[reddog]

I agree and have always wondered how people with these extreme views think modern society would function without roads. You can't build (or maintain) a house, a hospital, a factory, a school or an office building without roads to accommodate the trucks pouring the foundation, deliverying the lumber and shingles. How do I get food, funiture and appliances to my apartment with only bike paths? What if I need an ambulance or police, do they roll up on electric bikes?

Nothing is going to get build and everyday life is not possible without real roads that accomadate vehicles doing real work. And if you have that already why not use then for real personal vehicles that can be used by everyone and not just young, healthy hacker news subscribers.

[sleepybrett]

Straw man. Literally no-one thinks we're going to do away with all motor infrastructure. What we want are a portion of that infrastructure to be reallocated for smaller, slower bicycle (and bicycle-like) traffic.

On your 'young and healthy' hyperbole... I'm 50 this year and not in great shape (though because of the bike it's improving). I live in a somewhat quiet part of a major metro area (specifically Ballard, in Seattle) I have a cargo-style ebike that I use for almost everything that's within 5miles of my house rain or shine. If I need to go buy something that won't fit on my bike I use a car-share or borrow from a friend who is car-enabled. Given how hilly Seattle is, I've always shied away from biking here, but after having the use of an ebike for a few months during the pandemic (outside the city) I got hooked. I can ride it fine without pedal assist (if I run out of juice), I can use pedal assist when I get tired, and there is a throttle and gearing to help me conquer most of the hills I'm likely to attempt.