Why do people drive so much? A look at the costs.

[futurebird]

I just created this graph for the wikipedia article on the Effects of the automobile on societies. (It's based on a similar graph in the book Transportation for Livable Cities By Vukan R. Vuchic, a great read for anyone interested in sustainable development.) The article still needs a lot of work, but I wanted to share what I added today.

Comments

[caliantrias]

This is a fantastic graph but I have some questions and challenges

[futurebird]

1) How can the 'rail' column claim 0 environmental costs? Rail is either diesel or electric and both result in carbon emissions.

I tried to put a thin little hairline in there, but the cost per-person, per-ride are literally so small that on this scale they vanish.

2) Same question for social costs and rail.

Ditto.

3) The out-of pocket sections for auto should include depreciation on the vehicle, insurance and maintenance.

There are captured in the below the line costs called "indirect user costs" -- I guess some people think about these things when they get ready to use a car, but there's a lot of evidence that people only really consider the direct cost of gas.

4) Time. I commute 45 miles a day. On good run, it takes me about 45 minutes. On a bad run, about an hour. I have often thought a high speed rail would be great up the corridor I drive. Today I calculated it out and realized that a rail system would probably not save me time and, in fact, would cost me more time unless I parked a car at the other end. Time may not be

[futurebird]

You know, I a times I get weary. It's like dealing with people who deny that global waring is happening. You can present all of the facts in the world and they still object because the facts just don't match their vision of reality. I made this chart because of a frustrating conversation that I had over at the politics forum and I thought that a little illustration would help people to understand the economic dynamics of the situation. You're totally right about people finding "holes" in it, but, at times my patience gets rather thin, especially when I'm the only one bringing any hard facts to the conversation at all. There are dozens of books on this topic, and although these things were debated trough the 70s and 80s, in recent years the planning wisdom has simply shifted. At what point do you draw the line and say "go find your own facts?"

Frankly, I get sick of being the only one doing the back and forth and I wish others would jump in and say something, but perhaps they rightly realize that it's pointless.

What do you think?

[futurebird]

For what it's worth you inspired me to add a few more paragraphs of explanation to the wikipedia.

[caliantrias]

At what point do you draw the line and say "go find your own facts?"Never. It took me awhile to figure this lesson out. I finally started burning out when I was trying to master and advocate for too many things. One of those issues was simply never of much interest to me. I tried to be interested but I never made it. One day, while trying to learn a little about it from someone I got the "here, go read these 12 books" response. I thought "sure, add it to the list, I'll get to it in 8-12 years." and then the evil thought entered my mind "No. Never mind. You obviously don't care enough to talk to me, you'd rather get rid of me and talk in circles with people who support your position. I've got other things to do