Locally Grown Northfield

Blogging, podcasting, and tweeting the people, issues, and events of Northfield, MN

Bicycle highways and banning culs-de-sac

By Tracy Davis, on December 14, 2009, 8:45 am

The New York Times Magazine posted their ninth annual “Year of Ideas” issue. The above two items caught my eye; ideas like this are gaining traction. Read more here.

5 comments to NY Times Year in Ideas: Bicycle highways & banning culs-de-sac

1

Bright Spencer says:

December 14, 2009 at 2:09 pm

Super. I especially like the “Gourmet Dirt” article which coincides with one of my paintings from 1999 entitled, “Cool Shake” subtitle “U R What U Eat”. Maybe the old wive’s tale is true.

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2

Jim Haas says:

December 15, 2009 at 11:01 am

I always disliked culs de sac but wasn’t sure why. Then I read “Home From Nowhere” and its sequel and I really don’t like them now. But that just means I won’t buy a house on a cul de sac, it doesn’t mean I think a state or county or city should just ban them — that’s a bit much.

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3

Jim Haas says:

December 15, 2009 at 11:18 am

Correction: The first book was “The Geography of Nowhere” and the sequel was “Home From Nowhere.” James Howard Kunstler on the new urbanism and the evils of zoning and related topics. Both available at your friendly tax-supported public library. Kunstler tries to be a little like Hunter Thompson, which doesn’t quite work for me, but the information about urban and suburban development is fascinating. Highly recommended (by me).

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4

Tracy Davis says:

December 15, 2009 at 11:34 am

Thanks for your comments, Jim. I love Kunstler – I call him “my favorite crackpot”. You might enjoy this short video of a TED talk he gave a couple of years ago.

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5

Jim Haas says:

December 15, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Kunstler used to have a blog (I haven’t checked recently) featuring the ugliest places or buildings in the USA. Entertaining and depressing at the same time.

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