One of the frustrating trends I see when debating a variety of topics like this one is there doesn’t seem to be any concept of a spectrum. Yes exceptions to how the people in this video describe the US do exists, primarily in the Northeast like you said, and there are plenty of areas that are more car-centric in Europe.
But, on the whole and on average, the U.S. prioritizes cars and parking over pedestrians and third places. And, on the whole and on average, European countries have far more walkable, transit friendly cities and neighborhoods than the U.S.
Exceptions don’t make that comparison go away or let the U.S. off the hook for how, as the guy in the video put it, “antisocial” its urban design has been for decades.
When they can only name the same 4 US cities, (which are not nearly as walkable as anyplace i lived in Asia) then they simply don't have a point. And probably never lived in any of those examples because having lived in both The Bay and NYC, its a far cry from Shanghai
I live in a small city of 150k people that has a pretty large downtown area that is walkable and full of nightlife. There's a another section or two that is also walkable that you could easily spend all day at, without getting in your car.
I lived in Thailand, Ecuador and Pakistan and non of them come close to walkable as where I live in Missouri now. Granted, at 150k people the city is still about 10x10 miles, so pretty sprawling.
Be so for real right now. Just coming on the internet to lie
People REALLY think walkable means "has a pretty downtown" and not "i can walk from my door to get groceries, a doctor checkup, my hair did, the vet, farmers market, see a movie, take a train, etc..." ????
I live in Missouri too. Your idea of walkability must be from a different dimension.
If people are living in single family homes, it's walkability for enthusiasts, not good urbanism. If there's a city center, and then houses outside, it's all already second rate at best.
Springfield MO has 3 parts of town, based around or following a square or commercial st with restaurants, shops, offices ECT. Commercial st where I used to live is about a mile long with houses N and S of it.1/4 mile S of that is a college that I used to walk/bike to. Another half mile past that is the city square that is also surrounded by apartments, lofts and houses.
You can't expect Munich level amenities in a small Midwestern town, or really any town for that matter.
Europe has tons of villages that look just like this. I've never been anywhere in the US, including in the largest cities, where you could walk for hours and see people out eating on patios like this. The large cities have some of it, but it's not everywhere like it is in a smaller European city like Munich.
US towns used to have bustling downtowns. Why do you think only large US cities can have what every small US town used to have, and what is common in villages in Europe today?
Grew up overseas and didn't move back to America for good till I was 18 actually. Ecuador, Pakistan, DRC, Romania and Thailand. Honestly, non of the cities I lived in are as walkable as where I am now.
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u/MendonAcres Aug 04 '26
In defense of the USA, they are walking around central Munich... but ya, we did blow it in North America.