Why is NYC so gritty and under-mainteined? (New York, York: for sale, live)
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Infrastructure is poorly maintained overall, but what it really comes down to is the roads. The roads in NYC are complete garbage. The amount of potholes is only rivaled by cities in 3rd world countries. Markings are completely worn away on many of them as well. And a worn out road really changes the feel of the street. Without any changes to the buildings, a freshly paved block can go from feeling "gritty" to nice.
If you look at European or Japanese cities, their roads are nearly always well paved and well marked. Their repaving schedules aren't much more frequent than NYC's, however. The difference is use. While Americans and even NYers drive a lot more than Euros and Japanese people, passenger vehicles don't do much damage to roads. What kills NYC roads are 18 wheelers. They should be restricted to certain thoroughfares to get to endpoints for cross country shipments with exceptions made only for construction sites. Only smaller box trucks should be allowed to make deliveries in all of Manhattan and in most residential areas of the outer boroughs.
Curbside garbage pickup is the other big eyesore. Not sure if that can be fixed though since most of NYC doesn't have back alleys.
NYC does restrict trucks to certain thoroughfares. They're called truck routes. Restricting it even further to just box trucks for local roads is certainly do-able, but will raise the cost of doing retail business, which is ultimately passed on to the consumers. I am not sure what the effects of emissions are, but that should be taken into account as well.
Europe also has a more extensive rail system. I'd certainly like to see that expanded in this country.
Infrastructure is poorly maintained overall, but what it really comes down to is the roads. The roads in NYC are complete garbage. The amount of potholes is only rivaled by cities in 3rd world countries. Markings are completely worn away on many of them as well. And a worn out road really changes the feel of the street. Without any changes to the buildings, a freshly paved block can go from feeling "gritty" to nice.
If you look at European or Japanese cities, their roads are nearly always well paved and well marked. Their repaving schedules aren't much more frequent than NYC's, however. The difference is use. While Americans and even NYers drive a lot more than Euros and Japanese people, passenger vehicles don't do much damage to roads. What kills NYC roads are 18 wheelers. They should be restricted to certain thoroughfares to get to endpoints for cross country shipments with exceptions made only for construction sites. Only smaller box trucks should be allowed to make deliveries in all of Manhattan and in most residential areas of the outer boroughs.
Curbside garbage pickup is the other big eyesore. Not sure if that can be fixed though since most of NYC doesn't have back alleys.
Garbage pickup would probably take forever if it wasn't curbside
I honestly don't think NYC is that dirty and it seems to be getting better. Even in the terrible areas I've found the city to be getting better as it regards to cleanliness. I came from Spain right before going to NYC and yes Barcelona and Madrid are much cleaner bit I don't think NYC is terribly dirty aside from the garbage bags on the sidewalks. Maybe I just don't notice it much.
That's how I feel as well. At least the dirtiness in NYC it doesn't bother me, which is weird because I feel it stands out in places like Chicago, but here in NYC I don't even notice it. I guess my standards are higher when I'm in other American cities. And even in comparing NYC to other cities around the world, it seems the same to me.
I'll never forget this:
It was in the 42nd Street shuttle passageway. Maybe 20 years ago. I was walking behind two black men, old-timers. The smell of urine was quite noticeable right there. One fellow says to the other, "smell that?"
"Yeah" the other says.
"New York." says the first guy.
Haha, that's what I say whenever a friend or family member visits and wrinkles their nose at the stench of hot garbage wafting in the air (which is at pretty much every street corner in the summer).
My family is from Jersey. The funny thing is, despite it's reputation, Jersey is pristine with an amazing school system, minus the ghettos of course. My parents live in Jersey and absolutely HATE NYC and avoid it as much as possible.
I know that many, many (?millions) of people feel as you do and don't want in any way to denigrate how you see NYC. I just never (born, raised near NYC) could understand that attraction the NYC and even Manhattan.
Outside of the main Yamanote loop stations, Tokyo to me felt like Queens density.
Core Tokyo is roughly 23,000 ppsm.
The population of the 23 special wards (the old Tokyo City) has a population of 9.2 million in 239 square miles. That's over 38,000 per square mile. That's 10,000 more people per square mile on average than NYC and a higher density than any borough except Manhattan.
NYC used to have a trash at the corner of every block. Today, they are hard to find and confusing for tourists.
I've seen people just outright throw starbucks cups with tons of foam or ice anywhere on the sidewalk. Smokers always throw joints anywhere they feel like. Some spots where people give you flyers are just dumped on the floor a few feet away.
NYC used to have a trash at the corner of every block. Today, they are hard to find and confusing for tourists.
I've seen people just outright throw starbucks cups with tons of foam or ice anywhere on the sidewalk. Smokers always throw joints anywhere they feel like. Some spots where people give you flyers are just dumped on the floor a few feet away.
There isn't a trash can on every corner in Manhattan? I don't consciously look for one, but I don't remember ever having to go more than a block.
NYC used to have a trash at the corner of every block. Today, they are hard to find and confusing for tourists.
I've seen people just outright throw starbucks cups with tons of foam or ice anywhere on the sidewalk. Smokers always throw joints anywhere they feel like. Some spots where people give you flyers are just dumped on the floor a few feet away.
Smokers throw joints?
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