Comments on: Retrofitting Suburbia http://www.howwedrive.com/2010/07/06/retrofitting-suburbia/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 23 May 2012 15:35:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Nate Larson http://www.howwedrive.com/2010/07/06/retrofitting-suburbia/#comment-15442 Nate Larson Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:44:30 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1587#comment-15442 Belmar isn't sprawl, it's auto-oriented postwar-suburban infill. Bradburn (about 8 miles north) is sprawl--auto-oriented faux urbanism on the suburban fringe. That Belmar has been as successful as it has without much transit at all (and no rail) shows that a fair number of people want urbanlike living, but don't want to give up their cars for it. Belmar isn’t sprawl, it’s auto-oriented postwar-suburban infill. Bradburn (about 8 miles north) is sprawl–auto-oriented faux urbanism on the suburban fringe. That Belmar has been as successful as it has without much transit at all (and no rail) shows that a fair number of people want urbanlike living, but don’t want to give up their cars for it.

]]> By: Mark http://www.howwedrive.com/2010/07/06/retrofitting-suburbia/#comment-15320 Mark Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:50:54 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1587#comment-15320 It's going to take a "push" of increased car operating costs to really make a big change in the suburbs. The benefits of walking/biking/transit are well known, but the culture of car ownership for everyone is deeply ingrained in the American psyche. This presentation does make me hopeful, though. It’s going to take a “push” of increased car operating costs to really make a big change in the suburbs. The benefits of walking/biking/transit are well known, but the culture of car ownership for everyone is deeply ingrained in the American psyche.

This presentation does make me hopeful, though.

]]> By: Kevin Love http://www.howwedrive.com/2010/07/06/retrofitting-suburbia/#comment-15019 Kevin Love Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:59:39 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1587#comment-15019 I followed the link to Belmar. The site's "directions" feature assumes that everyone going there is driving a car. Bicycle infrastructure is zero in every one of the photos. This place is not Gronigen. Its just another example of sprawl, albeit a bit prettier. I followed the link to Belmar. The site’s “directions” feature assumes that everyone going there is driving a car. Bicycle infrastructure is zero in every one of the photos.

This place is not Gronigen. Its just another example of sprawl, albeit a bit prettier.

]]> By: Jack http://www.howwedrive.com/2010/07/06/retrofitting-suburbia/#comment-15006 Jack Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:56:54 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1587#comment-15006 Certainly the 'burbs can (and should) be) changed. However, the suburbanites I know prefer their motorized "freedom" and believe that the secret to successful businesses are directly related to the size of neighborhood parking lots. Only when the cost of gas rises dramatically and severely damages the suburbanites' pocketbooks will they be willing to be empathetic to change. The mall referred to in St Louis still requires large parking facilities and had to change due to failed businesses (how ironic). Certainly the ‘burbs can (and should) be) changed. However, the suburbanites I know prefer their motorized “freedom” and believe that the secret to successful businesses are directly related to the size of neighborhood parking lots. Only when the cost of gas rises dramatically and severely damages the suburbanites’ pocketbooks will they be willing to be empathetic to change. The mall referred to in St Louis still requires large parking facilities and had to change due to failed businesses (how ironic).

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