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The problem with America is that our cities suck so bad that most Americans have no idea how a real city looks and functions. Our standards are incredibly low. Even the best of the lot (NYC excepted) get easily demolished by the likes of Amsterdam, Milan, Prague and Barcelona.
This is a good point. Again, with the exception of NYC, even our best urban centers (DC, SF, Chicago, Boston, Philly) generally trail places like Barcelona, at least in terms of urbanity.
This is a good point. Again, with the exception of NYC, even our best urban centers (DC, SF, Chicago, Boston, Philly) generally trail places like Barcelona, at least in terms of urbanity.
Well, we also live in a country that considers 200 pound women "thick." So it should be no surprise that we have people coming on here talking about how walkable Bakersfield, California is.
All 4 European cities compare well in pedestrian activity and streetlife.
"Compare well? Are you serious? Those cities demolish every city in America except NYC. Where in the U.S. are you going to find the same intensity of pedestrian activity that you would find in Amsterdam?
This is a good point. Again, with the exception of NYC, even our best urban centers (DC, SF, Chicago, Boston, Philly) generally trail places like Barcelona, at least in terms of urbanity.
Barcelona is perhaps the densest urban center in Europe. It's a bit of an outlier. Copied from another post:
Quote:
Now Barcelona, my favorite city of the trip, is in a whole different category. The level of density and intensity went beyond the typical European city into an Asian realm. People, people everywhere... Streets are still crowded with pedestrians at midnight...Basically, no privacy, no quiet. But urban energy everywhere. I loved it.
from of his description, I think I'd like Prague and Vienna better; still dense but interior green courtyards. I knew someone who moved here from Barcelona and when she visited New York City she found it a bit too much. Since Barcelona isn't really any lower density, just built differently, the feeling of "too much" probably comes the size of the city rather than just the residential density.
So one can a busy feeling dense city without being fast-paced and having an enormous size, which bring its own feel. Barcelona may not be as big as NYC, but in my view, in many ways it's just as urban.
"Compare well? Are you serious? Those cities demolish every city in America except NYC. Where in the U.S. are you going to find the same intensity of pedestrian activity that you would find in Amsterdam?
I meant compare well with NYC. Though, I didn't find Amsterdam much better than Boston. Better yes, but not really a whole another level. Of course, Boston drops faster away from the city center.
Might have judged Amsterdam worse because there in the dead of winter (middle of January) when it wasn't really enjoyable to stick around outside.
All 4 European cities compare well in pedestrian activity and streetlife.
I see where your coming from but urban population is what makes a city big or not on the world level.
Pedestrian activity and streetlife are nonfactors if we're being technical because small cities have ped activity and streetlife but that doesnt make them big.
Also, like I said Los Angeles makes Amsterdam and the like seem very very small...Ive been to every city mentioned thusfar in this thread and those Eurocities are cute compared to LA and NY.
And they are enamored by our cities far more than urbanphiles in the US are enamored by crowded sidewalks. They devour our pop culture and follow our trends very closely.
I recall in the SF forum someone from the Netherlands asking about renting a Tahoe cause he doesnt think he'll ever drive such a powerful vehicle ever again.
And they are enamored by our cities far more than urbanphiles in the US are enamored by crowded sidewalks. They devour our pop culture and follow our trends very closely.
I recall in the SF forum someone from the Netherlands asking about renting a Tahoe cause he doesnt think he'll ever drive such a powerful vehicle ever again.
That has nothing to do with function. Cities like NYC, Chicago and DC function with high with numbers of people commuting by transit and walking. Cities like LA and Atlanta function with high numbers of people commuting by car and driving in general. They are apples and oranges.
Concentration of amenities is crucial in an urban environment. What, you thought block after block of attached housing was the sole requirement? At comparable areas of land, the walkscores in L.A. are much more comparable to its density peer group (Chicago, San Francisco, Philly, Boston) than they are with other sunbelt cities like Atlanta.
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