Suddenly, I
had no idea where I was. Through my
windshield, I could see a McDonalds, a chain hotel, and a chain tire store in a
grid without topographic relief. No help
there.
It took only
a few seconds to reconstruct that I was entering Marysville on Highway 70. I was back on track in time to make the turn
required to continue toward my destination in Chico. No one else in the car was even aware of my
temporary displacement.
But the
episode reminded me of the extent to which we can become detached from our
surroundings when we drive. With the
windows up, we miss the aromas of fresh-mown hay, a Mexican restaurant, or a petroleum
refinery. With a radio playing, we miss
the birdsong or the sound of a bat striking a ball.
And with our
towns increasingly filled with franchises that one could find anywhere in the
country, the wealth of visual clues are also diminishing.
We’re increasing the challenge to our brain of remembering where we are.
The science
of how we experience a place and guide ourselves through it is still evolving. Emily Badger of Atlantic Cities writes about
the current thinking on mind maps.
Although the
knowledge in this area of neurology remains limited, some of the available data
is fascinating. Such as the fact that we
have neurons that recognize specific places and only fire when we visit that
place. Nor is their recognition limited
to visual clues. Smell and sounds can
also affect place recognition.
Or the fact
that we’re programmed to be space-dependent in our reactions to stimuli,
accepting the sound of running water in a bathroom, but reacting quickly to the
same sound in a living room.
Or the fact that
we have a biological imperative to know our current location and to be able to
find the way to our destination. From my
reading elsewhere, heart attacks are more likely after people have driven long
commutes. Perhaps heart attacks are tied
to the anxiety of imposing long periods of stress on our location-determining
neurons because we haven’t yet evolved to riding in vehicles.
Like others,
I’ve often noted that that I see more details of my surroundings when I’m on
foot. I’d always ascribed that fact to
the slower pace of pedestrian travel.
But perhaps it’s also tied to my neurons being exposed to additional
data when I’m not sealed in a car. And
even in a car, I love driving through a small town with the windows down on a
warm summer evening.
My wife and
I have a small fountain in our frontyard.
It doesn’t make much noise, but the small trickle is often audible. Of all the homes on the street, folks tend to
chat with friends in front of our home.
The
lingering is fine by us. We want people to
enjoy what my wife has done with the frontyard.
But I wonder if the sound of the fountain isn’t a part of the reason
people stop, perhaps supplemented by the aroma of flowers during many months of
the year.
It’s unclear
what the implications to urbanism will be.
But it seems likely that the science of mind maps will inform the next
generation of urbanists about how to design places where we’ll have a desire to
linger and to enjoy our communities.
Whether with fountains, flowers, or something else. (I suspect that the developers of shopping
centers are already far down this path.)
As always,
your questions or comments will be appreciated.
Please comment below or email me.
And thanks for reading. - Dave Alden (davealden53@comcast.net)
(Note: Photo
is from pritzerneuropsych.org.)
I notice that when I walk to work versus bike, I interact more with the people that I pass - more smiles, more good mornings... Even though on a bike I do not have windows rolled up and music playing etc, it seems that there is a barrier people feel when they are on a sidewalk with the people that are on the street - whether biking or driving. I also notice that because of the greater level of interaction I have with people when walking, I often feel happier when I get to work, and always think upon arriving that I should walk more often. But, as with many people, time often gets away from me and halving my commute time is often a greater incentive than a potential improved mood.
ReplyDeleteTaylor, I agree with you on both counts. Bicycling is more street-friendly than driving, but not as street-friendly as walking. And moods can be positively affected by non-vehicular transportation. Instances of sidewalk rage are less common than road rage.
DeleteDave, I too would credit Kathleen with attracting passersby to linger in front of your house. Her design invites pausing and seems to emanate the affability of the occupants. Besides the burbling of the fountain, the shade of your trees bids a pause. Although the fence precludes use of the bench, I think it makes it easier for a person to linger without feeling intrusive despite the close setback — and you can lean on it! We're re-landscaping our front yard and I also want to invite folk to tarry. I scouted out your home for ideas!
ReplyDeleteBarry, thanks for the kind words about my wife's landscaping. I've shared them with her.
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