Hello Justin and Car Free folks

--- In carfree_cities@yahoogroups.com, "amqx" <amqx@y...> wrote:
> Let me start by saying that I strongly support the idea of car-free
> cities. It fits perfectly with my philosophy that society is based
on
> human interaction.
>
> However, I was discussing it with a friend of mine, and he brought
up
> an interesting issue. Eliminating cars would leave countless people
> unemployed. Would car-free cities create any new jobs that could
> replace them, such as train and bus building?
> --Justin

I actually spent some time recently reading up on a car-free
(pretty much) city of 500,000+ people.

Yongkang in eastern Zhejiang province. Neighbouring Yiwu City is
among China's 100 richest counties (cities), Dongyang City, Yongkang
City, and Wucheng District are among province's most well-off
counties (cities).

Yongkang has a long history as a center for tool and machinery
production. In the late 1990's, *somebody* made the decision that
Yongkang would also be a center for the manufacture of small two and
three wheeled vehicles, gas and electric, for export. These are kick
scooters and bicycles and larger Vespa-style machines with power or
power-assist.

Today, Yongkang has over 100 factories making component parts and
asembling and selling these little machines. Because the different
companies all share most of the same parts, there are perhaps a few
dozen "flavours", but mostly they all look very similar in appearance
and specifications.

Collectively these companies all in and around Yongkang comprise
several millions of square feet of factory space presently shipping
millions of scooters and bicycles overseas annually.

Product features and quality are improving each year, but the
Yongkang vehicles started out badly and have a reputation for uneven
quality and support to overcome now... Most of these companies that
are assembling and selling these vehicles are also still engaged in
their traditional products like wire brushes and power tools, patio
furniture, etc.

Yongkang is also China's amputation capital, as their production
of all manner of housewares and tools etc etc involves heavy
machinery and unskilled labour, inexperience, etc.

This at least comprises a lot of employment in this car-free
city. That they are producing personal vehicles (cars?) is perhaps
incongruous... the good(?) news is, the citizens of Yongkang don't
actually use these vehicles themselves. They know the product is
unadequate, and almost the entire Yongkang output of vehicles goes to
export. There are 100's of ads for these vehicles on eBay right
now.

Is there room in a car-free city for bicycles and other little
electric vehicles? Personal electric vehicles typically have motors
rated around 500 watts - compared to your coffee-maker which is
likely rated at over 1,000 watts. A small car might have a power
measured in watts of perhaps 60,000 watts and from there the cars go
up in power... Humans generate 100-200 watts pedaling their bikes.

The USA recently legalized power-assisted bicycles up to 750
watts (as not subject to State motorized vehicle codes.)

Clearly these little vehicles are not an all-weather, all-
season solution for many parts of the world, but in many other parts,
and for many people, they can be.

Operating and "fuel" costs for these vehicles can work out to a
penny or a few per passenger mile. AFAIK, our Public Transit here
could manufacture these things locally and give `em away to transit
users, and they would reduce their operating deficit significantly to
the extent that the little vehicles could replace the larger ones for
short urban trips.

With personal little electric vehicles, there are no more empty
seats or driver expenses. They plug in anywhere, so you don't need
fueling stations. They don't need vast paved parking lots. The
roadways would suddenly develop a huge increase in existing capacity
(as the size of the vehicles shrink.)

So, anyway Justin, in answer to your question, I can see lots
of employment locally in transportation, without there being "cars"...

Might all depend on your definition of "car-free". Personally,
I prefer a bike or a scooter to a bus or subway anyday. What we
*really* need in all of this is shorter distances and less travel!!!

Lock