So tired of being called “selfish” for trying to save money and live a healthier life.
What a does a car give you? The ability to say, “I’ve drive the whole family to here and there”, but what does it ignore? The local fun, the local parks, the local spots to hangout and eat and have fun, the ability to take your family for a walk, go outside, enjoy the good days.
And I get called selfish, for wanting to be less wasteful, meanwhile driving causes spending thousands per year on just gas alone, to spew CO2 into the atmosphere, for the luxury of arriving at a parking lot 200km away from home just so we can boast about how much we do for others?
I’m just tired of it. And everyone I know is addicted or just so ingrained in motornormativity that I can’t even relate to anyone, outside one or two people. It sucks even more that I’ll be called a bad parent for not wanting my child to get roped into this mentality that the car is the saviour of humanity, that grants us some mystical ultimate freedom that can’t obtained by other means.
One thing I’m really proud of is that I moved my family someplace walkable with trains (the UK) and got rid of our cars. My kid is growing up riding in cars only rarely. He’s such a strong walker, goes to school on foot every day. He can walk for most of a day, and he’s in very good shape. I see other kids his age who ride in cars daily and I’m happy with our choice.
that’s the biggest benefit that goes ignored with folks I speak to, I find. What about the kids, the ones who will be future workers, future teachers, future parents? Good on you for giving the little one a head-start, my parents always encouraged the outdoors and to this day I love being outside and staying active. When I take my daughter out, it’s a reminder to me to stay in shape too, because she loves to run 😅.
Who is calling you “selfish” for this, and why? This just doesn’t make any sense and seems more like a one-off person with personality problems
Or OP is constantly asking for rides or other assistance related to transportation and it is wearing thin for whomever used the word “selfish.” Definitely feel like there is a lot of missing context here.
Seems like a one off crazy person or OP doesnt have a car and expects someone to be their chauffeur.
it’s definitely a one-off person with personality problems, but nobody is perfect, so I don’t argue. It just sucks when I can’t even talk to friends that easily about it, because most friends think the car is essential, even if they live 10 minutes from the nearest subway terminal! I can’t wait to move somewhere more accessible, get away from the insanity.
What’s this person’s justification? As far as claims go, it just seems bizarre.
Their justification is, “Your bike only moves 1 person, and my vehicle moves more, so by you choosing your bike, you’re only thinking of yourself and not others”.
It’s a short-sighted perspective, I know, but it comes up repeatedly, so I guess I let it get to me.
Logic is not strong with this one. I wouldn’t pay them any mind, and definitely don’t let it get to you
thanks 💛
Tell them about cargo bikes and tandem bikes, blow their mind
I personally believe that riding a bike everywhere is the opposite of selfish. I also don’t own a car. We put much less greenhouse gas into the air moving around on our bikes than a person does in a car or on a moto. Plus we get to have fun riding around on cool trails and get fit while doing it. Anyone who calls you selfish is probably just jealous that we get to sneak through traffic while they sit in jams.
Ultimately a bike is still a source of pollution. While not a problem now, but scaling up would eventually lead to it being the biggest with of personal transit. Which has its advantages so we should be redesigning the bike starting with material choices. I think this would also give traditional wood workers and recycling programs a goal and a focus to help each other out.
I think this is an awesome grand idea, but I smoked 2 joints tonight so my opinion is legally(Allegedly!) sus
I thought it was wierd someone would think that but I live close enough to a city that folks without cars are not uncommon.
Umm you can do all that stuff when you own a car also. And the car has made our life better and even hours if you don’t own one. How do you think your products get to you.
Not owning a car is a choice and food for you but don’t pretend you don’t benefit from the automobile.
right, but you realize what server this is. Opposition for the car is not just opposition to going places, it’s the entire machine itself that has taken over cities.
I just don’t agree with the idea that car ownership is always for the greater good, when it’s clearly not.
Products get to you by trucks. They probably also transited by train and/or boat.
