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  • From: "Thomas C. Meggs" <tom AT plik.net>
  • To: internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [internetworkers] New Urbanism
  • Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 16:59:22 -0500

Linda Watson wrote:
At 11:47 AM 1/7/2003 -0500, Thomas C. Meggs wrote:

[...] Cars breed sprawl growth.


Cars + low fuel costs + highly subsidized roads + abundant parking + busy lives + a love of privacy breed sprawl growth.

Right. Because of our love of the automobile, we have subsidized fuel costs, roads, and lots parking infrastructure.

A while ago I read a study that estimated that fuel should cost as much as $15/gallon if you were to bill all car related subsidies to it. Everything from the cost to build the roads, the actual cost of the fuel, to paying for the Ambulances that attend roadway accidents.

It is also arguable that our love of privacy was at least partially found through the automobile. It gives us a private place to move across the earth really fast. Cars are pretty monsterous and intimidating when you think about it. There isn't exactly anything quite like them in nature.

I just spent two weeks in Japan, where excellent mass transit, dense pockets of population, and a lack of zoning creates a New Urbanist's dream. I'm so glad I don't live there! I agree with Gina -- give me

Japan is a prime example of a place where they were forced to have decent urban planning because of geographical constraint. I agree, I wouldn't want to live there, but I also grew up in America where I'm used to a lot of space.

*some* space. And knowing your neighbors doesn't mean you'll like them. Go watch "American Beauty" if you think this is the case. Or just think

"American Beauty" is a cynical story about what American life has become. It is a story about how the corporate world is evil and unfulfilling, and also about how the automobile is a means of power tripping. Kevin Spacey wanted to be a bad boy, so he traded in his little family commuter car for some convertible with a big block engine. How is that for illustrating the power trip that the automobile provides? The car helped him feel better about himself.

As far as the weird neighbors next door, that kind of thing is largely a product of suburban living. The story involved a lot of brief interactions between Kevin Spacey and Chris Cooper (Colonel Fitts), after which everyone receded to their own little private castles/prisons and dwelled on their dislike for one another.

Or take the son in the Colonel's family, I think all he wanted was some friends, some kind of connection. That was why he was a freak. But for the most part he was holed up in his room, courtesy of his suburban prison. Imagine if he had moved into a community instead?

about what it would be like to *live* next to that really annoying person at work.

If you had to talk to them maybe they would have some accountability.

I've also lived in four different neighborhoods in Raleigh where you really could get by without a car, if you resigned yourself to taking a taxi once in awhile. All these neighborhoods had many of the qualities sought by the utopians (a range of housing costs, local stores and services, parks, nearby mass transit, etc.). My personal circumstances ranged from "starving student" to "fine, thank you." You don't need to be well-off to live in places like these; in fact, poverty can force you into them.

I agree that a situation is what you make of it. I just moved next to Cameron Village, and it is very convenient, and I have no real reason to drive except for getting to work.

On the other hand, the vast majority of my current neighbors never walk to the Wellspring or the other shops in the Ridgewood Shopping Center, three pleasant blocks away. Many of these same neighbors *do* walk for

Yeah, people are to some degree inherently lazy. They do what they know, and they do what is quicker. For example your reference to people's busy lives. A lot of people get caught up into thinking that they don't have any time. Really, I think we all have a lot of time. You just have to stop and smell the flowers once in a while, so to speak.

exercise. But we're not isolated from each other. We have a neighborhood book club and lots of social events, including a Christmas party and a Super Bowl party.

Yeah it's good. But who wants to hang out with their neighbors? I mean come on! ;)

Regards,
Tom





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