Ha!

Source, via BoingBoing.

Mile of Cars

Urg, we actually went to this place last week while we were looking for a car to replace our Subaru, totaled in an accident almost two weeks ago now. As much as I would just like to completely forget the experience now that we have a new car and everything is settled, I figure a post about it will help purge it from my consciousness.

A few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about the place, but after a couple years of being into the livable cities movement, bicycling advocacy, and the like, it was hard not to see the “Mile of Cars” as deeply pathological.

First, the “mile” is not really a mile, but an entire section of the city of National City, just south of San Diego. There are reputable dealerships (if there is such a thing), semi-shady used car lots, totally shady used car lots, auto body shops, detailing shops, car washes, upholsterers, tire shops, car stereo shops, everything you would ever need, and much that you don’t, for your car. Everywhere there are legions of slick, cologne-dipped young men loitering about, ready to pounce and sell you a car. They stand about in clique-ish groups, telling off-color jokes, jabbing each other on the shoulder, and smirking hungrily at folks like us, sheep who have obviously wandered heedlessly into a den of wolves. Sometimes stereotypes are founded in reality.

I can’t help but wonder what will become of “the mile” as gas prices soar, and more people stop driving, let along buying new cars. For National City, it’s going to mean a major downturn in the local economy, as dealerships close, putting hundreds out of work. Already, smaller dealers are closing on the mile, and every salesman we talked to just shook his head when asked how business was. And then all of the ancillary shops will close too, which employ dozens, if not hundreds, more people. For places like this, which have built an entire local economy on autos, the coming revolution away from cars is going to spell absolute disaster. As sad as this may be for the innocent victims of this crash, after visiting such a place, I am even prouder to practice and advocate a low-car or car-free lifestyle. I’m more convinced than ever that automobile addiction is a ruinous feature of modern life. That said, yes, we bought a car, but not on the “the mile.” And no, we don’t use it more than we need to; and yes, it gets good gas milage.