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> I don't understand why such a large fraction of our usable land in people-dense areas needs to be consumed by expanses of ugly, dead cement What other useful

> I don't understand why such a large fraction of our usable land in people-dense areas needs to be consumed by expanses of ugly, dead cement What other useful space would you put between tall buildings? Pedestrians have plenty of space to walk, at least I don't hear much about pedestrian traffic jams. Roads are very valuable and they're being used for many things that everybody needs: buses, ambulances, fire service vehicles. Do you really want them gone?

ctdonath 9y ago
I'm actually surprised that space hasn't been occupied by more buildings.
- lazyjones 9y ago
  Building codes prohibit this in many places, i.e. the taller the buildings, the more free space is required between them (for light, safety etc.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_area_ratio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_area_ratio
matt4077 9y ago
The services you mention could be run using just a single one-way lane, alternating between blocks. And, yes, pedestrian traffic jams do happen. There's also untold other costs of traffic, and potential uses for more space: - Outdoor dining - retail displays - kids playing - Trees, bushes, etc - Bike lanes
- lazyjones 9y ago
  See, that's what I mean by "urban hipster lifestyle". Outdoor dining can be done in backyards (pretty much every 2nd tavern in Athens, a big, sprawling, dirty city) does this. Retail displays - pardon me, how many more do you need and why do they need to be in everyone's faces in the middle of the street? It seems that millennials don't really know what they want and aren't flexible enough to choose from available lifestyles in different cities, countries etc. - instead, they what everything together immediately right in the place they live, no matter how contradictory those things are. If you want trees, go to a park. Kids can play there safely, too, without being run over by an ambulance or biker. ;-)
  - majewsky 9y ago
    The spirit of capitalism, condensed into one statement: If your kids want to breathe non-toxic air and play, they better be prepared to walk (or, rather, drive) half an hour to the park.
    - lazyjones 9y ago
      > If your kids want to breathe non-toxic air and play, they better be prepared to walk (or, rather, drive) half an hour to the park. Wake up, "cars" is no longer synonymous with "pollution". I take offence at such ignorance as an EV owner. As for kids who want everything while condemning capitalism: the problem isn't that they want clean air and play time, the problem is that they demand just as vigorously warm pizza delivered to their home in 10 minutes, furniture brought to their doorstep by whoever sells it on Amazon and the fire brigade to arrive quickly when they set their WLAN-enabled fridges on fire. Obviously, they don't understand how these things relate to each other, but they moan about it nevertheless.
beambot 9y ago
Parks? You could eliminate half of roads and still have ample room for emergency services.

ctdonath 9y ago

I'm actually surprised that space hasn't been occupied by more buildings.

lazyjones 9y ago
Building codes prohibit this in many places, i.e. the taller the buildings, the more free space is required between them (for light, safety etc.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_area_ratio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_area_ratio

matt4077 9y ago

The services you mention could be run using just a single one-way lane, alternating between blocks. And, yes, pedestrian traffic jams do happen. There's also untold other costs of traffic, and potential uses for more space: - Outdoor dining - retail displays - kids playing - Trees, bushes, etc - Bike lanes

lazyjones 9y ago
See, that's what I mean by "urban hipster lifestyle". Outdoor dining can be done in backyards (pretty much every 2nd tavern in Athens, a big, sprawling, dirty city) does this. Retail displays - pardon me, how many more do you need and why do they need to be in everyone's faces in the middle of the street? It seems that millennials don't really know what they want and aren't flexible enough to choose from available lifestyles in different cities, countries etc. - instead, they what everything together immediately right in the place they live, no matter how contradictory those things are. If you want trees, go to a park. Kids can play there safely, too, without being run over by an ambulance or biker. ;-)
- majewsky 9y ago
  The spirit of capitalism, condensed into one statement: If your kids want to breathe non-toxic air and play, they better be prepared to walk (or, rather, drive) half an hour to the park.
  - lazyjones 9y ago
    > If your kids want to breathe non-toxic air and play, they better be prepared to walk (or, rather, drive) half an hour to the park. Wake up, "cars" is no longer synonymous with "pollution". I take offence at such ignorance as an EV owner. As for kids who want everything while condemning capitalism: the problem isn't that they want clean air and play time, the problem is that they demand just as vigorously warm pizza delivered to their home in 10 minutes, furniture brought to their doorstep by whoever sells it on Amazon and the fire brigade to arrive quickly when they set their WLAN-enabled fridges on fire. Obviously, they don't understand how these things relate to each other, but they moan about it nevertheless.

beambot 9y ago

Parks? You could eliminate half of roads and still have ample room for emergency services.