<story><title>If we want a shift to walking we need to prioritize dignity</title><url>https://streets.mn/2023/07/19/if-we-want-a-shift-to-walking-we-need-to-prioritize-dignity/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>sershe</author><text>Subjectively worse, not objectively worse. I think driving is much more convenient and nice for most things I like to do. The only exceptions I can think of are if I were a kid in a car-centric area (strangely, the thinking in the US is usually reversed, kids supposedly need to be in the burbs), or if I was drunk. I don&amp;#x27;t often get drunk, so I&amp;#x27;d prefer to drive for everything from minor groceries to outdoor activities ~100% of the time.</text></item><item><author>tvaughan</author><text>&amp;gt; I often find myself trying to explain to people back home just how miserable and even humiliating the pedestrian experience is here.&lt;p&gt;Same. I’ve lived in Los Ángeles and Amsterdam, and it is impossible to explain to my friends and family just how awful the quality of life is in LA precisely because of the difference in attitudes and priorities over cars. Perhaps some have “nicer” (aka bigger) houses in LA than they would have in Ámsterdam, but once they leave their front door everything is objectively worse</text></item><item><author>degrews</author><text>I moved from Spain to the US, and I often find myself trying to explain  to people back home just how miserable and even humiliating the pedestrian experience is here.&lt;p&gt;Here are some other examples of things that I think contribute to the hostile walking experience in the US:&lt;p&gt;* Cars parked in short driveways often extend all the way across the sidewalk. Even if you can easily step off onto the road to walk around them (not all pedestrians can), it just feels like a slap in the face to have to do that.&lt;p&gt;* Cars have much higher and stronger headlights, with the high beams often left on, and drivers are generally much less mindful of them. As a pedestrian walking at night on under-lit streets, you are constantly getting blinded.&lt;p&gt;* Tinted windows (even the mild level of tint that most cars in the US have). The whole experience of being a lone vulnerable pedestrian among a sea of cars is made even worse when you can&amp;#x27;t see the people in the cars (but you know they can see you).&lt;p&gt;* Often the only option to get food late at night are fast food places, which become drive-thru only after a certain time. Having to go through the drive-thru on foot is obviously a terrible experience, and they will often refuse to even serve you.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>aesclepius</author><text>Jesus it&amp;#x27;s objectively worse. NY&amp;#x2F;Chicago&amp;#x2F;London&amp;#x2F;Paris&amp;#x2F;Tokyo you can conceivably and easily nip out to a grocer&amp;#x27;s, bodega, cafe or pub within 10 minutes of where you are. LA? Outside of certain certain pockets like DTLA, KTown, WeHo or similar walking is tough and if your friend is across town you&amp;#x27;re SoL without a car.</text></comment>
<story><title>If we want a shift to walking we need to prioritize dignity</title><url>https://streets.mn/2023/07/19/if-we-want-a-shift-to-walking-we-need-to-prioritize-dignity/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>sershe</author><text>Subjectively worse, not objectively worse. I think driving is much more convenient and nice for most things I like to do. The only exceptions I can think of are if I were a kid in a car-centric area (strangely, the thinking in the US is usually reversed, kids supposedly need to be in the burbs), or if I was drunk. I don&amp;#x27;t often get drunk, so I&amp;#x27;d prefer to drive for everything from minor groceries to outdoor activities ~100% of the time.</text></item><item><author>tvaughan</author><text>&amp;gt; I often find myself trying to explain to people back home just how miserable and even humiliating the pedestrian experience is here.&lt;p&gt;Same. I’ve lived in Los Ángeles and Amsterdam, and it is impossible to explain to my friends and family just how awful the quality of life is in LA precisely because of the difference in attitudes and priorities over cars. Perhaps some have “nicer” (aka bigger) houses in LA than they would have in Ámsterdam, but once they leave their front door everything is objectively worse</text></item><item><author>degrews</author><text>I moved from Spain to the US, and I often find myself trying to explain  to people back home just how miserable and even humiliating the pedestrian experience is here.&lt;p&gt;Here are some other examples of things that I think contribute to the hostile walking experience in the US:&lt;p&gt;* Cars parked in short driveways often extend all the way across the sidewalk. Even if you can easily step off onto the road to walk around them (not all pedestrians can), it just feels like a slap in the face to have to do that.&lt;p&gt;* Cars have much higher and stronger headlights, with the high beams often left on, and drivers are generally much less mindful of them. As a pedestrian walking at night on under-lit streets, you are constantly getting blinded.&lt;p&gt;* Tinted windows (even the mild level of tint that most cars in the US have). The whole experience of being a lone vulnerable pedestrian among a sea of cars is made even worse when you can&amp;#x27;t see the people in the cars (but you know they can see you).&lt;p&gt;* Often the only option to get food late at night are fast food places, which become drive-thru only after a certain time. Having to go through the drive-thru on foot is obviously a terrible experience, and they will often refuse to even serve you.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>badtension</author><text>Objectively we are still animals that need at least some movement. The environment described by the parent is hostile to our most basic needs.</text></comment>