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I think you do make some valid points and on the highways - this feel is probably also because of the development timing, much of the development in areas like a Atlanta or Houston is a result of the highways whereas many of the areas in a city like Philadelphia were developed prior to the highways, the highways were more retor fit, often away from the most developed areas. One highway area though to me would evidense the size differance would be I95 south from Bucks into center city, there is no urban landscape in either Atlanta or Houston that is consistently evidenced in a compact fashion for miles, or at least in the city sense
I believe it has much to do with what you have grown accustomed to, and whatever you associate with feeling large.
For me, it isn't as simple as "this city is more compact therefore it feels bigger even if the MSA pop is 3 million less" (fictitious example). It goes beyond that.
This is also why Atlanta/Houston have always felt much larger than Philadelphia from the freeways IMO. Neighborhoods are a different animal, so before someone starts posting images of densely developed neighborhoods in Philly, I agree that the dynamic changes drastically once you leave the interstate.
From here, which seems like the larger city?
This...
Schuylkill Expressway from Spring Garden Street Bridge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robotbrainz/1468443456/ - broken link) by robotbrainz (http://www.flickr.com/people/robotbrainz/ - broken link), on Flickr
or this...
Downtown Atlanta - Interstate 85/75 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/macgodbrad/4887495099/ - broken link) by bclinesmith (http://www.flickr.com/people/macgodbrad/ - broken link), on Flickr
I believe it has much to do with what you have grown accustomed to, and whatever you associate with feeling large.
For me, it isn't as simple as "this city is more compact therefore it feels bigger even if the MSA pop is 3 million less" (fictitious example). It goes beyond that.
This is also why Atlanta/Houston have always felt much larger than Philadelphia from the freeways IMO. Neighborhoods are a different animal, so before someone starts posting images of densely developed neighborhoods in Philly, I agree that the dynamic changes drastically once you leave the interstate.
From here, which seems like the larger city?
Well I see your point but i never understood how you tell much of anything but a place has large building at 65 mph, to me it is always best understood on foot.
Also it really depends on the perspective
But to me this is more the level and block by block neighborhood by neighborhood - yes I saw you agree, but am curious how anything is gauged from a highway.
Or this one for example - vantage point has a lot to do with it - Also does the Highways size make a place feel larger? Just a thought, maybe to me arriving on a very crowded train at a busy station makes a city feel larger than a highway but maybe you are right it is all perspective and what we grew up with...
Or this very close to where your other image was taken - just shows how a little distance and slight change in perspective can drastically change the imagery
Or this one for example - vantage point has a lot to do with it - Also does the Highways size make a place feel larger? Just a thought, maybe to me arriving on a very crowded train at a busy station makes a city feel larger than a highway but maybe you are right it is all perspective and what we grew up with...
The actual size of the highways themselves are used as a barometer by some, especially in Sunbelt cities but not necessarily by me. I'm familiar enough with cities like Dallas to know that the golden rule does not always apply. I think you get what I'm saying though, large means different things to different people dependent on the perspective.
BTW, you know I've been all through Philly on foot as well as by automobile. I was dumbfounded the first time one of those SEPTA streetcars (I guess that's what you call them) approached me from behind using my lane of traffic! I didn't know who had the right of way, or if I needed to pull over and treat it like an ambulance.
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