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SUV's represent a fetishisation of the motor car
Agreed. There are a few enormous cars in the neighbourhood. I assume, knowing little about cars, that they're SUVs - oversized, tall so you have to kind of climb into them, big tyres. I hate them.
Yes I understand that the general dependence and acceptance of motor car use is more problematic overall, but I do think the symbolism of these cars is significant. It says not just that urban car use is rational but that it's highly desirable - the bigger, more powerful and more dominant the vehicle the better.
Countering the cultural status of cars is as valid as activism towards better urban transport/mobility - especially in London where so much car use is already "unnecessary". (I actually hate these cars less than the incredibly loud motors but it's a close run thing.)
hoefla-
It says not just that urban car use is rational but that it's highly desirable - the bigger, more powerful and more dominant the vehicle the better.
I think this does rather play into the prevailing narrative that climate activists are smelly hippies who hate success, and that their actions can be dismissed as a manifestation of their envy for your large, tall, powerful car (that keeps the kids safe!), that you got a fantastic lease deal on (had to take the 2 litre diesel but it still shifts).
i.e. singling out cars that are sold on their aspirational appeal for the greatest opprobrium is counter productive - talking about cars in general (somewhat) resists the argument being derailed easily.
Dammit
A little bit, but I was more interested in the way this discussion developed from:-
People protesting about SUV's miss a wider point about generalised use of motor cars to-
SUV's aren't necessarily as polluting as you might think to -
People who protest about SUV's are Dickheads.
In reality, I'm not 100% convinced by the original position. To my mind - probably incorrectly - SUV's represent a fetishisation of the motor car. They are a car that isn't in any way necessary.
The reason I no longer own a car is that years ago, when I had one I realised I only ever drove it when I went on holiday, the rest of the time it just sat outside the house.
To me, driving to the shops, or driving the kids to school is just preposterous. What SUV's symbolise is that such activity is not preposterous, but rational, which is why I am conflicted.