4 ms·
This is a remarkably optimistic take on things that I see and agree with, but struggle not to feel deeply cynical about. In my case, the problem is understandi
by burlesona 6y ago
This is a remarkably optimistic take on things that I see and agree with, but struggle not to feel deeply cynical about.
In my case, the problem is understanding proper street and transportation network design, and then having to live in the United States where the vast majority of the landscape is literally designed to create long driving trips with everyone stuck in traffic. The professionals upholding the anti-functional design sometimes understand this, but generally shrug as they get a few extra shrubs planted around an intersection feeling they’ve done the best they can. “It’s the whole system, what can I do?”
It’s deeply frustrating and discouraging to experience hundred-year mistakes freshly poured in concrete on a regular basis, which I believe are just as this author suggests, mostly attributable to the large majority of people not caring about how roads and streets (or anything else, for that matter) actually work. Combined with the strong tendency of humans to prefer the familiar and status quo over the novel and new... and once things become shitty they will tend to stay that way forever.
- tacostakohashi 6y agoWhy must you live in the United States? Are you not free to leave at any time to a place more in line with your preferences? Even within the United States, are you unable to find an urban geography to your liking, say in Manhattan or San Francisco? Upon further analysis, you might actually find that the street and transportation network design in any given area is largely optimal given the relative costs of time, land, labor, transportation and energy. That doesn't mean it's enjoyable to be stuck in traffic - that sucks, and there are alternatives (like living in Manhattan), you just need to pay for them - they're not absent due to widespread ignorance.
- navait 6y agoManhattan and the NYC metro area was absolutely built with cars in mind, mostly under the vision of Robert Moses.
- mortehu 6y agoI don't think the Commissioner's plan of 1811 was made with automobiles in mind. Although there's a highway next to each river, they don't really define traffic in Manhattan. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioners%27_Plan_of_1811 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissioners%27_Plan_of_181...