Come on, Seattle!! What's your deal?! (Brought To You With Double Punctuation..)

[fernazo]

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;

Comments

[wickedparadise]

very interesting, matthew. that whole deal with public space in france is pretty awesome. we (as in Bainbridge/Seatte/WA/U.S., whatever) really could use more opportunities to comunicate with our peers.

France. Europe too.

[fernazo]

"Going into town" in Winslow really has no meaning. Perhaps if The Pavillion actually served as a gathering point... But they have No Loitering!

Waterfront Park is pretty sweet. Winslow Green could be cooler. So could "Winslow Mall."

[howdydudey108]

You make me yearn to go to France. Are you returning next year on the exchange?

I hope so.

[fernazo]

I'm going to try to return. If few enough seniors want to go, then I will probably be allowed. I really dig both the place and the language. And the people. I miss Gwendal and Prune, especially.

[jdanzig9]

Well, part of why Europe is better looking is it's older! But yea, I agree that America needs to jump on the efficency train.

Not entirely true.

[fernazo]

Some of Europe is comprised of old buildings, but much of Eurpope has required remodeling since the World Wars. Most of what one sees in the major cities is recently constructed, but designed to look nice. (With some cities in Italy and Spain excluded)

Re: Not entirely true.

[untasteful]

we really fucked them up good in that last one....

Re: Not entirely true.

[fernazo]

They fucked themselves up. Although, The U.S. bombers weren't particularly careful... So much reconstruction.

[_eternalreverie]

Japan has the same system, you can get from one end of the big island to the other, take a boat over the Sea of Japan to a smaller island and hop back on a train, its amazing how fast those bullet trains are.

So... I guess only America is retarded.

[fernazo]

The only thing we have is a pretty good system of highways (which other continents also have). Our trains struggle for usage and government funding. Our cities aren't really connected, which is lame.

Ferries are pretty rad... Except how damned expensive they are.

Re: So... I guess only America is retarded.

[_eternalreverie]

Yeah thats true, Japan has a system of Toll booths on highways every few miles to fund for everything. Thats why many people use the subways instead of owning cars.
The only problem with trains is the distance in America- not many people travel to Montana and other such desolate places so it'll be a pain in the ass to maintain the rails...

Re: So... I guess only America is retarded.

[radiate18]

i've taken the train to montana! its a fantastic way to get there. you travel all through the night, its super easy. i will be severely disappointed if/when the empire builder train no longer exists.

[radiate18]

mathieuse i have your picture cropped for you. hook me up with your email and i will send it to you.

[radiate18]

and i love the monorail. its my favorite. it takes me to get hamburgers.

[fernazo]

The monorail is fine, just insufficient for our mass transit needs.

matt@radbox.org