Why Cities Still Need Cars

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1. 01Why Cities Still Need Cars

   Good morning. Car-free streets look beautiful in photos, and it's easy to see why people love the idea. However, today I'll argue that removing cars from our cities is not as simple, or as fair, as it sounds.

   早上好。没有汽车的街道在照片里看起来很美，也很容易理解为什么大家喜欢这个想法。不过，今天我要论证的是：把汽车从城市里赶走，并不像听起来那么简单，也没有那么公平。

2. 02Not Everyone Can Walk or Cycle

   First, not everyone can walk or ride a bike easily. Older people, people with disabilities, and parents with small children often depend on cars to get around.

   首先，不是每个人都能轻松地步行或骑自行车。老年人、残障人士，还有带着小孩的父母，往往要依靠汽车出行。

3. 03Public Transport Isn't Everywhere

   Second, good public transport isn't available everywhere. In a big city center, a train may come every few minutes. But in the suburbs and the countryside, buses can be rare, and distances are long.

   第二，并不是每个地方都有完善的公共交通。在大城市的市中心，可能几分钟就有一班列车。但在郊区和农村，公交车可能很少，距离也很远。

4. 04Cities Still Need Vehicles

   Third, cities need vehicles to work. Shops need deliveries, ambulances and fire engines need to reach people quickly, and construction work needs trucks. We cannot simply remove roads.

   第三，城市的运转离不开车辆。商店需要送货，救护车和消防车需要快速到达现场，建筑工程也需要卡车。我们不能简单地把道路都取消掉。

5. 05Some Shops May Suffer

   There is also a risk for some local businesses. Shops that sell large or heavy items, like furniture, may lose customers who can no longer drive and park nearby.

   另外，一些本地商家也会面临风险。卖大件或重物的商店，比如家具店，可能会失去那些没办法再开车过来、在附近停车的顾客。

6. 06A Better Balance

   So what's the alternative? Instead of banning cars, cities can improve public transport first, make streets safer for walking and cycling, and make changes slowly, together with local people.

   那么，替代方案是什么呢？与其禁止汽车，城市可以先改善公共交通，让街道对步行和骑行更安全，并且和当地居民一起，一步步地推进改变。

7. 07My Position

   My position is this: cities should put people first, but that does not mean removing cars completely. The goal should be streets that work for everyone.

   我的立场是：城市应该以人为本，但这并不意味着要完全取消汽车。我们的目标应该是让街道对每个人都适用。

8. 08Conclusion

   In the end, a good city is one where everyone can get where they need to go. Let's design streets that are fair, not just beautiful. Thank you.

   归根结底，一座好的城市，是每个人都能到达自己需要去的地方的城市。让我们设计出公平的街道，而不只是漂亮的街道。谢谢。