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Wow that article is wrong on so many points. 2. Most of the Europeans who are lucky enough to live in the premiere cities can't afford to frequently eat in the

Wow that article is wrong on so many points. 2. Most of the Europeans who are lucky enough to live in the premiere cities can't afford to frequently eat in the nice restaurants that delight foreign visitors. Proof? 3. "Efficient public transportation" and bicycles may seem great to a tourist who eats in restaurants. They're not so great if you're a local who needs to get groceries home to make dinner. In bad weather, subways and bikes are downright awful. Absolutely wrong. In bad weather subways are great. Public transportation works great in European cities because of their layout where the grocery store is always just a short walk away. Yes, even locals prefer public transportation, in Europe and NYC. 2. However, very few Americans live in such cities Actually A LOT of Americans live in such cities. Perhaps the author is thinking about how the electoral college in the US works. But almost no one in Europe lives in places as comfortable and convenient as American suburbs The reason rents in down town are high is because there's high demand to live there, because it's so convenient, again both in Europe and NYC.

Tichy 17y ago
Also - Cars have actually been sighted in Europe, too (Although I am not sure what they are being used for) - NYC was great, from my European perspective. Pretty & impressive at the same time As for suburbs: "places as comfortable and convenient as American suburbs: The houses are spacious, the cars are huge, cheap Big Box stores and chain restaurants are nearby, and (to quote South Park) there's "ample parking day or night." - none of these things seem very desirable, except maybe for the spacious houses.
- jerf 17y ago
  Please allow me to add a couple of words to your quote: "none of these things seem very desirable to Tichy, except maybe for the spacious houses." I've lived in cities. I've lived in suburbs. I'll take the suburbs near a city by a mile. I won't pretend this isn't a subjective judgment, because it is. But so is the "I'd prefer a city by a mile" view, and being all mystified (or in some cases, angry) at the people who choose differently than you is not sophistication, it is simply provincialism. The evidence abundantly suggests I am not alone, either. Given the choice, a lot of people prefer suburbs, or suburbs wouldn't even have come into existence.
  - Tichy 17y ago
    Fair enough - luckily we don't all have to live in the same place, or the same kind of place. Actually I have nothing against living outside the city. I can imagine moving outside for the scenery and closeness to nature. But definitely not because I love shopping malls (again, to each their own). I think in Europe most people move outside the city when they have children and want them to play in the garden. It is easier to afford a house in the suburbs. If they could afford houses in the city, I suspect more people would stay.
  - kscaldef 17y ago
    > The evidence abundantly suggests I am not alone, either. Given the choice, a lot of people prefer suburbs, or suburbs wouldn't even have come into existence. I'm not entirely sure that's the case. You certainly can't reach a simple conclusion, because living in the city is more expensive than living in the suburbs. One might equally well argue that most people would prefer to live in the city, otherwise it would not command a price premium.

Tichy 17y ago

Also - Cars have actually been sighted in Europe, too (Although I am not sure what they are being used for) - NYC was great, from my European perspective. Pretty & impressive at the same time As for suburbs: "places as comfortable and convenient as American suburbs: The houses are spacious, the cars are huge, cheap Big Box stores and chain restaurants are nearby, and (to quote South Park) there's "ample parking day or night." - none of these things seem very desirable, except maybe for the spacious houses.

jerf 17y ago
Please allow me to add a couple of words to your quote: "none of these things seem very desirable to Tichy, except maybe for the spacious houses." I've lived in cities. I've lived in suburbs. I'll take the suburbs near a city by a mile. I won't pretend this isn't a subjective judgment, because it is. But so is the "I'd prefer a city by a mile" view, and being all mystified (or in some cases, angry) at the people who choose differently than you is not sophistication, it is simply provincialism. The evidence abundantly suggests I am not alone, either. Given the choice, a lot of people prefer suburbs, or suburbs wouldn't even have come into existence.
- Tichy 17y ago
  Fair enough - luckily we don't all have to live in the same place, or the same kind of place. Actually I have nothing against living outside the city. I can imagine moving outside for the scenery and closeness to nature. But definitely not because I love shopping malls (again, to each their own). I think in Europe most people move outside the city when they have children and want them to play in the garden. It is easier to afford a house in the suburbs. If they could afford houses in the city, I suspect more people would stay.
- kscaldef 17y ago
  > The evidence abundantly suggests I am not alone, either. Given the choice, a lot of people prefer suburbs, or suburbs wouldn't even have come into existence. I'm not entirely sure that's the case. You certainly can't reach a simple conclusion, because living in the city is more expensive than living in the suburbs. One might equally well argue that most people would prefer to live in the city, otherwise it would not command a price premium.