Two Revised Blog Posts

The article “Modern City Re-Invented” by Shafik I. Rifaat

Blog Post#1

In the article “The Modern City Re-Invented”, Shafik I. Rifaat presents the concept of approaching global urbanization in sustainable and equitable ways. While the world’s population grows exponentially (Fig. 1), the current practices in which we use to adapt to world’s needs are no longer efficient. Rifaat explains that the planning for urban reform is already long overdue and without any action taken in the present-day, results will be disastrous(11). His article also provides historical background behind the conception of a city and how that influences the cities we live in today. Examples include the ideal vision of Greece, Rome and many others throughout history that have established the city as a centralized place where economy and culture would begin and thrive (11, 12). Overtime, however, unprecedented pressures of population growth forced visionaries to develop suburban models and transportation systems that could alleviate the problem of high density and ensuing problems. Until today, that progression into the usage of cars has resulted in global warming which continues to be a hurdle when managing urban expansion (13). Consequently, public transportation, biking and walking are a huge part of the new urban form (14-17). While I agree that the solutions proposed in the article are highly innovative in “reinventing the modern city”, I am also aware that it will take both the government and public some time to commit to a wholly environmentally-friendly lifestyle. On page 16 and 18, we are given the model of local amenities and fresh produce dedicated to one community but after being exposed previously to a huge variety of products available at any time, I am reluctant that people will accept this. Likewise, while the transportation methods mentioned are very healthy alternatives, many people of today may be too used to their sedentary ways of life. Additionally, reliable water sources are especially concerning (21) as rivers are not always accessible and creating a new water system worldwide is guaranteed to be extremely expensive. Furthermore, transnational corporations and other companies are likely to favor profits over sustainability until it is too late. As can be seen in Rifaat’s conclusion (22), this kind of transformation will be a long and arduous process but the first step towards change begins with a plan and I am interested in where the future takes us. Upon further reflection and revision, this piece of writing by Rifaat is very informative, telling us the history behind the city and even going as far as providing valid models for the future in hope that we can become more sustainable. It is one thing to preach for and support sustainability but it is another thing entirely to create models and find ways we can realistically implement them in our world today.

No Parking Here by Clive Thompson

Blog Post #3

The article “No Parking Here” by Clive Thompson highlights the economical, environmental and aesthetic problems created by cars and the space they take up. If their intended spaces were not occupied, it is acknowledged as a waste of space anyway. The author makes the statement that the world is on the cusp of change as we urban centers expand and accommodate more people. This allows a potential future in which parking barely exists, aided by the use ride-sharing and self-driving vehicles. The article goes on to explain how beneficial the innovations of these vehicles may be in how safe and efficient there are. This is impart due to how “the dominance of the car” has been on the wane since its spike in popularity during the late 1900’s. Millennials in particular set themselves apart from the last generation in how they prioritize within their lifestyle, the smart phone became new source of identity and status over cars and it only makes ride-sharing applications that much more convenient to use. On the other hand, the author notes that this is not without risk when left entire to the private sector. In order to be sustainable the city as a whole must become involved and similar to most transit systems today will transition to use for the public. In my opinion, there are a couple issues that arise despite the article bringing up good points. It is difficult to predict how a mass of these cars would interact together in real time. I am reminded of the “trolley problem” in these extreme hypothetical cases. How does a car decide what is ethical? It is likely that factors such as the weather or hazards in the real world may come unexpectedly and I’m interested in how cars would be programmed to react. Perceptions skills come easily to the human eye but are hard to engineer. Upon further revision and reflection, the author Clive Thompson does well in bringing up valid points that should justify a halt on reliance on the car. Although its was an innovative product of its time, as brought up by Thompson’s history, today, there are other thing we should prioritize like sustainability.

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