Comments on: Living Near the Coast Down Under http://urbanplanningblog.com/391/living-near-the-coast-down-under/ Thoughts on Urban Planning and Design Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:21:00 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sym http://urbanplanningblog.com/391/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-193 Sym Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:52:07 +0000 http://urbanplanningblog.com/2008/05/11/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-193 I don't think the majority of Americans live near the sea, though some of the largest urban areas such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Miami and others are located near the ocean, whereas numerous large urban areas are found inland, many hundreds of kms (or miles) from the coast: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago (located on the shores of a huge lake, Lake Michigan), Minneapolis and many others. Australians have many reasons to live next to the sea, but a love of the ocean is no doubt a big contributing factor. Most Australians can't understand why you would build huge cities like Las Vegas or Phoenix in the middle of nowhere. Aussies love the ocean, whereas many Americans living away from the sea don't really seem to care, otherwise Phoenix, etc. wouldn't be so large. I don’t think the majority of Americans live near the sea, though some of the largest urban areas such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Miami and others are located near the ocean, whereas numerous large urban areas are found inland, many hundreds of kms (or miles) from the coast: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago (located on the shores of a huge lake, Lake Michigan), Minneapolis and many others.

Australians have many reasons to live next to the sea, but a love of the ocean is no doubt a big contributing factor. Most Australians can’t understand why you would build huge cities like Las Vegas or Phoenix in the middle of nowhere. Aussies love the ocean, whereas many Americans living away from the sea don’t really seem to care, otherwise Phoenix, etc. wouldn’t be so large.

]]> By: Pratik http://urbanplanningblog.com/391/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-192 Pratik Wed, 14 May 2008 02:08:09 +0000 http://urbanplanningblog.com/2008/05/11/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-192 Chris, I agree. Locational decisions even those in close proximity of water can hardly be explored in depth in a 50-word post :) As you said, even if the land inside Australia was more hospitable, Aussies would still live near the sea. Chris, I agree. Locational decisions even those in close proximity of water can hardly be explored in depth in a 50-word post :) As you said, even if the land inside Australia was more hospitable, Aussies would still live near the sea.

]]> By: Chris http://urbanplanningblog.com/391/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-191 Chris Mon, 12 May 2008 13:59:40 +0000 http://urbanplanningblog.com/2008/05/11/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-191 I hear ya', but If the location behavior in Australia has much more to do with a vast and expansive area of nothingness, which gives no other choice than to live the the coast, it seems that there is less TRUE similarity than it first appears. Seems like some root analysis is required as to the "whys" of the location choices. I'd posit that many (most?) countries have their mass of population near the shore because of previous trade patterns and the reliance upon water to move goods. Have to be near a port for trade, need to be near a port to make money. And all that said, Australians do in fact love the water. I hear ya’, but If the location behavior in Australia has much more to do with a vast and expansive area of nothingness, which gives no other choice than to live the the coast, it seems that there is less TRUE similarity than it first appears.

Seems like some root analysis is required as to the “whys” of the location choices.

I’d posit that many (most?) countries have their mass of population near the shore because of previous trade patterns and the reliance upon water to move goods. Have to be near a port for trade, need to be near a port to make money.

And all that said, Australians do in fact love the water.

]]> By: Pratik http://urbanplanningblog.com/391/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-190 Pratik Mon, 12 May 2008 13:47:59 +0000 http://urbanplanningblog.com/2008/05/11/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-190 Chris, of course I'm aware of the reason and my statement of love to live near the sea was in light of the fact of similar location behavior in other countries. Chris, of course I’m aware of the reason and my statement of love to live near the sea was in light of the fact of similar location behavior in other countries.

]]> By: Chris http://urbanplanningblog.com/391/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-189 Chris Mon, 12 May 2008 13:42:14 +0000 http://urbanplanningblog.com/2008/05/11/living-near-the-coast-down-under/#comment-189 You ever driven 50 miles away from the cost of Australia? There's a reason everyone lives so close to the water... and it has less to do with the water than the other obvious factor. You ever driven 50 miles away from the cost of Australia? There’s a reason everyone lives so close to the water… and it has less to do with the water than the other obvious factor.

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