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This feels like a distinctly American problem to me. It's hard to have serendipitous interactions in public spaces if you're sitting in car at the time. I've li
by Doches 11y ago
This feels like a distinctly American problem to me. It's hard to have serendipitous interactions in public spaces if you're sitting in car at the time. I've lived in several large American and European cities and I wouldn't willingly go back to a car-centric lifestyle. So many of the plaintive questions in this article ("when was the last time you had a meaningful interaction with someone in a public space?") ring hollow to me; that sort of spontaneous running into friends is the norm when you walk instead of drive.
- saeranv 11y agoUnfortunately, wealthy citizens in other countries mistakenly aspire to this American/Canadian model of suburban residential development, hence the increasing popularity of suburban residential fabric in India, China etc. That being said, here in Toronto, there's been a wave of newer developments[1] in these very the outer suburbs that are based, somewhat, on principles of compact, urban patterns. It's not quite urban, because of course they still have to deal with the existing building regulations and zoning codes in the suburbs that essentially make it illegal to build anything but sprawl - but it's something to keep an eye on. [1] http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/01/14/paradise_saved_gta_growth_plans_aim_to_rein_in_sprawl.html http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/01/14/paradise_saved_gt...