Come on, Seattle!! What's your deal?! (Brought To You With Double Punctuation..)
Recently, I journeyed to France (Nantes primarily) for a 2 week exchange program. While there I experienced/noticed many things, but today I want to talk about one thing in particular: Mass Transit and Public Space. Specifically, I will describe the European/French system and how it compares to ours. I realize this sounds boring, but bear with me; it's actually rad.
First, the former: Mass Transit. In France (like all of Europe), one can get from any location to any other location entirely on public transportation. It is cheap/free, clean, popular, efficient, well coordinated, and rad. Here's how it's set up: All the major cities and towns are connected by the T.G.V. (a supa-smooth, high-tech train that travels at speeds up to 300 km/h), which allows one to travel large distances in comfort and class. Next, within each city there exists a tram system (light rail)that allows one to travel across the city. For even more accuracy, there are 'round-the-clock buses that allow one to get to virtually any given point. Seriously, these buses go everywhere and the drivers are really skilled. Finally, for the larger cities, advanced metro systems exist. The best part? The whole system is coordinated by the same oranization.
Although... I was riding a bus and it hit a car... French people screaming at each other... In French... Oh god...
Now, the latter: Public Space. The European cities are designed much differently than American ones. European communities really grasp the value of community. Correspondingly, there are numerous places, parcs, public conservatories, and simply aesthetically pleasing districts. People there understand that everyone is better off with a little space for schmoozing. Also, farmers' markets and flea markets can be found all the time. Everyday, everyone goes out. They simply enjoy being out in the town, socializing, and being with the community. Then, on Sunday, most shops and businesses close (bakeries alternate). It's not a religious practice, but a societal one. In fact, the cities are overwhelmingly atheist.
It's rockin'.
What do we have? Some underground bus deal, a shitty monorail, and a big, ugly, cement wall on our waterfront (that piece of shit viaduct). Do people here actually use our towns and cities as communities? No. No they do not.
Let's have a potluck.
First, the former: Mass Transit. In France (like all of Europe), one can get from any location to any other location entirely on public transportation. It is cheap/free, clean, popular, efficient, well coordinated, and rad. Here's how it's set up: All the major cities and towns are connected by the T.G.V. (a supa-smooth, high-tech train that travels at speeds up to 300 km/h), which allows one to travel large distances in comfort and class. Next, within each city there exists a tram system (light rail)that allows one to travel across the city. For even more accuracy, there are 'round-the-clock buses that allow one to get to virtually any given point. Seriously, these buses go everywhere and the drivers are really skilled. Finally, for the larger cities, advanced metro systems exist. The best part? The whole system is coordinated by the same oranization.
Although... I was riding a bus and it hit a car... French people screaming at each other... In French... Oh god...
Now, the latter: Public Space. The European cities are designed much differently than American ones. European communities really grasp the value of community. Correspondingly, there are numerous places, parcs, public conservatories, and simply aesthetically pleasing districts. People there understand that everyone is better off with a little space for schmoozing. Also, farmers' markets and flea markets can be found all the time. Everyday, everyone goes out. They simply enjoy being out in the town, socializing, and being with the community. Then, on Sunday, most shops and businesses close (bakeries alternate). It's not a religious practice, but a societal one. In fact, the cities are overwhelmingly atheist.
It's rockin'.
What do we have? Some underground bus deal, a shitty monorail, and a big, ugly, cement wall on our waterfront (that piece of shit viaduct). Do people here actually use our towns and cities as communities? No. No they do not.
Let's have a potluck.