Comments on: Where The Streets Are Wide And The Minds Are…* http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/ Efficiency is the straightest path to hell.* Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:20:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Matt the Engineer http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4894 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:33:48 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4894 I'm a fairly recent transplant to Seattle from the SF Bay Area, and at first the wait-to-pass streets shocked me. But now that I've lived here for a while I love them. Nobody drives more than 15mph on a residential street under these conditions (especially with turning circles every other block), which makes the neighborhood feel much safer and quiet. Of course getting a moving truck in there is difficult, but possible. I would imagine navigating a fire truck would be tough but possible as well. I’m a fairly recent transplant to Seattle from the SF Bay Area, and at first the wait-to-pass streets shocked me. But now that I’ve lived here for a while I love them. Nobody drives more than 15mph on a residential street under these conditions (especially with turning circles every other block), which makes the neighborhood feel much safer and quiet.

Of course getting a moving truck in there is difficult, but possible. I would imagine navigating a fire truck would be tough but possible as well.

]]> by: Brian http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4889 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:40:13 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4889 Bob: We get this argument, actually. I work for a mid-sized Bay Area city (100,000 people) with few tall buildings. Our big boy fire truck, the GRUMMAN (said with a reverant tone) means big streets. And...this is not a new thing. Our old town area, the original grid, has 48 foot wide streets! Most houses are small cottages and bungalows, generally one story in height. You can imagine that this streetscape feels achingly open and undefined. 36 foot streets are the new standard, but some of us staff in planning would love to see that reduced to 30 feet. The concept of waiting to pass (the 25 foot Seattle streets) would probably horrify our citizens, though. :) Bob: We get this argument, actually. I work for a mid-sized Bay Area city (100,000 people) with few tall buildings. Our big boy fire truck, the GRUMMAN (said with a reverant tone) means big streets.

And…this is not a new thing. Our old town area, the original grid, has 48 foot wide streets! Most houses are small cottages and bungalows, generally one story in height. You can imagine that this streetscape feels achingly open and undefined. 36 foot streets are the new standard, but some of us staff in planning would love to see that reduced to 30 feet. The concept of waiting to pass (the 25 foot Seattle streets) would probably horrify our citizens, though. :)

]]> by: Matt the Engineer http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4869 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:59:37 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4869 It was a great idea they had to leave room for bike lanes, sidewalks, and a light rail line. Once they convert all of those lawns to 8-story condos with retail on the ground level, this might be a nice place to live. It was a great idea they had to leave room for bike lanes, sidewalks, and a light rail line. Once they convert all of those lawns to 8-story condos with retail on the ground level, this might be a nice place to live.

]]> by: SA http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4863 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:36:23 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4863 sweet. you could get grand cherokee up to top speed on a street like that sweet. you could get grand cherokee up to top speed on a street like that

]]> by: Oran http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4860 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:02:04 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4860 Just in case the Soviets launch those missiles! Just in case the Soviets launch those missiles!

]]> by: Bob http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4853 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:05:31 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4853 Yeah, but think how easily a firetruck can turn around!! *sigh* Yeah, but think how easily a firetruck can turn around!! *sigh*

]]> by: JesseJB http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4852 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:56:35 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/07/23/where-the-streets-are-wide-and-the-minds-are/#comment-4852 Is the era over yet? Howbout now? Now? ??? Is the era over yet?

Howbout now?

Now?

???

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