While countries around the world are addressing traffic and
pollution with revitalized public transportation and increased
pedestrian-friendly spaces, most North American cities are
simply pouring the cement for another parking garage.
Increasingly bewildering is the fact that the international
economy is crying out for more practical, money-saving
alternatives to skyrocketing gas prices. American transit: the
planner’s conundrum Comparing American transit systems to those
in other countries like Amsterdam, author Russell Shorto writes:
When I noted that Manhattan’s bike lanes seem to be used more
for recreation than transport — cyclists in Amsterdam are
dressed in everything from jeans to cocktail dresses, while
those in Manhattan often look like spandex cyborgs — Mr. Hemel
told me to give it time. “Those are the pioneers,” he said. “You
have to start somewhere.” Although New York’s public transit
network is far from perfect, it is often hailed as one of the
best in the United States. On the other hand, the