I just realised that cars in urban environments are a damn good example of the tragedy of the commons. Each car is

• a big but individual plus (fast transport) for its owner.
• a small but cumulative minus for everyone.

So if there’s just one or two cars it isn’t a big deal. But as more people get cars, those small minuses pile up, and fuck with everyone — including the car owners. Eventually reaching a point the “big plus” from car usage is overshadowed by all those “small minuses” from everyone else’s car usage.

This sort of situation cannot be solved by individual decisions; because, even in an environment where everyone would be better off without cars, not having a car is still worse than having one, because of that big plus. You need collective decision and action, to either lower that “big plus” (so there’s less reasons for the individual to use a car), or lowering that “small minus” (so your car ownership becomes less problematic for the others).

With that in mind, car infrastructure like the one in the second pic is completely the wrong way to go; it’s increasing both the big plus (cars become more viable) and the small minus (it’s space you can’t simply walk / bike through).