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> somehow much older cities around the world ironically have more modern elements than cities like Los Angeles and New York Somehow? Shouldn’t this say “Much o
by irrational 5y ago
> somehow much older cities around the world ironically have more modern elements than cities like Los Angeles and New York
Somehow? Shouldn’t this say “Much older cities around the world have more modern elements than cities like Los Angeles and New York because they were razed to the ground during the world wars and rebuilt in modern times.”?
- renewiltord 5y agoNah, Thameslink beats any US line and it’s from 1988. Lizzie line will be better too. Oedo line too. And Fukutoshin like. Blackfriars is over the Thames. I don’t think there’s a US station that is as creative in use of space. Not to speak of the overground or DLR. I think it’s just trade offs. The US gives individual power, those other places give state power. Former excels in certain places but provides veto when you achieve steady state. So things stall here. Notice that in things which can be done with individual power, like developers making housing developments in Texas, outcomes are good.
- ehnto 5y agoI think power to execute is definitely a big part of it. A neighborhood can't afford a major work, or organize one, so it won't, but when a government entity can afford a major work, the neighborhood often has the power to stop that. Even though the major work is likely part of a larger orchestration of infrastructure, that one neighborhood can put a halt to it. They tried to replace a level crossing with an overpass in my city, arguably good for everyone. Well, they did argue it, and it didn't happen. Even though there is already a train line there, apparently an overpass was too much infrastructure for them.
- dionidium 5y agoThat wouldn't explain why Phoenix and Seattle and Austin and Las Vegas (and other recent-growth cities) lack the amenities of similarly-sized European cities.
- bumby 5y agoFor discussion's sake, can you enumerate the amenities you're alluding to? If it's solely in regards to public transit, I think this is largely due to cultural differences. The US still has the remnants of an individualistic frontier mentality. I don't know, but tend to think it's not by coincidence, that the better public transit systems tend to be near the eastern seaboard.
- bradlys 5y agoIt’s not just public transit. Walkability. Bike paths. High density - potentially mixed use types. No emphasis on lowering noise. Etc. Basically anything you’d normally see in a Not Just Bikes video… It’s not cultural btw. It’s corporational. It’s corporations which are driving these things - which don’t seem to have as significant of a voice in other countries.
- bluGill 5y agoWalkability is the fad now. Just like cars replacing streetcars was in the past. In this case one I'm glad to support.
- cscurmudgeon 5y agoAs a US immigrant with chronic health issues from walking miles to work in a 3rd world country, cars are a boon for me now.
- bradlys 5y agoI think the idea of walkability isn’t that you spend hours having to walk everyday to do menial tasks. It’s that you’re within very short distances of places.
- bumby 5y agoI am glad to support it as well, but I can also acknowledge a lot of people scoff at it (and bike lanes, for that matter).