> Seattle and SF did the same. The streets are now horror shows.
Citation very much needed. No Seattle street is a "horror show". My best guess is that you're referring to 3rd Ave. It isn't significantly less vibrant than other streets within a block or two (which is to say during the day there are things, and by 9pm it's empty until you get to Belltown, at which point there are people and bars open). Sure, there are more homeless people than some other locations, but across the city they congregate near major bus lines and stops so it's no shock that they're near the major bus corridors.
> Sure, there are more homeless people than some other locations, but across the city they congregate near major bus lines and stops so it's no shock that they're near the major bus corridors.
Thank you for demonstrating my point: "vibrant" streets that switched from productive car lanes to bus/bike lanes are nothing but crime magnets.
Want another example from Seattle? Look at the University Village, that is safely away from major transport hubs and bike routes, and the rich vibrant transit- and bike-lane-enabled downtown near Westlake.
Now tell me which one is thriving.
The key difference: there are no protected bike lanes or transit-only lanes taking productive traffic away from the University Village, but there is plenty of available parking and easy access routes.
> You're intentionally misrepresenting my points. Bus stops on streets with cars are also areas where the homeless congregate.
My point is that bus- and bike-only streets are especially bad. Bike lanes in particular are very efficient in destroying businesses (if you want to Kagi and quote studies about Portland bike lanes - I know them very well).
> 3rd Ave became bus only in 2018. The 3rd and Pike "crackdonalds" was a meme before I came to Seattle in 2008. Your anecdotes don't line up.
They do. The area around McStabby's has always been less-than-perfect, but it went downhill in 2019. Yes, even before COVID. I remember it well, my partner was living literally 2 blocks away from it at that time.
Citation very much needed. No Seattle street is a "horror show". My best guess is that you're referring to 3rd Ave. It isn't significantly less vibrant than other streets within a block or two (which is to say during the day there are things, and by 9pm it's empty until you get to Belltown, at which point there are people and bars open). Sure, there are more homeless people than some other locations, but across the city they congregate near major bus lines and stops so it's no shock that they're near the major bus corridors.