Quote:
Originally Posted by Doady
L.A. isn't as car-dependent as its reputation, especially for a Sunbelt city. The fact that it is densest metro is discounted way too much. The gap between LA and Philadelphia isn't actually that big. LA and Philadelphia are both among the very few MSAs where the non-car commutes to work is higher than 10%. If you look at the stats, you will see that is extremely rare in the US. In most other MSAs, it is more like 3% or 4%.
Traffic congestion is not an indicator of walkability or car dependence. The central city probably has more traffic congestion than its suburbs, that doesn't mean it is less walkable or more car dependent.
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Just to add I born and raised in the city of LA and know this city like the back of my hand. I lived here longer than some of the forumers been alive. Of course the city is too big to walk all around, but so is every big city in this nation. No this isn’t Manhattan, or Chicago(even this city has auto oriented neighborhoods similar to the San Fernando Valley) still most city residents can get just about anything they need within a short walk. I currently live in the most western part of the San Fernando Valley the suburban part of the city other than living in the hills, even I can walk to just about all that I need without a car. Ventura Blvd is around the corner, every kind of retail stores and restaurants and even big box is only walking distance from me. Sure there is no train by me, but a few blocks away I have access to multiple bus service to reach the commuter train about 10 minutes away, or around the corner I can take a freeway express bus to downtown LA, or the other option is use the busway (Orange Line) to get to the subway or just to North Hollywood. I have a car of course, and I use it for most errands. I do a lot of bulk purchases because I have a family and it would make it difficult to carry the stuff home. But if I’m just picking up something I can carry I most definitely will walk to Costco, Ralph’s, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joes a little further walk so I don’t walk there but there are three in my area 5 minutes in each direction. I even walk to the mall, it’s that close. I also have a park across from me so we walk there all the time, and during the summer we enjoy the outdoor concerts, and movies every week.
Now speaking on my upbringing I grew up in many different neighborhoods in Watts and South LA and we walked everywhere, to the parks, the corner markets, the grocery stores, and to local diners and fast food restaurants. This was back in the mid 70’s and early 80’s There was nothing we needed a car for, we went by bus to downtown LA, Huntington Park, a big shopping district 20 minutes away, downtown Inglewood-Market Street, and a good number of major blvd. (Broadway, Vermont, 103rd Street in Watts before the 1965 riots burn down the retail, Central Avenue, Manchester Avenue, Florence Avenue) all had store front retail all within a short walking distance from their house.
Unfortunately in many parts of south central as the demographics have changed over the years the mom and pop retail has closed down due to the malls and big box retail expanding. Although many of the buildings still stand and support retail but not usually things you can get cheaper at big box retail. As for reaching the malls, it was fairly even get to the malls by public transportation(bus), such as the Fox Hills Mall in Culver City, and the Hawthorne Mall.
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