De-urbanisation - is it time to go back to the country?

[Northwest Slobovia]

[R]ail transport, which should be given priority as they are objectively the best mode of transport.

If you believe there is a single "best" mode of transport for all situations, you should read up on transit planning. All modes have tradeoffs. Trains are good for moving large numbers of people between fixed spots, but they have immense capital costs and can't be rerouted to meet changing demands in where people live and work without further great capital costs. There are tradeoffs even within the design space for trains between, for example, number of stops and overall top speed/transit time. I happen to like trains, but they're not the answer for all transit questions.

They're not even "objectively the best" in big cities, which is why cities have buses, cars, bicycles, and often several different kinds of trains ("heavy"/commuter trains, subways and/or elevated trains, and light rail/trolleys/streetcars/trams/whatever they're called today). Private cars are not the problem, they are good solutions for certain transit problems even within dense urban areas.

[Holy Tedalonia]

Since the Industrial Revolution there has been a massive demographic shift of citizens leaving rural areas to pursue opportunities and lives in the cities and as a result cities have grown, sprawling in urban conglomerates of concrete, steel, humanity, pollution, lights, industry, crime and commerce. Equally the rural agrarian community has shrunk and all but disappeared, towns have closed and rural populations have aged as the younger demographic sought the excitement and vibrancy that cities could offer.

But it is now 2019, technology is such that I can live in a small town of 3000 and jump on a train to get the center of the nearest commercial/industrial complex in an hour. I can sit on my couch and collaborate with colleagues around the world. I can sell on demand products from a facebook page and purchase supplies while I'm hiking through the mountains. If I ever do need to do a face-to-face, transport networks are such that I can do an overnight trip, secure a contract and be back home by lunchtime.

So is it time to de-urbanise? living in smaller rural communities with small organised commercial/manufacturing hubs where needed.
Spreading the dense populations of cities out further through rural landscape would reduce stress, pollution and crime. A return to more rural communities with the added bonus of modern green technology is something I enjoy now

but how about you? is there anything that cities provide that can't be enjoyed while living in an organised thriving rural community?

Fuck no. Investment in public transport, specifically rail transport, and the densification of cities needs to happen. Suburbs should’ve never been built and should be depopulated in favor of denser cities. Cars should be relegated to last-mile transport and made auxiliary to rail transport, which should be given priority as they are objectively the best mode of transport.

t. going into urban planning

Suburbs are amazing dude, I can understand this opinion coming from europe or japan, but if its from a fellow american I'd respectfully disagree. See europe and japan is already dense, and compact and have the functions in place for a dense society. However americas pretty frontier, and it doesn't have the railways networks europe or japan has.

To put these institutions in place on a massive country is silly, as it would be far costlier then the denser and smaller countries like japan or europe.

[Thermodolia]

I do. But then again Atlanta Metro is so spread out that it you have to understand the purchasing power. For example I’m still in the metro area and yet I’m a good 30 miles from downtown Atlanta

Atlanta really needs commuter rail.
And it was literally built as a railroad junction and still is one for freight rail.
So it is perfectly suited for it.

The problem is that the Railroads refuse to let passenger rail, outside of Amtrak, to use their rails. Also the state refuses to fund rail transit in favor of highways, plus there’s a lot of racists still around and they don’t want transit because it might bring “those people” in.

[San Lumen]

No we dont need to destroy forests and other natural areas to build cookie cutter housing and strip malls.

Would you rather we destroy forests and other natural areas to build overcrowded apartment buildings and shitty cities with high taxation, crime and pollution like your precious "innocent" city?

Whats your solution? Do tell. This coming from someone who said they could care less about the mountainous forest near them or their birds in their area.

[Thermodolia]

That’s suburban/urban not rural. Have you actually ever been to a rural town before?

Yes my aunt and uncle live in one in upstate New York

Then you should know that what you’re saying is the suburbs and not rural small towns

[Holy Tedalonia]

Yes. City life is bad for the human psyche. Perhaps we can get rid of some of that technology as well.

and what are you going to to do move all those people to rural areas and cut down majestic forests and pave over wetlands?

You have likely never seen rural and suburban cities over the in the west. They do pretty well in preserving these lands you love so much

[Christian Confederation]

No outside of hahira just over the cook line, but that general area cook loundes area.

You’re still just outside of Valdosta though.

I’m in Gwinnett County in the Northern part of the state

Yeah I went through there on my way up to Tennessee a couple months ago.

[Holy Tedalonia]

That’s suburban/urban not rural. Have you actually ever been to a rural town before?

Yes my aunt and uncle live in one in upstate New York

Lmao, not only you are talking suburbs, but your talking EASTERN AMERICA suburbs. Real rurals is easier to find farther west. Go down to Tennessee, thats real rurals

[Novus America]

Atlanta really needs commuter rail.
And it was literally built as a railroad junction and still is one for freight rail.
So it is perfectly suited for it.

The problem is that the Railroads refuse to let passenger rail, outside of Amtrak, to use their rails. Also the state refuses to fund rail transit in favor of highways, plus there’s a lot of racists still around and they don’t want transit because it might bring “those people” in.

Yes, you would need to cut a deal with the railroads.
But Maryland and Virginia managed to do it.
The railroads will do it, if you pay them enough or improve their infrastructure enough.
They will not let Georgia use the tracks for free.

The other problems are probably greater.
The state would have to fund it.

[San Lumen]

and what are you going to to do move all those people to rural areas and cut down majestic forests and pave over wetlands?

You have likely never seen rural and suburban cities over the in the west. They do pretty well in preserving these lands you love so much

I have. I've been to the Berkshires, New Hampshire and Upstate New York. Ive been to rural Pennsylvania too. My aunt and uncle live in a small town in Cayuga County. Dont make assumptions about people.

Yes my aunt and uncle live in one in upstate New York

Lmao, not only you are talking suburbs, but your talking EASTERN AMERICA suburbs. Real rurals is easier to find farther west. Go down to Tennessee, thats real rurals

The majority of Upstate New York withe exception of a few counties is very rural.

[Outer Sparta]

Atlanta really needs commuter rail.
And it was literally built as a railroad junction and still is one for freight rail.
So it is perfectly suited for it.

The problem is that the Railroads refuse to let passenger rail, outside of Amtrak, to use their rails. Also the state refuses to fund rail transit in favor of highways, plus there’s a lot of racists still around and they don’t want transit because it might bring “those people” in.

"Curse you big government and big rail!" says a person from Atlanta while being stuck in a daily three-hour jam.

[Holy Tedalonia]

You have likely never seen rural and suburban cities over the in the west. They do pretty well in preserving these lands you love so much

I have. I've been to the Berkshires, New Hampshire and Upstate New York. Ive been to rural Pennsylvania too. My aunt and uncle live in a small town in Cayuga County. Dont make assumptions about people.

Lmao, not only you are talking suburbs, but your talking EASTERN AMERICA suburbs. Real rurals is easier to find farther west. Go down to Tennessee, thats real rurals

The majority of Upstate New York withe exception of a few counties is very rural.

West as in beyond the mountain range and into the great plains. Anything in eastern american is almost suburban or urban save to some extent Pennsylvania. My grandparents lived in a forest in maryland, and I regard it pretty suburban compared to the suburbs in texas.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Yes. City life is bad for the human psyche. Perhaps we can get rid of some of that technology as well.

and what are you going to to do move all those people to rural areas and cut down majestic forests and pave over wetlands?

Why do you keep repeating the same shit when it's just not true. Rural living =/= suburban living. You don't cut down majestic forests or pave over wetlands when you live in the country.

[San Lumen]

I have. I've been to the Berkshires, New Hampshire and Upstate New York. Ive been to rural Pennsylvania too. My aunt and uncle live in a small town in Cayuga County. Dont make assumptions about people.

The majority of Upstate New York withe exception of a few counties is very rural.

West as in beyond the mountain range and into the great plains. Anything in eastern american is almost suburban or urban save to some extent Pennsylvania. My grandparents lived in a forest in maryland, and I regard it pretty suburban compared to the suburbs in texas.

You clearly have never been to central Pennsylvania or Upstate New York. The town my relatives live in is barely 2000 people. Its surrounded by farmland.

[San Lumen]

and what are you going to to do move all those people to rural areas and cut down majestic forests and pave over wetlands?

Why do you keep repeating the same shit when it's just not true. Rural living =/= suburban living. You don't cut down majestic forests or pave over wetlands when you live in the country.

It comes off as if some are talking about reclocating millions of people. Where are you going to put them all?

[Holy Tedalonia]

West as in beyond the mountain range and into the great plains. Anything in eastern american is almost suburban or urban save to some extent Pennsylvania. My grandparents lived in a forest in maryland, and I regard it pretty suburban compared to the suburbs in texas.

You clearly have never been to central Pennsylvania or Upstate New York. The town my relatives live in is barely 2000 people. Its surrounded by farmland.

Texas: a place with ranches in the suburbs

Clearly you have not been to Texas my friend, and did I not mention Pennsylvania?

[San Lumen]

You clearly have never been to central Pennsylvania or Upstate New York. The town my relatives live in is barely 2000 people. Its surrounded by farmland.

Texas: a place with ranches in the suburbs

Clearly you have not been to Texas my friend, and did I not mention Pennsylvania?

There are parts of Pennsylvania that are very rural. Most the central part of the state in fact.

[Outer Sparta]

You clearly have never been to central Pennsylvania or Upstate New York. The town my relatives live in is barely 2000 people. Its surrounded by farmland.

Texas: a place with ranches in the suburbs

Clearly you have not been to Texas my friend, and did I not mention Pennsylvania?

Where do you live in Texas (I'm assuming you do by your sig).

[Thermodolia]

The problem is that the Railroads refuse to let passenger rail, outside of Amtrak, to use their rails. Also the state refuses to fund rail transit in favor of highways, plus there’s a lot of racists still around and they don’t want transit because it might bring “those people” in.

"Curse you big government and big rail!" says a person from Atlanta while being stuck in a daily three-hour jam.

Three hours? How naïve.

But seriously I’d love to have commuter rail however the state government hates it

[Thermodolia]

You clearly have never been to central Pennsylvania or Upstate New York. The town my relatives live in is barely 2000 people. Its surrounded by farmland.

Texas: a place with ranches in the suburbs

Clearly you have not been to Texas my friend, and did I not mention Pennsylvania?

A lot of Pennsylvania is rural

[Holy Tedalonia]

Texas: a place with ranches in the suburbs

Clearly you have not been to Texas my friend, and did I not mention Pennsylvania?

There are parts of Pennsylvania that are very rural. Most the central part of the state in fact.

I do imagine, which is why I pointed out a scarce exception. However I've been to Tennessee and that's the most rural place I've ever seen.

[Outer Sparta]

"Curse you big government and big rail!" says a person from Atlanta while being stuck in a daily three-hour jam.

Three hours? How naïve.

But seriously I’d love to have commuter rail however the state government hates it

Wasn't there a MARTA expansion voted down by Gwinnett County earlier this year?

[San Lumen]

Three hours? How naïve.

But seriously I’d love to have commuter rail however the state government hates it

Wasn't there a MARTA expansion voted down by Gwinnett County earlier this year?

Sadly yes

[Luziyca]

The last time it was tried on a large scale, around 25% of the Cambodian population died. So, de-urbanization is not exactly the best idea.

[Outer Sparta]

Wasn't there a MARTA expansion voted down by Gwinnett County earlier this year?

Sadly yes

Apparently the "getting stuck in traffic" vote is more popular than the "spending tax dollars to expand public transit" vote.