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Adrian Mateo

Professor Altman

Argument Essay Draft

Nov 13, 2022

Your Friendly Neighbor Ford.

Have you ever decided to go for a nice relaxing bike ride around your neighborhood? If
the answer is yes then you probably have already come to the harsh realization that your own
neighborhood is not necessarily built for green alternatives. In other words, the neighborhood
that you live in is not precisely made for humans. By designing large interconnected cities and
towns, individuals without access to cars are actively being discarded. The classic gas car has
proven to be an incredible mobility tool for most people but just like anything else, it comes with
serious downsides, in this case to public health and a massive ecological footprint. The classic
automobile industry has served its purpose but it's about time to say goodbye to our friendly
neighbor Ford and say hello to Transit-Oriented City Development.

In many suburbs, poor city planning decisions have led to a lack of pedestrian-friendly
infrastructure, making it difficult or impossible for residents to walk to their destinations. This is
often due to the prioritization of cars over other forms of transportation. Suburban streets are
often designed with wide lanes and few sidewalks, if any, making them unsafe and unpleasant
for pedestrians. In addition, suburban developments are often built with long blocks and a lack of
connectivity, making it difficult for pedestrians to access local businesses and services. As a
result, residents in many suburbs are forced to rely on cars for even short trips, contributing to
traffic congestion and air pollution. Although the use of motor vehicles for regular commuting is
not entirely bad by itself, it has proven to be a useful tool for humanity that has not been used
responsibly, like handing an Ipad to a child without supervision. Sure, it might be the most
effective and do its intended purpose very well, but this later could have serious consequences.
Over time, cars have steadily transformed from being a valuable tool for transportation to now
being the only available option for commuting in suburban cities.

In many cities, the lack of investment in public transportation and pedestrian-friendly

infrastructure makes it impossible for people without cars to access essential services and
opportunities like basic healthcare schools, and social events. This can lead to social isolation
and economic disadvantage for those who cannot afford to own a car or who are unable to drive
due to age, disability, or other factors. In addition, poor city planning that prioritizes cars over
other forms of transportation can also contribute to traffic congestion and air pollution, which
can have negative impacts on public health. It is important for cities to consider the needs of all
residents, including those without access to cars, in order to create a more equitable and
sustainable urban environment. That is why the responsible use of motor vehicles is so important
for the preservation of the atmosphere and doing so will improve the day-to-day life of most
people.
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It’s a common fact that safe driving can save lives but did you know that car crashes are
the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 1 and 39? (Kolosh). According to
Ken Kolosh, the statistics chief for the National Safety Council “They rank in the top five killers
for Americans 65 and under (behind cancer, heart disease, accidental poisoning, and suicide).
And the direct economic costs alone—the medical bills and emergency-response costs reflected
in taxes and insurance payments—represent a tax of $784 on every man, woman, and child
living in the U.S.” (The Atlantic).

In addition to the health risks produced by car crashes, cars also create diseases by
contaminating the environment. The Department of Ecology of The State of Washington states
“Vehicle pollutants harm our health and contain greenhouse gasses that cause climate change.
Burning gasoline and diesel fuel create harmful byproducts like nitrogen dioxide, carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, benzene, and formaldehyde. In addition, vehicles emit carbon dioxide,
the most common greenhouse gas.”. As I’ve mentioned before, the simple act of using a car is
not the only factor that damages the atmosphere, but it is outside factors that contribute to
increased emissions of greenhouse gasses. These factors include poor maintenance and high
standby times while the car’s engine is on. Research has shown that driving habits also play an
important role in the number of emissions produced. Driving faster burns more fuel and emits
more air pollutants. Accelerating gradually also burns less fuel. Getting a vehicle moving from a
complete stop uses the most energy, so go easy on the accelerator (Department of Ecology).
Aside from this, the before-mentioned harmful greenhouse gasses that cars produce on a day-to-
day basis are known to produce all sorts of health hazards to humans. The greenhouse gasses
produced by vehicles are closely linked with poor air quality as is produces “smog” which is a
shorter term for “smoke fog” and is the result of the combination of fog and dark smoke from
chemical fumes like carbon dioxide (CO2) and formaldehyde, most of which deriving from
motor vehicles. The overwhelming presence of smog in the air of contaminated cities like Los
Angeles or Mexico City has been shown to increase symptoms of respiratory ailments like
asthma and bronchitis and worst of all it has been shown to increase the risk of contracting lung
cancer (USCUSA).

The truth is that most of us live in automobile societies, we coexist as equals with cars,
they take up most of the space in urban cities and can be seen anywhere you go. But not all of us
realize the damage to public health and the environment that traditional gas cars do. In the words
of American writer Karin Slaughter “You didn't realize what was passing you by until you
slowed down a little bit to get a better look” Cars are fundamental for businesses and the average
American’s life. What would we do without them? This reliance on cars is precisely why it is
important to seek alternatives that are more ecologically conscious and think for the future of the
planet we all live on.

Transit-oriented city development also known as (TOD) is a great alternative that focuses

on creating compact, walkable communities centered around high-quality public transportation

systems. This approach is designed to effectively reduce the reliance on cars, decrease traffic

congestion, and increase inclusion for people without access to a car by encouraging people to
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use public transportation instead of driving a personal vehicle.One of the key benefits of transit-

oriented city development is that it can help to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

By creating communities that are centered around public transportation, this approach

encourages people to leave their cars at home and use buses, trains, or other forms of public

transportation instead. This can help to significantly decrease total carbon emissions which in

turn can significantly improve air quality and quality of life as a whole.

By encouraging locals to seek alternatives like walking and biking while investing in
bike lanes and appropriate sidewalks a city can reduce its carbon footprint significantly added to
the fact that studies have shown that cities with less car transportation have seen higher rates of
street commerce than help increase the city's economy and encourage the creation of new small
businesses. Edwards Humes states in his book “The centralization of all various important
amenities and facilities has to be necessarily incorporated. This will help in reducing the distance
of the people traveling from various points in town. The shape and form of the town and the road
network should be so designed that the walking distance from any point in town is not more than
7 minute to 10-minute walk” (Door to Door: The Magnificent, Maddening, Mysterious World of
Transportation). By doing this, the scope is widened significantly and we can begin adopting
bike lanes and walkways for everyday commuting. Cycling habitually, especially at a high
intensity “can help lower your body fat levels, which promotes healthy weight management.
Additional studies suggest that including sprint and strength training with regular cycling may
temporarily increase your metabolism and build muscle, which allows you to burn more calories,
even while at rest”(Palladino)

Last but not least, better urban planning can make the biggest impact on carbon
emissions. A city where car mobility is not necessary or even impractical makes the biggest
impact. According to Urban Planner, Murat Ölmez “Improving safe cycling infrastructure and
considering cycling as part of the transportation system can be one of many important tools in
wider efforts to reduce carbon emissions in cities, improve air quality, make citizens more active
and healthy, and enhance their quality of life.”

It is true that a transition from contemporary city planning to transit-oriented city

planning would imply immense amounts of capital, roadwork and construction. This same fact
may be one of the biggest downsides to (TOD). Given the current state of most suburban city
planning this change would be a radical one and it would have a great impact on the residents'
lives. I believe that this will ultimately be a worthwhile investment, both for the city planners as
well as the people who live in the cities. According to Bussiness Insider “Getting around in the
suburbs often involves driving — sometimes a lot of driving. It's inefficient and it's not ideal for
the environment”. With that said better city planning could potentially attract thousands of new
residents to move in to settle with small businesses, while seeing a significant increase in
revenue and clientele. This is indeed a lot easier said than done but I believe that with gradual
change we can all achieve a society that is less reliant on gas cars.
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The gas car industry has been a great tool for development that has revolutionized the
whole world around it. But as a society, it is important to get our priorities straight and think
about the future generations and the world that we will be inheriting to them. Greener
alternatives to cars provide many positive side effects other than saving the planet, like good
cardiovascular health, better air quality, promoting street commerce, and an increased sense of
community. The preservation of the earth should be the number one priority to society because
it's what we all have in common and by removing the biggest pollutant of air which is gas cars,
an enormous step is being made into a greener world. It might be a tough decision to make but
it's time to say goodbye to our friendly neighbor Ford as we move into the next era and start
repairing the damage that we have done to our planet before it's too late.

Works Cited

Humes, Edward “The Absurd Primacy of the Automobile in American life” The Atlantic.

12 April 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/04/absurd-primacy -

of-the-car-in-american-life/476346/.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “Sustainable Transport and Air Pollution”

UNEP ORG, Accessed 26 Oct. 2022. https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/resource-eff

iciency/what-we-do/cities/sustainable-transport-and-air-pollution.

The New Economy, “Cycling As a Key to Better Cities” The New Economy, September 22,

2015, https://www.theneweconomy.com/business/utrecht-where-people-come-to-live-

happy-healthy-lives.

US Department of Enery (EERE) “Alternative Fuels Data Center” United States Department of

Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy. Accessed November 12,2022. https://afdc.ene

rgy.gov/vehicles/electric_availability.html.

Palladino Allissa “12 Benefits of Cycling, Plus Safety Tips” Healthline. December 15, 2021,
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https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/cycling-benefits.

Business Insider “City Or Suburbs: Which Is More Efficient For Your Business?” Insider

October 7, 2013