Comments by "" (@jasonreed7522) on "Can U.S. Cities Build Narrow European Streets?" video.

  1. The 1950s had some very effective propaganda, first selling the car as the definition of freedom and how that justifies car infrastructure to make that a self fulfilling prophecy (because now you actually need a car to go anywhere, hence a car has literally become freedom from the prison of your home). And the suburb was sold as the ultimate compromise between rural and urban life, all the safety, clean air, and space of the countryside with all the amenities and economic opportunities of the city. (The reality is not so much) And so today we may still be capable of great innovation, but too many are either still bought into the past's propaganda or unable/willing to try to fix the mistakes of our grandfather's. Even when we want to change its always expensive and political (politics will have people take a stance they know is wrong just so they can oppose their enemies, i hate politics)
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  2. That psychological need to stick to the edges is called survival instinct/fear. Since childhood we are taught to stay out of the road for our own protection, and to be wary while crossing it because we ultimately can only trust ourselves to look out for our own well-being. This means its very ingrained to stay away from the middle of the road no matter what state its in. (Even on private logging roads with super low traffic volumes i walk along the edge and not down the center) A slightly different factor is that black asphalt gets really hot in sunlight so being on it sucks as a human. (Although this doesn't so much push you to the edge as completely off and into buildings or onto the grass)
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