Suburbs: Twin Cities vs Munich

Woodbury - 10 miles to downtown St. Paul, 20 miles to Minneapolis

Vaterstetten - 12 miles to downtown Munich (the scales on these two maps are the same)

The colors show transit ways: freeways and major roadways in Woodbury, and in Vaterstetten the green is the train and yellow is the only "major" roadway (the Autobahn is in the upper left corner). Every home on the Vaterstetten map is a walkable or bikeable distance from an S-Bahn (train) station, which is a 20-minute ride into downtown Munich. The suburb of Woodbury was built around automobiles - any one of the houses is likely only accessible by car, a 25-minute drive to downtown Minneapolis without traffic.   

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Munich - darker lines show S-Bahn and U-Bahn (subway) routes, situated like spokes on a bicycle wheel to support sustainable growth and development along corridors 

Twin Cities - two new light rail systems travel between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul (2014) and from Minneapolis to the MSP International Airport and Mall of America (2004). The last ~50 years of growth and development that took place in the Twin Cities and Region was planned around the car versus a mass transit system, in the fashion of laying separate blankets (individual cities) of sparse residential areas next to each other.

The Bikeable Suburbs of Copenhagen and Munich

Suburbs in Munich and Copenhagen are designed around and for diverse means of transportation. In contrast to this, the trend in American suburbs has been design around and for automobiles; travel by car is the only means of transportation built into the infrastructure, creating dependency on cars, unsafe roadways and traffic. 

Since I have a strange obsession with urban cores and like to focus my attention away from suburbs (especially American suburbs, simply because I think they are characterless and ugly - wide, spread out lots and streets with cookie-cutter houses give me anxiety), I can't help but to notice how differently the suburbs in Europe evolved in terms of planning, design, and function.

A few pictures will help. 

Brøndby, Denmark (suburb of Copenhagen)

Peds, Bikes, Cars/Buses

Barrier between bike lane and street for added safety

Street obstacles force cars to slow down

Slower traffic increases safety to encourage bikers

One-car-at-a-time

Vaterstetten and Baldham, Germany (suburb of Munich) 

CLICK ME

Paths for Sunday afternoon walks

Roadway incorporates greenery

Smaller streets = slower traffic

Mirrors help see around corners

Designated "Play Street" - more on this later

Mixed streets, varying priority for people/bikes and cars

Several non-car "secret passage ways"

Watch for bikes

Watch for peds

Sidewalk for peds, street for bikes and cars

Cars never drive fast down these roads

This stoplights only purpose is to stop traffic for peds

Open for all kinds of traveling

Similar road blocks in the street as Denmark

Not many pictures are needed of American suburbs since they all pretty much look alike (images from Google).

How does one walk or bike around in this mess???

Understanding Human Needs and Well Being

In order to dive deeper into one of my greatest interests (urban design for well being), it's necessary to understand what contributes to individuals' well being. The meeting of basic human needs are the foundation for a healthy and happy life, but also the foundation for a lifestyle characterized by high living standards on a societal level.
I start by looking at two popular definitions of fundamental human needs. Ultimately it boils down to physiological (physical) and psychological (mental) needs.

1. Manfred Max-Neef's fundamental human needs:

Subsistence
Protection
Affection
Understanding
Participation
Leisure
Creation
Identity
Freedom

2. Maslow's Hierarchy of needs:


In addition to these, and to take things a step further, I will share my own ideas about basic well being. Within the past year, these ideas have come up at least twice; first in working with and learning about Native American culture and second in reading Stephen Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." Each time it comes up I not only gain new insights but it reinforces its importance to and relevance in my interests. 

Paraphrasing Covey:

"Human nature is four dimensional -- body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Body - healthy, preventative 
Mind - continuous education, broad and deep
Heart - serving others brings great fulfillment and joy; deep, respectful listening
Spirit - recognize that the source of our basic need for meaning and of the positive things we seek in life is principles or external natural laws

Native American Medicine Wheel

An individual's balance of the mental, spiritual, emotional, physical aspects creates beauty and harmony.

 















Covey Principles: fairness, integrity, honesty, human dignity, service, quality/excellence, potential/growth, patience, nurturance, encouragement)
Anishinaabe/Indigenous Principles: love, respect, truth/honesty, generosity, bravery/courage, wisdom, humility

A quote from Max-Neef acknowledges a necessary balance: "Human needs must be understood as a system; that is, all human needs are interrelated and interactive. With the sole exception of the need of subsistence, that is, to remain alive, no hierarchies exist within the system. On the contrary, simultaneities, complementarities and trade-offs are characteristics of the process of needs satisfaction."
 
How does well being relate to urban planning? I'd like to make several points. 

First, as more people move into urban areas, cities need to be places where peoples' basic needs are met, both physically and (arguably a more difficult challenge, especially in developed nations) mentally. I would argue that effective urbanization is one of the majors conflicts of our time. How we urbanize - whether we plan sustainably for the future or not - dictates how we use energy and resources, and in turn, implications for a changing global climate. In the 12,000 year history of "human civilization" (characterized by the onset of the Agriculture Revolution), 2006 marked the first year that the majority of the worlds population make their home in an urban area. As people migrate from rural to urban, the scales at which life has always existed are transformed. Simple turns complex. In this transformation, and most importantly, basic human needs must be met in order to create and build upon a functioning society. In some ways, the natural laws and principles that have guided us for thousands of years are lost in translation. For the first time in history, millions of people are congregating in a geographic location and competing for the limited resources that meet basic needs. 

Second, just as human needs are to be understood as a system, cities require this same school of thought, and must function under the constraints of the resources, economy, and people/culture of that place. Furthermore, when these factors are in balance with each other, the product is harmony, beauty, and flourishing individuals. Since everything is connected, looking at the city as a whole is a necessary part of urban planning and design.

To summarize, I believe that contributes of well being can and should be expanded to include principles of urban design; particular elements are conducive to positive lives and overall well being. And not just in the physical aspects of needs and well being, but mentally as well. Personal well being can inform design for life at urban levels; being physically healthy plays a huge role in well being; commuting by bicycle keeps you physically fit and has been proven to boost your mood - inclusively leading to greater well being. And, as we continue learn more about the human brain and study the relationship between city life and quality of life, we will only gain insights about the factors that will allow people to live life to their fullest. It's time to explore those patterns and rules and project them onto our cities.


Sources:
Wikipedia 
Max-Neef; quote
Maslow
Action for Happiness