this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2025
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Fuck Cars
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Although traffic can be caused by something in the road, most traffic is caused by people driving poorly. You can think of traffic as waves.
To put it most simply, if you follow too close, you cause traffic, and if you leave a lot of space in front of you (think 5 or 10 second rule instead of 3 second rule), you alleviate traffic.
There are multiple reasons. Here are a couple. The harder you brake, the more traffic is caused, and if you have a lot of space in front, you don't have to brake as hard. Also, if you prevent other cars from changing lanes, that also causes traffic. By leaving space, you allow cars to move freely.
I feel validated every time I keep a reasonable speed and the intersection turns green without me ever having to touch the brakes, especially when passing the fools who went stupid fast just to stop at a red light.
I feel validated every time I bike because I'm not driving a steel deathtrap that belches pollution (:
No traffic issues here!
I eventually moved somewhere with one of the best public transportation systems in the world though ;)
Also, if you leave space you make merging easier, alleviating traffic, and you also don’t have to brake as much. When people see brake lights in front of them they’re more likely to brake, causing a wave that increases congestion.
Plus you’re less likely to hit the person in front of you, reducing accidents.
Yes, however this also assumes that you don't take the road if it is at full capacity. Ramp metering solves this somewhat but also creates traffic before the ramp. If too many vehicles are using the road traffic will come, no matter how good the drivers are
Everything breaks down at its limits. We shouldn't really be using individual vehicles in the first place.