Don't Call Them 'Roads'

Mary Newsom at the Charlotte Observer argues that until Charlotte residents stop calling streets 'roads', they will be stuck in a rural mindset and fail to see the broader picture of transportation in their city and county.

1 minute read

August 31, 2009, 1:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Newsom says, "Here's why terminology matters. If you call Charlotte's streets 'roads,' what you'll probably envision is something like N.C. 51 between Pineville and Matthews, or maybe Independence Boulevard, heaven forbid. Those thoroughfares may be good for suburban traffic (or not, but that's another column), but they are not good for creating city neighborhoods. They aren't welcoming to kids on foot or bikes or parents pushing strollers, to runners or skateboarders or people walking the dog."

Saturday, August 29, 2009 in The Charlotte Observer

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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