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This is not born out by commute statistics. 86% commute by car in Phoenix compared to 65% in Portland. If you're saying Phoenix can work well at an individual l
by notJim 7y ago
This is not born out by commute statistics. 86% commute by car in Phoenix compared to 65% in Portland. If you're saying Phoenix can work well at an individual level, I might agree, but as far as urban planning goes, I'd say Portland is much better. Subjectively I've lived in both places, and Phoenix is far far more car-dependent than Portland. Walking along those 6-lane streets throughout the city, traversing massive parking lots through strip malls does not make for pedestrian-friendliness.
- munificent 7y agoWell, neither does 120°F summers. I think there's an argument that Pheonix fundamentally can't be pedestrian friendly so optimizing for car-and-bus-friendliness is a justifiable strategy.
- davidw 7y agoJust because summers are hot doesn't mean there aren't a whole lot of days the rest of the year when you couldn't get around quite happily by bike or on foot. People get around by bike in Montreal in the winter. With the right architecture, even hot places, like, say, Seville, Spain, are pretty nice for pedestrians. Transportation should be a "right tool for the job" thing, rather than "well since I can't go to Costco with my 4 kids on a bike, bikes are totally useless for everyone" thing.
- whatshisface 7y agoIf all the cars come out on the same day of the year, it doesn't matter if it's only once a year, the roads have to be ready for it.
- onlyrealcuzzo 7y agoPhoenix is not THAT hot most days of the summer -- and it's barely hot outside a few hours of the day outside of summer -- IFF you're in the shade. Phoenix could've invested in trees and shade, and less in concrete to absorb the heat, and it could be much more bearable.
- davidw 7y agoDoesn't work like that. Not at all.