On Aug 15, 2011, at 10:18 PM, Glenn wrote: > The comparison to Europe doesn't ring true either. Outdoor seating is very > popular but not at car traffic intersections. I felt bad for the Baltimore > Ave businesses when it was revealed that they had such trouble putting a few > tables on sidewalks in front of their businesses. European cities allow > cafes to put out seating in pedestrian areas or plazas, but I've never seen > parklet cafes in high car traffic areas. > > I think sidewalk seating would be popular here, but I think you need to be > highly connected and have a business catering to good people.
I can't comment on "European" sidewalk cafes since the UK doesn't really have any, and that's as far "east" as I've gotten…. But, speaking of "east" if you want to see the impact of "sidewalk cafes" on the "Pedestrian Experience," just visit the eastern side of Rittenhouse Square. The last time I was down there, Pedestrians are forced to either walk on t he opposite side of the street or IN the street, as the "diners" block the entire sidewalk. So much for "sidewalk seating" being for a "Positive Pedestrian Experience" -- positive only if you want to sit and spend money, extremely negative if you simply want to walk. And heaven help you if you want to walk side-by-side with a friend! I would have no problem with the clubs along 18th street putting seating IN Rittenhouse Square -- -but then their servers would have severe problems dodging cars while crossing back and forth across 18th street. Starr would have to pay them "hazardous duty pay" :). (And I'm assuming that the "Friends of Rittenhouse Square who pay for the Square's maintenance, would be willing to "allow" such a use… even if they charged Starr, et.al. a "maintenance" fee for using the space. (Yeah, I know the Friends tried to commercialize the Square a couple of years back.) But that is the entire problem, isn't it…. Cars Vs. Pedestrians Vs. Tables Vs. free movement Vs. being able to sit in a public space and smoke a cigar and generate lots of clouds of blue smoke. William H. Magill Block Captain 4400 Chestnut Street ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
