I got put in the middle front seat fairly frequently growing up (1990s). It wasn’t comfortable, but it was an adventure and for half hour rides it sure beat there having to be two trips which would have been the only alternative. Comfort isn’t everything.
I presume safety standards have a lot to do with the decline of smaller 6-7 seaters. Today I don’t think it would be legal for me to be in the front seat at all at the ages I was sometimes sitting in the middle front seat (5ish-10ish) due to passenger-side airbags that can’t be turned off*. The minimum size of a front crumple zone has gotten steadily larger in recent years (ie the distance from the furthest front point of the car to the furthest front point of a passenger) - I imagine rear crumple zones also have some sort of increasing minimum requirement. I also imagine that new standard safety features like side-curtain air bags are difficult to implement in many of the older car configurations.
On a completely different note, I am very curious whether, Jeff, you will amend any of your thoughts related to parking and zoning after you get a car. My understanding is you will now have 3 cars at your house, and 2 off-street parking spaces, meaning your house will require an on-street parking space. I think you’ve had your house about 5 years, and have said you plan to have it a long time. If even your family previously car-averse is likely to have a car for half or more of the time you are in the house, some of your assumptions about the correct car: housing ratios seem to need revisiting. I feel that the parking situation in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville generally supports that parking and housing are not yet ready to be as decoupled as you’ve proposed.
*My understanding is that in a 5 seater car with a driver and four 6 year olds, it’s perfectly legal to put one in the front passenger seat today—and you still can’t turn off the passenger-side airbag!
I imagine rear crumple zones also have some sort of increasing minimum requirement.
Maybe? But three-row SUVs are not especially long vehicles? For example the Volkswagon Tiguan is 185“; compare to a Toyota Camry at 192”.
you will now have 3 cars at your house, and 2 off-street parking spaces, meaning your house will require an on-street parking space
Our driveway does fit three cars, but unless they are interchangeable that’s a lot of hassle. Currently, one of our housemates uses the driveway and the other parks on the street; I think we would use the inner driveway space.
I think you’ve had your house about 5 years, and have said you plan to have it a long time. If even your family previously car-averse is likely to have a car for half or more of the time you are in the house...
Why are you only counting time as a homeowner? We lived in Cambridge/Somerville almost 10y as car-free renters first.
I feel that the parking situation in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville generally supports that parking and housing are not yet ready to be as decoupled as you’ve proposed.
b) Allow people to sell the right to park in their driveway
c) Allow construction of housing without off-street parking
d) Invest in public transit and bike infrastructure
I don’t see why us getting a car would change whether any of these were good policy? At current levels of cost and convenience, it is worth it for us to have a car. If those changed, it might not be.
I got put in the middle front seat fairly frequently growing up (1990s). It wasn’t comfortable, but it was an adventure and for half hour rides it sure beat there having to be two trips which would have been the only alternative. Comfort isn’t everything.
I presume safety standards have a lot to do with the decline of smaller 6-7 seaters. Today I don’t think it would be legal for me to be in the front seat at all at the ages I was sometimes sitting in the middle front seat (5ish-10ish) due to passenger-side airbags that can’t be turned off*. The minimum size of a front crumple zone has gotten steadily larger in recent years (ie the distance from the furthest front point of the car to the furthest front point of a passenger) - I imagine rear crumple zones also have some sort of increasing minimum requirement. I also imagine that new standard safety features like side-curtain air bags are difficult to implement in many of the older car configurations.
On a completely different note, I am very curious whether, Jeff, you will amend any of your thoughts related to parking and zoning after you get a car. My understanding is you will now have 3 cars at your house, and 2 off-street parking spaces, meaning your house will require an on-street parking space. I think you’ve had your house about 5 years, and have said you plan to have it a long time. If even your family previously car-averse is likely to have a car for half or more of the time you are in the house, some of your assumptions about the correct car: housing ratios seem to need revisiting. I feel that the parking situation in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville generally supports that parking and housing are not yet ready to be as decoupled as you’ve proposed.
*My understanding is that in a 5 seater car with a driver and four 6 year olds, it’s perfectly legal to put one in the front passenger seat today—and you still can’t turn off the passenger-side airbag!
At least in Massachusetts, there aren’t actually any restrictions on children riding in the front seat. They strongly recommend that children don’t until age 13, but it’s not the law: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/frequently-asked-questions-about-car-seats https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section7AA
Maybe? But three-row SUVs are not especially long vehicles? For example the Volkswagon Tiguan is 185“; compare to a Toyota Camry at 192”.
Our driveway does fit three cars, but unless they are interchangeable that’s a lot of hassle. Currently, one of our housemates uses the driveway and the other parks on the street; I think we would use the inner driveway space.
Why are you only counting time as a homeowner? We lived in Cambridge/Somerville almost 10y as car-free renters first.
I think we should:
a) Auction off the right to park in the street, and distribute the money among all residents: https://www.jefftk.com/p/pricing-benefiting-everyone
b) Allow people to sell the right to park in their driveway
c) Allow construction of housing without off-street parking
d) Invest in public transit and bike infrastructure
I don’t see why us getting a car would change whether any of these were good policy? At current levels of cost and convenience, it is worth it for us to have a car. If those changed, it might not be.