[clnq]

Wouldn’t this cause more pollution? Lower fuel efficiency, increased congestion, more half-clutch inching, more stopping, more time spent by each vehicle on each road…

…At least assuming the number and routes of travels stay constant.

I used to drive a 2010 Diesel VW Golf, about 55kW, in Central Europe. It would take 4l/100km at 70kph and closer to 11l/100km when maneuvering slowly. 2.75x pollution diff per km in these scenarios.

Sound is important, but cars also pollute the air.

[ignormies]

Not in Amsterdam where

- there are more bicycles than people [1]

- only 27% of trips are done via car [2]

- people travel half as many miles per day than the US [3]

Unlike most cities, especially in the US but also elsewhere in Europe, other forms of transportation are actually dependable and more convenient alternatives to driving. Making driving less convenient will actually entice mode shift in Amsterdam, rather than simply be a nuisance.

[1] https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2018/01/02/dutch-cycling-...

[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009411902...

[3] https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/best-kept-secret-dutch-b...

[clnq]

I don't think the three points you made are a consequence of speed limits or making cars inconvenient. They are a consequence of city planning and making public transit and bicycle transit convenient.

I think cars are in quite inelastic demand for many people who use them in Amsterdam. There are people with cardiovascular conditions, people who need to transport others, carry heavy items, and so on.

Incentivizing works better than punishing generally.