PJPOWER said:

mrussel1 said:

PJPOWER said:

oftenreading said:

There is a huge field of research about how American cities are designed for cars rather than for other forms of transportation, so it’s kind of crazy to try to claim otherwise. It’s been the major feature of urban planning for many decades until just the last few years, and most of these posts show why - people think it’s too much work or hassle or time to do things any different than jump in their car. Luckily, planners are starting to see things differently now. Even existing cities can be changed somewhat to make walking, cycling and public transit more attractive, for those that aren’t too lazy to get out of their cars. If you look around any well designed city you will see parents dropping kids at school or daycare, people getting to work, people buying groceries, all without using cars. 

Yeah, my city is not well designed for walking, public transit, or cycling at all.  There has been a push to make it more pedestrian friendly, but to fully expect the majority of the residents to stop driving would be naive.  I would say that the majority of my city’s growth happened after the automobile came along.  

You're in Austin, right?  TX is the New South for sure.  

No, not in Austin.  I’m there all the time and they may have a little better transit, but not great.  Most Texas cities are “spread out” and the priority was set for drivers .  There are no Subways (other than the restaurant ).  Some, like Dallas, have a transit train, but it is definitely something Texas cities need to improve on.  Depressing thing is that in Lubbock, for example, they tried to get a good system of rentable scooters and things to make getting around more convenient for pedestrians, but after the basketball playoffs this year, a bunch of idiots threw them in the lakes.  I loved visiting Seattle and not having to worry about renting a car to get around.  So much more would be possible if it weren’t for the dumbasses out there that get a kick out of vandalism.  “This is why we cannot have nice things”.

Spiritual_Chaos said:

PJPOWER said:

mrussel1 said:

PJPOWER said:

oftenreading said:

There is a huge field of research about how American cities are designed for cars rather than for other forms of transportation, so it’s kind of crazy to try to claim otherwise. It’s been the major feature of urban planning for many decades until just the last few years, and most of these posts show why - people think it’s too much work or hassle or time to do things any different than jump in their car. Luckily, planners are starting to see things differently now. Even existing cities can be changed somewhat to make walking, cycling and public transit more attractive, for those that aren’t too lazy to get out of their cars. If you look around any well designed city you will see parents dropping kids at school or daycare, people getting to work, people buying groceries, all without using cars. 

Yeah, my city is not well designed for walking, public transit, or cycling at all.  There has been a push to make it more pedestrian friendly, but to fully expect the majority of the residents to stop driving would be naive.  I would say that the majority of my city’s growth happened after the automobile came along.  

You're in Austin, right?  TX is the New South for sure.  

No, not in Austin.  I’m there all the time and they may have a little better transit, but not great.  Most Texas cities are “spread out” and the priority was set for drivers .  There are no Subways (other than the restaurant ).  Some, like Dallas, have a transit train, but it is definitely something Texas cities need to improve on.  Depressing thing is that in Lubbock, for example, they tried to get a good system of rentable scooters and things to make getting around more convenient for pedestrians, but after the basketball playoffs this year, a bunch of idiots threw them in the lakes.  I loved visiting Seattle and not having to worry about renting a car to get around.  So much more would be possible if it weren’t for the dumbasses out there that get a kick out of vandalism.  “This is why we cannot have nice things”.

I wonder about those scooter things. We have three companies competing here in Gothenburg with the electric scooters. But I don't get why all of them don't end up in the canal on friday/saturday night..? But hasn't happened yet. I guess you need just the right sporting event for it to happen.

mrussel1 said:

PJ_Soul said:

Busing was a failed policy.  I find it interesting that all of these people who weren't subject to it are extolling it.  There's a reason it's been dead for 35 plus years.  I was a bit disappointed by Harris's comment on it, as I found it opportunistic.  I also didn't understand if she was saying that she was bused and that it was a good thing, or what.  The reality is that large majorities of blacks and whites were against the policy at the time.  When it's your kids on the bus for 3 hours a day, it makes a difference.  I pointed out before that all research showed that it didn't change test scores for AA's and worse, it created the 'white flight' epidemic that pulled needed tax dollars out of the cities, as people moved to the suburbs.  
Full disclosure, my sister was bused in Cleveland city schools, from the west side to the east side.  It's what led my family into the suburbs.  The story is not unique.  My parents were very much against the policy.  It wasn't that they were racist, they just didn't want her on the bus 3 hours a day.  

Jason P said:

I wish they would focus on more current and pertinent issues.  I feel like we will be debating the merits of the Louisiana Purchase before the end of the year.

mrussel1 said:

How do you get a you tube preview to show up?

mrussel1 said:

Spiritual_Chaos said:

mrussel1 said:

How do you get a you tube preview to show up?

Old "conservative, not keeping up with the times" man:



Hit SHARE, and post that shorter link.

Even when you're being helpful, you can't help but be shmole, can you?

mrussel1 said:

How do you get a you tube preview to show up?