The grid, the strip, the cul-de-sac—all terms modern developers use in every day language. And all terms to describe the car-centric design found throughout North American cities.

 

In his latest issue (pdf) of Price Tags, Gordon Price focuses on Tampa, Florida. Our image of Florida as we know it is changing from a green paradise with beautiful beaches, to a landscape of strips, asphalt, and advertising.

 

“In Florida there’s no alternative to the car. There is some support for transit, but the urban fabric was not designed to accommodate it.”

 

Price illustrates with images of wide roads with billboards, car congestion, and aerial views of grids and sprawl. Is this the direction we want to continue going?

 

 

For a closer look at this issue, check out Price Tags here.