cars racing = scary stuff.. An almost daily downfall of suburban living.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on January 3, 2010 at 11:14pm

lol, I thought you meant the legit racing scene, and was going to ask what the hell you were doing on Dodee road at 2AM.

Scary indeed! =(

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 4, 2010 at 8:31am

I would hardly call those guys 'legit' but that's what first entered my mind as well.

Jessica said:

lol, I thought you meant the legit racing scene, and was going to ask what the hell you were doing on Dodee road at 2AM.

Scary indeed! =(

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on January 4, 2010 at 8:57am

Tell that to my buddy who won 2K out there last weekend. =P When it's busy, you're correct. There's bullshit going on. But the later it gets, and the less people there are... that's when it gets a little more serious. =)

notoriousDUG said:

I would hardly call those guys 'legit' but that's what first entered my mind as well.

Jessica said:

lol, I thought you meant the legit racing scene, and was going to ask what the hell you were doing on Dodee road at 2AM.

Scary indeed! =(

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 4, 2010 at 10:37am

Still not 'legit,' legit racing happens at tracks.



Jessica said:

Tell that to my buddy who won 2K out there last weekend. =P When it's busy, you're correct. There's bullshit going on. But the later it gets, and the less people there are... that's when it gets a little more serious. =)

notoriousDUG said:

I would hardly call those guys 'legit' but that's what first entered my mind as well.

Jessica said:

lol, I thought you meant the legit racing scene, and was going to ask what the hell you were doing on Dodee road at 2AM.

Scary indeed! =(

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Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on January 4, 2010 at 10:11pm

Sounds like complete meltdown and dystopia! Bring it on, suburbs blow. Glad to meet another Atlantic reader. Interesting the article mentions Evanston will 'do just fine'.

Clark said:

Pundits have been warning about the "Decline of Suburbia" for years. As cyclists, we're somewhat like the "canary in the coal mine;" we're the first to become aware of these changes. And what we're seeing is the beginning of lawlessness and "social dysfunction" presaging the evolution of many suburbs into dangerous places...much the same way that City neighborhoods deteriorated in the 1950's and '60's:
...conventional suburban living may not be much of a bargain in the future...as more Americans, particularly affluent Americans, move into urban communities, families may find that some of the suburbs’ other big advantages—better schools and safer communities...may worsen...The fate of many [suburban] single-family homes...will be resale, at rock-bottom prices, to lower-income families—and in all likelihood, eventual conversion to apartments. This future is not likely to wear well on suburban housing....modern suburban houses, even high-end McMansions, are cheaply built. Hollow doors and wallboard are less durable than solid-oak doors and lath-and-plaster walls. The plywood floors that lurk under wood veneers or carpeting tend to break up and warp as the glue that holds the wood together dries out; asphalt-shingle roofs typically need replacing after 10 years.
But much of the future decline is likely to occur...in towns far away from the central city, not served by rail transit, and lacking any real core. In other words...some of the...more recently developed areas...will become magnets for poverty, crime, and social dysfunction.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 5, 2010 at 7:40am

Some of the suburbs closest to the city were developed earlier, when cars weren't in the picture. These are much more walkable, and some have good transit options. Also, because much of their housing stock was built to the higher standards of pre-WWII construction, those houses are much more durable.

Evanston and Oak Park are the two best examples - compact, walkable and rideable, with good public transit. Places like Berwyn, Riverside and Wilmette have quality housing, are walkable and rideable, but are not as well served by public transit. FYI - Riverside was planned in 1869, so cars were no part of that picture. http://www.riverside-illinois.com/History.htm It's an early example of a commuter-rail-oriented suburb. Morgan Park also developed around commuter rail, before it was absorbed by Chicago.

While major streets in places like Park Ridge, Elmhurst and Arlington Hts may be far from bike friendly, there are large areas of those 'burbs that are quite pleasant to ride. There's a wide spectrum of rideability in the 'burbs.

chixieonfixie said:

Sounds like complete meltdown and dystopia! Bring it on, suburbs blow. Glad to meet another Atlantic reader. Interesting the article mentions Evanston will 'do just fine'.
Clark said:

Pundits have been warning about the "Decline of Suburbia" for years. As cyclists, we're somewhat like the "canary in the coal mine;" we're the first to become aware of these changes. And what we're seeing is the beginning of lawlessness and "social dysfunction" presaging the evolution of many suburbs into dangerous places......

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