15 Minutes of City (10/20/23)

Cities across the world are implementing Low Traffic Neighborhoods and ‘cities’ of a fifteen minute variety, while simultaneously calming with arrogant dismissal that they are nothing more than conspiracy theories. When pressed on the issue, officials admit to doing what they also deny, but claim its only to help built city inclusivity so people without cars aren’t left behind people do; so everyone can walk or bike to the store, restaurant, work, or yoga. One town outside Phoenix, Arizona, called Culdesac, is already under construction within these guidelines. The small town will have 1,000 residents crammed into 760 unites with food and yoga right on the premises: residents are also provided no parking for cars and are encouraged to get rid of them. Despite the UK Government taking a firm stance against LTN and 15MC, officially, county councils in Oxfordshire defied the government and local citizens and kept their policy anyway. Either out of ignorance or thinking the public is dumb, proponents argue that these cities would be akin to a few in Europe or Japan. What they don’t point out is that public transformation in the U.S. on average is far less sophisticated than in these places. Cultures are also immensely different. Forced inclusivity of classes and groups will certainly create worse violence and crime. Ultimately, there is a difference between choosing to live in a place and not own a car, and never being able to own a car or drive out of the city if you desired - unless you were immensely wealthy. Getting rid of cars, if that is the goal, even by default, doesn’t suddenly make food cheaper or housing more affordable; it simply strips opportunity and free movement from already impoverished people.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tst-radio--5328407/support.