CathyTuttle, 19 days ago

What kinds of roads we choose to build (and for whom we build them) is relevant to creating a future we can thrive in.

Back in the #USA, #Oregon Metro planner Robert Spurlock calculated a complete linked 1,000 MILE network of low-impact regional walk/bike trails would cost $500M. That's half the cost of expanding a mile of I-5 freeway. Admittedly that's just for 3-meter ribbons of asphalt, not beautiful Dutch fietspad with complex crossings and community input.

But we have to make choices now.

skyfaller, 8 days ago

@CathyTuttle I'm reminded of how apparently when the Chinese road network deteriorated due to imperial collapse, narrow paved trails that took far less resources to maintain were able to keep civilization running. This worked in part because of Chinese wheelbarrow designs: https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/12/how-to-downsize-a-transport-network-the-chinese-wheelbarrow/

And later those narrow paths were used by bicycles!