The worst part about being #CarFree in #Seattle is that high-density housing is only allowed to be built in the areas with the most car traffic. As an obligate pedestrian, you have to deal with the noise, air pollution, and danger from cars while not benefitting from the convenience of being able to drive
The people who can actually afford a house are the ones who get to enjoy quiet and safe streets while making the city worse for everyone else. Limits on density privilege the wealthy
The One Seattle Comprehensive Plan doubles down on this "urban village" model. By limiting density to the most congested and polluted streets, it continues to disincentive carfree living
A good system is one where the interests of the individual are aligned with society as a whole. The comprehensive plan fails to do this by prioritizing the comfort and safety of the wealthy landowning class at the expense of everyone else
@jenbanim why is it so hard to delete R1s, parking minimums, and Euclidean zoning, mandate multiuse paths and safe crossings on every arterial as a must do during resurfacing, mandate max 25mph speeds on residential streets, and provide Transit on Demand where fixed routes don't serve?
@Neblib I really hope we can get there eventually. In the case of Seattle, this particular disappointment seems to be the result of the office of the mayor of the city - Bruce Harrell. I talked to one of his representatives at an open house discussing the plan and she parroted the usual NIMBY talking points about needing to preserve the character of neighborhoods
Add comment