xkcd #2940: Modes of Transportation

https://xkcd.com/2940

Explain xkcd #2940

Title Text:

My bold criticism might anger the hot air balloon people, which would be a real concern if any of them lived along a very narrow line directly upwind of me.

alt-text:

A chart that categorizes various modes of transportation based on their practicality and danger level:

Zone of Practicality:

  • Trains
  • Airliners
  • Boats
  • Walking
  • Cars
  • Scooters
  • Bicycles

Zone of Specialty and Recreational Vehicles:

  • Motorcycles
  • Helicopters
  • Light aircraft
  • Go karts
  • Skateboards
  • Rollerblades
  • Skis
  • Unicycles
  • Sleds
  • Bumper cars

???:

  • Hot air balloons

“Hot air balloons are the optimal mode of transportation, if your optimization algorithm has a sign error.”

      • AwesomeLowlander@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        491·
        6 months ago

        Not only. I live in Norway, where pedestrians have right of way and drivers are extremely careful. Discounting the risk from cars, there’s still more personal danger to users of scooters as opposed to cars. If you have an accident on a scooter, you’ll get scrapes, bruises, broken bones. As compared to a car, where unless you’ve really screwed up, you’re unlikely to take any injuries at all.

        Source: scooter user who HAS broken bones

      • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
        5·
        6 months ago

        The chart needs a third dimension: danger to you, danger to others, and convenience for travel.

        • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          6 months ago

          I think most normal people can understand the difference intuitively without needing it spelled out.

    • brettvitaz@programming.devEnglish
      11·
      6 months ago

      I just saw a pedestrian get hit by a person on a bike and end up with a concussion. Bicyclists don’t give a fuck about others

    • MindTraveller@lemmy.caEnglish
      314·
      6 months ago

      Driving a car makes it more likely for your species to go extinct. Infinitely more dangerous than a bicycle.

        • Jentu@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          2·
          6 months ago

          Microplastics from heavy vehicles scrubbing away their tires is a bigger issue than tailpipe emissions, which is why tailpipe emissions are the only thing focused on with regards to regulatory standards. Can’t have people thinking BEVs are similar/worse for the environment than a small car.