4 ms·

But the point is, in lot places - San Jose - the roads are huge, I mean, the small road between houses is of a size of many european 4 lane roads ;-)

by orian 10y ago

eitally 10y ago
And we homeowners love it. That's a large part of what makes neighborhoods "kid friendly", along with lack of through traffic, good neighborhood schools, and convenient local services.
- sampo 10y ago
  I am from Europe, and my idea of a kid-friendly neighborhood has proper sidewalks. Here is an example: https://goo.gl/maps/Ng3BUjBcPq12 https://goo.gl/maps/Ng3BUjBcPq12 The American model seems to have such narrow and badly paved sidewalks that no one uses them, so then you need wider streets to cater for the combined use by pedestrians, cyclists and cars.
  - amyjess 10y ago
    TBH, GP's neighborhood isn't universal in the US. I grew up in suburban Dallas, and there were sidewalks everywhere. The only neighborhoods I saw without sidewalks were older neighborhoods that always creeped me out when I was little... I always got the impression that they were dilapidated. Here's an example from a neighborhood right near where I grew up: https://goo.gl/maps/qGSvbk4HdAM2 https://goo.gl/maps/qGSvbk4HdAM2 And even the six-lane arterials have sidewalks here: https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu and https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 And for completeness, a sidewalk-less street in a nearby neighborhood: https://goo.gl/maps/TnQ8bogKttL2 https://goo.gl/maps/TnQ8bogKttL2 -- that whole area just looks old, and the neighborhood gave me the creeps when I was a kid
    - sampo 10y ago
      > And even the six-lane arterials have sidewalks here: https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu and https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 I would definitely change the order from road | sidewalk | lawn to road | lawn | sidewalk in those two cases. There is ample space, so why not make the sidewalk safer by putting a strip of grass between the sidewalk and the road.
      - jfoks 10y ago
        There is a disconnect in ownership between roads and sidewalks that makes it all very political: "Sidewalks in front of homes can be a source of puzzlement over just who or what owns them. Generally, each state sets its own laws about ownership of property, including sidewalks in front of homes and buildings. Certain states say that sidewalks are owned by the cities, towns or other municipalities having jurisdiction. In California, for example, sidewalks in front of homes and businesses are owned by their municipalities, but their upkeep is to be handled by those homes and businesses." http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sidewalks-considered-homeowners-property-56365.html http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sidewalks-considered-homeowners...

But the point is, in lot places - San Jose - the roads are huge, I mean, the small road between houses is of a size of many european 4 lane roads ;-)

by orian 10y ago

But the point is, in lot places - San Jose - the roads are huge, I mean, the small road between houses is of a size of many european 4 lane roads ;-)

eitally 10y ago

And we homeowners love it. That's a large part of what makes neighborhoods "kid friendly", along with lack of through traffic, good neighborhood schools, and convenient local services.

sampo 10y ago
I am from Europe, and my idea of a kid-friendly neighborhood has proper sidewalks. Here is an example: https://goo.gl/maps/Ng3BUjBcPq12 https://goo.gl/maps/Ng3BUjBcPq12 The American model seems to have such narrow and badly paved sidewalks that no one uses them, so then you need wider streets to cater for the combined use by pedestrians, cyclists and cars.
- amyjess 10y ago
  TBH, GP's neighborhood isn't universal in the US. I grew up in suburban Dallas, and there were sidewalks everywhere. The only neighborhoods I saw without sidewalks were older neighborhoods that always creeped me out when I was little... I always got the impression that they were dilapidated. Here's an example from a neighborhood right near where I grew up: https://goo.gl/maps/qGSvbk4HdAM2 https://goo.gl/maps/qGSvbk4HdAM2 And even the six-lane arterials have sidewalks here: https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu and https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 And for completeness, a sidewalk-less street in a nearby neighborhood: https://goo.gl/maps/TnQ8bogKttL2 https://goo.gl/maps/TnQ8bogKttL2 -- that whole area just looks old, and the neighborhood gave me the creeps when I was a kid
  - sampo 10y ago
    > And even the six-lane arterials have sidewalks here: https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu https://goo.gl/maps/DUR8mdVQysu and https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 https://goo.gl/maps/hZ4dL3yj8F32 I would definitely change the order from road | sidewalk | lawn to road | lawn | sidewalk in those two cases. There is ample space, so why not make the sidewalk safer by putting a strip of grass between the sidewalk and the road.
    - jfoks 10y ago
      There is a disconnect in ownership between roads and sidewalks that makes it all very political: "Sidewalks in front of homes can be a source of puzzlement over just who or what owns them. Generally, each state sets its own laws about ownership of property, including sidewalks in front of homes and buildings. Certain states say that sidewalks are owned by the cities, towns or other municipalities having jurisdiction. In California, for example, sidewalks in front of homes and businesses are owned by their municipalities, but their upkeep is to be handled by those homes and businesses." http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sidewalks-considered-homeowners-property-56365.html http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sidewalks-considered-homeowners...