55% of Americans say they would prefer to live in a community where houses are larger and farther away from amenities – compared to 44% who say the opposite.
It’s even the basic things, like sidewalks. If you never use a sidewalk, why waste money on them? I have neighbors who never clear their snow because “no one uses the sidewalks) (despite all the footprints from people who do). There are too many places without sidewalks and no one cares.
Then of course, the effing cars. In the last few years of more frequent walking places
I’ve almost gotten hit by someone cutting a corner across the sidewalk
I’ve almost gotten hit many times bu cars ignoring the crossing signal
I’ve almost gotten hit many times by cars pulling up fast to a red light and into the crosswalk
I’ve almost gotten hit many times by cars taking “right on red” without stopping (legally require) or looking around the corner
almost every time I walk somewhere is inconvenienced by someone parking on the sidewalk
Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I believe walking is such an alien concept that they’re just not aware of issues like these
I’ve had it both ways, and I was never happier than when I was living in Brooklyn, with access to excellent public transit and lots of walking-distance community support.
And, believe it, or not, my cost of living was half the price to living in Orlando, with a car. Also, I made more when living in Brooklyn. also, Orlando sucks.
Have been to Orlando once. Can confirm. It sucks. The residents suck. The commercialism sucks. Plus there are tiny lizards everywhere, and you don’t want to step on them, but you’re like "c’mon little guys, I just want to walk on the sidewalk. I don’t want to crush you…but you DO crush them if you walk on the sidewalk. It’s inevitable. And then you feel bad.
This is nuts. I lived in Orlando for half a year, and have visited dozens of times (grew up in Tampa Bay) and never once stepped on a lizard there. Genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about. Lizards are all over but they’re not suicidal
I have lived in Tampa for my whole life without ever stepping on a lizard. Yes they are all over, but they aren’t running underfoot. I don’t like Orlando, so haven’t spent much time there but the lizards can’t be that different.
I once (before cell phones put a video recorder in our pockets) saw an epic battle between a lizard and a palmetto bug. They were wrestling, same size as each other, thankfully the lizard eventually won. It was like a miniature version of a Godzilla fight.
Anoles. They’re everywhere. But don’t feel bad, they often drop their tails to evade predators, and also they don’t live long enough to really understand what’s going on with these giants walking on their basking rocks lol.
I’ve had it both ways, and there’s nothing that compares to having your own house and land with privacy away from noisy neighbors.
When I lived in a city there were more things to do, and I could bike to work, but the crowding feels like a social prison. Also I saw some people get shot, and thieves stole things from my porch repeatedly.
I grew up in exactly that kind of environment; really, the land (and the wildlife that comes with it) is the bit I miss the most. I’d take a very modest house on a decent plot of land in the middle of the woods to living in a city.
A lot of bigger cities do have car-dependent sprawl around an unaffordable city center like Portland, Hartford, Burlington etc but a lot of the smaller towns are much more walkable and community-oriented, where you can probably afford a quarter acre lot within walking distance of a downtown. Brattleboro is a good example but getting pricey, Bennington maybe, Hanover NH, Montpelier, Farmington ME etc.
You’re not going to find Boston-level amenities in i.e. Brattleboro but you’ll get a minimum of a coffee shop or two, a brewery, a few good restaurants, shops, etc. plus small-town community and an affordable home
@LibertyLizard@btsax Look at the MBTA commuter rail map (or NJ Transit, SEPTA around Philadelphia, or Metra around Chicago). A lot of the regional rail stops are in or near historic downtowns that provide some downtown amenities plus rail access to the bigger city. Houses near those downtowns are generally more expensive than sprawlier suburbs but cheaper than the central city.
walkable downtown, centered on a train station - settled since 1600s, bedroom community of a major city
first zone for single family homes so I do have a small yard/driveway/basement yet still walkable to center of town
I got one of the “new” houses, built in 1946 out of very solid materials, with a usable basement, yard, and driveway. For example, my own EV charging
just a few blocks away is a sizable reservation of undeveloped land and a six mile loop of ridge trail - we occasionally get coyotes that presumably live there
Agreed. I live in a walkable city and would love to live somewhere with no neighbors who think blasting “She thinks my tractor’s sexy” on repeat eight hours a day is perfectly fine.
Perhaps. However, we have to acknowledge that there’s a price to be paid for this - particularly an environmental price - and it’s not the householder who pays that price. If where we lived didn’t have consequences for other people then it wouldn’t be an issue. But when these decisions lock in urban sprawl, car dependency and excess emissions, they become everybody’s business
It’s almost certainly not insurmountable unless you have something like COPD. I’m 70, went for almost two years after having covid where I could barely walk around the block, and now I can walk or cycle for hours over any terrain. It’s hilly here, so that’s saying something. I also lost almost 50 pounds that I’d gained during my period of enforced inactivity. There’s no secret. Just start slow and keep doing it, and lay off the junk food.
I live in one of my state’s few walkable neighborhoods adjacent to a downtown core, when I try to explain to others in the area what it’s like, well, they’ve never had any reason to use sidewalks besides the yearly trick-or-treat around the cul-de-sac. Vaguely know their neighbors as they wave in passing.
For me the best part was getting a job downtown, by a park, so I can exist almost feeling like a much larger city proper. Main library, tons of restaurants, shops. Historic homes. Neighbors who care for each other and feel like extended family. This is what ‘urban’ can and should feel like - community.
Yeah, this feels more like “people haven’t experienced being in a walkable community with good transit”. My buddy is having to move back to the States after a year in Germany, and he’s so upset that he and his wife are gonna have to get a car again and not just walk/bike everywhere.
I think that it is because many Americans have no experience with the other as a lifestyle.
It’s even the basic things, like sidewalks. If you never use a sidewalk, why waste money on them? I have neighbors who never clear their snow because “no one uses the sidewalks) (despite all the footprints from people who do). There are too many places without sidewalks and no one cares.
Then of course, the effing cars. In the last few years of more frequent walking places
Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I believe walking is such an alien concept that they’re just not aware of issues like these
Like capitalism, they’re told that it is the best and only option.
I’ve had it both ways, and I was never happier than when I was living in Brooklyn, with access to excellent public transit and lots of walking-distance community support.
And, believe it, or not, my cost of living was half the price to living in Orlando, with a car. Also, I made more when living in Brooklyn. also, Orlando sucks.
Have been to Orlando once. Can confirm. It sucks. The residents suck. The commercialism sucks. Plus there are tiny lizards everywhere, and you don’t want to step on them, but you’re like "c’mon little guys, I just want to walk on the sidewalk. I don’t want to crush you…but you DO crush them if you walk on the sidewalk. It’s inevitable. And then you feel bad.
This is nuts. I lived in Orlando for half a year, and have visited dozens of times (grew up in Tampa Bay) and never once stepped on a lizard there. Genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about. Lizards are all over but they’re not suicidal
I have lived in Tampa for my whole life without ever stepping on a lizard. Yes they are all over, but they aren’t running underfoot. I don’t like Orlando, so haven’t spent much time there but the lizards can’t be that different.
I once (before cell phones put a video recorder in our pockets) saw an epic battle between a lizard and a palmetto bug. They were wrestling, same size as each other, thankfully the lizard eventually won. It was like a miniature version of a Godzilla fight.
Must’ve been a small palmetto bug
Anoles. They’re everywhere. But don’t feel bad, they often drop their tails to evade predators, and also they don’t live long enough to really understand what’s going on with these giants walking on their basking rocks lol.
I’ve had it both ways, and there’s nothing that compares to having your own house and land with privacy away from noisy neighbors.
When I lived in a city there were more things to do, and I could bike to work, but the crowding feels like a social prison. Also I saw some people get shot, and thieves stole things from my porch repeatedly.
I grew up in exactly that kind of environment; really, the land (and the wildlife that comes with it) is the bit I miss the most. I’d take a very modest house on a decent plot of land in the middle of the woods to living in a city.
I want to live in a modest house within walking distance of downtown and unspoiled wilderness. How do I make this happen?
Any small town in New England
Such as? I feel like New England is like 90% sprawling suburbs like the rest of the country.
Also by downtown I do mean a real downtown with actual amenities.
A lot of bigger cities do have car-dependent sprawl around an unaffordable city center like Portland, Hartford, Burlington etc but a lot of the smaller towns are much more walkable and community-oriented, where you can probably afford a quarter acre lot within walking distance of a downtown. Brattleboro is a good example but getting pricey, Bennington maybe, Hanover NH, Montpelier, Farmington ME etc.
You’re not going to find Boston-level amenities in i.e. Brattleboro but you’ll get a minimum of a coffee shop or two, a brewery, a few good restaurants, shops, etc. plus small-town community and an affordable home
@LibertyLizard @btsax Look at the MBTA commuter rail map (or NJ Transit, SEPTA around Philadelphia, or Metra around Chicago). A lot of the regional rail stops are in or near historic downtowns that provide some downtown amenities plus rail access to the bigger city. Houses near those downtowns are generally more expensive than sprawlier suburbs but cheaper than the central city.
Yeah that’s probably the closest that exists honestly.
But really what I want does not exist.
Look for an older town, built out before cars.
I have a lot of that where I live
You just have to move to a town with a one street down town. Small town life is a mixed bag
NYC, next to central park?
Oh sure let me just ask my parents for a small loan of a million dollars so I can afford rent.
Also Central Park is not exactly unspoiled wilderness. It is nice but not quite what I want.
Some remote towns in Canada give land away for free or for a very low price.
Agreed. I live in a walkable city and would love to live somewhere with no neighbors who think blasting “She thinks my tractor’s sexy” on repeat eight hours a day is perfectly fine.
Might I suggest buying an audio spotlight, pointing it at the offending house, and then blasting Baby Shark at them on repeat?
Perhaps. However, we have to acknowledge that there’s a price to be paid for this - particularly an environmental price - and it’s not the householder who pays that price. If where we lived didn’t have consequences for other people then it wouldn’t be an issue. But when these decisions lock in urban sprawl, car dependency and excess emissions, they become everybody’s business
Or are so unfit that walking places sounds like an insurmountable challenge.
It’s almost certainly not insurmountable unless you have something like COPD. I’m 70, went for almost two years after having covid where I could barely walk around the block, and now I can walk or cycle for hours over any terrain. It’s hilly here, so that’s saying something. I also lost almost 50 pounds that I’d gained during my period of enforced inactivity. There’s no secret. Just start slow and keep doing it, and lay off the junk food.
I live in one of my state’s few walkable neighborhoods adjacent to a downtown core, when I try to explain to others in the area what it’s like, well, they’ve never had any reason to use sidewalks besides the yearly trick-or-treat around the cul-de-sac. Vaguely know their neighbors as they wave in passing.
For me the best part was getting a job downtown, by a park, so I can exist almost feeling like a much larger city proper. Main library, tons of restaurants, shops. Historic homes. Neighbors who care for each other and feel like extended family. This is what ‘urban’ can and should feel like - community.
Yeah, this feels more like “people haven’t experienced being in a walkable community with good transit”. My buddy is having to move back to the States after a year in Germany, and he’s so upset that he and his wife are gonna have to get a car again and not just walk/bike everywhere.
plenty of American vloggers on YT saying exactly that. Most people are bereft of imagination or prescience.
They want to live a socially miserable life.