Comments on: How Infrastructure Shapes the Way We Move http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/ The national blog network for sustainable transport, smart growth and livable streets. Tue, 22 May 2012 20:15:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Russell http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2879 John Russell Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:05:42 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2879 Actually, that freeway looks quite nice for cycling. Nice wide shoulders and rather long gores make for a rather nice ride. I've always been a fan of freeway cycling myself. The semi trucks just push you right along. And yes, it's legal in most of the western US. Actually, that freeway looks quite nice for cycling. Nice wide shoulders and rather long gores make for a rather nice ride. I’ve always been a fan of freeway cycling myself. The semi trucks just push you right along. And yes, it’s legal in most of the western US.

]]> By: John S http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2620 John S Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:06:40 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2620 But sometimes people really are different from us, and make different decisions under similar circumstances. The British have access to refrigeration, and drink their beer warm. And the NFL works hard to market their produce in Europe, with exhibitions and the like, but with minimal traction. The list goes on . . . So this attribution error idea applies, except when it doesn't? I think the case for constructing transit facilities is stronger than the case for this social science construct. But sometimes people really are different from us, and make different decisions under similar circumstances. The British have access to refrigeration, and drink their beer warm. And the NFL works hard to market their produce in Europe, with exhibitions and the like, but with minimal traction. The list goes on . . .

So this attribution error idea applies, except when it doesn’t? I think the case for constructing transit facilities is stronger than the case for this social science construct.

]]> By: Evan http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2584 Evan Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:25:41 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2584 If you build it, they will come. More lanes = more cars. Less lanes = less cars. More parking = more cars. Less parking = less cars. More walkable streets = more walking. Less walkable streets = less walking. More convenient transit = more riders. Less convenient transit = less riders. More bike lanes/routes = more cyclists. Less bike lanes/routes = less cyclists. Rinse and repeat. If you build it, they will come.

More lanes = more cars.
Less lanes = less cars.

More parking = more cars.
Less parking = less cars.

More walkable streets = more walking.
Less walkable streets = less walking.

More convenient transit = more riders.
Less convenient transit = less riders.

More bike lanes/routes = more cyclists.
Less bike lanes/routes = less cyclists.

Rinse and repeat.

]]> By: Yuri http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2580 Yuri Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:10:12 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2580 When people let corporations design their cities, they get cities that maximize corporate profits instead of livability. Think of all the industries that benefit from an automobile-centric city design. Here's a few: automobile suppliers & maintenance, oil, highway construction, suburb developers, auto insurance. Then think of all the industries that would benefit from a denser,walkable city and stronger public transit. I venture to say that corporate profits are much lower for that design scenario. Infrastructure definitely influences people's decisions. But don't underestimate the influence of the corporate marketing machine that is focused on increasing and maintaining profits. And we have the best corporate marketing in the world, ask any kid who's been to a Disney park. When people let corporations design their cities, they get cities that maximize corporate profits instead of livability. Think of all the industries that benefit from an automobile-centric city design. Here’s a few: automobile suppliers & maintenance, oil, highway construction, suburb developers, auto insurance. Then think of all the industries that would benefit from a denser,walkable city and stronger public transit. I venture to say that corporate profits are much lower for that design scenario. Infrastructure definitely influences people’s decisions. But don’t underestimate the influence of the corporate marketing machine that is focused on increasing and maintaining profits. And we have the best corporate marketing in the world, ask any kid who’s been to a Disney park.

]]> By: Daniel Nairn http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2577 Daniel Nairn Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:54:00 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2577 My inclination in any of these debates is similar to Larry Hogues': It's gotta be both. We're not talking about mutually exclusive propositions at all. All of our decisions are influenced by a huge variety of external factors, conscious and sub-conscious, and I have to believe there is something called free will in the mix here too. So if the causes of our transportation choices are multifarious, any solutions for change will have to be equally multifarious. Change will require efforts from engineers and marketing gurus or social coordinators alike. My inclination in any of these debates is similar to Larry Hogues’: It’s gotta be both.

We’re not talking about mutually exclusive propositions at all. All of our decisions are influenced by a huge variety of external factors, conscious and sub-conscious, and I have to believe there is something called free will in the mix here too. So if the causes of our transportation choices are multifarious, any solutions for change will have to be equally multifarious. Change will require efforts from engineers and marketing gurus or social coordinators alike.

]]> By: Sarah Goodyear http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2573 Sarah Goodyear Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:52:44 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2573 @Douglas Gordon, That is brilliant, and I had never seen it. You made my morning. @Douglas Gordon,

That is brilliant, and I had never seen it. You made my morning.

]]> By: Douglas Gordon http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2572 Douglas Gordon Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:50:38 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2572 Leave it to the Onion to explain this better than any academic blog post can: Report: 98 Percent Of U.S. Commuters Favor Public Transportation For Others http://www.theonion.com/content/news/report_98_percent_of_u_s_commuters Leave it to the Onion to explain this better than any academic blog post can:

Report: 98 Percent Of U.S. Commuters Favor Public Transportation For Others

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/report_98_percent_of_u_s_commuters

]]> By: 7pop.net/ http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2565 7pop.net/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:15:47 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2565 People choose transportation that balances their preferences for speed, comfort, cost, and ease of use. I agree with other commenters above, people in aggregate are pretty rational. People choose transportation that balances their preferences for speed, comfort, cost, and ease of use. I agree with other commenters above, people in aggregate are pretty rational.

]]> By: Knut Bøe http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2564 Knut Bøe Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:38:48 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2564 hello, America (USA) is of course land of the cars, bigger motorways than anywhere else. It needs courage and motivation to change. My canadian cousin who visited me some years ago had never been on a train before he came to Oslo/Norway! In our country we aim to standards such as minimum distance to walk to a bus-stop etc (what about 300 m, I cannot remember the figure), but the bus/trains neds to run at a certain frequency if it is worth while, that is basic. For large cities, I see only one solution for future, priority to selected traffic categories during the rush hours, otherwise land use will be too costly. See http://trafikklogistikk.com regards Knut Bøe hello, America (USA) is of course land of the cars, bigger motorways than anywhere else. It needs courage and motivation to change. My canadian cousin who visited me some years ago had never been on a train before he came to Oslo/Norway! In our country we aim to standards such as minimum distance to walk to a bus-stop etc (what about 300 m, I cannot remember the figure), but the bus/trains neds to run at a certain frequency if it is worth while, that is basic.
For large cities, I see only one solution for future, priority to selected traffic categories during the rush hours, otherwise land use will be too costly. See http://trafikklogistikk.com

regards

Knut Bøe

]]> By: J:Lai http://streetsblog.net/2010/03/16/how-infrastructure-shapes-the-way-we-move/comment-page-1/#comment-2560 J:Lai Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:17:00 +0000 http://streetsblog.net/?p=2487#comment-2560 Michael D - thanks for the reference, but that paper is not doing it for me. I guess we will agree to disagree on this topic. Michael D -

thanks for the reference, but that paper is not doing it for me. I guess we will agree to disagree on this topic.

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