Cars Vs Accessible Worlds

Cars vs Accessible Worlds

Alright, let me talk about one thing in terms of accessibility in science fiction settings - and Solarpunk specifically - that also has more than one side to it: Cars and accessibility. Because it is more complicated than you'd thing.

See: The fact that our world is so car centric really, really hinders accessibility. Wide streets are a hindrance for even normal pedastrians, cyclists and so on. If I want to get from A to B, and the route crosses a street, and there is only a traffic light every like 500 meters, it means tat I usually need either to risk my life or take the long way around to get there. And that is a fucking bother even when you are healthy and can easily take that long way around. And the more car centric a society is, the worse the issue becomes. Here in Germany it is a lot easier still to cross a street than in many places in the US.

And of course this gets a lot worse if you are disabled. Be it that you just cannot walk that far. Or if you are blind and cannot even see in what direction you could go for the next traffic light. Or if you are hard of hearing or deaf, you might be more in danger of being surprised by a car. (And that is without going into how electric cars being so fucking quiet makes stuff even more dangerous.) And, you know, neurodivergent people might also just struggle with the fucking noise that is created by roads and is often inescapable in big cities.

And of course even outside of the environmental issues, the constant presence of cars is also a health risk. Not just because of the risk of accidents, but also due to the pollution and how it interacts. Even if we all were driving electric cars, there would still be all those microplastics created by tires and streets and stuff.

So, really. We do need to move away from car centric infrastructure to make our lives healthier and to make the world more accessible for disabled people too.

BUT...

But there is the issue that some disabled people still might be in need to use some sort of personal transportation device that can cover both short and large distances, because for one reason or another public transport just does not work and cannot work for them.

For example someone with severe anxiety issues, or someone who will be easily suffering from sensory overwhelm. There might be other issues, too. Just some folks will always need something like cars.

And of course there is also the fact that stuff like emergency services will still need streets accessible to cars. Because the emergency services will just not get around using something like cars to get to all the places they might be needed.

And this... makes things complicated. Because infrastructure should not be car centric, no. But it needs to be accessible by cars - and be it just for emergency services.

This is just something that I would love to see more talked about especially within the Solarpunk sphere.

lost in soulless city

Hello 👋, My name is Momen Al Madhoun / I am a digital artist /a father of two children " Ezzdeen & Amir " I live in Gaza City in the heart of the Genocide, working tirelessly to amplify my voice to the world through my artwork.

I want to say thank you a lot. Your donations helped me improve our displacement conditions. But my family still needs your contributions to keep going We rely on you, you are our hope for survival.

🌟 Our campaign is vetted by 🇵🇸 @/gazavetters List at #291

Gofundme Campaign Link

14K notes View Post

w0mbat-bug

1 year ago

This was four months ago. Israeli forces have killed more than 9,200 kids since. https://t.co/zJMohSChRF

— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) March 7, 2024

1K notes View Post

w0mbat-bug

1 year ago

Last updated, Reblog please

We have come a long way and there is only a little left. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. There are 15 days left. Can you reach the goal before that?

Thank you all

paypal.com

Emergency: Help Moataz’s family to evacuate from Gaza

‏We are now in the sixth month of the ng in famine and siege, with no escape but prayer. My wife and I decided to evacuate to Egypt to rebui

2K notes View Post

w0mbat-bug

1 year ago

Al Jazeera

Israel says Rafah, where displaced are sheltering, army’s next target

Gallant says Hamas’s Khan Younis brigade is dismantled and that Israeli army will soon attack Gaza’s southernmost city.

Please save my son Hamoud 😭😭😭😭

gofundme.com

Donate to Save Kareman Dohan's Family from Despair, organized by Zenzi Zeme

I’m Zenzi and have made this GoFundMe for my friend in Palestine and her family. H… Zenzi Zeme needs your support for Save Kareman Dohan's F

@malcriada @appsa @aces-and-angels @buttercuparry @ahaura

@timetravellingkitty @briarhips @akajustmerry @wellwaterhysteria @rhubarbes

@schoolhater @pcktknife @transmutationisms @sawasawako @rhubarbspring

@transmutationisms @irhabiya @3000s @northgazaupdates @batmanego

@communistchilchuck @aristotels @watermotif @stuckinapril @official-saul-goodman

@yugiohz @mavigator @communistkenobi @socalgal @chilewithcarnage

@ghelgheli @determinate-negation @papasmoke @deepspaceboytoy @omegaversereloaded

@xinakwans @givemearmstopraywith @loombreaking @killy @meaganfoster

@heritageposts @el-shab-hussein @decolonize-the-left @loveaankilaq @sar-soor

@fridgebride @27-moons @tamarrud @familyabolisher @fleshdyketwo

30 notes View Post

w0mbat-bug

1 year ago

"Most Of Sudan Is Only One Step Away From A Full Blown Famine. In A Lot Of Areas The Only Thing Stopping

"Most of Sudan is only one step away from a full blown famine. In a lot of areas the only thing stopping people starving is the presence of community kitchens. This is why we setup 3 kitchens in Khartoum State and are in the process of setting up a 4th. But there has been a massive drop off in donations after Ramadan. Please help with what you can.

#Sudan"

link to the GFM below: