#open streets

NYC Open Streets - Slate | Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects

Franklin Avenue Then and Now

I drove east into downtown Detroit along Michigan Avenue (US Route 12) and didn’t encounter much traffic.  I think it’s significant to remember that Detroit has shed much of its population, affecting land use as well as revenues and services.  Modern Detroit was made by the American automobile industry, so the irony of its streets relatively devoid of cars is unavoidable. 

I’ve often thought that what makes suburban environments impersonal and even sterile is the extent to which they’re dependent on the personal automobile.  People leave their single-family home to go into their personal car, drive to a parking lot, and go about their business.  Where’s the community in that? 

The auto-based model has served cities poorly, resulting in congestion, pollution, and endless roads to maintain (or repurpose).  The most vibrant cities today, IMHO, are the ones with the best public transportation--allowing city streets (some, at least) to be returned to the people as pedestrian malls and public spaces occasionally (i.e. the Open Streets program) or permanently as seen in Manhattan & elsewhere.  The scene below shows the same street, Michigan Avenue, during an Open Streets Detroit event.  Much better than the ghost town look of the top photos.