Suburbs, Individual Cars & etc.

[RWebb]

Americans have been criticized for their detached, single-family houses and their solo car commuting, but these factors may also mean that Americans are less likely to be in close quarters with strangers during their daily lives than are residents of most other developed countries. That alone means we have a form of protection many Italians or Chinese didn’t.

more...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/19/united-states-might-have-secret-weapon-against-coronavirus/

[RANDY P]

Most of the country is away from the coasts and is isolated from places where foreigners travel a lot.

[Brando]

And the major metropolitan cities wanted, nay clamored for, central planning, dense housing. People living on top of people. Makes me glad that I live in a small town of less than 10,000. I would much rather live in a town of 10,000 spread over 1000 square miles.

[mattdavis11]

My home is 4 blocks from the county court house, my closest neighbor is over 50yds away. A couple of blocks away, they are elbow to arsehole. 25K population. We commute 65 miles one way.

[GH85Carrera]

The Oklahoma city metro area is well over 1,000 square miles. The entire metro area is measured at 6,359 sq miles. The population is 1,396,445. OKC like many cities is the core, and surrounded by suburbs. Many of the other cities that were once suburbs have been totally surrounded by OKC.

Back when I still commuted to work I often drove for three miles and did not see any other moving vehicles for three miles. None. A busy day was a few dozen for the first 4 miles.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by RWebb

That alone means we have a form of protection many Italians or Chinese didn’t.

The flip side is that Americans have a burning desire to spend 51 1/2 weeks of their lives at work. We just can't give in when it comes to our jobs, we feel the need to work harder and faster and longer than before.

That, and our abysmal health issues. Those two things probably counteract the elbow room that we have.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

The flip side is that Americans have a burning desire to spend 51 1/2 weeks of their lives at work. We just can't give in when it comes to our jobs, we feel the need to work harder and faster and longer than before.

That, and our abysmal health issues. Those two things probably counteract the elbow room that we have.

Poppycock.

Americans enjoy a standard of living all the rest of the world envies.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Poppycock.

Americans enjoy a standard of living all the rest of the world envies.

This is probably a lot less true than you think it is. Some parts, sure. But we're no longer the gold standard for aspiration.

[Yorkie]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Poppycock.

Americans enjoy a standard of living all the rest of the world envies.

Nobody said we do not enjoy a wonderful standard of living but what he is saying is that due to our singular focus on work and business we are more apt to go to work and catch the virus. Personally, I think dense European and Asian cities are a hazard when it comes to contamination. Here in LA we live in cars.

[LWJ]

Yes. I live in the burbs. I see smiling hopeful people when I take the dog out. My Porsche is fun to drive now the traffic is so much better.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Yes. I live in the burbs. I see smiling hopeful people when I take the dog out. My Porsche is fun to drive now the traffic is so much better.

Also, for the last week around here, I have seen virtually zero traffic officers. I wonder if they cut back because of the fear of contact with drivers?

[LWJ]

I "may" have passed a moto-cop two days ago in my SC a touch over he limit.

He turned his head as I tested my brakes.

No problems...

[Scott Douglas]

We are so densely packed here that they've suspended issuing parking tickets on street sweeping days since everyone will be home and parking is so tight.

[pwd72s]

The Oregon legislature passed a measure two sessions ago. Statewide zoning. No new permits will be issued for single family housing units.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

The Oregon legislature passed a measure two sessions ago. Statewide zoning. No new permits will be issued for single family housing units.

Wow, really? That is astonishing and staggering. So they feel it is up to them to determine how one can live. I have lived in a garage apartment and a duplex. I will never ever do that again. Our house is our house, and we might have a guest on occasion, but there sure ain't gonna be another family living here with us.

[RWebb]

No, not really. Paul is not a reliable source of information - to say the least.

He is giving you a distorted nutball radio claim.

But the truth is not that great either: Oregon now allows building more duplexes in previously R1 areas, and in some places 4, 8 16 plexes.

You can still permit & build a single family home and people are doing it all over.

Before this, Portland - the largest city - had 77% of all lots dedicated to R1 - and in suburbs and other places it is higher.

The problem is caused by a huge infulx of Californicators bringing their problems here... along with unaffordable housing for many young people.

This "upzoning" of existing areas may be illegal anyway - and I expect a Constitutional test case based on "takings" to be filed anytime now.

[ckelly78z]

I have always practiced "social distancing", and currently live on my 10 acre farm on a small county road. My nearest neighbor is about 1000' to the South, and about 1500' to the North. I still ***** about the loud traffic going by, and that sometimes, I can hear my neighbors.

I can't imagine for a minute living in a high rise in N.Y., or Chicago, and having any sanity remaining.

[Bill Douglas]

I live in a small beach town near Wellington. this morning there must have been two hundred (and another 100 out surfing) self isolating on the beach.

I like it because we have quite a few meters of personal space around us. I can be at home and if I get cabin fever I just walk across the road.

It's quite funny. A bunch of Maoris in a small remote area here in NZ have closed the road to their turf. Haha, police and everyone saying illegal. I think good on them.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Most of the country is away from the coasts and is isolated from places where foreigners travel a lot.

Most of the USA population lives in coastal cities.
Flyover is a thing.

[devodave]

We live in a rural part of New York, on 57 acres - deep, but not very wide. Neighbor to the west is about 200' away, neighbor to the east about 500' away, Across the road, nearest neighbor is probably 400-500' away.

My hours at work (our site is a 35 minute, 25 mile commute, just me in the truck, no mass transit out here!) have been reduced to one 10-hour day and the remaining 3 days I am to work from home, but be on call to report to the site if necessary. Kinda hard when your job is operational oversight. I have it a lot better than most others who were performing hands on work; if there is a curtailment of operations, they cant telework from home. The safety of our site is critical, so will not be shut down, but will go to min-safe staffing.

Wasn't too worried about vectors in our area (Cattaraugus County) due to the rural nature and the absence of transient population, but the number of confirmed cases in Erie County to the north of us has grown exponentially in the last 48-24 hours. I hope the lockdown enacted by the Governor is enough!