From: Stirling Westrup (sti@cam.org)
Date: Sun Sep 10 2000 - 14:49:24 MDT
Emlyn O'Regan wrote:
> Funny thing is, if you spread it all out a bit, commutes would probably
> take just as long in the worst cases (longer distances, but faster travel
> because of emptier roads, so less agravation), no parking hassles (and
> costs), cheaper housing near work (which cancels out the commute quite
> often). I just can't really grasp the sense of the mega high density city
> as a place to put a knowledge-based business. But then, I haven't worked in
> the city for a long time now; can't remember what those elusive benefits
> are.
Lets see, why do I live in a city? 1) I don't have to own a car, since
there is adequate public transit. 2) There is a 24 hour restaurant down
the block, and several 24 hour convenience stores within a couple of
blocks. 3) There is, within walking distance, two cafes, 10 restarants, 4
fast-food joints, a major mall, and three different computer stores. 4)
There is a wide diversity of different people that I can end up
interacting with. 5) I can buy ingredients for greek, lebanese, chinese,
and Caribean food without leaving my home suburb. 6) High Bandwidth
internet service is readily available.
> I can understand it if you live in Singapore, for instance, or Macau, but I
> don't get it in a country like Australia, or the US for that matter.
> There's space. The cars are fast; build a few more highways.
Some of us think there are already too many highways.
> Personally I love a dense city; they're interesting places to be in,
> stimulating. But they are really irritating if you have to fight your way
> through them every day.
--
Stirling Westrup | Use of the Internet by this poster
sti@cam.org | is not to be construed as a tacit
| endorsement of Western Technological
| Civilization or its appurtenances.
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