Re:Our self imposed scarcity of nice places
by throwaway0a5e on Thursday November 04, 2021 @10:01AM
(#29107287)
>Biking/walking is utilized at least twice as much in Western European countries as in the US,
What's it look like when you include eastern Europe in that comparison?
I'm sure the rich half of the US bikes a heck of a lot more than the poor half too.
Re:Our self imposed scarcity of nice places
by Quanttek on Thursday November 04, 2021 @10:13AM
(#29107433)
It's likely the other way around: most Soviet block cities have not only historic centers equally centered around walking/biking but Soviet city design focused strongly on public transport and walkable neighborhoods because cars were unaffordable to most people.
Re:Our self imposed scarcity of nice places
by Cd00d on Thursday November 04, 2021 @11:35AM
(#29108485)
My experience in ex-Soviet bloc countries is the opposite. Unmaintained sidewalks, parked cars blocking safe walking access, unsafe driving behavior/routing near pedestrians.
I often think of a time in Sofia, Bulgaria where I saw an elderly woman trying to get around a car parked on the sidewalk, up against a wall, by walking on the car bumper with her groceries. It was terrifying and precarious.
Re:Our self imposed scarcity of nice places
by Quanttek on Thursday November 04, 2021 @03:36PM
(#29111593)
yeah, my experience is mostly limited to Poland and Czechia. But I would say that issues around the maintenance of public infrastructure apply to more than just sidewalks. And the attitude of drivers towards pedestrians/cyclists isn't great in most European countries (outside of the Netherlands)
Re:Our self imposed scarcity of nice places
by hondo77 on Thursday November 04, 2021 @11:46AM
(#29108615)
In the US, I'd bet the rich half rides bikes more than the other half but the other half commutes by bike more than the rich half. That likely depends on location, though.
Re:Our self imposed scarcity of nice places
by metalliqaz on Thursday November 04, 2021 @10:12AM
(#29107409)
only for recreation, not for getting around... at least that is my anecdotal experience.
Or that is just a strawman of what is clearly true, but not literally universal in every single individual location. Biking/walking is utilized at least twice as much in Western European countries as in the US, and often 3 times or more [1]. European cities are, in general, more walkable and bikeable than US cities. If you want to read an in depth article about the many factors that led to US urban sprawl vs European cities, I’d recommend [2].
[1] http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/trnews/trnews280western...
[2] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/are-europes-cities-better...