As I read the article
linked to below, as I noticed it weaving in a thread of the American
myth of the individual coupled with the image of freedom, adventure and
independence often linked to the automobile, that also downplays our reliance
on others and our need for connection and community, I was reminded of The Great Good
Place by Ray Oldenburg. Oldenburg argued that our
cities/communities need public places (coffee shops, libraries, cafes, bars,
barber shops, etc.) where we can access services, gather with others to hang
out, converse and establish relationships that help keep communities viable.
These “third places” as Oldenburg terms them can also provide an avenue for interaction of different
socio-economic, racial, ethnic, political and other groups whose spheres
normally wouldn’t overlap in the other two types of places (home/immediate
neighborhood and work).
But as this article
points out, these places need to be equitably accessible on foot (and by
bikes), along routes that aren’t only safe from the tyranny of the automobile
(or potentially crime), but also desirable relative to views, sounds, air
quality, etc. and provide an experience that isn’t solely limited to that of
traversing an asphalt desert. So as we work with key stakeholders to equitably
implement complete streets, develop safe routes to schools, plan for mixed use
communities or sustainably design facilities (from the inclusion of bike racks
to a larger accounting for biophilia design principles), we're not just
increasing individual health/productivity, saving energy/water or reducing GHG
emissions, we're also increasing community vitality, resiliency and longevity.
