Is addiction to automobile usage physical or psychological?

[taterguy]

Discuss

:hide: :hide:

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Thus spokes taterguy.

[taterguy]

2. I think it's an interesting question

Do we rely on cars because of physical realities or is it all just in our heads?

[LSK]

3. depends on each persons situation

Some folks are lucky to work/live in a place where they can use a bike.

Other folks like my sister with 2 children under 4 living in Chicago suburbs, its not realistic.

[taterguy]

5. So addiction is a matter of luck . . .

Does that apply to all addictions or just this one in particular?

[LSK]

7. what do you mean luck??

Do you mean its bad luck to have children in cold weather climates?

[taterguy]

10. I don't have the answers I'm asking questions

And hopefully in the process we can learn something about ourselves

[Gormy Cuss]

4. IMHO, most people don't think about it.

They assume that cars are necessary for every trip. I know people who drive three blocks to buy a carton of milk even when walking to the store would be easy.

on edit: that means I think that it's social conditioning.

[taterguy]

6. I started this thread to encourage people to start thinking about it

[cwydro]

9. When I do ride my bike into work..

I get looks of disbelief and comments ranging from "you are nuts!" to "WHY!"

Of course, they don't understand why I go for walks at lunch either. The people I work with literally drive less than one block, or one mile, or less for whatever it is they need. And parking is a bitch here. And everyone of them drives a HUGE SUV.:mad: :crazy: :eyes:

Oh, and most of them are on a diet.:rofl:

[Deja Q]

8. Physical.

Apart from basic necessities, the car is a physical necessity.

Until they put in busing or light rail, both of which are said to be too expensive (talk about poor city planning...)

[taterguy]

11. But can't individuals control their own destiny?

Isn't that part of the whole addiction theory

[Deja Q]

12. Nope. Everything is relative; dependent on something else.

It's inevitable, in causality.

[taterguy]

13. I refuse to accept that

Am I wrong?

[LeftyMom]

14. Structural.

Communities in the US are generally not built to be safely and efficiently navigated any way other than by private auto.

[taterguy]

16. Is safety and efficiency a requirement?

At what point do we say, the hell with it, I'm going to take some chances and do things I want to do instead of things that society tells me to do?

[LeftyMom]

17. I did my on-bike collision with idjit in a car near death experience.

I can't afford the medical care, time off work or time away from my child another would get me. And considering the roads on my commute to work and school, it'd be a matter of if rather than when.

As a more day-to-day matter, neither my school nor my place of employment offers showers, and summertime temps here are routinely well over 100, with middle of the night lows over 80. Even if the commute were a bit safer, I'd lose my job if I came in smelling like I would after riding in to work.

I don't want to need a car. I was 25 when I got my license for a reason- I swam upstream for a lot of years in resisting getting a car. I resent the expense. I'm bothered by the environmental impact. But I do not live in an area where getting around without a car is a viable option.

So, as I said, for many people the obstacles to person-powered transportation are structural.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. sometimes a necessity, sometimes habit and laziness

[KG]

18. yes.

[taterguy]

19. Which one: physical or psychological?