台灣行人地獄的緣由，汽車是如何搶佔路權的？一百年前，車與行人曾經共享街道？心理學研究：開車其實感覺更不自由？世界各國成功案例，如何做到還路於民？ 書來面對EP43《是設計，讓城市更快樂》

Summary

The transcript discusses how the auto industry in the 20th century reshaped the concept of right of way in cities to favor cars over pedestrians. It traces how roads evolved from public spaces for people to exclusive domains for automobiles through lobbying and advertising. The transcript then explores examples globally of pedestrianizing city centers, imposing congestion fees, and pedestrian safety reforms, making the case that cities should be designed for collective happiness, not maximum car throughput.

Takeaways

• 😟 Taiwan has a high pedestrian death rate from traffic accidents, earning it the title of 'pedestrian hell'
• 😡 Drivers often don't yield to pedestrians, due to changes in regulations giving vehicles greater right of way
• 🤔 The auto industry lobbied for driving-centric urban design, reshaping attitudes on freedom and rights of way
• 😠 Long commutes by car bring unhappiness; walking/biking to work raises life satisfaction
• 👎 City roads designed for cars reduce quality of life and collective citizen happiness
• 👍 Cities like Copenhagen took back streets for pedestrians, boosting public life
• 🚗 Paris' mayor says owning cars does not bring freedom as you become enslaved to them
• 💰 London and Stockholm imposed fees on cars entering city centers, reducing traffic
• 🚲 Bogota pioneered car-free days, giving citizens a new vision of street usage
• 😀 Case studies show reclaiming urban spaces for pedestrians improves livability

Q & A

How did the auto industry in the early 20th century influence people's views on freedom and car ownership?

The auto industry promoted the idea that cars allow people to escape from cities and move to the suburbs, linking car ownership with freedom. They convinced people and the government that having a car equals freedom.

What was the original purpose of building cities in ancient Greek and Roman times?

In ancient Greek times, the purpose was to create public spaces for citizens to communicate and realize their potential. In ancient Rome, rulers built public facilities mainly to divert people's attention from questioning the government.

How did imposing fees and restrictions on cars in cities like London, Stockholm and Bogota impact traffic levels?

Imposing fees on cars entering city centers and having car-free days significantly reduced traffic levels in these cities by up to 25%.

What kind of transportation makes people happiest psychologically?

Studies have found that riding a bicycle leads to the highest level of happiness compared to driving or taking public transportation.

How did the introduction of cars negatively impact pedestrian safety in the early 20th century?

Cars were seen as a threat to freedom as accident rates skyrocketed, leading to over 200,000 deaths in the 1920s. The auto industry blamed pedestrians and successfully made driving the priority on roads.

What was the impact of the Copenhagen street experiments in the 1960s and 70s?

Banning cars and giving more space to pedestrians and cyclists improved local businesses, demonstrated that more car infrastructure leads to more cars, and sparked a cycling revolution in Copenhagen.

How did imposing fees on cars entering central London impact traffic levels?

The fees reduced traffic volume in central London by a quarter.

What are some key cases of cities successfully giving streets back to pedestrians?

Key cases include Copenhagen creating large pedestrian areas and bike lanes, Paris introducing a public bike rental system, Bogota having weekly car-free days, and New York City pedestrianizing Times Square.

What is the purpose of modern capitalist city planning?

The purpose is to maximize happiness by efficiently utilizing space rather than enabling collective citizen happiness.

How can Taipei reduce pedestrian deaths from traffic accidents?

Options include imposing fees on cars entering the city, having car-free days, expanding sidewalks and bike lanes, and reducing the overall traffic flow.