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Parts of LA are like this, and in reality LA's population was 1.2 million by 1930 and 1.5 million by 1940. While cars were certainly more affordable then versus the 1920s, they still weren't THAT affordable. Part of the reason why LA grew the way it did too, at least until the 1960s is because of the very good street car system it had. My dad grew up in the LA area and still remembers this, and how you could get to a lot of places in the LA area just via street car. My grandmother didn't even learn to drive until she was in her 50s in the early 1970s because she was reliant on her local area and also the street car system. My grandfather owned a car, but didn't drive a ton.
Then GM happened and all the track was torn up leaving a more sprawling place and more of a mess with traffic.
Exactly. It was a huge mistake getting rid of the Pacific Electric line. I wonder what it would be like, if they never got rid of it. That of course, is the one thing that keeps LA from its potential.
Exactly. It was a huge mistake getting rid of the Pacific Electric line. I wonder what it would be like, if they never got rid of it. That of course, is the one thing that keeps LA from its potential.
It would be a lot different I bet. Though that's true, LA is still building light rail again so it's good, or I should say - is catching up with a few other cities little by little. It's so sad because while light rail is cheaper than say elevated lines, it's still expensive and they had an infrastructure which GM greedily, basically got torn up so they could sell more via buses (and also cars). It's so sad what they did.
My earliest memories of LA were in the 80s and to me LA has always been the land of the car. There are obviously walkable areas and what not, but it's like the car is such a status symbol there it's not even funny. Everyone and their mom has to have a Benz, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, etc or else they aren't seen as cool. I was really sad to hear about the street car system and surprised my dad never mentioned it to me. He referenced the subway system only a few times as an afterthought basically.
It would be a lot different I bet. Though that's true, LA is still building light rail again so it's good, or I should say - is catching up with a few other cities little by little. It's so sad because while light rail is cheaper than say elevated lines, it's still expensive and they had an infrastructure which GM greedily, basically got torn up so they could sell more via buses (and also cars). It's so sad what they did.
My earliest memories of LA were in the 80s and to me LA has always been the land of the car. There are obviously walkable areas and what not, but it's like the car is such a status symbol there it's not even funny. Everyone and their mom has to have a Benz, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, etc or else they aren't seen as cool. I was really sad to hear about the street car system and surprised my dad never mentioned it to me. He referenced the subway system only a few times as an afterthought basically.
I'm not going to say this isn't true because to some extent it is, but it really depends on the neighborhood / section of the city.
I'm not going to say this isn't true because to some extent it is, but it really depends on the neighborhood / section of the city.
Very much agreed. It is more prevalent in LA than some other cities though for sure.
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