One of the paradoxes of car-dependence is that it creates a strong incentive for economic stagnation
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...even though *high volumes of people going through a place* is a fundamental requirement for (& consequence of) economic activity
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Long before cars existed, commercial areas were *concentrations* of people far above the normal residential density
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This concentration was only temporary, of course--the market breathes in people in the morning, breathes them out at night--so it could work
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But since commercial densities are higher than residential ones, commerce implies a) moving lots of people to & from the commercial area...
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...and b) moving lots of people around IN the commercial area. Cars are lousy tools for this job
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The basic problem with cars/roads/parking lots is this: THE MORE PEOPLE USE IT, THE LESS EFFECTIVELY IT WORKS
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Everyone knows this--the best road is the empty road. The best parking lot is the empty lot. Unfortunately, commerce needs crowds!
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Now, don't get me wrong--crowded trains aren't any more fun than crowded roads. But there's one important difference: the train still works.
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A packed highway turns a 30 minute trip into an hour. A packed train turns a 30 minute trip into a crowded 30 minute trip.
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Remember, *country and city are different worlds.* What works well in one is often a hassle and nuisance in the other.
End of conversation
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commuter traffic only exists because of demographically induced suburban sprawl - greatly lessened in homogeneous areas
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more complicated than just that tho--suburbs are basically a good thing, and certainly not a new one; what's bad is "car-only"
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throughout history and around the world, cities have suburbs--but *usually* you can navigate them well on foot, too
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The very purpose & allure of a suburb is to escape high density housing & their mass transit / pedestrian focused commercial zones
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it's to get away from the bustle and crowds but still be in the city area, yeah--that impulse is much older than cars are
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Modern suburb layout only appeared post-WW2 as living dreamscape scenario of ultimate security to raise a family
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"bustle and crowds" are loved by young people and most women, what people are escaping is the 800%+ crime rate and ruined schools
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"security" for raising family, wildly high crime rates, ruined schools--you're only talking about America here, t. diversity
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