A New American Dream

[Judas Maccabeus]

Can you think of any other factors?

I really do think these are the major factors. But if all you have is a hammer ...

Lots of America has walkable neighborhoods. For example, Baltimore, or basically any other American city, come to think of it. Common public space, public transportation (light rail via Light RailLink, heavy rail with MARC, a comprehensive bus system, and so forth). People "across all income levels" can use these things; there are subsidies for people who can't afford them.

It is simply false that Europe has a "strong safety net". The income for the poverty line in America is significantly higher than equivalent measures in Europe. Food stamps, Section 8 housing, Medicaid, heating/electricity assistance, and so forth are quite a bit more generous. America has one of the most generous, well-developed welfare states there is, particularly in Medicaid expansion states, which is most of the country.

Schools, transportation, and public space in America are also considered "worth funding". Berlin spends significantly (14,000 euros) more than Germany does on average (about 9,000), but that's not anywhere close to Baltimore spending per student, which is north of $20,000 per student per year.

With that in mind... what do you think the other differences are?

I will correct you here. Baltimore has few mixed use walkable neighborhoods. The few we have are priced out of sight. Baltimore was designed around a streetcar system that no longer exists.

[JohnH]

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.

[ohio jones]

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.

[JohnH]

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.

[Szdfan]

I really do think these are the major factors. But if all you have is a hammer ...

Lots of America has walkable neighborhoods. For example, Baltimore, or basically any other American city, come to think of it. Common public space, public transportation (light rail via Light RailLink, heavy rail with MARC, a comprehensive bus system, and so forth). People "across all income levels" can use these things; there are subsidies for people who can't afford them.

It is simply false that Europe has a "strong safety net". The income for the poverty line in America is significantly higher than equivalent measures in Europe. Food stamps, Section 8 housing, Medicaid, heating/electricity assistance, and so forth are quite a bit more generous. America has one of the most generous, well-developed welfare states there is, particularly in Medicaid expansion states, which is most of the country.

Schools, transportation, and public space in America are also considered "worth funding". Berlin spends significantly (14,000 euros) more than Germany does on average (about 9,000), but that's not anywhere close to Baltimore spending per student, which is north of $20,000 per student per year.

With that in mind... what do you think the other differences are?

I will correct you here. Baltimore has few mixed use walkable neighborhoods. The few we have are priced out of sight. Baltimore was designed around a streetcar system that no longer exists.

I lived in one of those older, mixed use Baltimore neighborhoods. The reason why they are walkable was because they date from the 18th and 19th centuries before the development of the automobile. Even then, you still needed a car because Baltimore had insufficient public transportation for my commute and the closest grocery store was a few miles away. Baltimore’s walkability is a remnant of how cities were designed and functioned in the past, not how urban planning has functioned since World War II.

[Bootstrap]

People are, in fact, leaving and saying these are the reasons that they are leaving. That's what the article documents. These are not fringe extremists, they are not primarily motivated by politics.

At the same time, some people in Europe who used to really look up to the United States no longer do.



If you want to persuade them they are wrong, they are the people you need to talk to.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Lots of America has walkable neighborhoods. For example, Baltimore, or basically any other American city, come to think of it. Common public space, public transportation (light rail via Light RailLink, heavy rail with MARC, a comprehensive bus system, and so forth). People "across all income levels" can use these things; there are subsidies for people who can't afford them.

It is simply false that Europe has a "strong safety net". The income for the poverty line in America is significantly higher than equivalent measures in Europe. Food stamps, Section 8 housing, Medicaid, heating/electricity assistance, and so forth are quite a bit more generous. America has one of the most generous, well-developed welfare states there is, particularly in Medicaid expansion states, which is most of the country.

Schools, transportation, and public space in America are also considered "worth funding". Berlin spends significantly (14,000 euros) more than Germany does on average (about 9,000), but that's not anywhere close to Baltimore spending per student, which is north of $20,000 per student per year.

With that in mind... what do you think the other differences are?

I will correct you here. Baltimore has few mixed use walkable neighborhoods. The few we have are priced out of sight. Baltimore was designed around a streetcar system that no longer exists.

I lived in one of those older, mixed use Baltimore neighborhoods. The reason why they are walkable was because they date from the 18th and 19th centuries before the development of the automobile. Even then, you still needed a car because Baltimore had insufficient public transportation for my commute and the closest grocery store was a few miles away. Baltimore’s walkability is a remnant of how cities were designed and functioned in the past, not how urban planning has functioned since World War II.

I live in the “seam” between Roland park and Gilford. Concrete streetcar station a block away. Alas no more streetcars. Even I have to drive for groceries.

[Szdfan]

I will correct you here. Baltimore has few mixed use walkable neighborhoods. The few we have are priced out of sight. Baltimore was designed around a streetcar system that no longer exists.

I lived in one of those older, mixed use Baltimore neighborhoods. The reason why they are walkable was because they date from the 18th and 19th centuries before the development of the automobile. Even then, you still needed a car because Baltimore had insufficient public transportation for my commute and the closest grocery store was a few miles away. Baltimore’s walkability is a remnant of how cities were designed and functioned in the past, not how urban planning has functioned since World War II.

I live in the “seam” between Roland park and Gilford. Concrete streetcar station a block away. Alas no more streetcars. Even I have to drive for groceries.

I remember when the City and State wanted to put light rail through Fells Point and people were mad about putting rail through a historic neighborhood, which was a sign they didn’t know the history of that neighborhood.

[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.

[JohnH]

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.