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Why Many Cities Have No Money

strongtowns.org

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Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#411

Post by avar »

aianus wrote: post #404
avar wrote: post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because there's no such thing as just giving you the option to use your car. Once that option exists people will use cars, more car use requires bigger roads, more spaced out shops due to parking, and eventually gigantic junctions and highways. Soon enough what used to be a 500 meter walk turns into walking 2 kilometers because of all the car-related infrastructure in the way, which then becomes a self-reinforcing fe…

I don't think this works in places with cold weather. A 5 km drive in the winter is so much more pleasant than a 200m walk.

Just buy adequate winter clothes, it's certainly much cheaper than a car. If scientists can stroll around Antarctica in winter gear for hours on end so can you in whatever city you live in.

Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#412

Post by secabeen »

mercer wrote: post #310
pif wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Europe is full of such cities and they're loved for it. Sure, Florence is beautiful and lovable, but I personally like the possibility to also drive to a commercial center, buy what I need for a few days, drive back home and park my car in a closed garage conveniently connected to my apartment via a lift, or my house via a door.

Over here in Holland we use bikes for all of that. It gets you some free exercise and it's less polluting.

One helpful factor for bicycling in Holland is the flatness. It's relatively easy to get to work or shopping without having to climb a big hill. Other parts of the world aren't so blessed, and people who do ride to work feel like they have to shower before the work day, which reduces some people's desire to do so.

Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#413

Post by nommm-nommm »

avar wrote: post #411
aianus wrote: post #404

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think this works in places with cold weather. A 5 km drive in the winter is so much more pleasant than a 200m walk.

Just buy adequate winter clothes, it's certainly much cheaper than a car. If scientists can stroll around Antarctica in winter gear for hours on end so can you in whatever city you live in.

Agreed with adequate winter clothes having a quality coat, gloves, and possibly boots are all you need.

If it's snowing I almost never drive (if I don't have to) but I have absolutely no problem walking to the store, or to pick up food, or even just to get out of the house in the snow.

Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#414

Post by hobarrera »

secabeen wrote: post #412
mercer wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over here in Holland we use bikes for all of that. It gets you some free exercise and it's less polluting.

One helpful factor for bicycling in Holland is the flatness. It's relatively easy to get to work or shopping without having to climb a big hill. Other parts of the world aren't so blessed, and people who do ride to work feel like they have to shower before the work day, which reduces some people's desire to do so.

The weather also surely helps. I live in a moderately warm city (Buenos Aires), and temperatures go up to 30º or even almost 40º in the summer, and biking is a trip to hell and back.

I can't even imagine people closer to tropical climates trying to ride bikes anytime except winter.

Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#415

Post by astrange »

gozur88 wrote: post #410
astrange wrote: post #403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it because people in cities can afford it?

Things don't cost more or less based on what people can afford.

Sure they do. They cost as much as you can get away with.

Especially: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#416

Post by danans »

maxsilver wrote: post #317
dpark wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> StrongTowns is claiming that infrastructure maintenance alone costs the same as leveling the entire neighborhood and rebuilding it all from scratch at retail pricing every 30 years. This doesn't seem that surprising to me. Replacing existing utilities in place is far more expensive than laying them in the first place because you have to do it without cutting off everyone's access to water/electricity/whatever while…

> Replacing existing utilities in place is far more expensive than laying them in the first place. Sure, but it's not 6X more expensive in the suburbs. Water / Gas lines, for instance, are often under sidewalks or yards now so you don't have to dig up the road to replace them. > because you have to do it without cutting off everyone's access to water/electricity/whatever while you do it You don't have to. When utilit…

Whether the maintenance 2x or 6x or 10x the original cost, does it matter when the reality is that the tax revenue raised can't pay for it?

Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#417

Post by gozur88 »

astrange wrote: post #415
gozur88 wrote: post #410

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Things don't cost more or less based on what people can afford.

Sure they do. They cost as much as you can get away with. Especially: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

Now you're starting to mix things up. Yes, there is a small subset of goods that constitute Veblen goods. Yes, the price of anything is what people are willing to pay. But people don't pay more because they can afford it.

Re: Why Many Cities Have No Money

#418

Post by indexhtml »

vvpan wrote: post #387
indexhtml wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I grew up in the same town and strongly share your sentiments! I noticed Americans tend to be incredulous when I speak positively about it. Perhaps this is due to the obvious similarity to public housing layouts here and their negative associations, but also from a lack of appreciation (due to lack of first-hand experience of) the benefits that you mentioned above.

The very same town?

Sorry new HN and didnt see your response but yep lived in Troitsk until the early 90s.
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