"Andreas Oehler" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Fri, 19 Sep 2003 14:14:59 GMT, Buck:
> >I personally hate living in the city.
>
> There are other options than the classis "city" (with very high concrete buildings, no trees, wide
> streets) or boring standard amercan "suburbs". New quarters here in southern germany are often
> planned to have buidings with 3 to 5 floors, narrow roads, lots of shops, restaurants and small
> business on the ground floor, trees along the road, nice designed open courtyards maintained by
> the occupants but open to the public. Car parking is not allowed on the roadside but only in
> central parking garages. This makes shure, that the way to your bike (every building has to have a
> big bike shed/room) or the bus stop is always nearer than the way to your car.
Which places people back in the situation that I noted before - stacked together and unable to walk
outside without having to deal with other people.
> >I step outside of my door, not being able to grow my own flowers and vegetables, not being able
> >to look out my window and watch the squirrels
run
> >along the fence or the birds flying between the trees, not being able to watch the trees sway in
> >the wind or the leaves change colors in the fall,
>
> This is possible here.
Ah, the classic "community garden." I'd like to be able to grow my own veggies without having to
deal with other people taking them.
> >having miles and miles of roads that are pleasant to ride on because they are lined with trees
> >(think shade)
>
> It is not neccessary to ride "miles and miles" because the city is designed to have (nearly)
> everything available in a short distance.
You missed the point. Part of being an avid cyclist is the desire to ride miles and miles and having
nice roads upon which to ride. Riding in the city is a much different, and unpleasant, experience.
> > and have low speed limits....
>
> 30km/h is the speed limit in the quarter here - but you often have to be slower.
Again, part of the problem. I don't want to be stuck on crowded city streets. I want traffic moving
about the same speed I can move. It's safer overall. And a bonus in suburbia is the lack of
pedestrians (yes, it is sad that people aren't outside). I have had more close calls with wandering
pedestrians than I have had with cars. Take a ride on the streets of your local university campus to
get a taste of the problem.
> There might be alternatives which could also appeal to people in the US.
I think that much of the world recognizes the advantages of suburban life, thus their desire to
emulate it. Even in places where public transportation is well entrenched, the people are using the
commuter trains to move away from the city and into smaller suburban towns. There is less dependence
on private automobiles, but the sprawling condition is much the same.
-Buck
