I nearly jumped for joy today, when my husband showed me an article about how VA is trying to change suburbia into something more environmentally friendly and realistic. Basically, they are hoping to abandon this pesky cul-de-sac scheme, that permeates the neighborhoods here.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/21/AR2009032102248.html?hpid=topnews



I hate living in the suburbs. But it's where my dh's job is and I do not care for him having to commute for ever to get to his job. We happen to live in a cul-de-sac.
Is it better than to live on a thoroughfare? Well, yes. But like the article says: The cul-de-sac scheme is just a band aid for over engineered streets, which are far to wide and which let cars go far too fast. The whole cul-de-sac-scheme results in clogged collector roads. And very often you have to take those collector roads to be able to get to the nearest store or nearest anything.
While growing up in different European cities, I have lived on roads that could be classified as thoroughfares. But those roads were much narrower. In fact, very often two cars couldn't pass each other without one having to stop completely. We played all day long on those roads.
It would be nice with a grid of roads with proper sidewalks, so you actually could walk or bike to places.
Yes, I am a new urbanism junkie.