A New American Dream

[Judas Maccabeus]

They’re still “mixed use” and you can still walk in them. For various reasons, a lot of the businesses that used to be there are closed.

In many cases, they were never there to begin with. The city had an extensive streetcar system that was asphalted over to make room for cars. The buses that replaced them were a fail. From my neighborhood. 5-10 minutes to shopping. Bus just does not go there.

… because people vastly preferred their own vehicles to streetcars.

and as such, we do not have walkable cities.

[JohnH]

In many cases, they were never there to begin with. The city had an extensive streetcar system that was asphalted over to make room for cars. The buses that replaced them were a fail. From my neighborhood. 5-10 minutes to shopping. Bus just does not go there.

… because people vastly preferred their own vehicles to streetcars.

and as such, we do not have walkable cities.

If living without cars is actually important to someone, then can join the Amish. I do not take seriously someone otherwise.

[JohnL]

and as such, we do not have walkable cities.

You say you live in Baltimore? Is there a lot of crime?

[Valerie]

They’re still “mixed use” and you can still walk in them. For various reasons, a lot of the businesses that used to be there are closed.

The physical ability to walk somewhere does not make a neighborhood "walkable." It's an urban planning concept that measures the ability to live, work, visit, shop, and access amenities within a reasonable distance, safely and without barriers. The definition also requires that people actually do walk there, not just that they could.

I’m in a walkable town right now. Most people end up choosing to drive because:

- a guy who works with us prefers to drive 0.3 miles to the grocery store, gun shop, or whatever else he needs or wants.
- people prefer to drive to a job 30 or 60 minutes away rather than a local job because then they can choose from a much wider array of careers and job duties.
- people drive their kids to school instead of making them walk. They also complain the school bus won’t pick up kids who are within 1.5 miles or whatever the threshold is.
- it’s raining
- it’s snowing
- it’s too hot out
- it’s too cold out
- prefer a vehicle to haul all the groceries
- prefer a vehicle to put kids/baby in instead of pushing a stroller
- driving is faster than walking or cycling
- people order pizza delivery, DoorDash etc. instead of walking 0.3 miles because they prefer to do that too.

I might be one of some of the above people.

The three towns we’ve lived in the past 34 years in OH I definitely consider walkable cities one of old live in without a car. I think most of OH would be considered walkable towns, if need be. My husband doesn’t drive so he can walk anywhere to town & does often when weather permits. So many towns I can think of here would be walkable cities-

[JohnL]

The physical ability to walk somewhere does not make a neighborhood "walkable." It's an urban planning concept that measures the ability to live, work, visit, shop, and access amenities within a reasonable distance, safely and without barriers. The definition also requires that people actually do walk there, not just that they could.

I hear about the”walkable town” or neighborhood proposals pitched in smaller towns in Western NC. It’s usually by developers who want another contract. Some of these towns go for it only to find out that what worked on paper isn’t reality. Other towns say thanks but no thanks. One town was being pushed to have an all year ice rink. When change comes to a town and it always does - the places considered walkable now might not be that way anymore.
About the bolded part. What is the definition of “reasonable”? Does it vary by age group?
“Safely” my guess is a low crime rate and slow traffic.

[JohnH]

North Korea must be full of walkable towns.

[barnhart]

The physical ability to walk somewhere does not make a neighborhood "walkable." It's an urban planning concept that measures the ability to live, work, visit, shop, and access amenities within a reasonable distance, safely and without barriers. The definition also requires that people actually do walk there, not just that they could.

I hear about the”walkable town” or neighborhood proposals pitched in smaller towns in Western NC. It’s usually by developers who want another contract. Some of these towns go for it only to find out that what worked on paper isn’t reality. Other towns say thanks but no thanks. One town was being pushed to have an all year ice rink. When change comes to a town and it always does - the places considered walkable now might not be that way anymore.
About the bolded part. What is the definition of “reasonable”? Does it vary by age group?
“Safely” my guess is a low crime rate and slow traffic.

It can be done. I live one that probably qualifies. Japan is good at providing the planning to make them workable. Some urban development is constructed around cores that contain shopping districts and schools. Even the very young children walk to school alone because it's close and feels safe and knowable.

[JohnH]

It can be done. I live one that probably qualifies.

Having actually lived in NYC, I would say it is a place just as car dependent as anywhere else esp. for the working class that can’t live in ultra-wealthy neighbourhoods. My parking garage seemed to primarily be guys carpooling with their toolboxes, lunchboxes, and hard hats in tow.

But yes, it’s a walkable playground for the rich.

Japan is good at providing the planning to make them workable. Some urban development is constructed around cores that contain shopping districts and schools. Even the very young children walk to school alone because it's close and feels safe and knowable.

Japan is quite homogenous including very harsh treatment of antisocial behaviour, and few rights for criminals. Their legal system functions on “guilty until proven innocent”. This does make for much more walkable, safe neighbourhoods.

[Judas Maccabeus]

The physical ability to walk somewhere does not make a neighborhood "walkable." It's an urban planning concept that measures the ability to live, work, visit, shop, and access amenities within a reasonable distance, safely and without barriers. The definition also requires that people actually do walk there, not just that they could.

I hear about the”walkable town” or neighborhood proposals pitched in smaller towns in Western NC. It’s usually by developers who want another contract. Some of these towns go for it only to find out that what worked on paper isn’t reality. Other towns say thanks but no thanks. One town was being pushed to have an all year ice rink. When change comes to a town and it always does - the places considered walkable now might not be that way anymore.
About the bolded part. What is the definition of “reasonable”? Does it vary by age group?
“Safely” my guess is a low crime rate and slow traffic.

It can be done. I live one that probably qualifies. Japan is good at providing the planning to make them workable. Some urban development is constructed around cores that contain shopping districts and schools. Even the very young children walk to school alone because it's close and feels safe and knowable.

Been there. The fact that the police are deployed in neighborhood “Kobans” rather then large police stations makes a huge difference. They know the neighborhood, and they get a great deal of respect. Socially, the tolerance for crime is much lower.

[Judas Maccabeus]

and as such, we do not have walkable cities.

You say you live in Baltimore? Is there a lot of crime?

Depends on neighborhood. Mine is very safe.

Some are absolutely no go zones.

Interestingly enough, Hispanics and Asians appear to be the favorite target. Average white guys don’t carry money, and stealing a cell phone is asking for arrest. The cash apps are frequently secured by a second password.