I think he has a point that fixing the US is somewhat hopeless. There are many pieces that go into the puzzle that is the United States and its citizens and together they create such a hostile and undesirable place that is adamantly resistent to change. Not only were our cities literally demolished to make way for the car, the whole idea of driving and what that means is deeply engrained in our culture and identity.
This isn’t just about removing stroads and designing some cutesy livable spaces and parks in cities. This is about changing the identity of what it means to be an American. Do you think you could convince even a portion of Americans that the European old way of living is better than the American way?
A partner’s friend came to visit us in New York city once. We were walking from one bar to another, maybe a ten minute walk, and she was like “are we going to take a car?”
We were all like what, no, it’s like ten minutes.
She was like oh. That’s far, isn’t it? We don’t walk that much in Illinois.
This is in Brooklyn. Like the most walkable part of the united states.
As an american, I’d love to be able to walk to a shop.
but I cant. Because America decided to build out in the most stupid way possible, and put shopping and such as far away from living areas as humanly possible.
Cars are the only viable option in the fucked up american reality.
And don’t even mention buses. In my area, it takes 2 hours by bus, to get somewhere it takes 10 minutes to get to by car… and the shitty thing is, the bus trip isnt even all bus. half if it is by foot getting to your next busstop to pick up the connection.
I have an F150 with a small bed in the back, heated seats and working AC. I can drive 15-20 minutes to the big-box or local grocery store rain-or-shine and load up my truck bed so I can feel like I’m actually getting some use out of it and grab a latte from Starbucks on the way back in like an hour and a half total. I’ll get home, backup into the driveway and unload into the freezer in the garage and the fridge/pantry in the kitchen. Done.
“Yes but imagine if you could walk to the grocery store and have nice things to look at! Imagine spaces that feel comfortable and inviting, small cafes on the corner and people out and about instead of just a bunch of cars.”
So what am I walking for? I just want to get groceries and get home why would I deliberately take longer to do a chore? And where do I put all my stuff after checkout? They have those locks on the carts now so you can’t even take them outside of the parking lot, do I like bring a duffel bag or something? What if it is raining? I’m not sure where I put that umbrella I bought 10 years ago for my vacation. And snow? Forget it, the plows push all that muddy ice up onto the sidewalk, I could never even make it out of the house.
I’m trying to determine if this is satire or not. I’ll respond anyways if it is just to share a point of view for anybody else reading though.
EDIT: I just saw the username and saw you commented above. The below still stands for everything the average big truck American embodies though.
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Besides the fact you have an oversized, $30,000+ vehicle for just grocery shopping (as you say “so you get some use out of it”), the ideal walkable/bikable city will save you time plus has the added benefit of making you healthier too. The exercise you get and reduced air pollution will have a noticeable affect on health and lifespan.
As for time saving, you say you spend ~40 minutes traveling to the big box store, but a walkable city would have more stores closer to you so you could just take a short 10 minute walk or 4 minute bike ride to them.
The umbrella and bag situation is an easy fix though, just spend like $100 on raincoat, backpack, etc.; you didn’t mind spending $30,000 on a truck. I know some people need a vehicle for longer travel, but that’s the point people are trying to make. Having every American require a multi-thousand dollar more of transportation when $500 for a bike and equipment is just insane.
When everything is built to only be convenient by car, of course it’s going to be more convenient by car, and most people are going to use cars. That’s the entire problem.
If your local grocery store was 5 minutes walk or bike away in a dense city without highways everywhere and unlimited free parking, you would walk or cycle instead.
We aren’t blaming individuals here, the entire culture and built world in the US is fundamentally broken.
I think he has a point that fixing the US is somewhat hopeless. There are many pieces that go into the puzzle that is the United States and its citizens and together they create such a hostile and undesirable place that is adamantly resistent to change. Not only were our cities literally demolished to make way for the car, the whole idea of driving and what that means is deeply engrained in our culture and identity.
This isn’t just about removing stroads and designing some cutesy livable spaces and parks in cities. This is about changing the identity of what it means to be an American. Do you think you could convince even a portion of Americans that the European old way of living is better than the American way?
You would loose them at first idea “Imagine going to grocery shop by foot.” They would be more disgusted than by bidet.
A partner’s friend came to visit us in New York city once. We were walking from one bar to another, maybe a ten minute walk, and she was like “are we going to take a car?”
We were all like what, no, it’s like ten minutes.
She was like oh. That’s far, isn’t it? We don’t walk that much in Illinois.
This is in Brooklyn. Like the most walkable part of the united states.
I think about this a lot.
As an american, I’d love to be able to walk to a shop.
but I cant. Because America decided to build out in the most stupid way possible, and put shopping and such as far away from living areas as humanly possible.
Cars are the only viable option in the fucked up american reality.
And don’t even mention buses. In my area, it takes 2 hours by bus, to get somewhere it takes 10 minutes to get to by car… and the shitty thing is, the bus trip isnt even all bus. half if it is by foot getting to your next busstop to pick up the connection.
I have an F150 with a small bed in the back, heated seats and working AC. I can drive 15-20 minutes to the big-box or local grocery store rain-or-shine and load up my truck bed so I can feel like I’m actually getting some use out of it and grab a latte from Starbucks on the way back in like an hour and a half total. I’ll get home, backup into the driveway and unload into the freezer in the garage and the fridge/pantry in the kitchen. Done.
“Yes but imagine if you could walk to the grocery store and have nice things to look at! Imagine spaces that feel comfortable and inviting, small cafes on the corner and people out and about instead of just a bunch of cars.”
So what am I walking for? I just want to get groceries and get home why would I deliberately take longer to do a chore? And where do I put all my stuff after checkout? They have those locks on the carts now so you can’t even take them outside of the parking lot, do I like bring a duffel bag or something? What if it is raining? I’m not sure where I put that umbrella I bought 10 years ago for my vacation. And snow? Forget it, the plows push all that muddy ice up onto the sidewalk, I could never even make it out of the house.
I’m trying to determine if this is satire or not. I’ll respond anyways if it is just to share a point of view for anybody else reading though.EDIT: I just saw the username and saw you commented above. The below still stands for everything the average big truck American embodies though.
–
Besides the fact you have an oversized, $30,000+ vehicle for just grocery shopping (as you say “so you get some use out of it”), the ideal walkable/bikable city will save you time plus has the added benefit of making you healthier too. The exercise you get and reduced air pollution will have a noticeable affect on health and lifespan.
As for time saving, you say you spend ~40 minutes traveling to the big box store, but a walkable city would have more stores closer to you so you could just take a short 10 minute walk or 4 minute bike ride to them.
The umbrella and bag situation is an easy fix though, just spend like $100 on raincoat, backpack, etc.; you didn’t mind spending $30,000 on a truck. I know some people need a vehicle for longer travel, but that’s the point people are trying to make. Having every American require a multi-thousand dollar more of transportation when $500 for a bike and equipment is just insane.
When everything is built to only be convenient by car, of course it’s going to be more convenient by car, and most people are going to use cars. That’s the entire problem.
If your local grocery store was 5 minutes walk or bike away in a dense city without highways everywhere and unlimited free parking, you would walk or cycle instead.
We aren’t blaming individuals here, the entire culture and built world in the US is fundamentally broken.
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