It’s a joke that’s circled round like an Ouroboros. Americans say “The European mind can not comprehend this” under images of racing trucks with US flags on. Then Europeans do this in response.
So many have been made with varying degrees of irony to the point it’s meaningless.
Oh I’ve been to New York and the Wash DC Smithsonian, likely the two best public transit systems in the USA. BART in San Fran also is fine but could be better.
But I’ve also gone to Madrid, Tokyo and some other cities around the world. There’s no comparison. Best in the USA is closer to average of Europe, while average of USA is pretty bad public transit wise.
Ex: I’ve also gone to big cities like Nashville, Manilla Philippines, Los Angeles where things are closer to bus-only and the local traffic suffers greatly as a result. The general expectation in the USA is that ‘public transit is for the underclass’. In contrast, you do see rich people take Wash DC metro, NYC, and especially Tokyo’s subway. And it makes a difference when both rich and poor take the same system.
But all USA cities are car-first designed. As opposed to European model where cars are actively being de-prioritized on a city level.
Except like, New York City. One place in USA where walking works extremely well across the whole of Manhattan. But further out is less good transit, but the central island is well made.
Europe has working public transit, so parking garages aren’t needed to the same level as American cities.
Even though this image is the above ground view of a giant ass parking garage. You all eat this shit up hook line and sinker.
It’s a joke that’s circled round like an Ouroboros. Americans say “The European mind can not comprehend this” under images of racing trucks with US flags on. Then Europeans do this in response.
So many have been made with varying degrees of irony to the point it’s meaningless.
There are lots of American cities with large open-air commercial areas which are car-free.
For example, the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade.
Which has a farmer’s market.
Oh I’ve been to New York and the Wash DC Smithsonian, likely the two best public transit systems in the USA. BART in San Fran also is fine but could be better.
But I’ve also gone to Madrid, Tokyo and some other cities around the world. There’s no comparison. Best in the USA is closer to average of Europe, while average of USA is pretty bad public transit wise.
Ex: I’ve also gone to big cities like Nashville, Manilla Philippines, Los Angeles where things are closer to bus-only and the local traffic suffers greatly as a result. The general expectation in the USA is that ‘public transit is for the underclass’. In contrast, you do see rich people take Wash DC metro, NYC, and especially Tokyo’s subway. And it makes a difference when both rich and poor take the same system.
And yet plenty of American cities still have large, car-free areas.
But all USA cities are car-first designed. As opposed to European model where cars are actively being de-prioritized on a city level.
Except like, New York City. One place in USA where walking works extremely well across the whole of Manhattan. But further out is less good transit, but the central island is well made.