I hate how fucking loud cars are, even when they’re being as quiet as they possibly can be. Just the sound of them passing through space and their tires on the road is so fucking loud.
I’m currently sitting in my hammock, at the back of my apartment complex, probably 300yd from the road, behind three 2-story buildings. The road noise is constant and loud. No honking or anything, just tires on pavement at 50mph.
If the personal automobile had never been invented the apartment I live in would be half as far from my work as it currently is and my road would have a lovely quiet street-car running along it instead of stupidly loud rubber tired cars.
I’d be able to walk to work in 20-30 minutes or bike/trolley there in less. And what would I lose? A lot of noise pollution and a machine I have to pay a couple hundred dollars a month to maintain.
Yes we need to return to form and stop having closed cars. Well, not really, but the incredible noise canceling has got to go. It is detrimental to everyone outside of the car that motorists don't hear their own noise pollution coming from high speed tires, engines, and honking.
Why not make cars more uncomfortable without adding more replacement infrastructure?
My actual priorities are:
Public transportation > complete streets (bike lanes, reducing lanes, traffic calming) > technical changes to cars (making sure motorists are aware of their own noise, speed governors)
Fair enough — I'm still not sold on the idea that making cars louder would actually help much, but I do know it would be hell for a lot of people like me (autistic, hyperacusis)