It seems like all citys are built after the same patern, boring?, and what´s up with the lack of walkways?
2006-10-28 14:13:59 · 16 answers · asked by Kay H 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
The grid pattern of cities is a Dutch invention. Remember New York the archtypical grid was New Amsterdam first.
The Dutch reclaimed large areas of prime land in their home country from the sea by building dikes. Rather than just allow people to build on it chaotically, they planned the layout and where settlement was planned- it was divided into squares and each one was auctioned. Finding the outcome desirable they then exported the idea to the New World where it caught on.
It was a good idea for that purpose before hordes of automobiles arrived and traffic flow theories were studied. The cities with the best traffic flow avoid endless intersections of a grid design which hold things up. My town for example has no traffic lights (but sixty roundabouts!).
However cities like New Amsterdam in the 17th Century and many cities today benefit from making it easier for newcomers, visitors and tourists to find their destinations.
2006-10-28 14:43:57 · answer #1 · answered by Peter F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you can pack more usable buildings into a grid space, not to mention it is easy to navigate. But none the less it seems like most major suburbs are built on some kind of schizophrnic, elementary crayon student version of road. All twisty and all the streets are called Schuster place, and Schuster wy, and Scuster wy E, and Schuster way W, and Schuster way alley 1/2. Blah blah blah, get lost--850 dollar Magellan GPS system, more Cellphone towers, Accidental children deaths from car accidents because you cant see around the BEND!
2006-10-28 14:29:50 · answer #2 · answered by Tropicalboy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which cities have you been to? Obviously not Boston - they paved the damn horse trails... not straight.
But to answer your question: the grid system is the most econimical way to build. It allows the greatest amount to be built and still easily navigated around. In short, it's easy and it makes the most money.
2006-10-28 14:18:25 · answer #3 · answered by over_educated_under_everything 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the grid pattern came from EUROPE ( the most popular and famous city planners came from there - the pattern of meandering roads in very old European cities is because there was no planning )
as for walkways ( we call them sidewalks you know ) is because most people drive with the sprawl that is popular it is difficult to walk to shopping and schools plus they cost money to build and maintain
but I'm guessing that you didn't REALLY want these answers you just wanted to criticize - right
2006-10-28 14:16:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cos it's easier to give directions to tourists. You simply say "Ah, that's 2 blocks down and 3 blocks East", instead of in the UK where you have to say "Ah, that's just around the corner, the second left, go on 200 yards, take the 3rd right and you should be there"
2006-10-28 14:18:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's so much easier to get around. Try going to Hawaii and you will appreciate the straight lines of the typical American city.
2006-10-28 15:14:16 · answer #6 · answered by Harushnakarvikonivonich Hakopyan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The grid system is the easiest and most effective way to organize a city.
2006-10-28 14:22:48 · answer #7 · answered by fat_albert_999 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can fit more buildings in lines like that than with sparatic patterns, plus I think gridding came from Europe didn't it?
2006-10-28 14:23:41 · answer #8 · answered by IceyFlame 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we let the Mexicans build them for $3 an hour so we really can't complain about the workmanship..That way we have more money for fast cars and fat whores
2006-10-28 14:27:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Grids more easily allow for size and placement of buildings, and make directions less schizophrenic.
2006-10-28 14:18:39 · answer #10 · answered by For sure 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋