Michael Lewyn is a professor at Touro University, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, in Long Island. His scholarship can be found at http://works.bepress.com/lewyn.
The Case Against Flexibility
A few weeks ago, I was reading yet another think-tank paper arguing against new rail projects.<span> </span>Amidst the sea of technical detail, one assertion bothered me: the common claim that bus service is more “flexible” than rail.
Myth and Reality About European Sprawl
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <p> Some commentators argue that sprawl is an inevitable result of affluence, based on European development patterns. These pundits tell a simple story: European urban cores are losing population and becoming more automobile-dependent - just like American cities. So if Europe can’t beat sprawl, neither can America. </p>
Two kinds of sprawl
Once every few semesters, I teach a seminar on "Sprawl and the Law." On the first day of the seminar, I ask students what "sprawl" is. After getting a variety of answers, I reveal the truth: most definitions of sprawl involve one of two separate definitions: <p> "<strong>Where we grow</strong>"- Sprawl as movement from the core to the fringe of a region. </p> <p> "<strong>How we grow</strong>"- Sprawl as development oriented towards drivers as opposed to nondrivers. </p>
The Real Meaning Of The "American Dream"
Both supporters and opponents of the sprawl status quo often refer to suburbia as “The American Dream.” One sprawl-defending organization even calls itself “The American Dream Coalition.”
Why Liability Concerns Should Not Prevent Pedestrian-Friendly Streets
<font size="2"> <p> American commercial streets are often designed almost exclusively for cars; streets are often as many as eight or ten lanes wide, lengthening pedestrian trips and encouraging motorists to drive at speeds unsafe for pedestrians. </p>