Cities in the US are far apart because of car-centric design
Okay, dropping the act here, that’s not actually true. Cities in the US aren’t far apart when you consider the population-dense coastal areas (where large portions of the historical rail network are concentrated). That was my intended joke. You’ve got numerous large, increasingly dense suburbs all concentrated along highway corridors that run through urban centers. Like, we have everything you need for a successful rail line. In some cases we even have the rail lines. We just don’t have terminals with commuter trains running on a schedule.
Well, for context, I come from the Chicago area which does have commuter trains but is still a massive sprawling hellscape because everything - including the train stations - is designed for cars. So it’s true that everything is too far apart there, because the car-centric design itself makes it so.
I guess I should specify - everything in the US is too far apart to be a good environment for people, because we built it that way. It is not too far apart for public transport to be built, though. Building public transport (as well as walking and cycling infrastructure) and specifically building less car infrastructure is the way to make it less far apart and make it better for people.
Okay, dropping the act here, that’s not actually true. Cities in the US aren’t far apart when you consider the population-dense coastal areas (where large portions of the historical rail network are concentrated). That was my intended joke. You’ve got numerous large, increasingly dense suburbs all concentrated along highway corridors that run through urban centers. Like, we have everything you need for a successful rail line. In some cases we even have the rail lines. We just don’t have terminals with commuter trains running on a schedule.
Oh, it was a bit. Yikes you had me triggered lol
Well, for context, I come from the Chicago area which does have commuter trains but is still a massive sprawling hellscape because everything - including the train stations - is designed for cars. So it’s true that everything is too far apart there, because the car-centric design itself makes it so.
I guess I should specify - everything in the US is too far apart to be a good environment for people, because we built it that way. It is not too far apart for public transport to be built, though. Building public transport (as well as walking and cycling infrastructure) and specifically building less car infrastructure is the way to make it less far apart and make it better for people.
I’m gonna be honest: you fooled me and I almost removed your initial comment as misinformation.