Economics won't allow it if nothing else! unemployed auto workers alone(count'em!)would throw us into chaos. So multiply that by l00s of other areas and you start to see how messed up we'd be. Could we?Sure, if you're willing to pay the price..trust me...most aren't willing!

Answer 8

omg i could'nt i drive everywhere even to the shop only 100 yards away ............

Answer 9

There are several movements in planning & development that ask and attempt to answer this same question, most notably "new urbanism".

The Truman Show (Jim Carrey movie) was filmed in a new urbanist community in Florida, called Seaside.

Please see the links, and if you are considering a career plan or career change, this might be a good one for you!

Note: Walkability is a hallmark of "new urbanism".

** peace & sustainability **

Answer 10

How about no. Cars are one of the best technological inventions and can transport us in an hour in what used to take days.

Why would you want a world without cars?

Answer 11

Back in the 70's Tulsa, Okla. closed off an eight square, block area downtown and forbid any vehicular traffic.  They put in trees and benches, piped in music and at every corner a huge TV. screen told of the sales that were going on at what stores.  It was a huge success and made Tulsa the City of the Future.  I don't know what has ever come of it though today.  It was a wonderful experience.

Answer 12

I think it is possible to go back to living without cars, just not in America. I think America's too big of a country

Answer 13

The problem is that governments have to be elected and such measures will be unpopular. Take, for instance, the school run. Tory government way back introduced freedom of choice, which, in practice, means that the most pushy parents get their children into the school of their choice. Schools used to be part of a local community, but now... New Labour haven't had the balls to reverse this decision.

I can't see society living completely without cars but carbon allowances would go some way towards reducing their use. I don't need a car for everyday use (even though I'm self-employed and travel a lot). However I do enjoy the freedom of a car for holidays, so I hire once or twice a year. I guess that this wouldn't use all my carbon allowance wo I'd happily sell my unused ones to these people who cannot live without a car.

There's no reason why cars could not be satellite controlled. People would still be able to get from A to B but there would be no need for speed cameras (in fact legal speed limits could be reviewed in light of this) and no accidents. I think that this would deter some people from using cars: driving for pleasure could still be done on a private racetrack.

I can't see any party doing enough to go back to living without cars because, when the chips are down, they pander to the motorist.

Answer 14

they will build electric cars and steam trains we will get by no problem