tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post111685196004568526..comments2023-10-18T11:04:13.946-04:00Comments on Connecticut Local Politics: Going Nowhere, SlowlyGenghis Connhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13042849182723767087noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1116934694712687732005-05-24T07:38:00.000-04:002005-05-24T07:38:00.000-04:00I started writing my comments on this post, but it...I started writing my comments on this post, but it rapidly grew to a fairly long post in and of itself, so I thought I would post it over on <A HREF="http://www.destefanoforct.com" REL="nofollow">The DeStefano blog</A>. Stop by and share your thoughts.Aldon Hyneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527868669926331034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214263.post-1116854397000051642005-05-23T09:19:00.000-04:002005-05-23T09:19:00.000-04:00When I was in western Europe, I was amazed by how ...When I was in western Europe, I was amazed by how omnipresent public transportation was. Even in some of the most rural parts of Germany, I was easily able to board a convenient bus and ride in to town. Mass transit was cheap and effective, and nearly everybody used it.<BR/><BR/>I'd love to see that here, but there is a fundamental difference between Europe and the U.S. that stands in the way: sprawl. In Europe, populations are highly centralized, simply because that was the way land use evolved. Basically, aristocrats owned all of the land (and farmed it) except for a small patch of ground on which the town stood. The town, therefore, had predefined limits, which were further reinforced by the use of town and city walls. There is still a sharp divide between town and country in many parts of Europe, although this is beginning to change to a certain degree. Therefore, public transportation has clearly defined hubs.<BR/><BR/>America, on the other hand, is a nightmare of suburban sprawl, most of it accessable only through cars. Public transportation is much harder here, because we are so decentralized.<BR/><BR/>The point is that we have to deal with cars and highways--there's no easy way to change that. Increased reliance on public transportation will help as we grapple with solutions, but they won't fix everything.Genghis Connhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13042849182723767087noreply@blogger.com