yesterday I got some replies where people told me that in modern society #cars are required.

that may be. to a certain point. BUT
- not to the extent they are used right now!
- it is not required to build massive, tank-like SUV's that take up lots of space and pollute the world more, use up more resources
- cars could be much more effective and use less energy as they do. cars could be smaller, lighter and slower.
- it is not required to reserve as much space in cities for cars as is the case now, cities have public transport
- cars and fuel should be made more expensive, with support for ppl (disabled ppl) who really need them.

in addition to that, I wrote: "less cars or no cars" and some people read: "no cars".

I'm not a dogmatic extremist. but it's not dogmatic or extreme to see that we're suffocating ourselves in dust and pollutants, that we exploit the earth and profit off the poverty of millions of people with our excessive lifestyle and that we push more people into poverty taking away their resources to keep using up more than there really is.

and we've got to stop punishing people who take it on themselves to use no cars. we've got to start rewarding ppl who don't use cars, especially in cities.

and if we live in a world where cars are required, it is on us to make it a different world, where they're not required as much.

@distelfliege Also, as a disabled person with sometimes significant mobility impairments, I would be *way* safer with fewer cars. "What about disabled people and the elderly, who can't just walk everywhere?" is a red herring.

If I could use my bicycle safely to get everywhere I need to go, without worrying about a) being squished b) not being able to breathe or c) taking a dodgy unlit sideroute with nobody on it in the dark on my own? I would be less disabled.

@distelfliege And no, even with adapted equipment, not everyone can cycle, but lots of people could use a trike as easily as a wheelchair. And most wheelchairs can go most places a cargo bike could go, if (and only if) they don't have to share with cars.

Physically protected cycle routes on main roads are really the only way to go. And that means having less space for cars.

@distelfliege And even... the reason my mobility is better(-ish) at the moment is that I got exhausted by not being able to take my bicycle everywhere that I needed to walk (e.g. the Tube), and realised cycling was making my asthma worse, and started a (slow, painful) project to improve my walking mobility.

Long-term, it may well cause more joint damage, because of the nature of the condition I have.

Why should I have to do this?