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Let's say that every single housing unit in the city of Los Angeles added two people. This would increase the city's population to approximately 6.7 million people.
Would formerly unwalkable areas that have now doubled in density all of a sudden become walkable?
Not necessarily. Manhattan has more buildings now than it did in 1950 but has only half as many people as it did in 1950.
Manhattan's population was ~30% higher than what it is now, not twice. In any case would you say that land use efficiency has increased significantly in Manhattan since 1950 because there are more buildings but fewer people?
/Edit: Didn't see the previous post about populations
Manhattan's population was ~30% higher than what it is now, not twice. In any case would you say that land use efficiency has increased significantly in Manhattan since 1950 because there are more buildings but fewer people?
/Edit: Didn't see the previous post about populations
I've answered one of your questions. Now respond in kind.
If every single housing unit in Los Angeles added two people, would the city as a whole become any more walkable?
Let's say that every single housing unit in the city of Los Angeles added two people. This would increase the city's population to approximately 6.7 million people.
Would formerly unwalkable areas that have now doubled in density all of a sudden become walkable?
If just the population increased in a total bubble, then no.
BUT
With the increased demand there would be additional grocery stores and other amenities, so yes, it would probably be more walkable. Obviously the roads would not be able to handle that many new people, so other solutions would have to be implemented (Like say, bike infrastructure? ).
Simply put, if everyone in Central LA exclusively drove like you seem to think, the roads would be straight up UNUSABLE because of the traffic.
If just the population increased in a total bubble, then no.
BUT
With the increased demand there would be additional grocery stores and other amenities, so yes, it would probably be more walkable. Obviously the roads would not be able to handle that many new people, so other solutions would have to be implemented (Like say, bike infrastructure? ).
We're talking about Los Angeles in its current urban form...not Los Angeles as you wish it to be. We could also flip the question around in a different hypothetical.
If we reduced Manhattan's population by 1 million people, would it become any less walkable?
Quote:
Originally Posted by munchitup
Simply put, if everyone in Central LA exclusively drove like you seem to think, the roads would be straight up UNUSABLE because of the traffic.
The last point you made pretty much hits the nail on the head. That's exactly what's happening in Los Angeles right now. Adding two people to each household would only exacerbate an already unsustainable situation.
I've answered one of your questions. Now respond in kind.
If every single housing unit in Los Angeles added two people, would the city as a whole become any more walkable?
Actually the answer to this is yes and no. Vibrancy in many ways also correlates with the number of people you see walking around when you're out and about. So yes, if you abruptly almost double the city's population the perceived walkability of some districts will look better. Unwalkable areas remaining unwalkable doesn't require stating.
In any case, walkability is not the only driver of land use efficiency. And even by that metric, based on attempts at quantifying walkability, LA doesn't come out looking atrocious.
Anyway, I know precisely the point you're making and its taken (here and on a 100 other threads).
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