[sustran] [World Streets] Silent cities

[ericbritton]

[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2001/jul/19/mpsurgery23]
[From the New Mobility Cafe of this date.] Here is an idea which might
go on the World Streets website but I'd like to run it through this
group first.There have been suggestions that electric cars might need
to have artificial noise generators to warn pedestrians and cyclists,
who rely to a great extent on auditory cues, of their approach. See for
example the article of 4 Dec 2008 obtained by searching for "noise
vehicle" on .It has occurred to me to ask why not require vehicles to
be silent while putting the onus on the drivers to avoid pedestrians
and cyclists. The former, if universal, would bring an unimaginable
improvement to the quality of life, and not only in cities, because
these days many rural areas are as noisy. The latter -- strict
liability -- would force motorists to lower their speeds by enough to
make the streets safe for all.All surface transport vehicles --
lorries, buses, trains and boats -- would be required to install
electric engines. Trains and trolleybuses would run under wires as now,
but could also take power to batteries while on the move and thereby
run on unwired sections. Solar power from the deserts would be used to
ensure that this power was emission-free. Low noise surfaces would be
installed on major highways where motorists would be able to go fast.
Aviation, where noise is probably inevitable, would be tightly
constrained in favour of high speed trains and completely outlawed
during the normal hours of sleep.Private vehicles would be subject to a
mileage tax in addition to an energy tax (which would be returned to
the providers of renewable electricity).There would be problems with
people with limited vision, but given that Monderman stated that he
thought people should be able to cross the road walking backwards (i.e.
with no forward vision) I think these should be soluble. Are there any
other problems which would make this vision unfeasible?Simon Norton
Cambridge, UK

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Posted By ericbritton to World Streets at 3/17/2009 10:55:00 AM
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