Suburbs that don't Suck - Streetcar Suburbs (Riverdale, Toronto)

Not Just Bikes
17 May 202116:50
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video criticizes car-dependent North American suburbs, contrasting them with old streetcar suburbs like Toronto's Riverdale neighborhood. It argues that while many people like aspects of suburbs such as houses with yards, modern zoning codes essentially mandate car-dependency by mandating things like large lot sizes, strict separation of residential and commercial areas, and winding street layouts. This makes walkable suburbs illegal to build today, even though they are in high demand, driving up prices in places like Riverdale.

Takeaways
  • 😡 The video host hates car-dependent suburbs with oversized roads, massive parking lots, car traffic, and depressing landscapes.
  • 😞 Many people misunderstand his message and think he dislikes all suburbs, when his issue is specifically with car dependence.
  • 🤔 Pre-war suburbs were often walkable places built around train stations or streetcar lines, not car dependent.
  • 😊 The video discusses Riverdale - a nice streetcar suburb in Toronto with walkability, transit access, parks, local shops, and community.
  • 😕 Unfortunately, zoning laws now make it illegal to build places like Riverdale, enforcing car dependency instead.
  • 😠 Modern zoning standards, like wide roads and deep setbacks, as well as separation of uses, undermine walkability.
  • 😢 The strong demand but inability to build more Riverdales causes their housing prices to skyrocket.
  • 🤨 The script suggests many people would prefer to live in walkable suburbs like Riverdale if more existed.
  • 😀 Dutch suburbs are presented as examples that don't require a car for every trip, even if commuting by car.
  • 😃 Future videos will explore examples of suburbs that don't suck.
Q & A

  • What are some key problems with car-dependent suburbs, according to the video?

    -Problems highlighted in the video include oversized roads, excessive car traffic, massive parking lots, the inability to access shops without a car, the need to constantly pass through depressing landscapes, financial insolvency without government subsidies, and a lack of pleasant public spaces.

  • What is the difference between general suburbs and 'car-dependent' suburbs?

    -The video states that there is nothing inherently wrong with suburbs in general. The issue is with 'car-dependent' suburbs that are designed in a way that requires car usage for all trips due to their layout and zoning laws.

  • What are some examples of positive suburban design from the past?

    -The video cites pre-war railroad suburbs and late 19th/early 20th century streetcar suburbs as examples of better suburban design. These were built with public transit access in mind, had mixed-use zoning, and were walkable communities.

  • How does Riverdale, Toronto demonstrate good suburban design?

    -Riverdale has streetcar access, a mix of housing types, commercial areas interspersed within residential zones, parks and public spaces, walkable streets, on-street parking solutions, and good density levels that support public transit.

  • Why can't we build places like Riverdale anymore?

    -Modern zoning codes and traffic engineering standards make it illegal to build suburbs with features like narrow residential streets, mixed-use zoning, small lot sizes, missing middle housing types, reduced setbacks, etc.

  • How do strict suburban zoning codes contribute to car dependency?

    -Requirements for wide streets, large block sizes, strict separation of uses, large setbacks, and low densities force reliance on cars for transportation and eliminate walkability.

  • What causes the 'overwhelming sameness' of modern suburbs?

    -Inflexible zoning regulations strictly define lot sizes, minimum building footprints, setbacks, parking requirements and more, severely limiting variety.

  • What needs to change to allow building of non car-dependent suburbs?

    -Zoning codes and engineering standards need to be updated to permit features like narrow streets, mixed uses, higher densities, flexible building sizes/types, reduced parking, etc.

  • What do suburbs in the Netherlands do differently?

    -Dutch regulations make car-dependent development very difficult, allowing creation of suburbs where cars can be used but are not required for local trips.

  • What might a well-designed modern walkable suburb incorporate?

    -Good modern walkable suburbs could allow features prohibited in North America like flexible zoning, missing middle housing, narrow residential streets, interspersed retail, and good public transit access.

Outlines
00:00
😠 The problems with car-dependent suburbia

The paragraph introduces the problems with car-dependent suburbs, such as oversized roads, massive parking lots, inability to buy food without driving, depressing landscapes, financial insolvency without subsidies, and constant need for cars. It questions why these kinds of places continue to be built.

05:06
😊 An example of a nice pre-car suburb: Riverdale in Toronto

The paragraph provides an overview of Riverdale - a nice streetcar suburb in Toronto with beautiful streets, parks, schools, and local shops within walking distance. It has high population density but remains livable due to greenspaces. Housing prices have risen steadily due to high demand.

10:06
🚲 Why you can't build walkable suburbs anymore

The paragraph explains various zoning and engineering regulations that make it impossible to build walkable suburbs anymore, including: street width requirements, winding roads, strict separation of residential and commercial uses, school locations, restrictions on housing types, minimum lot sizes, setback requirements, parking minimums.

15:09
😢 People want to live in places like Riverdale but can't

The paragraph notes that despite high demand for walkable neighborhoods like Riverdale, scarcity drives up prices. It states that walkability has been effectively legislated out of existence through stringent zoning codes that allow only car-dependent suburbia.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡car-dependent suburbs
These refer to suburbs that require a car to get around and access services and amenities. The video argues that over-reliance on cars makes suburbs inefficient, unhealthy, and isolates residents. Examples from the script show issues like huge parking lots and lack of amenities within walking distance.
💡walkability
This refers to the extent to which an area is conducive and friendly to walking. The video advocates for walkable suburbs that put pedestrians first. Examples show amenities and shops interspersed within neighborhoods rather than segregated.
💡streetcar suburbs
These are historical suburbs built around streetcar public transit lines in the early 20th century. The video highlights how they were designed as self-contained mixed-use neighborhoods that didn't require a car for errands.
💡zoning laws
These refer to regulations on land use and development patterns in different areas. The video argues that current zoning makes it illegal to build anything except car-dependency by mandating things like low density and separation of uses.
💡missing middle housing
This refers to medium-density housing types between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. The video advocates for more housing diversity, but current zoning excludes anything but single-family homes.
💡density
This refers to the concentration of housing units and population in a given area. Though often seen negatively, the video shows through Riverdale that higher density suburbs can be vibrant and livable places when designed properly.
💡setback requirements
These zoning regulations mandate a minimum distance that buildings be set back away from the street. The video argues large setbacks waste space and make places less walkable.
💡parking requirements
These types of zoning require a minimum number of parking spaces per housing unit or business. The video critiques how this assumption causes an oversupply of unnecessary parking.
💡access
This refers to the ability for people to conveniently reach jobs, services, amenities and other opportunities. The video advocates for suburbs designed to provide access through walking, biking and transit - not just car travel.
💡affordability
This refers to providing housing at prices affordable to people with varying incomes. The video shows how lack of housing options has dramatically increased prices in desirable walkable neighborhoods.
Highlights

Suburbs have existed almost as long as cities have existed, and there is nothing inherently wrong with them.

The problem is car-dependent suburbs. And that’s what I mean when I talk about “suburbia.”

Before the second world war, it was easy to find suburbs that don’t suck.

Before car-dependency, suburbs were walkable.

Streetcar suburbs are found all over the US and Canada, though in most cases, the streetcar tracks were torn up long ago.

Riverdale is a neighbourhood full of beautiful streets with a mix of detached and semi-detached houses, as well as apartments and town homes, and even a housing co-op.

There’s a big park on the West side of the neighbourhood, too. And there are several other small parkettes sprinkled throughout the neighbourhood.

Unlike modern suburbia with massive schools servicing a wide area, Riverdale has several schools, meaning that all children are within easy walking distance.

There are multiple grocery stores as well, which can be accessed not just by driving, but also by walking, cycling, or public transit.

But despite the high population density, it doesn’t feel like a dense urban environment, because of the parks and tree-lined streets.

Today, there’s a huge demand for places like Riverdale. People want to live in suburbs like this, even if they don’t know what “walkability” means.

Unfortunately, prices have gone up so much in Riverdale that if we moved back to Toronto, today, we couldn’t afford to live there anymore.

But despite the very high demand for walkable neighbourhoods, you couldn’t build another Riverdale today. And that scarcity is part of what’s driving up prices.

Here in the Netherlands, we don’t have the same car-centric policies that lead to American-style suburbia.

Here you’ll find suburbs where, even if you commute by car, you can still do all of your other trips without one.

Transcripts

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