center city, 4 thumbs up (Philadelphia: live in, design, car)

[frankgn87]

Originally Posted by rotodome

^^^Yeah, but then when you're driving, your "freedom" is tempered by having to worry about parking wherever you go, having a designated driver, traffic, etc. I always feel like a car is a ball and chain that I'd rather leave at home. But then I spend most of my time in walkable cities with good PT.

good for you. I choose not to.. I feel a train that has limited travel zones and limited time of travel a ball and chain..

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

good for you. I choose not to.. I feel a train that has limited travel zones and limited time of travel a ball and chain..

Hey, good for you too. I only posted that because I took exception to the assertion that "a car = freedom", as if that were a fact. In my experience, I find that to not be true at all when you're talking about going out in a city, and I think cars are often more hassle than they're worth.
But then, I choose to live a very different lifestyle from you, because I know that I would not be happy living a car dependent lifestyle in the suburbs.
When you live in a car-oriented suburb, driving is naturally going to be more practical for you. If you live in a walkable city, cars are more likely to just get in your way and encroach on your feeling of freedom.
Different strokes!

[alphamale]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

We are not big fans of public transportation. We enjoy the freedom of coming and going when we want and going where we want. ie, if we decide to eat dinner somewhere on the way home we can do it.. We don't want to be locked in to the path and timetable of a train.

You're right Frank....public transportation is for losers.

[frankgn87]

I didn't say that alpha! I was just pointing to the fact that a car gives us the freedom we want in life. We don't want to be locked in to a set of tracks or a bus route or a timetable...

[ElijahAstin]

Glad you enjoyed Center City, and it takes a real man to admit when he's wrong, so props for that as well.

[frankgn87]

thanks heaven for noticing ..

[Marius Pontmercy]

I can understand driving, especially from South Jersey. I think if it was me, since I prefer walking downtown anyway, I'd just take the train because it's more convenient for me. To each their own though, we all think of convenience a little differently.

[phillies2011]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

You guys know Im pretty tough on the ol girl, Philly. But down for the car show today and driving around it today I was very pleased.. Center city was clean as a whistle, and seen many city workers cleaning up cigarette butts, driving the sidewalk cleaning machines, etc. There were thousands of people out walking around, the stores looked great.. Very nice.. Center city is definitely the crown jewel of Philadelphia.

I always bash you for your unrelenting and often factually inaccurate trashing of Philadelphia, so it's only fair that I complement you for taking the time to notice the other side of the coin.

Most of your problems with Philadelphia are not totally invalid in that they have some basis. Philadelphia is certainly not without it's problems. The problem with many of your posts is that you frequently overstate these problems and interject them inappropriately in posts where they do not belong.

Hopefully in the future you can be more cognizant of the fact that while Philadelphia has flaws, it also has amazing attributes and there are plenty of reasons why hundreds of thousands of people CHOOSE to live here and thoroughly enjoy that experience.

If you keep this in mind you can still point out the virtues of living in the nearby suburbs and the negatives of living in the city to someone trying to weigh the two options, without being so insulting to those who have an opinion in conflict of yours. When people come here and ask questions, it's good to have people of all different perspectives helping them out, and if you can refrain from falling into the unrelenting bashing that you've been previously prone to, you could be an asset to this board; someone who sees the city in a less positive light than some of the others here whose glasses are perhaps at least slightly rose tinted.

Anyway glad to hear you've enjoyed your day, come back soon.

[frankgn87]

thanks phillies... Actually I am in the city on a daily basis for work, but we will be back to CC again for a shopping spree soon I think..

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

thanks phillies... Actually I am in the city on a daily basis for work, but we will be back to CC again for a shopping spree soon I think..

frank - I've been on your case too regarding what I have considered a one sided view of Philly: an obsession on the city's crime. Many of us who live in the city see day-in and day-out experience a different city than the one you almost always describe. Someone might read your posts and think we are dodging bullets while stepping over bodies as we pass through Rittenhouse Square.

Like philles2011, it's not like any of us here are unaware of the senseless crime in parts of the city and wish it would improve. It's just that there is so much more to the city than crime. The fact that you've made a special effort to acknowledge that and show some balance is appreciated and hopefully marks a turn. I trust you will continue to use that balance when offering insights, obervations and advice on Philadelphia, sharing not only the bad, but the good. It is place we choose to call home, and most of us who post here only want to see it improve.

Come back! (BTW - I could care less if you drive your own car, take the train, roller-blade or swim the Delaware.)