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30 Times The ‘Screw Cars’ Online Group Made Us Feel Like We’re Living In A Dystopia
Cars: you can love them, you can hate them, but you can’t deny their overwhelming prevalence in the world. And while some of us are so used to it, we don’t really pay attention to it anymore, others are getting increasingly furious.
If you’re also getting annoyed by oversized pickup trucks, this online anti-car community welcomes all car-hating folk with open arms, and so far, they have over 400k members. It’s a safe space to vent about insane traffic, car-focused city design, poor public transit infrastructure, and the lack of green and community areas.
The car-free movement idea in general is quite big these days. It is supported by many urban planners, environmentalists, social activists, and transportation engineers. They advocate for walkable cities, mixed-use buildings, high density housing, and accessible public transportation.
To get some firsthand insight, we spoke to Paul Stout, a graduate student of urban design who gained a following on TikTok because of his videos explaining it. But before we get into the nitty gritty of things, check out this collection of some of the most infuriating instances of car dominance and some of the most beautiful examples of how it could be different.
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#1
Religious Freedom, Daytime Drag, And Robust Public Transportation
#2
Nice Summary Of This Sub I Guess
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Also a lot harder to crash a train into a skyscraper. Just sayin'.
#3
This Awful Space Between Two Kindergardens In My Neighborhood Got The Ultimate Car-Free Makeover. Copenhagen, Denmark
Car dominance is a thing all over the world, but it’s the most noticeable in the US. Paul Stout quotes a few reasons for that, including disinvestment in city centers, urban renewal, and a strong automotive industry. However, according to him, the biggest one is the zoning law which allows cities to enforce single-use areas in city planning. This means that certain sections of a city can only be used for residential, commercial, or industry buildings. This gave rise to the suburbs, which, in turn, made cars an essential part of living.
However, the increasing concern for climate change and the often-unbearable traffic is encouraging more and more individuals to reconsider the necessity of a car in their lives. Hence, the car free movement idea is getting increasingly popular.
#4
Carbrain Andrew Tate Taunts Greta Thunberg On Twitter. Greta Doesn't Hold Back In Her Response
#5
F**k The Cato Institute
#6
I Love Me Some Grassy Trams
The benefits of the car-free movement are many. The study that analyzed plans for private car free city centers found significant reductions in traffic-related air pollution, noise, and temperature. The reduction of cars also minimizes the need for parking spaces, which provides more room for green and community areas. This is a point that Stout emphasizes as well, as he believes that getting rid of parking minimum mandates can make a positive impact on communities. According to him, in addition to creating more public space, it would also “bring down the cost of housing, and allow density to exist in places it currently cannot.”
On top of all that, cleaner air, communal spaces that encourage socializing, and potential for more active mobility and physical activity can also lead to health benefits. And we haven’t even started about the reduction of CO2 emissions.
#7
Found On Insta, Thought It Fit Well Here
Karri Berkowitz 1 year ago
And on public transport ppl can play on their phones and not kill anyone
#8
More Of This Please
#9
Over 70 Years Later And We Still Widen Roads
VioletHunter 1 year ago
It's crazy for how long it has been known that adding lanes just doesn't work and yet most city planners/councils seemingly never got the memo.
However, not all car free initiatives work as well. The impact of car free days during which car traffic is restricted in certain areas varies a lot depending on the scale and goals of the project. Diverting traffic can increase congestion and air pollution in neighborhoods where it wasn’t a problem before. Retail business owners are also weary of car free initiatives as it might deter locals from shopping.
#10
Just Go For A Walk, You'll Feel Better, I Promise
#11
Infrastructure Is Too Expensive
#12
Pinterest Randomly Reminded Me That Cars Have More Rights Than Humans Sometimes
In general, it seems that the car free movement concept is embraced more readily in Europe. Madrid, Oslo, Helsinki, and Hamburg have in the past pledged their commitment to become partly car free cities while Ghent and Nuremburg are already there. Then, there’s Barcelona that is often praised for their superblocks—clusters of city blocks designed to prioritize pedestrians and reduce car traffic.
#13
Yet Another Person Realizing What‘S Good
#14
Good Planning
#15
F**k These Cars A Little Less
Of course, this trend, as well the pressing matters that force it, is not limited to Europe. For example, China’s megacity Shenzhen is investing in a massive car free district, while The Line, the ambitious Saudi Arabian project city is intended to have no cars, streets, or carbon emissions. African countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda have adopted monthly car free days and enough citizens are taking advantage of it to see these initiatives grow.
#16
I Know It's An Old Tweet. I Don't Know If This Is A Repost. I Just Think People Here Will Like Something Like This
#17
Height Of Folly (By Jen Sorensen)
VioletHunter 1 year ago
I wonder how many grannys and grandpas have broken their legs trying to get out of those "cars". They look like you need a ladder to get in!
#18
The Public Train I Take To Go To Work Has A Self Service Coffee Station
Overall, it seems that the car-free movement is the future. And, after looking at all these posts, it seems that that future cannot come soon enough.
#19
Helicopters Exist Also
#20
Is "Trunk Or Treat" Real And Because Of Non-Walkable Communities?
#21
I’m Convinced A Lot Of People Wouldn’t See Something Wrong With This
Ample Aardvark 1 year ago
My partner looked at it and shouted "dream house!" 😫 No I do not agree, unless the garage is a cat room
#22
How Is This Legal?
The Scout 1 year ago
Unfortunately that really is a huge safety problem. In an extra high SUV your viewing angle is so skewed you have virtually no chance to see anything smaller than an adult. Also it makes you drive more in the middle of the road instead of on the side, because you are unable to see the curb otherwise. SUVs are a traffic nightmare.
#23
American Exceptionalism
#24
Cool Idea? (Cannot Stand Carbrains In The Replies)
#25
Everything Must Be Sacrificed For The Car
The Scout 1 year ago
The poicture reminds me of the sad story of what was known as the "loneliest tree" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_T%C3%A9n%C3%A9r%C3%A9) . It was a single tree standing in the middle of a huge desert, hundreds of miles away even from the next road. What happend to it? Yes, you guess right: it was hit by a car.
#26
New vs. Old Mini Cooper
#27
Terrifying
#28
Magic Parking Lot
#29
6 Hour Line Of 14 Lane Traffic At Burning Man
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What do you think ?
DarkGlassSphere 1 year ago
We need more posts like this, it is becoming really hard to breath. Ignorance is outraging!
Ezara 1 year ago
More sensationalized half-truth memes that support your cognitive bias? Look at every comment section, most of it is debunked by people that know the place, given clarity by research, or dunked-on with absolute sanity. You must not want half-truths, you must not take the social media "funny pages" at face value when it concerns a fact of the world. You must want more elaboration, not unreasonable fittings of emotion. "Ignorance is outraging"... hey, you said it. Know when to use "We" which is rarely, you don't speak for anyone but yourself here. Go change your tampon
Load More Replies...
similarly 1 year ago
I live in Japan, and not even in Tokyo or Osaka. Not rural, but not "big city" by Japanese standards. I don't have a car. I have a license, but I actually have a phobia of cars, like not kidding here, not hyperbole: an actual phobia. Japan is great for me because I can go out of my house and in two minutes I'm at the station. At the next station, I catch a bus. Bus not convenient? I can walk. Even if the trains weren't running (like one time there was a typhoon): I walked home. Took awhile, but it wasn't so bad (except when the roof of a shed flew past me). Most of the time, I don't need a car. Clinic, dentist, supermarket, hardware store: all walking distance.
John Smith (he/him/xy/️) 1 year ago
Of the nearly 3.5 years I lived in Japan, I haven't missed my car (which I drove almost daily before moving) even once. Public transport WORKS
Load More Replies... DarkGlassSphere 1 year ago
We need more posts like this, it is becoming really hard to breath. Ignorance is outraging!
Ezara 1 year ago
More sensationalized half-truth memes that support your cognitive bias? Look at every comment section, most of it is debunked by people that know the place, given clarity by research, or dunked-on with absolute sanity. You must not want half-truths, you must not take the social media "funny pages" at face value when it concerns a fact of the world. You must want more elaboration, not unreasonable fittings of emotion. "Ignorance is outraging"... hey, you said it. Know when to use "We" which is rarely, you don't speak for anyone but yourself here. Go change your tampon
Load More Replies... similarly 1 year ago
I live in Japan, and not even in Tokyo or Osaka. Not rural, but not "big city" by Japanese standards. I don't have a car. I have a license, but I actually have a phobia of cars, like not kidding here, not hyperbole: an actual phobia. Japan is great for me because I can go out of my house and in two minutes I'm at the station. At the next station, I catch a bus. Bus not convenient? I can walk. Even if the trains weren't running (like one time there was a typhoon): I walked home. Took awhile, but it wasn't so bad (except when the roof of a shed flew past me). Most of the time, I don't need a car. Clinic, dentist, supermarket, hardware store: all walking distance.
John Smith (he/him/xy/️) 1 year ago
Of the nearly 3.5 years I lived in Japan, I haven't missed my car (which I drove almost daily before moving) even once. Public transport WORKS
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