More on size and the metabolism rate of cities

Recently posted about the debate about how much size matters vs connectedness.


The NY Times Magazine has an article on Geoffrey West's models of urban economies of scale. Good for him for doing the math, if no one really had before. But, yeah, hate to agree with Joel Kotkin on much, but it does come out seeming quite simplistic.

Also, the dire environmental predictions later in the article equate economic output with resource consumption and energy use. This is likely a sublinear relationship itself, and could become much more so, with, say, a well designed carbon tax.

Briefs

US redirecting High Speed Rail money from OH and WI
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-09/u-s-to-take-1-2-billion-in-high-speed-rail-funds-from-ohio-wisconsin.html?cmpid=yhoo
Presumably in wake of anti-rail politicians winning elections there. Sending it to states "eager" to build high speed rail-- perhaps the northeast will get more than its original pittance.

Redefining "Smart Growth"
http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/kaidbenfield/18308/its-time-update-definition-smart-growth?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Sustainable+Cities+Collective+%28all+posts%29&utm_content=Twitter
Lot's of interesting points brought up, though wonder if broader aims are too broad, and trying to make urban planning a panacea for everything. E.g. if it's better leaving things like access to healthy food to agricultural/health groups and the market. If the zoning is right, and other tax/subsidy/education programs enable or promote healthy food, the market should make them available locally.

PBS Video: How the high cost of transportation can ruin the American Dream
http://www.transitmiami.com/2010/12/05/how-high-the-high-cost-of-transportation-can-ruin-the-american-dream/
A bit on factoring the cost of transportation into housing. On average, families spend 52% of their post-tax income on housing+transportation. (Btw, surprised that Phoenix has any light rail line..)

Gas solidly above $3 per gallon again here in PA.. Hope it stays there--long term, lots of good can come from this.

I Wish This Was
http://iwishthiswas.com/
An awesome idea for re-imagining spaces and buildings. (Though it should maybe be "I Wish This Were" using the rare subjunctive case in English.;) I actually know a city with lots of available spaces (vacant, condemned, demolished) that would be a fun use of such stickers..

A few links: Cycling faster than driving. Lively downtowns. Density.

New study shows urban cycling faster than driving:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/12/urban-cycling-faster-than-driving.ph
From Lyon. The same is probably true for short trips (under one or two miles) in small cities, when you factor in parking.

Insights into a Lively Downtown (video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsrqBHEOT0k
Case study of Ann Arbor. A vibrant downtown is "a beautiful mess". University towns are a special, advantaged breed, and a lot of the points may seem obvious, but an interesting watch.


At NYC density, entire planet's population would fit into texas.
http://urbanomnibus.net/2010/07/this-land-is-our-land/
Interesting thought experiment, though doesn't really address agriculture and other space consuming human activities. At Manhattan's density, the world would almost fit into New Mexico.