My original question was “How do we disincentivize the purchase of pickup trucks/SUVs” but then I thought it would be better to approach the larger problem of car dependency and car ownership. One option is, of course, to create public transit infrastructure and improve it where it already exist. This, however, doesn’t change the fact that some will still choose to drive. What would be the best ways to discourage people from owning personal cars?
I think we both fundinentally agree that over-dependence on cars is a problem and are likely in alignment in a number of ideologies. I come from a rural conservative background(I was cured of the conservative bit thanks to some very patient and empathetic liberal folks) and maintain a readiness mentality (not quite prepper loony, but on the same tacks). As of right now, I am very near the outskirts of a small town. I am within easy walking distance of a Walmart (10min maybe), but being able to go there even if it isn’t a good-weather daytime-hours trip while I am in good health, means I will never be anti-car.
Where we overlap, I think, is that making every other option far more accessible, safe, affordable, and convenient should absolutely be a goal. Funny you mention the parking lots. Big box stores did that back in the fifties and sixties because shoppers were more easily manipulated by “oh, this place is always busy, it must be good!”. Something I see in the very old town I live near, and have heard mentioned in conversation with city planners and civil engineers is the idea of stores having their shop-front and entrance right on the sidewalks with parking lots in the back with access by a utility road that connects before the main commercial district. Eliminating the “stroad” effect on the main streets of the shopping district, and facilitating pedestrian traffic without having to burden the town with implementing extra pedestrian-friendly pathways. We also have an ordinance that Jaywalking is not a thing and pedestrians have the right of way no matter the situation or crossing point. This leads Main Street to be a great place to walk down and pop into shops or cafes…but…I am still gonna drive down there before I park at one end and walk it. Our main highway connection road (read about streets and roads and stroads, it is really interesting), that also connects the residential zone to the commercial district, just got a facelift and an extra-wide walking path…but until those trees along side grow real big, that is a desert slog to walk down on any sunny day.
Younger more pedestrian-friendly city planners and the like have really great ideas moving forwards, but it is a slow change in a world literally paved with awful, decades old, corporate-run planning.
After rambling and having a readthrough again…I think cars will always dominate rural situations, could be almost phased out of urban situations, and will be a battle ground where the two meet. I keep reading about making cars cost more. If people had to retest every 5 years and pay $500 each time to maintain a licence, it would most assuredly cut back on cars, ESPECIALLY if those other cheap, efficient, clean, safe alternatives existed…but that still makes my “torment the poor”-o-meter twitch and I dont like it. I don’t have any real answers. I think a lot of the answers from the passionate people fighting this fight are not as realistic, or taking every lifestyle into account, as they think…but I don’t want them to fail or give up for lack of insight. Hopefully discourse can bring more disparate information together and bring about real workable solutions. I look forward to a day where I only drive my Jeep because it is a hobby and a toy, and sell my car because I never drive it any more.
To be easier on your torment the poor-o-metre, one possibility could be to charge a yearly fee for a safety inspection on a personal car, with the fee being scaled by its weight. This way, cars would be safer generally, and people driving a Smart Fortwo would only be out the time it took to get the inspection.
These sorts of inspections are already in place in several countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. Some countries also require higher annual registration costs for heavier vehicles, with other places adding inflated street side parking fees. Think of this as sort of an amalgamation of all these things.
The higher the delta between fees for driving a compact car and a large pick up truck is, the more reason people might see in not choosing the F-150. I’m not saying everyone should be cruising around in a Chang Li, but even downsizing the truck lovers to a Chevrolet S-10 would be great. Though of course, the manufacturers would have to make smaller trucks again, which means less profit, and la de da you know how the shareholders feel about that.
Side note, I see people in the summer driving their Jeeps with the doors off. Not my cup of tea but damn if it doesn’t look cool as hell.
I learned a wild thing about trucks, because I despise pickups (other options do what they do, but better in every metric). Apparently trucks are huge so they can be in a different classification of vehicle and avoid certain fees and taxes, and those same fees and taxes make smaller foreign trucks not profitable to sell in the States (the point of the fees and taxes… lobbyists, ffs).
I am a big fan of making huge vehicles more annoying to own, and small, clean vehicles much easier and cheaper to own and operate, with exceptions like minivans for families with 3+ kids. I am so very in support of getting the single-passenger giant SUVs and non-work trucks off the road, even if it means giving up my Jeep.
There are good ideas out there that get us moving in a better direction and I think those are worth pushing.