jakekrohn - This is not progress

This is not progress

Everything about this story of officials in Shanghai banning bikes on major city roads smells rotten. It's unfortunate that the "growing affluence" experienced by the Chinese has to bring them down the ugly American path of increased personal mobility at the expense of the society and the environment.

Does the increasing dominance of the automobile and the corresponding decrease in the quality of city life in the last 50 years in America provide no lesson to anyone else? To have the experience of history on one's side and still make the same mistakes is plain ignorance.

There's so much more left to be said. This isn't the last time that I'll speak of this.

In: Biking, Rants, Society 2003-12-09, 07:53 PM

Comments

Comments have been closed on this entry.

Elsewhere

CNN Hologram TV First – We are living in the future.
Energy Debate Fact Check #2 - Is Energy Independence Good For the Nation? – If we want real "energy independence," perhaps we should look to curtailing the construction of car-dependent suburbs, encouraging redevelopment of urban centers and small towns, and building a world-class passenger rail network. All the domestic drilling and electric cars in the world won't help if we don't realize that our current level of energy consumption, regardless of source, is unsustainable in the long run.
Gas shortage may crimp weekend fun – Cancel a football game? Never! The reaction is and all too typical. As Kunstler says, "We need to start making different arrangements."
Letterman vs. McCain, day 2 – Dave at his bitter best.
Big Contrarian: How big can you fuck up? – Jack Shedd on the disappointment that both of the presidential campaigns have become. Can't say I disagree.
David Letterman Reacts to John McCain Suspending Campaign – Highlights of a dis.
Obama answers Science Debate questionnaire – "I will restore the basic principle that government decisions should be based on the best- available, scientifically-valid evidence and not on the ideological predispositions of agency officials or political appointees." Still waiting to hear from the other guy.
Gas price falls during prayer at the pump – The deep south, the "power" of prayer, and gas prices. What a deliciously ugly orgy.
Ken Jennings, penny-pincher – He's set for life, but he still does his own plumbing. What a guy.
The Coming Re-becoming – Kunstler takes a drive and happens upon some fertile ground for thought.
Oil creates 'overnight millionaires' in N.D. – "I'm seeing a lot more big, shiny gas-guzzling pickups." Whatever it takes to keep the wheels of the economy greased, eh? Sad.
U.S. turns against curbs on oil drilling: Exxon – Also in this issue of Self-Serving News: "French fries and double quarter pounders with cheese are good for you: McDonalds"
An interview with author James Howard Kunstler – "I'm really rather worried that we're going to squander our remaining resources on a campaign to sustain the unsustainable."
McCain's Energy Plan: Correct Diagnosis, Killer Prescription – "John McCain seems to think that the problem is addiction to foreign oil rather than to oil per se. But a country that controls 3% of world oil reserves while consuming 24% of world demand cannot seriously expect to be self-sufficient for very long."
Coal may hold solution to gas prices – Meanwhile, big coal soldiers on.
Citing Need for Assessments, U.S. Freezes Solar Energy Projects – Necessary action, those environmental studies, but questionable timing.
Study: Wireless Web is top tech amenity for hotel guests – This was something that was conspicuously absent from our $200/night room at a recent conference in Boston. At least I could get an open signal from a nearby house, 14 stories below.
Pittsburgh International Airport service may be cut, including flight to Harrisburg – One more reason why we need better train service. Pittsburgh is hardly the only mid-sized city that will experience these cuts.
IRS boosts mileage deductible – Thereby keeping the car an attractive means of travel for corporate America.
Carrotmob: Green Shopping Goes Social – Flash mobs, auction markets, and environmental activism get together for a roll in the sack.

Jake Krohn

This is not progress

Comments

Elsewhere

Photos

Frequent reads

Others

Search