Comments on: Learning From a Streets Renaissance in Hong Kong http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: anon http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5325 anon Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:43:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5325 When talking about Asian megacities like HK, Bangkok or Singapore, the American experience with ped overpasses is not instructive. In urban Asia, density means that street life happens on multiple levels - the second floors of shopping centers in Bangkok and Singapore, for example, are connected to the shops next door and across the street (and to the elevated rail line). But there is just such a staggering number of pedestrians that ground-level street life is not necessarily ruined. Each city is different of course: HK seems to be managing its streets for livability and economic growth, while Bangkok treats many of its major streets as ped-hostile traffic sewers, often banning at-grade crossings... and yet sidewalk life still manages to flourish because of the high pedestrian density. In the US, urban designers are rightly sensitive to the idea that ped overpasses and passages can create a kind of analagous, semi-privatized circulation system that saps street life... but that's because we have so much less building and pedestrian density to work with. When talking about Asian megacities like HK, Bangkok or Singapore, the American experience with ped overpasses is not instructive. In urban Asia, density means that street life happens on multiple levels – the second floors of shopping centers in Bangkok and Singapore, for example, are connected to the shops next door and across the street (and to the elevated rail line). But there is just such a staggering number of pedestrians that ground-level street life is not necessarily ruined.

Each city is different of course: HK seems to be managing its streets for livability and economic growth, while Bangkok treats many of its major streets as ped-hostile traffic sewers, often banning at-grade crossings… and yet sidewalk life still manages to flourish because of the high pedestrian density.

In the US, urban designers are rightly sensitive to the idea that ped overpasses and passages can create a kind of analagous, semi-privatized circulation system that saps street life… but that’s because we have so much less building and pedestrian density to work with.

]]> By: someguy http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5228 someguy Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:33:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5228 Pedestrian overpasses are only beneficial in very few scenarios. Usually they are to the detriment of the overall street environment, which hurts pedestrians, as does the way they enforce a notion that only cars have a right to the public right-of-way and pedestrians need to accomodate the cars, not vice versa. Just wanted to toss that in there for cecilBK's comments. Pedestrian overpasses are only beneficial in very few scenarios. Usually they are to the detriment of the overall street environment, which hurts pedestrians, as does the way they enforce a notion that only cars have a right to the public right-of-way and pedestrians need to accomodate the cars, not vice versa. Just wanted to toss that in there for cecilBK’s comments.

]]> By: cecilBK http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5219 cecilBK Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:18:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5219 The coolest part of HK's pedestrian infrastructure is a series of public-use escalators (HK is built basically on the side of a mountain) that take you from near the waterfront up through the commercial district. During the morning commute, people can swipe their octopus card at a kiosk along the way for a small credit to their account (not sure how much it is, but pretty sure it's nominal). And-- there is no escalator in the NYC subway system kept as clean or well-maintained as these (though, truth be told, HK has no TWU to keep up the wages of those performing that job). Not to mention the extensive use of pedestrian overpasses on most of the major thoroughfares... plus the over-street connections that bring you from one shopping mall to another. HK is really the most pedestrian-friendly city I've seen. And don't get me started on the subway system... The coolest part of HK’s pedestrian infrastructure is a series of public-use escalators (HK is built basically on the side of a mountain) that take you from near the waterfront up through the commercial district. During the morning commute, people can swipe their octopus card at a kiosk along the way for a small credit to their account (not sure how much it is, but pretty sure it’s nominal). And– there is no escalator in the NYC subway system kept as clean or well-maintained as these (though, truth be told, HK has no TWU to keep up the wages of those performing that job).

Not to mention the extensive use of pedestrian overpasses on most of the major thoroughfares… plus the over-street connections that bring you from one shopping mall to another. HK is really the most pedestrian-friendly city I’ve seen. And don’t get me started on the subway system…

]]> By: Hasan Jafri http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5209 Hasan Jafri Fri, 29 Sep 2006 03:56:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5209 I grew up here, and returned recently -- with my American dog -- to find the place completely transformed. Not only does it have public places, it has also become dog-friendly! Pretty amazing stuff, given the old Hong Kong of just a few years ago. I think Hong Kong is a model, in many ways, not just for NYC but also for smaller U.S. cities, like my native Seattle, all of whom are grappling with the challenges of keeping downtowns vibrant while balancing the needs of motorists and pedetsrians. I grew up here, and returned recently — with my American dog — to find the place completely transformed. Not only does it have public places, it has also become dog-friendly! Pretty amazing stuff, given the old Hong Kong of just a few years ago. I think Hong Kong is a model, in many ways, not just for NYC but also for smaller U.S. cities, like my native Seattle, all of whom are grappling with the challenges of keeping downtowns vibrant while balancing the needs of motorists and pedetsrians.

]]> By: futurebird http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5201 futurebird Thu, 28 Sep 2006 23:36:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5201 Double-decker trolleys: We have GOT to get some of those! Double-decker trolleys: We have GOT to get some of those!

]]> By: Clarence http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5200 Clarence Thu, 28 Sep 2006 23:30:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5200 I'd like to see NYC this cool. I’d like to see NYC this cool.

]]> By: someguy http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5199 someguy Thu, 28 Sep 2006 23:06:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5199 add in the pedestrian spaces and aesthetically pleasing streetscape design and it becomes infinity, thus blowing your mind! add in the pedestrian spaces and aesthetically pleasing streetscape design and it becomes infinity, thus blowing your mind!

]]> By: Mitch http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5195 Mitch Thu, 28 Sep 2006 22:10:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5195 Is coolness additive or multiplicative? Double-decker buses are cool. Streetcars are cool. So, are double-decker streetcars doubly cool or quadruply cool? Just wondering. Is coolness additive or multiplicative?

Double-decker buses are cool.

Streetcars are cool.

So, are double-decker streetcars doubly cool or quadruply cool? Just wondering.

]]> By: Clarence http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-5192 Clarence Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:17:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/28/learning-from-a-streets-renaissance-in-hong-kong/#comment-5192 Wow! Cool! Wow! Cool!

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