Los Angeles and Zacatecas: The Joys of Unspectacular Sidewalks

Action
On our way down the West Coast US, we stopped in Los Angeles for several days. Despite warnings and previous knowledge about LA lifestyle, we were struck by the extreme dearth of streetlife. Even in the hip neighborhoods we visited, there were only as many people on the sidewalks as in the stripmall areas of Toronto or New York.

Two weeks later, we entered Mexico. In Zacatecas, the first city we stayed in, we were impressed by the opposite sensation – people hanging out on the sidewalks all over town, even when for no apparent reason.

outside Walt Disney concert hall in downtown LA	outside the Portal de Rosales hall in downtown Zacatecas
common sidewalk in downtown LA	common sidewalk in downtown Zacatecas

Reflection
There are certainly many reasons why the sidewalks of downtown LA (and many other US cities) would be less populated than the sidewalks of Zacatecas. US government taxes, subsidies, and regulation have favored the development of suburban retail stores and single-family houses while hiding the costs of car use, resulting in lower population density (fewer people to fill a given sidewalk) and less commercial activity downtown. Racial fears and prejudices keep many white people away from the inner city. Americans are socialized by the media and schools to live relatively private lives, in the comfort of our cars and homes. Factors such as these are likely present in Mexico as well, but seemingly to a lesser extent.

We were most interested, however, in something more simple – how the streetscapes were designed to encourage or discourage sidewalk use. In LA, sidewalks were often dominated by massive buildings with blank walls or windows, providing few opportunities for pedestrians to interact with their surroundings. Most buildings in Zacatecas were full of street-level doors, windows, and other openings, allowing people inside and outside of the buildings to interact. Sidewalks in LA had few places to sit, whereas in Zacatecas small ledges or steps were abundant, and well used.

Both cities boasted impressive architecture. In LA, the most celebrated architecture (such as the Walt Disney concert hall) seemed designed to create a spectacular image, to be observed individually and from afar. The theaters and statues of Zacatecas, on the other hand, not only offered an image, but also facilities for everyday human use. For example, the sidewalk ledge and dramatic lighting on the side of the Portal de Rosales gave teens a place to hang out in the evening. The steps and platform at the base of the statue allowed children to climb and a street vendor to display trinkets. Although small design features alone may not transform a sidewalk, they can certainly encourage more public social interaction, which can in turn lead to greater social understanding of different people and groups. And as Portland’s City Repair project has shown, even a small group of people can create these changes in their neighborhood.

Question
What other sidewalk features or designs can facilitate public social interaction?