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zelda_pinwheel · 06-13-2008, 10:18 AM

those are good points, DixieGal, but i think the real issue is the apparent lack of urban planning in US cities ; it doesn't matter the *size* they are if they are designed logically. for example, there are no neighborhoods in Paris which are either entirly residential, or entirely commercial ; with few exceptions all buildings in Paris proper are a mix between private appartments and businesses, and almost all ground floor appartments are rented as commercial spaces for shops or other businesses.

this ensures that (for example) you can always easily do your grocery shopping without having to travel very far. i do all my grocery shoping on foot ; within a radius of a few streets from my house, there are at least 7 chain grocery stores, and as many independent 4 seasons shops, bakeries, cheese shops, butchers, etc., plus twice a week there is a farmer's market in the street. i *could* travel by métro to the suburbs to go to one of the "hypermarchés" and buy a full month's worth of groceries at once, but even if i could manage to get them home afterwards (i don't have a car) i would never have room to stock everything in my minuscule kitchen. it's much easier to buy just the things i need 2 or 3 times a week, and since the shops are so close, i can. efficient urban planning.

there were some "dormitory" suburbs built which are only big housing developpments whose residents commuted to work in the city ; but no-one wants to live there anymore and they are all slowly being transformed with creation of local commerces and businesses.

another hurdle in Paris is the service between suburbs ; Paris itself is very well served between the métro (subway) and the buses, and it's easy to get from paris to any city in the suburbs, even the very distant suburbs. but travelling from one suburb to another can require a ridiculous detour through the center of Paris to change trains. this is being rectified by the construction of tramways and new trains and buses. some similar plan would surely be required in the US, with systems of trains and buses that are interconnected to create a sufficiently closely-woven mesh.

i really think that as Taylor said a good public transport system depends on the government wanting to create it and then doing what is necessary to make it possible, which includes budget, infrastructure, and (very important) urban planning. it can be a big project, when those have been neglected for too long, but i think it's still possible.

06-13-2008, 10:18 AM	#33
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	those are good points, DixieGal, but i think the real issue is the apparent lack of urban planning in US cities ; it doesn't matter the size they are if they are designed logically. for example, there are no neighborhoods in Paris which are either entirly residential, or entirely commercial ; with few exceptions all buildings in Paris proper are a mix between private appartments and businesses, and almost all ground floor appartments are rented as commercial spaces for shops or other businesses. this ensures that (for example) you can always easily do your grocery shopping without having to travel very far. i do all my grocery shoping on foot ; within a radius of a few streets from my house, there are at least 7 chain grocery stores, and as many independent 4 seasons shops, bakeries, cheese shops, butchers, etc., plus twice a week there is a farmer's market in the street. i could travel by métro to the suburbs to go to one of the "hypermarchés" and buy a full month's worth of groceries at once, but even if i could manage to get them home afterwards (i don't have a car) i would never have room to stock everything in my minuscule kitchen. it's much easier to buy just the things i need 2 or 3 times a week, and since the shops are so close, i can. efficient urban planning. there were some "dormitory" suburbs built which are only big housing developpments whose residents commuted to work in the city ; but no-one wants to live there anymore and they are all slowly being transformed with creation of local commerces and businesses. another hurdle in Paris is the service between suburbs ; Paris itself is very well served between the métro (subway) and the buses, and it's easy to get from paris to any city in the suburbs, even the very distant suburbs. but travelling from one suburb to another can require a ridiculous detour through the center of Paris to change trains. this is being rectified by the construction of tramways and new trains and buses. some similar plan would surely be required in the US, with systems of trains and buses that are interconnected to create a sufficiently closely-woven mesh. i really think that as Taylor said a good public transport system depends on the government wanting to create it and then doing what is necessary to make it possible, which includes budget, infrastructure, and (very important) urban planning. it can be a big project, when those have been neglected for too long, but i think it's still possible.