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Living car free, 5 year predictions

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Living car free, 5 year predictions

Old 05-31-15, 09:13 AM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by MikeRides
Maybe, in 5 years, we'll finally get those hover boards we were supposed to get this year?
Canadian sets record for farthest flight by hoverboard | Canada | News | Toronto
And even better than Marty's, since it works over water.

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Old 05-31-15, 05:20 PM
  #52  
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I predict the country will be slightly poorer, worse off, and infrastructure in general (both road & rail, as well as gas, water, sewerage systems) will be slightly worse off. No "driverless" vehicles of any type will be in any use other than at an experimental level.
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Old 05-31-15, 05:42 PM
  #53  
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The First Driverless Transit System in the U.S. Starts Rolling in 2017
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Old 05-31-15, 06:43 PM
  #54  
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Thanks, although I'm hoping people make their own predictions.
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Old 05-31-15, 07:03 PM
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Cooker, no that was a response to TuckertonRR. I'm still thinking. Hybrids? EVs? What percentage of the domestic fleet? Looking to see where the corporate and government money is going before I place a bet.
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Old 05-31-15, 07:10 PM
  #56  
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I predict I will have given up on this experiment and will have a plug in Hybrid for taking my wife shopping and an E-Bike for most of my personal trips.
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Old 05-31-15, 07:13 PM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by Mobile 155
Cooker, no that was a response to TuckertonRR. I'm still thinking. Hybrids? EVs? What percentage of the domestic fleet? Looking to see where the corporate and government money is going before I place a bet.
ok - looking forward to it.
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Old 06-02-15, 08:09 PM
  #58  
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I guess I'm late to this one. In the next five years we'll see.

1. Better Transit Apps -- Transit Apps for smart phones still have a way to go. They are not 100% accurate and get confused if multiple bus lines share the same road. For some reason, the Apps cannot tell if the bus arrived at the depot?

2. More Millennials will be car free --- This is the first generation that will not be better off then their parents. They tend to procreate less, live in apartments and use public transit.

3. More Carfree zones --- Cities are for the first time investing in carfree zones that have no access for motor vehicles. They are not doing this for environmental reasons but to receive an increase in sales tax revenue.

4. More people will be living in vehicles --- As housing cost and rents continue to skyrocket, we'll see more people living in RVs, Campers, Vans, trucks and cars. The abundance of low paying minimum wage jobs making it impossible for tens of thousands to live in doors. Living in a vehicle will be considered normal and maybe someone to be envied.

5. The summers will be hotter and droughts longer -- We will continue to see more droughts as ice packs do not return. We'll see more cities building dams and desalination plants will provide water for millions who used to depend on wells.

6. Public Transit -- The number of people taking public transit will continue to increase. The transit of choice will be the bus but long term rail projects will be started and develope over 10 years.

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Old 06-02-15, 09:25 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
2. More Millennials will be car free --- This is the first generation that will not be better off then their parents. They tend to procreate less, live in apartments and use public transit. ...
4. More people will be living in vehicles --- As housing cost and rents continue to skyrocket, we'll see more people living in RVs, Campers, Vans, trucks and cars. The abundance of low paying minimum wage jobs making it impossible for tens of thousands to live in doors. Living in a vehicle will be considered normal and maybe someone to be envied.
So some people will be car free and some home free.
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Old 06-03-15, 07:19 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by cooker
So some people will be car free and some home free.
Some people will be both; and some other people will feel a kinship towards those car free and homeless people who are living what the dreamers think are such simple, uncluttered, zen-like lives.
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Old 06-03-15, 07:28 AM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Some people will be both; and some other people will feel a kinship towards those car free and homeless people who are living what the dreamers think are such simple, uncluttered, zen-like lives.
Is that your prediction?
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Old 06-03-15, 11:21 AM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Some people will be both; and some other people will feel a kinship towards those car free and homeless people who are living what the dreamers think are such simple, uncluttered, zen-like lives.
There are in fact some like that on bikeforums and I do feel a kinship, even though I couldn't live that way myself.
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Old 06-03-15, 11:28 AM
  #63  
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Originally Posted by cooker
There are in fact some like that on bikeforums and I do feel a kinship, even though I couldn't live that way myself.
I'll tell you, my recent health crisis and inability to work leaves me very much feeling kinship with the homeless. I don't think I will be joining them, but it is no longer a very long trip for most Americans these days! You never know what tomorrow will bring...
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Old 06-03-15, 12:42 PM
  #64  
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Originally Posted by Roody
I'll tell you, my recent health crisis and inability to work leaves me very much feeling kinship with the homeless. I don't think I will be joining them, but it is no longer a very long trip for most Americans these days! You never know what tomorrow will bring...
The best way to avoid becoming homeless is to do what you can to provide for your long term needs. But regardless of what you do, you can't usually conduct a life that is not subject to the possibility of various catastrophes such as this and worse. And thankfully, better! Knock on wood so far.

I feel compelled always towards humility and the open recognition that we are not immune.
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Old 06-25-15, 01:23 PM
  #65  
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I-Like-To-Bike predicting nobody will cater to electric bike/vehicle power needs.

https://www.bikeforums.net/living-car...l#post17926370
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Old 06-25-15, 05:06 PM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by cooker
I-Like-To-Bike predicting nobody will cater to electric bike/vehicle power needs.

https://www.bikeforums.net/living-car...l#post17926370
In response to YOUR predictions that the needs of e-bike (and e-car) users will be accommodated wherever they may be located (specifically electric outlets for charging wherever e-bikes are parked on public streets and parking lots).

BTW, the phrase "few landlords, government agencies or business concerns will furnish a solution to a problem that exists only in your fantasies" does not mean "nobody."

https://www.bikeforums.net/living-car...l#post17925250
https://www.bikeforums.net/living-car...l#post17925854
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Old 06-25-15, 05:21 PM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
In response to YOUR predictions
Fair point.
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Old 06-27-15, 12:59 PM
  #68  
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In five years Massachusetts politicians will still be arguing about how to fix the T, and the equipment will be five years older and even more unreliable. This will lead to the greatest gridlock in local history and finally make people wake up.

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Old 06-27-15, 01:08 PM
  #69  
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Originally Posted by ironwood
In five years Massachusetts politicians will still be arguing about how to fix the T, and the equipment will be five years older and even more unreliable. This will lead to the greatest gridlock in local history and finally make people wake up.
What do you predict "the people" will do when they "wake up"?
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Old 06-27-15, 02:03 PM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
What do you predict "the people" will do when they "wake up"?
Presumably push the politicians to "fix the 'T'".
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Old 06-28-15, 01:39 PM
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Drivers might realize that a poorly run public transportation system impacts them. Around here automobiles have almost reached the saturation point. There won't be room for many more cars in parts of the city. An accident at certain places can stop traffic all over the city. As to what they will do, I hope they might insist on a well run system, It probably won't happen in the next five years however.
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Old 06-29-15, 06:36 AM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by ironwood
Drivers might realize that a poorly run public transportation system impacts them. Around here automobiles have almost reached the saturation point. There won't be room for many more cars in parts of the city. An accident at certain places can stop traffic all over the city. As to what they will do, I hope they might insist on a well run system, It probably won't happen in the next five years however.
I think this is a great prediction.

I first drove in Boston about 35 years ago. As far as I'm concerned, cars were at the saturation point then. I know they have spent billions of dollars on "fixes" since then. From what I can see, the fixes have resulted in cramming more cars on the roads, but have had no effect on the basic problems.

Boston is a great city. It can become much greater if they improve to a state of the art transit system, then begin projects that will drastically reduce traffic congestion. They should consider some fairly drastic measures such as congestion fees, reduction of parking, and placing restrictive carfree zones and traffic choke points. But first they MUST ensure good transit to keep the city moving efficiently as they reduce the number of cars.

Within five years, I predict that public opinion in Boston will be swinging around and there will be significant pressure to beef up transit and reduce car access. The actual process of fixing the problem will take decades, but big improvements could be seen sooner.
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Old 06-29-15, 08:18 AM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by Roody
Boston is a great city. It can become much greater if they improve to a state of the art transit system, then begin projects that will drastically reduce traffic congestion. They should consider some fairly drastic measures such as congestion fees, reduction of parking, and placing restrictive carfree zones and traffic choke points. But first they MUST ensure good transit to keep the city moving efficiently as they reduce the number of cars.

Within five years, I predict that public opinion in Boston will be swinging around and there will be significant pressure to beef up transit and reduce car access. The actual process of fixing the problem will take decades, but big improvements could be seen sooner.
As discussed elsewhere, they've been experimenting with reducing the number of parking spots required in apartment buildings in certain areas. That both acknowledges that people are owning fewer cars, and encourages it.
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Old 06-29-15, 08:22 AM
  #74  
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Originally Posted by cooker
As discussed elsewhere, they've been experimenting with reducing the number of parking spots required in apartment buildings in certain areas. That both acknowledges that people are owning fewer cars, and encourages it.
Where do you think they'll be with this in five years?
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Old 06-29-15, 08:41 AM
  #75  
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Originally Posted by Roody
Where do you think they'll be with this in five years?
I can't give specific numbers, but I bet the trend will continue and expand. I learned from a quiz show that Boston is the third densest American city (I assume after New York - and maybe Chicago?) and as they do infill apartments downtown it will get even denser, and having a car will simultaneously get more difficult and less necessary.
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