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If we (North America) had more walkable streets a lot of these problems would be solved: grocery stores are easier to place in population centers a short distan

If we (North America) had more walkable streets a lot of these problems would be solved: grocery stores are easier to place in population centers a short distance with less car and more foot traffic and you can rent a car for occasional "off-road" recreational driving. In terms of transportation and city design, the US could learn a lot from Europe if it weren't so addicted to cars. It's better for the environment, mental well-being, and a sense of community.

shipscode 3y ago
Except in the real world this is the opposite case… population centers are full of food desert pockets and the suburbs are the land of plenty.
- djrobstep 3y ago
  ? Reality is the exact opposite of what you say
nradov 3y ago
No thanks. Even if Costco was only a few blocks away I wouldn't be able to carry that much stuff home on foot. I drive back with my car pretty much filled. The places where I go most often in Europe, people are nearly as car dependent as in North America. Get out of the big cities and you'll see how regular people live. And rental cars can't be taken off road. It says so right on the rental contract.
- idontwantthis 3y ago
  In a walkable environment you don’t go to Costco because you don’t need to cram two weeks of shopping into one gigantic trip that takes a long time. You can walk to stores for things you need when you need them. The “grocery bag problem” is a problem caused by cars.
  - nradov 3y ago
    I don't have time to go shopping so frequently.
    - Mawr 3y ago
      You wouldn't "go shopping", you'd just stop by the grocery store that's along the sidewalk/cycle path to your workplace.
      - huytersd 3y ago
        No thanks, I like a fully stocked pantry and buying things in massive bulk from Costco so I can get high quality products for a reasonable price.
IshKebab 3y ago
I hate to break it to you but all European cities have walkable streets and yet most still have shit public transport, even on the continent. It simply isn't economically feasible to have London or NY style underground networks in most cities. I don't really get why public transport extremists are so against driverless cars. It would be a huge improvement to transport. Just think of them as small buses that aren't shit if you like.
huytersd 3y ago
Again you’re talking about dense population centers. Americans for the most part don’t want to live like that. They want stand alone houses with large yards in the suburbs. Those are not densely populated enough to make walking to all the businesses you need feasible. Rental cars are a pain in the butt. Spend an hour getting one. You need someone to come with you to drive the vehicle you arrived in back or pay for expensive parking or an Uber. Repeat for when you drop it off. They kill all spontaneity. That being said I would love to have a better train network in the US, just not at the expense of roads.
- Mawr 3y ago
  As for rentals, car sharing exists too, it's fast and easy: https://youtu.be/OObwqreAJ48?t=44 https://youtu.be/OObwqreAJ48?t=44

shipscode 3y ago

Except in the real world this is the opposite case… population centers are full of food desert pockets and the suburbs are the land of plenty.

djrobstep 3y ago
? Reality is the exact opposite of what you say

nradov 3y ago

No thanks. Even if Costco was only a few blocks away I wouldn't be able to carry that much stuff home on foot. I drive back with my car pretty much filled. The places where I go most often in Europe, people are nearly as car dependent as in North America. Get out of the big cities and you'll see how regular people live. And rental cars can't be taken off road. It says so right on the rental contract.

idontwantthis 3y ago
In a walkable environment you don’t go to Costco because you don’t need to cram two weeks of shopping into one gigantic trip that takes a long time. You can walk to stores for things you need when you need them. The “grocery bag problem” is a problem caused by cars.
- nradov 3y ago
  I don't have time to go shopping so frequently.
  - Mawr 3y ago
    You wouldn't "go shopping", you'd just stop by the grocery store that's along the sidewalk/cycle path to your workplace.
    - huytersd 3y ago
      No thanks, I like a fully stocked pantry and buying things in massive bulk from Costco so I can get high quality products for a reasonable price.

IshKebab 3y ago

I hate to break it to you but all European cities have walkable streets and yet most still have shit public transport, even on the continent. It simply isn't economically feasible to have London or NY style underground networks in most cities. I don't really get why public transport extremists are so against driverless cars. It would be a huge improvement to transport. Just think of them as small buses that aren't shit if you like.

huytersd 3y ago

Again you’re talking about dense population centers. Americans for the most part don’t want to live like that. They want stand alone houses with large yards in the suburbs. Those are not densely populated enough to make walking to all the businesses you need feasible. Rental cars are a pain in the butt. Spend an hour getting one. You need someone to come with you to drive the vehicle you arrived in back or pay for expensive parking or an Uber. Repeat for when you drop it off. They kill all spontaneity. That being said I would love to have a better train network in the US, just not at the expense of roads.

Mawr 3y ago
As for rentals, car sharing exists too, it's fast and easy: https://youtu.be/OObwqreAJ48?t=44 https://youtu.be/OObwqreAJ48?t=44