Don't Call Them 'Roads'

31 August 2009 - 1:00pm

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.

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."

Source: The Charlotte Observer, August 29, 2009
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