bhtooefr
Active Member
From General Discussion:
Worth noting that the extreme low density housing areas were enabled by cars, but they were created by a combination of 1940s nuclear defense policy, and a couple hundred years of racial tensions (white people so terrified of black people that they fled cities for extreme low density suburbs and exurbs, hoping that the poorer socioeconomic status of black people would keep them from getting cars). Plenty of other countries tried suburbs, but the cities didn't collapse, and the suburbs were close in enough to have mass transit densities.
Note that these tensions still exist, causing people to believe that cities are lawless areas where you'll get killed, and opposing any forms of mass transit development. There is some movement back into cities, but it's typically younger professionals, and into heavily gentrified neighborhoods, without all of the services necessary to support full life in cities, only single people.
Having spent a bit of time in the US including staying at relative's homes - I think I can be confident in saying that the root cause is that you live in extremely low density housing areas commuting into enormous cities with many centres. The chances of being able to walk to public transport that takes you direct to your place of work (without waiting for changes of transport) is close to 0%. Walking to a Walmart from the store next to it involves walking a mile by a 4 lane freeway without a sidewalk. I take public transport (train into London and then the subway) regularly. I doubt I would in the US much and it has nothing to do with the stigma or quality. Robotaxis will potentially increase public transport across the world as it makes the changeover a great experience. No cost of parking or finding a space.
Worth noting that the extreme low density housing areas were enabled by cars, but they were created by a combination of 1940s nuclear defense policy, and a couple hundred years of racial tensions (white people so terrified of black people that they fled cities for extreme low density suburbs and exurbs, hoping that the poorer socioeconomic status of black people would keep them from getting cars). Plenty of other countries tried suburbs, but the cities didn't collapse, and the suburbs were close in enough to have mass transit densities.
Note that these tensions still exist, causing people to believe that cities are lawless areas where you'll get killed, and opposing any forms of mass transit development. There is some movement back into cities, but it's typically younger professionals, and into heavily gentrified neighborhoods, without all of the services necessary to support full life in cities, only single people.