Learning from car-free vacations abroad
#26
Sophomoric Member
Can you think of any examples?
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#27
Senior Member
But really, when looking at people getting around in their communities, don't you find that the era immediately prior to the automobile truly was a Golden Era? The pedestrians in those old photos certainly look happy as they wander wherever they want, easily able to dodge the few horse wagons and slow moving trolleys. There might have been a pungent aroma of manure, but that was very preferable to the smog and dust particles of our times.
I remember when night soil carts collected tins of human excrement from suburbs here, and the bath, kitchen and laundry water were let go into the roadside gutters resulting in a pervasive smell. This was in a "lower class" suburb, and it was only in the 1970s when sewerage was connected.
Even when we have travelled through France, in particular, the smell from the road grates for the sewers underneath can be quite overpowering. Add to that the smells of pig manure being sprayed on fields, and you can get an idea of how nasally unpleasant living in the era before the automobile actually was.
#28
Sophomoric Member
You have read of how New York was in fact saved from the awful nightmare that was horse manure, by the automobile. There was so much horse crap, but it wasn't just the smell, it was the disease risks that it carried. And what you might not know is that when a horse died -- and there were a lot of them each day -- they were left to rot in the streets. They weren't removed.
I remember when night soil carts collected tins of human excrement from suburbs here, and the bath, kitchen and laundry water were let go into the roadside gutters resulting in a pervasive smell. This was in a "lower class" suburb, and it was only in the 1970s when sewerage was connected.
Even when we have travelled through France, in particular, the smell from the road grates for the sewers underneath can be quite overpowering. Add to that the smells of pig manure being sprayed on fields, and you can get an idea of how nasally unpleasant living in the era before the automobile actually was.
I remember when night soil carts collected tins of human excrement from suburbs here, and the bath, kitchen and laundry water were let go into the roadside gutters resulting in a pervasive smell. This was in a "lower class" suburb, and it was only in the 1970s when sewerage was connected.
Even when we have travelled through France, in particular, the smell from the road grates for the sewers underneath can be quite overpowering. Add to that the smells of pig manure being sprayed on fields, and you can get an idea of how nasally unpleasant living in the era before the automobile actually was.
Transportation-related pollutants are one of the largest contributors to unhealthy air quality. Exposure to traffic emissions has been linked to many adverse health effects including: Exacerbation of asthma symptoms, diminished lung function, adverse birth outcomes, and childhood cancer.
Common transportation-related air pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Ozone, formed when nitrogen dioxide and sunlight react, is also a common pollutant. Particulate matter and ozone are known respiratory irritants that can aggravate asthma either by themselves or when combined with other environmental factors. Recent health studies also suggest that particulate matter is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Motor vehicles contribute to more than 50% of air pollution in urban areas. The design of communities and transportation systems impacts how often automobiles are used, how many automobile trips are taken, and how long those trips are. Reducing automobile trips by increasing mass transit use, carpooling, walking, and bicycling can help reduce air pollution, especially in urban areas.
CDC - Healthy Places - Respiratory Health and Air PollutionCommon transportation-related air pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Ozone, formed when nitrogen dioxide and sunlight react, is also a common pollutant. Particulate matter and ozone are known respiratory irritants that can aggravate asthma either by themselves or when combined with other environmental factors. Recent health studies also suggest that particulate matter is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Motor vehicles contribute to more than 50% of air pollution in urban areas. The design of communities and transportation systems impacts how often automobiles are used, how many automobile trips are taken, and how long those trips are. Reducing automobile trips by increasing mass transit use, carpooling, walking, and bicycling can help reduce air pollution, especially in urban areas.
BTW, your second and third paragraphs have absolutely nothing to do with carfree transportation.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
Last edited by Roody; 08-16-14 at 03:46 AM.
#29
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
The ease and speed of medical assistance springs to mind.
You might have a look at mortality rates over the years.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#30
Senior Member
From the Centers for Disease Control:
BTW, your second and third paragraphs have absolutely nothing to do with carfree transportation.
Transportation-related pollutants are one of the largest contributors to unhealthy air quality. Exposure to traffic emissions has been linked to many adverse health effects including: Exacerbation of asthma symptoms, diminished lung function, adverse birth outcomes, and childhood cancer.
Common transportation-related air pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Ozone, formed when nitrogen dioxide and sunlight react, is also a common pollutant. Particulate matter and ozone are known respiratory irritants that can aggravate asthma either by themselves or when combined with other environmental factors. Recent health studies also suggest that particulate matter is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Motor vehicles contribute to more than 50% of air pollution in urban areas. The design of communities and transportation systems impacts how often automobiles are used, how many automobile trips are taken, and how long those trips are. Reducing automobile trips by increasing mass transit use, carpooling, walking, and bicycling can help reduce air pollution, especially in urban areas.
CDC - Healthy Places - Respiratory Health and Air PollutionCommon transportation-related air pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Ozone, formed when nitrogen dioxide and sunlight react, is also a common pollutant. Particulate matter and ozone are known respiratory irritants that can aggravate asthma either by themselves or when combined with other environmental factors. Recent health studies also suggest that particulate matter is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Motor vehicles contribute to more than 50% of air pollution in urban areas. The design of communities and transportation systems impacts how often automobiles are used, how many automobile trips are taken, and how long those trips are. Reducing automobile trips by increasing mass transit use, carpooling, walking, and bicycling can help reduce air pollution, especially in urban areas.
BTW, your second and third paragraphs have absolutely nothing to do with carfree transportation.
And my second and third paragraphs go to the heart of the "Golden Age" comments and the apparent desire of some to return to those wonderful days, when the smells of rotting horses on the streets along with raw sewage permeated everything. The car actually saved people's lives, whether you like it or not. And in many respects, it still does.
You can level criticism all you like at the car and the pollution it creates, but as a transport option, it isn't going to disappear anytime soon... because the community accepts it as a necessary part of their lives. Enlightened communities will plan to incorporate multi-model transport modes that include cars. This has been amply demonstrated in Europe and other parts of the world. Make of it as you will America's status on this.
#31
Sophomoric Member
Again you're reaching. You and your romanticists can go back to the Golden Ages quite easily by joining Amish communities, or moving to the African or Asian sub-continents and joining communities that haven't seen more than a dozen motor vehicles in a year. I wonder sometimes how many posters here have volunteered in such places with aid and relief programs (and for the purposes of complete disclosure, I haven't) just so they can give their perspective.
And my second and third paragraphs go to the heart of the "Golden Age" comments and the apparent desire of some to return to those wonderful days, when the smells of rotting horses on the streets along with raw sewage permeated everything. The car actually saved people's lives, whether you like it or not. And in many respects, it still does.
You can level criticism all you like at the car and the pollution it creates, but as a transport option, it isn't going to disappear anytime soon... because the community accepts it as a necessary part of their lives. Enlightened communities will plan to incorporate multi-model transport modes that include cars. This has been amply demonstrated in Europe and other parts of the world. Make of it as you will America's status on this.
And my second and third paragraphs go to the heart of the "Golden Age" comments and the apparent desire of some to return to those wonderful days, when the smells of rotting horses on the streets along with raw sewage permeated everything. The car actually saved people's lives, whether you like it or not. And in many respects, it still does.
You can level criticism all you like at the car and the pollution it creates, but as a transport option, it isn't going to disappear anytime soon... because the community accepts it as a necessary part of their lives. Enlightened communities will plan to incorporate multi-model transport modes that include cars. This has been amply demonstrated in Europe and other parts of the world. Make of it as you will America's status on this.
High mortality rates in undeveloped countries are attributable to many things, with lack of cars being a very minor contributor compared to poverty, ignorance, poor sanitation, bad water, and so forth.
BTW, the Amish who don't own cars and rarely use them have mortality rates that are quite similar to other Americans.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7,143
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
But really, when looking at people getting around in their communities, don't you find that the era immediately prior to the automobile truly was a Golden Era? The pedestrians in those old photos certainly look happy as they wander wherever they want, easily able to dodge the few horse wagons and slow moving trolleys. There might have been a pungent aroma of manure, but that was very preferable to the smog and dust particles of our times.
A number of forum memebers think life must have been horrible with all those horses. Visit the library and start reading microfilm from 1900 (of your town) as I did and you'll get a very different picture.
I did not see one comment of anyone complaining about horse droppings. Not one! The newspapers were full of stories about weddings, high school sports, social events all being accomplished with no motor coach or bus! There was one trolley line in my town yet not one complaint about the lack of public transporation in the papers.
Life was differernt but not worse.
Last edited by Dahon.Steve; 08-17-14 at 06:40 PM.
#33
Sophomoric Member
+1
A number of forum memebers think life must have been horrible with all those horses. Visit the library and start reading microfilm from 1900 (of your town) as I did and you'll get a very different picture.
I did not see one comment of anyone complaining about horse droppings. Not one! The newspapers were full of stories about weddings, high school sports, social events all being accomplished with no motor coach or bus! There was one trolley line in my town yet not one complaint about the lack of pulic transporation in the papers.
Life was differernt but not worse.
A number of forum memebers think life must have been horrible with all those horses. Visit the library and start reading microfilm from 1900 (of your town) as I did and you'll get a very different picture.
I did not see one comment of anyone complaining about horse droppings. Not one! The newspapers were full of stories about weddings, high school sports, social events all being accomplished with no motor coach or bus! There was one trolley line in my town yet not one complaint about the lack of pulic transporation in the papers.
Life was differernt but not worse.
This is not romanticism. As with you, I have studied this matter over the years, and what I say is reality, not a romantic dream. I'm well aware that some aspects of life were worse, and many, as you say, were just different.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#34
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
To each his own.
But having lived for a year in the rustic conditions reminiscent of a time a century or more ago, I don't see the romance of that time. I know the work involved ... and many of the challenges.
However, as Rowan pointed out, if you want to enjoy the romance of the rustic, go live with the Amish for a while. Or maybe in remote areas of less developed countries.
But having lived for a year in the rustic conditions reminiscent of a time a century or more ago, I don't see the romance of that time. I know the work involved ... and many of the challenges.
However, as Rowan pointed out, if you want to enjoy the romance of the rustic, go live with the Amish for a while. Or maybe in remote areas of less developed countries.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#35
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,974
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
To each his own.
But having lived for a year in the rustic conditions reminiscent of a time a century or more ago, I don't see the romance of that time. I know the work involved ... and many of the challenges.
However, as Rowan pointed out, if you want to enjoy the romance of the rustic, go live with the Amish for a while. Or maybe in remote areas of less developed countries.
But having lived for a year in the rustic conditions reminiscent of a time a century or more ago, I don't see the romance of that time. I know the work involved ... and many of the challenges.
However, as Rowan pointed out, if you want to enjoy the romance of the rustic, go live with the Amish for a while. Or maybe in remote areas of less developed countries.
#36
Sophomoric Member
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dahon.Steve
Living Car Free
10
10-30-14 12:44 AM
folder fanatic
Living Car Free
71
07-15-13 10:33 AM
1nterceptor
Advocacy & Safety
35
05-21-13 11:16 AM