Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhDMay 30, 2023
It's hard to describe the startling QUIET of these open streets. Hundreds of people out, and all you hear are birds singing, the click of a bike mechanism, and the murmur of conversation. Cities aren't loud, cars are loud. #Montreal #OpenStreets
Show threadmmalcMay 30, 2023
@mbonsma
One of my favourite moments in Japan a few decades ago was during the Gion festival — not because of the inherent splendidness of the festival itself, but as a result of much of central Kyoto being closed off to cars.
I paused for a couple of seconds in the middle of a crossroads away from the main events, surrounded by vast crowds, and the predominant sound was that of thousands of footfalls.
Show threaddingodog
@mmalc @mbonsma what about construction? When I'm in a big US city I often feel the predominant noise comes from jackhammers, riveters, cranes, dump trucks, etc.
May 30, 2023 at 6:54pmWeb
Show threadmmalcMay 30, 2023
@dingodog19 @mbonsma
For me at least that’s typically a much more localised and intermittent issue.
In the SF Bay Area, for example, almost no matter where you are there’s an almost incessant susurration of freeway traffic.
Show threaddingodogMay 30, 2023
@mmalc @mbonsma for sure. I'm just imagining, say, Manhattan without the cars, and I think it would still be loud.