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Swimmable Cities

swimmablecities.org

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Re: Swimmable Cities

#71

Post by interludead »

PrivateButts wrote: post #59

There's a large creek that feeds into lake Erie nearby that we used to hike and swim for several miles until we got to the lake. It was an all day affair, but it was a great time. Our dog at the time was a lab shepherd mix and I think those hikes were some of the best times of his life, getting to explore and swim and run like a goof. I don't ever want to live in a place without good access to large bodies of water,…

It’s interesting how the access to water can make such a difference in how you experience a place

Re: Swimmable Cities

#72

Post by welder »

phaer wrote: post #66
jahnu wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would be nice to get the canal swimmable too. And enough water in the Wien to even contemplate it :D

You can swim there if you want! there's a picture with ppl swimming in Viennas canal (Donaukanal) on the website and there's a whole association around it which claims 300+ members: https://schwimmvereindonaukanal.org/ . That being said, Donauinsel is still quite close to the center and I personally prefer the relative quietness and greenery around there to swimming in the canal.

It's not so safe.. boats and currents. I prefer swimming in the pool that's floating on the canal:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CiAb0gXufXx

Re: Swimmable Cities

#74

Post by interludead »

rmason wrote: post #46

Can anyone tell me which city has the swimming pool right on the river that's on the home page? In Michigan there are a lot of places in a downtown area that would be so cool in Michigan and it could double as an ice rink in the winter. It would also be terrific to have a river pool or two integrated with Detroit's famed river walk but sadly Detroit's water just isn't quite there yet. Lots cleaner than in the sixties…

Badeschiff in Berlin! An iconic floating pool on the Spree River. It was so cool when i visited it!

Re: Swimmable Cities

#76

Post by fredrikholm »

gchadwick wrote: post #68
AdamN wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[OT] how long have you been in Copenhagen? Are you learning Danish or do you get by with basic Danish and just use English?

Not OP but my partner lived in Copenhagen for two years. As with all of Scandinavia fluency in English is very common, practically universal in cities so you can happily live there without speaking a word of the local language. Also unlike most of Europe it's a lot more acceptable to just assume English is spoken and lead with that rather than stumbling through in the native language to start with. That said it's sti…

> Edit: oh and an interesting quirk English is often spoken with an American accent! I think because they watch a lot of American TV shows and movies.

We (mostly) ditched received pronunciation / transatlantic accents in school in the late 20th century. IME, the (taught) accent is now primarily a construct of what Swedes perceive to be how English sounds. American culture has a strong influence here.

In the population aged over ~50, it's not uncommon to hear RP / Transatlantic mixed with a heavy and thick local accent, with/without Scandinavian words thrown in.

  "I would gilla to order one glass tack" (I would like to order an ice cream please)

Re: Swimmable Cities

#78

Post by elric »

In Belgium, we don't even have swimmable pools. There are too few of them, their opening hours are worthless, going for a swim is stupidly expensive (~8eur), and many pools now require that you show them ID before you're allowed to enter. In all, it's become extremely unpleasant.

The results are as depressing as expected: more drownings (especially in the north sea) every year, and kids can barely stay afloat anymore.

There's a shortage of lifeguards, and (imo) some serious overregulation. No swimming allowed anywhere unless there are lifeguards on duty. It's a catch-22. People don't swim, so they suck at swimming, so they drown when they do swim, so we get more restrictions, etc.

Re: Swimmable Cities

#79

Post by chilmers »

Terr_ wrote: post #4
_1tan wrote: post #3

I was expecting something related to Seasteading before clicking the link. Anyone else?

I was imagining something more like concept-city based around an extensive quasi-Venetian canal network, where "swimmable" (like "walkable") defined a possible mode of regular transport. Also swim-up bars.

Me too. I like to think that, if humans survive to reach some kind of utopian, post-scarcity state, people will experiment with building places like this, just because they can.

Re: Swimmable Cities

#80

Post by MaxDorkroom »

elric wrote: post #78

In Belgium, we don't even have swimmable pools. There are too few of them, their opening hours are worthless, going for a swim is stupidly expensive (~8eur), and many pools now require that you show them ID before you're allowed to enter. In all, it's become extremely unpleasant. The results are as depressing as expected: more drownings (especially in the north sea) every year, and kids can barely stay afloat anymore…

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