Making America into Amsterdam

On 2018-07-09 12:48, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 7/9/2018 12:12 AM, Tim McNamara wrote:

European cities have some tendency to be more compact with shorter rides
(1-2 km) for work and errands. American urban areas tend to be spread
out so that we can all have our half acre of lawn or more.

Where I live, a 2 km ride will get me to and from the library, our
dentist, the post office, the pharmacy and one convenience/beer store.
Hardware, groceries, restaurants, credit union or anything else is
further. I'm fine with that, but most Americans (probably like most
Europeans) will never ride 10 miles to get to and from their credit union.


The Dutch and Belgians used to be different. 10mi, 20mi, big deal. But
can't say about today as this was 30 years ago.

The guy I'll be riding with this week is also very different. It'll
probably be around 40mi round trip. For me to have a freshly brewed
Pilsener, he'll probably have a Porter (I am brewing one while writing
this).

The week after it'll probably be 30mi, most of it on rough singletrack,
to get to Solid Ground Brewing.

https://s3-media3.fl.yelpcdn.com/bph...p7IXCfHg/o.jpg


We really
don't want to have to get to know our neighbors (while decrying the
deterioration of civil society).

That is a sad truth. It's changed greatly from when I was a kid, long
ago. It's changed even since we moved into this house, over 35 years ago.

The neighborhood recently went through some churning, with several
long-time residents either dying or moving out. The dude who moved in
across the street showed no interest in anything more than "Oh, hi" when
I went over to welcome him to the neighborhood. Tellingly, when he
arrived, a new wireless router appeared in the menus. It's named
"badassmotherf**cker". Charming.

Other new couples give no more than a nod as we walk or bike past. One
nice young couple moved in and were friendly, but moved back out after
less than three years. It generally seems to take about three or four
years to get past the "Oh hi" stage and into real conversations and
social contact.

I have to believe that when people had front porches and sidewalks, when
people traveled without being locked in a glass and steel box,
neighborhood relationships happened more quickly and more often.


Join a wagon trains and head to the Wild West.

We moved here from Europe and all I can say is that it is remarkably
easier to get acquainted with neighbors. We ride together, barbecue
together, share homebrew, recipes, do pack walks with our our dogs.
Germany was mostly kind of formal, people needed planning before they
got together. Here, someone is fed up with yard work, turns off the weed
eater and has a coffee or beer with a neighbor. No sidewalks but most of
us have front porches and those get used.

Normally my dog walk in the morning takes 1h. But it can also take 2h,
same distance.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/