Great writeup Sam! We need to be building up to increase density, and building infrastructure to connect those dense population centers. E-bikes within the city, trains between cities. When we reduce the need for EVs to fewer use cases, we'll see a new wave of interest in car sharing. We need to both accelerate our adoption of EVs, but substantially reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Completely agree. I envision a future where the average city-dweller does not own a car, but has easy access to car sharing for occasional day/weekend trips, hauling furniture, etc.
I appreciate your “E-bikes within the city, trains between cities” suggestion. You’re spot on in terms of your mentioning E-bikes (bikes more broadly) as cogs-in-the-wheel of solutions that bring efficiency (greater fluidity, less restriction) in mobility. Rather than speeding up, we’re slowing down, and by that, I mean, there is greater delay in terms of our getting around. One would think driving in the U.S., if one didn’t know better, was our national pastime. In 2024, according to U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Highway Policy Information data, driving in America totaled 3.279079 trillion miles, an all-time high and up 1 percent from 2023’s numbers. Maintaining the present course is, in my view, unsustainable with current, seemingly tried-and-true infrastructure-building practice(s). This is why I believe it’s imperative that we bring proper balance between all modes, have a coordination between modes where it makes the most sense, and create environments that make getting around not just efficient but hassle- and worry free. Building on your suggestion I would like to add my own: Walking and biking around nodes; public transportation such as light-rail and/or streetcar and transit bus platforms between (or for connecting) nodes. That is the paradigm that, for my money, makes the most sense.
Thanks for mentioning e-bikes. Regrettably, you failed to mention pedal bikes. Clearly, both e-bikes and pedal bikes are good for the built environment, the natural environment, and the climate. I was also pleased to see that you acknowledged the critical importances of dedicated bicycle infrastructure (i.e. protected bike lanes) but you didn’t mention the necessity of calming traffic on minor streets. Transforming the transportation system to make it safe, convenient, and efficient to get around by bicycle wlll require a complete, interconnected network of re-engineered streets. Regrettably, the funding at the federal and state levels for bicycle network improvements is equivalent to pennies on the dollar to what is needed. Check-out the National Association of City Transportation Officials document entitled Designing for All Ages and Abilities. It’s worth an article in Better Cities in its own right.
Pedal bikes are great too, e-bikes are just a newer technology that has higher rates of replacing car trips, which is why I highlighted them.
And completely agree with you on calming traffic more broadly, there are tons of great ideas that I left on the cutting room floor in the interest of brevity since I didn't want this article to become a laundry list of policies haha.
Great writeup Sam! We need to be building up to increase density, and building infrastructure to connect those dense population centers. E-bikes within the city, trains between cities. When we reduce the need for EVs to fewer use cases, we'll see a new wave of interest in car sharing. We need to both accelerate our adoption of EVs, but substantially reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Completely agree. I envision a future where the average city-dweller does not own a car, but has easy access to car sharing for occasional day/weekend trips, hauling furniture, etc.
Totally agree! We're trying to make this more possible in smaller towns and cities over at Rotor (www.movewithrotor.com)
I appreciate your “E-bikes within the city, trains between cities” suggestion. You’re spot on in terms of your mentioning E-bikes (bikes more broadly) as cogs-in-the-wheel of solutions that bring efficiency (greater fluidity, less restriction) in mobility. Rather than speeding up, we’re slowing down, and by that, I mean, there is greater delay in terms of our getting around. One would think driving in the U.S., if one didn’t know better, was our national pastime. In 2024, according to U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Highway Policy Information data, driving in America totaled 3.279079 trillion miles, an all-time high and up 1 percent from 2023’s numbers. Maintaining the present course is, in my view, unsustainable with current, seemingly tried-and-true infrastructure-building practice(s). This is why I believe it’s imperative that we bring proper balance between all modes, have a coordination between modes where it makes the most sense, and create environments that make getting around not just efficient but hassle- and worry free. Building on your suggestion I would like to add my own: Walking and biking around nodes; public transportation such as light-rail and/or streetcar and transit bus platforms between (or for connecting) nodes. That is the paradigm that, for my money, makes the most sense.
There’s no advantage to an EV running me over compared to an ICE running me over.
Thanks for mentioning e-bikes. Regrettably, you failed to mention pedal bikes. Clearly, both e-bikes and pedal bikes are good for the built environment, the natural environment, and the climate. I was also pleased to see that you acknowledged the critical importances of dedicated bicycle infrastructure (i.e. protected bike lanes) but you didn’t mention the necessity of calming traffic on minor streets. Transforming the transportation system to make it safe, convenient, and efficient to get around by bicycle wlll require a complete, interconnected network of re-engineered streets. Regrettably, the funding at the federal and state levels for bicycle network improvements is equivalent to pennies on the dollar to what is needed. Check-out the National Association of City Transportation Officials document entitled Designing for All Ages and Abilities. It’s worth an article in Better Cities in its own right.
Pedal bikes are great too, e-bikes are just a newer technology that has higher rates of replacing car trips, which is why I highlighted them.
And completely agree with you on calming traffic more broadly, there are tons of great ideas that I left on the cutting room floor in the interest of brevity since I didn't want this article to become a laundry list of policies haha.