"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Tag: Policy
Why Banning NFTs Would Be Good for the Environment
02/10/22
“Why are banning NFTs good for the environment?”
NFTs are known to be highly wasteful and bad for the environment. So if governments were to band together to ban them, then they could cut off a potential large source of carbon emissions. This is Why Banning NFTs Would Be Good for the Environment.
Why NFTS Are Bad for the Environment
02/09/22
“Why are NFTs bad for the environment?”
NFTs are (as of writing) one of the latest crazes in the world. However, one significant downside is that they are bought and sold using cryptocurrency, which consumes gargantuan amounts of energy and greenhouse gasses. Once you know this it’s pretty simple to see Why NFTS Are Bad for the Environment.
Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees
02/06/22
“Why is converting parking space into multifamily housing a great way for cities to welcome climate refugees?”
Parking spaces can take up large portions of cities. And these areas are often made of impervious material that causes water to build up during flooding events. And worse, these spaces are not available when natural disasters occur. But one thing we can do is replace their footprint with multi-family housing. Not only does this take away a lot of climate vulnerabilities, but it also creates more room for newcomers to move in. This is Why Converting Parking Space Into Multifamily Housing Is a Great Way for Cities to Welcome Climate Refugees.
Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life
02/04/22
“Why will allowing commercial operations in residential areas increase the quality of life?”
Small coffee shops, bookstores, and music venues are some of the biggest magnets for neighborhood livability. However, oftentimes zoning codes prevent these stores from being built in residential neighborhoods, preventing someone from turning their home into a small store. One way to solve this is to change zoning laws to allow stores in homes, giving entrepreneurs a chance to start! This is Why Allowing Stores in Homes in Residential Areas Can Increase Quality of Life.
Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable
02/03/22
“Why can making minimum residential building sizes smaller make housing more affordable?”
The bigger a house is, the more likely it will be more expensive. If minimum residential sizes in a neighborhood require large lot sizes, then it will probably be more expensive to live there. But with the rising housing crisis and the ongoing dearth of construction, such a steep requirement for building new housing is something that must be overcome. Instead, communities should look into making minimum residential sizes smaller so more housing can be built and people can have more freedom to live. This way, supply goes up and costs go down. This is Why Making Minimum Residential Building Sizes Can Make Housing More Affordable.
Bike Sharrows
02/02/22
“How can we mark that cars should share the lane with bicycles?”
Separating bicycles from riders is a great way to ensure cyclist safety. However, sometimes this is not possible to achieve. So how can we do the best we can given the circumstances? Well, what if we were to simply mark the part of the road where cyclists are supposed to ride? This would be a relatively affordable and easy to implement procedure and help automobiles know that they should look out for bicyclists. These Bike Sharrows can be found in cities all over the world, wherever there are bicyclists.
Separated Bikeways
02/01/22
“Why might it be a good idea to separate bicycles from automobile traffic?”
Bicycle riders always face the possibility of being hit by a car when they share a lane with them. For this reason, urban planners have devised Separated Bikeways that allow for bicycle riders to ride in their own lane without cars. These hold the potential to save countless lives and make our cities a much better place to live.
Basic Bike Lanes
01/28/22
“What is the most basic version of bike lanes?”
Bike lanes are one of the greatest inventions of urbanism by allowing bikes to have their own part of the street not shared with cars. But what is its most basic form? Well, what if we were to just paint a solid white lane (except for being checkered at intersections) to delineate where cars can and cannot enter? This is the idea behind Basic Bike Lanes and is one of the most effective ways to make a city more transit friendly.
Why Cities Should Audit Their Skyscrapers for Earthquake Sensitivity
01/23/22
“Why should cities audit their skyscrapers for earthquake sensitivity?”
Skyscrapers are one of the modern marvels of the world. Their grand height is made capable of rugged, solid materials supporting it to the foundations. However, outdated structures and materials make them prone to mistakes that could prove dire with an intense earthquake. To prevent such a thing from occurring, cities should invest money into ensuring that their structures are up to par. This is Why Cities Should Audit Their Skyscrapers for Earthquake Sensitivity.
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