NewYorker0 t1_j0vwpsq wrote on December 19, 2022 at 8:33 PM

Reply to comment by ironypoisonedposter in Jealous of NYC transportation by OfficialEthxn

While we all love walkable cities here you also have to remember that a lot people don’t want walkable and public transportation otherwise they would’ve voted for a politician who did.

gzrrt t1_j0wksdk wrote on December 19, 2022 at 11:17 PM

This has much more to do with the effects of many decades of corporate greed and lobbying, vs. normal citizens 'not wanting' walkability.

NewYorker0 t1_j0wt7lm wrote on December 20, 2022 at 12:20 AM

Really? You are dodging my question, then why don’t Americans vote for vote someone who will make cities walkable. Survey says most American prefer suburbs which is why our cities look like that.

JeromePowellAdmirer t1_j0xisrb wrote on December 20, 2022 at 3:36 AM

Politicians don't respond to the average person. In NYC zoning changes get brought to community board input. Working people sure as hell ain't making those meetings on weekday afternoons, even weekday evenings are too hard for people with kids. Politicians respond to whoever shows up there, which is retired rich people, and not the electorate. Also the electorate in most council elections is retired rich people anyways.

NewYorker0 t1_j0xlvk3 wrote on December 20, 2022 at 4:01 AM

Jesus man you can’t answer my question can you. Politicians are voted by the people. If people want change they must vote. That’s called democracy. You got people who love to complain but can’t bother to vote just once a year.

JeromePowellAdmirer t1_j0xn4m4 wrote on December 20, 2022 at 4:12 AM

Motivating voter turnout is an entirely different problem from whether or not people want walkability. People don't decide to vote or not based on how much they like walkability.

ironypoisonedposter t1_j0z6yyl wrote on December 20, 2022 at 2:41 PM

i mean, politicians by-and-large suck, our electoral process is deeply flawed, and american voters don't have much in terms choice, which i think is reflected in shitty voter turnout.

that said, i would just counter to your point about "not voting" for the right politicians, voters very often DO vote in favor of pro-transit ballot measures.

gzrrt t1_j0zth7u wrote on December 20, 2022 at 5:14 PM

You can't just vote for some politician who's going to singlehandedly reverse the fact that it's been illegal to build high-quality urban spaces for 50+ years (and still is, in most of the country). It's going to take many, many years of sustained effort to undo even some of the damage.