People Are Fundamentally Social, Except When We’re Inside a Car
Bill Lindeke at Twin City Sidewalks was on a high from this weekend, when he attended a pretty spectacular outdoor festival in his hometown of St. Paul. The streets were filled with people and activity. It got him thinking, as fun as it was, it would have been a miserable place to be if you were in a car trying to get somewhere.
He says the things that make pedestrians happy and drivers happy couldn't be more fundamentally opposite:
The experience led me to dwell on the fundamental difference between walkable cities and a car-based society. Try as we might to reconcile the various "modes" of urban movement, the difference between driving a car and doing just about anything else all comes down to density. Put simply, in a car, more is bad; outside of a car, more is good.
It’s relatively simple to understand. Just look at any car commercial, showing people driving their shining new SUV through a city street. The one common denominator is that in almost every case, the streets are practically empty. The ideal state for driving a car is to be completely alone, to have the city all to yourself.
Now think about any commercial that shows people walking around a city. Typically, you’ll see streets full of other people, maybe dogs, shops, street vendors. The ideal city on foot is full of other people.
You just can’t get around that fundamental opposition. Cars transform us all into misanthropes.
Elsewhere on the Network today: Systemic Failure reports that city leaders in Hamilton, Ontario, voted to remove a dedicated bus lane. Strong Towns shares a case that illustrates how setting limits on infrastructure spending can be a good thing. And Mobilizing the Region says a new report rightly zeros in on New Jersey's road funding troubles, but identifies the wrong solution.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
The Explainer: What’s Next for Congestion Pricing?
Let's run through the major issues still looming over New York City's first-in-the-nation congestion toll.
Monday’s Headlines: Congestion Ahead Edition
Good news: We're not going to start our week with our typical ascent on our long-legged steed to criticize the Times for its flawed, car-centric coverage. Plus other news.
Elon Musk’s Cybertruck is the Perfect Killing Machine
The Cybertruck represents a lot of what's wrong with the U.S. transportation system — even as it purports to address those problems.
Highway Boondoggles 2023: Salt Lake Shenanigans
Plans for a major freeway expansion based on over-inflated traffic projections are a wrongheaded way to deal with the region’s rapid population growth.
Cycle of Rage: Mayor is Failing the Leadership Test on Congestion Pricing
Purely for political and self-serving purposes, Mayor Adams is attacking congestion pricing — and, in doing so, is undermining the implementation of a program that he has long claimed to be a "strong" supporter of.
