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This is a lovely gesture, but also it's pretty sad (and very North American?) that if your car dies at the store you can't get home without relying on the tenuous kindness of strangers (pbs.twimg.com)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world
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This is apparently in Columbus, Ohio -- a pretty major city by any stretch of the imagination.

And yet there are people who rail (geddit?) against 15-minute cities and efficient public transit that ensures no one ever gets stuck like this.

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[–] 4 points 1 year ago (10 children)

In my country, most people who own a car are also members of a drivers' club where you pay a membership fee in exchange for being able to call them for assistance in situations like this (they might repair or tow your car). Is that not a thing in the US?

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    It is, but they're expensive, and since owning a car is already a pretty expensive necessity not everyone has it.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    It's not terribly expensive. It costs like 2 tanks of gas a year. And you can usually sign up for AAA over the phone after you've already broken down on the side of the road. If you're still financing your car, you probably already have roadside assistance. Expecting car owners/drivers to be financially prepared for a breakdown isn't car-brained it's just part of the social contract.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    American drivers are required by law to purchase car insurance, and "roadside assistance" as it's called is usually a mid or premium feature of said insurance

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

    That sounds similar to AAA, pronounced “Triple A.” In the US, it’s an optional “club” that provides emergency road service to members. I’ve had to rely on it before, and recommend it for those who drive a used car (which can have unforeseen issues in the works.)

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