the car has become the ultimate PPE

[Demovictory9]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/us/drive-by-graduation-baby-shower-drive-in-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

The role of the automobile has been reinvented in the coronavirus era. Once just a way of getting from one place to another, the car has been turned into a mini-shelter on wheels, safe from contamination, a cocoon that allows its occupants to be inside and outside at the same time.

It took a pandemic to give the automobile its new role. When people pack up their families and friends, they can still adhere to social distancing rules. They remain under a roof, within closed doors, sealed off and separated from the rest of their fellow human beings.

Mobile safe distancing has generated a new way of life — a society on wheels.


ImageGraduates are now celebrating with drive-through ceremonies. In Odessa, Texas, teachers and family members came out to cheer the milestone at Ratliff Stadium.
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A drive-by visit with the Easter bunny at the Circle Drive-In in Dickson City, Pa.Credit...Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune, via Associated Press
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Concertgoers applauding D.J. Frans Zimmer, who is better known as Alle Farben, in Bonn, Germany.Credit...Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
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https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/us/drive-by-graduation-baby-shower-drive-in-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

[Tipperary]

1. I do not get out much, but when I do, I disinfect my car every time.

Sometimes I think I think the car might be carrying lots more germs than I care to think. I wipe it down all the time. But, I find myself going out less and less. What a time we live in.

[Cha]

2. Yep, I've thought of that... and

me without a car. Oh well.. here on Kauai, I feel pretty safe anyway.

Good on those who do have cars for them and their family and very close friends.

[Demovictory9]

4. those without a car or without access to one will be at a disadvantage

[Cha]

5. I take the bus and on the outside

of our buses are signs that read.. "No Mask No Ride".

I don't know what they're doing about masks on buses in larger cities. So I looked it up..

New York State to Require Masks on Public Transit

https://www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com/2020/04/new-york-state-to-require-masks-on-public-transit/

Yes, it is a disadvantage to not have a car for this specific reason. Good Luck to everybody who's been fine without a car until the CV invaded our lives.

[progree]

8. Twin Cities MetroTransit: just started a required mask policy but then said it won't be enforced

Our busses's chyrons or whatever you call those things say "#StayHomeMN". They are officially discouraging people from riding their busses and trains -- "Essential trips only"

http://www.metrotransit.org/health

If a regular-sized bus has more than 10 passengers on it, they put a "Next Bus Please" message up. But when they have to stop to let people off, some people, some times too many, get on (all exit and entrance is from the rear door only).

Anyway service has gotten to be so unreliable (this on top of a 40% cut in miles/day service, including elimination of many routes and less frequency on the remaining routes).

And now they are letting their website go to hell -- the things like NexTrip that tell you when the next bus is coming (real-time within 20 minute window, else the scheduled time) no longer works at all, and Rider Alerts -- you just get a blank page when there are actually a ton of alerts on my route (one has to happen to know the right URL, sigh). And "Show My Bus" - a formerly wonderful feature that used real-time information showing on a map the actual real-time location of all busses on that route or serving a certain bus stop. Now gone.

I don't think any of this is going to be much better next year and the year after. About 3/4 of Metro Transit's operating costs are tax-payer paid (the other 25% comes from fares) and all the construction / capital costs are 100% taxpayer-paid. State and local finances are going to hell big time (a story that is vastly undercovered but won't be for long).

Social distancing could be a boon to used car sales (interview with owner at shift.com), Yahoo Finance, 5/22/20

.. Arison believes people will use less ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft due to social distancing.

“My sense is that we're going to see a pretty steep decrease in usage of ride sharing in the coming couple of years. Same thing about public transportation. I think people are pretty skittish about getting into public transportation,” says Arison.

Some people are even required to avoid it. The New York Stock Exchange told its employees they need to avoid public transportation when some of them go back to the floor when it re-opens next Tuesday.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/social-distancing-could-be-a-boon-to-to-car-sales-181642918.html

And no, I'm not gurgling in ecstasy about the new primacy of the car, and the attitude of to hell with worrying about greenhouse gas emissions and Greenland and Antarctica and the permafrost melting and all that silly hippy stuff that we used to pretend to care about 3 months ago. No, its rah rah see my new ass-kicking real-American real-man Dodge Ram truck, where I can wait for doctor's appointments in luxury.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. We should all be as disadvantaged as Hawaii in general, and Kauai in particular

https://covidactnow.org/us/hi

"A low percentage (0%) of COVID tests were positive, which suggests widespread, aggressive testing in Hawaii."


Seems like Hawaii has some smart people doing the governing thing.

[LeftInTX]

3. It's amazing what you can do in a car

You can even wait for your doctor appointment...who knew....

(I've got one on June 1st and I don't think it's gonna be a televisit, so I will wait in my car)

[Nature Man]

9. yup

backseat of dad's Studebaker

[LeftInTX]

11. LOL...LOL...LOL!!!!

[7wo7rees]

6. Our primary care doc in North Dallas is outside every day

with a team doing testing. He actually set up 1st Mobile testing site in Dallas. He was on it and prepared. (Should have known he would be, he used to go to Africa every year to provide aid). He was featured several weeks ago on CNN, even interviewed. Dr. Martin McElya
Yes, our cars are amazing little shelters. As bad as it is and as difficult as it is we are still very privileged.

Added caveat, talked with his office Thursday. I can come, get in very short line and I can be tested for infection and antibodies. 2 tests, no charge.

[Newest Reality]

10. The Theme Song!

In Cars.

[KentuckyWoman]

12. My fav so far is this guy.