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Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Tokyo have higher population density, and they're not as noisy. These cities have 2 things in common: first, they have top notch public
by Hasknewbie 8y ago
Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Tokyo have higher population density, and they're not as noisy. These cities have 2 things in common: first, they have top notch public transportation (especially HK. If you have tried the MTR, Elon Musk's past jabs at public transportation ring hollow: clearly he doesn't know), which means much reduced traffic -- it's still busy mind you, but "European capital" level of busy. And second, they have (or have learnt) that most essential of things in urban life: etiquette. They know when to shut up. I will add that around 40% of Hong-Kongers are immigrants, mostly from (much more noisy & unruly) Mainland China, so clearly that etiquette thing is not innate and can be learnt.
So I would make the case that if you want a high-density city in the West to remain tolerable noise-wise, basic regulations are not enough. You need some 'investment', both in the local administration and in the local culture.
- Nav_Panel 8y agoAgreed. I used to live near a busy intersection in Brooklyn. Most of the noise was from cars. But not their engines: their horns. There was a busy bus stop across the way, and drivers loved to lay on the horn when a bus would stop for passengers. Because, of course, traffic isn't moving, better start honking! This is something that basic etiquette would fix.
- robbyt 8y agoI think some cars in NYC have a breaking system is attached to their horn. They're unable to stop or slow down without the horn also going off.
- qbrass 8y agoWiring the horn to the brake lights was supposed to be a prank. But if the driver doesn't acknowledge that it's happening, the prank backfires on the prankster.
- TheCoelacanth 8y agoAnd most of that honking is actually illegal because in NYC it is illegal to honk except in an emergency. Even some basic enforcement of traffic laws would stop the honking. The US in general seems to have very little appetite for actually enforcing traffic laws, though.
- ng12 8y agoEverytime I go to Tokyo I'm shocked by how few cars there are. Even in popular, inner-city neighborhoods the streets are largely quiet. Growing up in a major US city I didn't even realize a city could be that quiet.
- sid-kap 8y agoIt's not just the presence of alternatives to driving---they also directly discourage driving with narrow roads and slow speed limits.