4 ms·

No, as a US citizen, they are not anything like described above. An American suburb is, basically by definition, never more than 15 minutes drive from a grocer

No, as a US citizen, they are not anything like described above. An American suburb is, basically by definition, never more than 15 minutes drive from a grocery store, a doctors office, a dental office, some sort of clothing store, at least one bar, at least one restaurant (usually 2+), at least one hair dresser, etc. It will usually all be ugly (strip malls are common), but it will be affordable and economically sustainable. You can walk or bike anywhere (sidewalks are usually nicer than in the UK), but usually only car-based public transit is actually convenient (mainly because suburbs prioritize saving cash, and car-based public transit is always the cheapest transit). If you truly need to drive 40+ minutes to get to a grocery store, you don't live in a suburb. You are either in an exurb, or just plain rural area.

michaelcampbell 6y ago
> An American suburb is, basically by definition, never more than 15 minutes drive ... which to a lot of the rest of the world is a really, really long ways and essentially "not in the same area".
- maxsilver 6y ago
  I'm not sure why. The drive for me in Michigan to get to the nearest grocery store, was not meaningfully different than it was from, say a random suburb in the UK to get to the nearest Tesco.
  - michaelcampbell 6y ago
    Again, in a lot of the ACTUAL world, a 15 minute drive isn't possible. That's a ... 5-10 mile walk? Think beyond suburbia, which is really quite small in the scheme of things.
  - thirdsun 6y ago
    The crucial point is that such a grocery trip basically requires a car. Meanwhile the rest of the world is used to having businesses within walkable reach.
smoe 6y ago
15 minutes drive seems quite far away to get to anything. The residential area where I grew up in had all the basics within 10-15 minutes walk. From kindergarten age to finishing secondary school I could do almost everything on my own by walking or cycling there. I rarely had to have and adult driving me. Before turning 16 I was pretty much only ever in a car or public transport for weekend trips to the mountains or going to another city. While the car is certainly convenient, it takes someones time to drive it.

michaelcampbell 6y ago

> An American suburb is, basically by definition, never more than 15 minutes drive ... which to a lot of the rest of the world is a really, really long ways and essentially "not in the same area".

maxsilver 6y ago
I'm not sure why. The drive for me in Michigan to get to the nearest grocery store, was not meaningfully different than it was from, say a random suburb in the UK to get to the nearest Tesco.
- michaelcampbell 6y ago
  Again, in a lot of the ACTUAL world, a 15 minute drive isn't possible. That's a ... 5-10 mile walk? Think beyond suburbia, which is really quite small in the scheme of things.
- thirdsun 6y ago
  The crucial point is that such a grocery trip basically requires a car. Meanwhile the rest of the world is used to having businesses within walkable reach.

smoe 6y ago

15 minutes drive seems quite far away to get to anything. The residential area where I grew up in had all the basics within 10-15 minutes walk. From kindergarten age to finishing secondary school I could do almost everything on my own by walking or cycling there. I rarely had to have and adult driving me. Before turning 16 I was pretty much only ever in a car or public transport for weekend trips to the mountains or going to another city. While the car is certainly convenient, it takes someones time to drive it.