80% of America is Unlivable

Video Description

Please Support the Channel on Patreon!: patreon.com/Knowwaynohow Why do American cities feel so empty and disconnected? In this video, we explore the missed potential of American urban design—and what a better future could look like. From walkable communities and public transit to tight-knit neighborhoods and vibrant street life, we compare US infrastructure to models from Europe, Morocco, Japan, and even our own American history. We look at how car-centric suburban sprawl, stroads, and poor urban planning left much of America feeling lifeless—and why America could have been a paradise. Drawing on my travels to over 27 states and experiences living in places like Washington D.C., Madison, Santa Cruz, and Upstate New York, I break down the human and environmental costs of our current design—and how movements like Strong Towns are fighting to reclaim our cities. If you've ever wondered why American cities don’t feel as alive as their European counterparts, or why we gave up our trolley networks and walkable downtowns for parking lots and strip malls, this video is for you. We need to redesign our cities to be more people focused. More Mexican and Italian plazas and Piazzas versus American big box stores and strip malls. If you'd like to support the channel and allow me to expand my work please consider supporting me Via: patreon.com/Knowwaynohow CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:22 Suburban Hell 01:51 Suburban Hell: Zoning 03:16 Suburban Hell: Where You Work 03:44 Suburban Hell: Where You Live 05:10 Suburbs are Bad for your Health 07:12 Suburbs are Bad For Community 08:56 Suburbs are Cultural Wastelands 10:18 Suburbs are Ponzi schemes 12:40 Suburbs Kill Local Businesses 16:14 Suburbs are Unsustainable 16:34 Third Places 19:24 "But I like Driving" 19:56 American Cities 22:26 Sun Belt 23:41 The Best Places in America 26:07 Rural 26:29 What percentage of America is Livable 27:58 American Potential/Past 29:02 Don't Feel Defeated SOURCES Census data https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural/2020-ua-facts.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com 86% suburban lifestyle https://environmentblog.ncpathinktank.org/suburban-nation-u-s-86-percent-suburban/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Poorly designed homes https://www.greenintegrateddesign.com/blog/how-new-home-builders-cut-corners?utm_source=chatgpt.com Mcmansion video clip https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=washington+post+mcmansions Suburban isolation, paranoia, not conducive to community https://cappuccino.substack.com/p/the-crippling-isolation-of-american?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/11/23/sociologists-study-says-that-suburbs-isolate-children-from-reality-diversity/c5e9e4fb-a25f-41da-8c06-52f537afe075/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.press.jhu.edu/newsroom/neighborhood-fear-suburban-crisis-american-culture?srsltid=AfmBOorvlhKGMPZsNuj000i5DEJENifme6-d_6gjHAIiuVGl8mO2RVp5&utm_source=chatgpt.com Old people isolation in suburbs https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/1896/1896?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://friends.amintro.com/wellness/seniors-suburbs-preventing-isolation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://hawthornrotary.org.au/stories/older-and-lonely-in-the-suburbs?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35801368/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30708985/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31347451/ Walkable Neighbourhoods Scarce commodity https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/2/25/historic-walkable-neighborhoods-are-a-scarce-commodity?utm_source=chatgpt.com