When talking about how we move in the city this week, I had a nagging feeling that I had had a discussion about this long before we began our journey that is English 380. But I had not had any such conversation; rather, I listened to a conversation about the science of urban movement. This conversation was a podcast courtesy of Radiolab: an entire hour about cities.
I could go on about everything they talked about, but instead, check it out for yourself:
Radiolab: Cities
For those who feel an hour of podcast listening is too...time consuming, just download it and let the guys at radiolab accompany you on your next long bus ride or during any other menial daily task.
As for myself, moving through this city is a major pet peeve of mine on two fronts. Firstly, I suffer from what was recently described on CTV (National News, shout out to my man Lloyd Robertson) as 'sidewalk rage.' I ideally belong in one of the faster cities described in the podcast above, because I become irate when trapped behind anyone who is simply wandering. I have actually thought about the need for two-story sidewalks, on for wanderers, and one with a predetermined minimum speed-limit, for those who actually walk with conviction.
Secondly, As for walking with or against the circulation of the city, I don't think 'dirt city' has a circulation. I find that sometimes when I am walking downtown, or down whyte—people are few and far-between. I find this even more in my own community, when out running through neighbourhood labrynths, I get the sidewalk all to myself (not complaining in this instance). I would suggest this might have something to do with our car culture, and its unavoidable obese effects—oops! Tangent.
I suppose the wanderers first described, are probably just victims of car-culture who have had the misfortune of finding themselves suddenly and inconveniently self-propelled.
I guess to sum up I don't think I move against the circulation of Edmonton; rather, everyone else seems to be moving against the correct-circulation. Our city has arteries clogged with toxic cars, and an excess of antibodies—antibodies of wanderers who struggle to navigate our city in a correct fashion.
Thank you for sharing that link! It gives a very articulate perspective on moving in the city.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how you mentioned that "everyone else seems to be moving against the correct-circulation" and your tangents into car culture. It makes you wonder about the how movement in larger cities - such as New York, where people walk everywhere - functions and how circulation in those cities work.