Maybe this was all designed for the American public to buy cars (many years ago) and put trains out of business. Ford was no idiot -- his first sales market was his own employees. It doesn't seem to me (especially today)that there is much social conscience when it comes to making money. What is best for the people is not what is best when greed is involved. As a child and teen I lived in a city environment in New Jersey and had the conveniences of avenues with local stores where you would see neighbors and friends when you walked the avenue. Bus transportation was incredible -- they ran so often to the next towns or to New York City. City life was not a life of deprivation as some would have you believe. My grandparents had a summer home in a wooded area and on a lake -- which eventually became a year-round home -- and which is now my home. It's beautiful and peaceful, but it takes a half hour to get to any store that doesn't exist nearby. Buses are inconvenient and forget about going to NY on one. They stop running after 12 midnight. There used to be trains and train tracks here -- and people would commute to NY on them. They were pulled out 40 years ago. I just returned from Switzerland and it seems that the design of the towns was similar to the design of the city in NJ where I lived, houses clustered around the main street which contained the shopping areas, parks interspersed, and transportation around the perimeters. Interestingly, the NJ town was probably designed by Germans as I understand the original incorp. papers were in German and predominantly occupied by Swiss and German. I wish we had the trains and mass transport that is in Switzerland, but that would mean razing bldgs and housing and roads so that trains could come back into the towns -- and the American people are too used to jumping into their cars -- it would mean a change in mental attitude and a new way of living. Carpooling didn't work for the majority. I would love to live in Switzerland for 1 year just to get back in shape again. I walked so much when I was there, exploring each town that I was in -- it was wonderful. For some reason, I don't seem to have the time here. Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Koch" <ferdinad@omnitelcom.com> To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 6:10 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > The thing is, our workplaces, shopping und family are becoming further > away, because the automobile makes this possible. Thus making life very > difficult without it. Urban sprawl is not inevitable, but rather a result of > our planning, or lack of planning, that makes our cities grow that way. If > you added up all the acreage that is devoted to parking lots und highways in > this country, how much would that total area be? The size of England at > leat. > > Thomas Koch > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Mike and Dorie Brennecke <doitnow@netins.net> > To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 9:40 AM > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > > > > I think that our workplaces and shopping areas in the US are so far from > > home that it makes it rather unrealistic to think of walking instead of > > driving. Everything is so much bigger here, and spread out, while in > Europe > > there is less land and the population is more concentrated, so things are > > closer to home. Plus, we are just too "busy" in our lives. On top of > that, > > we have developed such a fascination our cars, unfortunately! > > Dorie > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Christine Bailey <r.bailey@home.com> > > To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 10:54 AM > > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > > > > > > > I'm really not sure what it's like in the cities in the states but here > in > > > Calgary we have tons of walking/biking trails. How ever I believe that > > > because the U.S. and Canada have really gone away from the small > > > neighborhood shops, unlike in Germany, and to the many chain stores, > that > > > seem to congregate in one commercial area we've lost a great deal. In > my > > > area of the city I don't even have a 7-11 to go to. It takes me ten > > minutes > > > just to drive to the nearest grocery store and about 20 to get to the > > > nearest mall. What do you all think? > > > > > > Chris, > > > Calgary, Ab > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Karin Book" <karin4467@yahoo.com> > > > To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 9:13 AM > > > Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > > > > > > > > > > Although I can't speak for all Germans, I know that my > > > > family walks much more than the average American here > > > > does. In fact, they are always astounded at the number > > > > and kind of drive-through windows here in the US. > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== GERMAN-LIFE Mailing List ==== > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mail list send a message to: > > > GERMAN-LIFE-L-request@rootsweb.com and in the message add the word > > UNSUBSCRIBE and send. > > > > > > ============================== > > > Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! > > > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2 > > > > > > ==== GERMAN-LIFE Mailing List ==== > > Complaints: > > Contact the list administrator at: GERMAN-LIFE-L-admin@rootsweb.com > > > > ============================== > > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp > > > > > > > ==== GERMAN-LIFE Mailing List ==== > GERMAN-FOOD-L@rootsweb.com to subscribe send a message to: > GERMAN-FOOD-L-request@rootsweb.com and add the word SUBSCRIBE in the message and send. > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB > >

I think our autos have been wrapped up into the whole American notion of freedom and independance - going where you want, when you want. Who wants to check some bus and train schedule to see how to get somewhere and then wait for the bus and train in 100+ summer weather? This seems to be the attitude when I've been privy to such discussions. Here in Houston, "light rail" as it is called, is contantly under attack and only recently has a small line been approved that will run through the hospital district to downtown. The construction is a mess, buildings and roads have been ripped up, the costs are astronomical and it will take years to complete. It's a hard sell and it's just too bad that city planners didn't do it while the city was expanding. My Mom just called from her cell phone. She's in a rental car on her way downtown to pick up her newly repaired vehicle from the Range Rover (lol) dealership. She's been stuck on I-10 for an hour. So much for freedom. Tina ----- Original Message ----- From: CJ Lisa <cjlisa@worldnet.att.net> To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2001 11:55 AM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits; transportation > Maybe this was all designed for the American public to buy cars (many years > ago) and put trains out of business. Ford was no idiot -- his first sales > market was his own employees. It doesn't seem to me (especially today)that > there is much social conscience when it comes to making money. What is best > for the people is not what is best when greed is involved. > > As a child and teen I lived in a city environment in New Jersey and had the > conveniences of avenues with local stores where you would see neighbors and > friends when you walked the avenue. Bus transportation was incredible -- > they ran so often to the next towns or to New York City. City life was not > a life of deprivation as some would have you believe. My grandparents had a > summer home in a wooded area and on a lake -- which eventually became a > year-round home -- and which is now my home. It's beautiful and peaceful, > but it takes a half hour to get to any store that doesn't exist nearby. > Buses are inconvenient and forget about going to NY on one. They stop > running after 12 midnight. There used to be trains and train tracks here -- > and people would commute to NY on them. They were pulled out 40 years ago. > > I just returned from Switzerland and it seems that the design of the towns > was similar to the design of the city in NJ where I lived, houses clustered > around the main street which contained the shopping areas, parks > interspersed, and transportation around the perimeters. Interestingly, the > NJ town was probably designed by Germans as I understand the original > incorp. papers were in German and predominantly occupied by Swiss and > German. > > I wish we had the trains and mass transport that is in Switzerland, but that > would mean razing bldgs and housing and roads so that trains could come back > into the towns -- and the American people are too used to jumping into their > cars -- it would mean a change in mental attitude and a new way of living. > Carpooling didn't work for the majority. > > I would love to live in Switzerland for 1 year just to get back in shape > again. I walked so much when I was there, exploring each town that I was > in -- it was wonderful. For some reason, I don't seem to have the time > here. > Claire > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Thomas Koch" <ferdinad@omnitelcom.com> > To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 6:10 PM > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > > > > The thing is, our workplaces, shopping und family are becoming further > > away, because the automobile makes this possible. Thus making life very > > difficult without it. Urban sprawl is not inevitable, but rather a result > of > > our planning, or lack of planning, that makes our cities grow that way. If > > you added up all the acreage that is devoted to parking lots und highways > in > > this country, how much would that total area be? The size of England at > > leat. > > > > Thomas Koch > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Mike and Dorie Brennecke <doitnow@netins.net> > > To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 9:40 AM > > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > > > > > > > I think that our workplaces and shopping areas in the US are so far from > > > home that it makes it rather unrealistic to think of walking instead of > > > driving. Everything is so much bigger here, and spread out, while in > > Europe > > > there is less land and the population is more concentrated, so things > are > > > closer to home. Plus, we are just too "busy" in our lives. On top of > > that, > > > we have developed such a fascination our cars, unfortunately! > > > Dorie > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Christine Bailey <r.bailey@home.com> > > > To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 10:54 AM > > > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > > > > > > > > > > I'm really not sure what it's like in the cities in the states but > here > > in > > > > Calgary we have tons of walking/biking trails. How ever I believe > that > > > > because the U.S. and Canada have really gone away from the small > > > > neighborhood shops, unlike in Germany, and to the many chain stores, > > that > > > > seem to congregate in one commercial area we've lost a great deal. In > > my > > > > area of the city I don't even have a 7-11 to go to. It takes me ten > > > minutes > > > > just to drive to the nearest grocery store and about 20 to get to the > > > > nearest mall. What do you all think? > > > > > > > > Chris, > > > > Calgary, Ab > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Karin Book" <karin4467@yahoo.com> > > > > To: <GERMAN-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> > > > > Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 9:13 AM > > > > Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] German walking habits > > > > > > > > > > > > > Although I can't speak for all Germans, I know that my > > > > > family walks much more than the average American here > > > > > does. In fact, they are always astounded at the number > > > > > and kind of drive-through windows here in the US. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== GERMAN-LIFE Mailing List ==== > > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mail list send a message to: > > > > GERMAN-LIFE-L-request@rootsweb.com and in the message add the word > > > UNSUBSCRIBE and send. > > > > > > > > ============================== > > > > Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! > > > > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2 > > > > > > > > > ==== GERMAN-LIFE Mailing List ==== > > > Complaints: > > > Contact the list administrator at: GERMAN-LIFE-L-admin@rootsweb.com > > > > > > ============================== > > > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== GERMAN-LIFE Mailing List ==== > > GERMAN-FOOD-L@rootsweb.com to subscribe send a message to: > > GERMAN-FOOD-L-request@rootsweb.com and add the word SUBSCRIBE in the > message and send. > > > > ============================== > > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB > > > > > > > ==== GERMAN-LIFE Mailing List ==== > Complaints: > Contact the list administrator at: GERMAN-LIFE-L-admin@rootsweb.com > > ============================== > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp > >