Comments on: Old MacDonald Had a Freeway http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/11/17/old-macdonald-had-a-freeway/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: M http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/11/17/old-macdonald-had-a-freeway/comment-page-1/#comment-49731 M Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:06:40 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=21021#comment-49731 I of course have not tested all of the land for toxins along the freeways in LA, but really, there is so much wrong with this idea that it's somewhat scary. I've lived *near* the freeway for years so that I can be near a Metro station and frankly would not want to grow food ADJACENT to it. How many times have the walls along the freeways been painted, repainted and trashed with other toxic materials like herbicide and pesticides and remains from the once-upon-a-time leaded gasoline? This would require tons of cooperation from drivers in not tossing their garbage and still lit-cigarette butts out of their windows anymore. What about all of the animals that currently live in these otherwise unusable (to humans) areas? I've seen coyotes, raccoons, all sorts of birds, ground squirrels, rats and mice in these, even in mostly urban areas. Nevermind the quality of life issues for the people living in the "freeway villages". Even behind a sound wall, the freeway can be incredibly loud and dirty. Whenever I leave my windows open, my windowsills are quickly covered with thick layers of black "dust". Sooooo gross. And those freeway resurfacing projects that go on all night long.... ugh... I of course have not tested all of the land for toxins along the freeways in LA, but really, there is so much wrong with this idea that it’s somewhat scary. I’ve lived *near* the freeway for years so that I can be near a Metro station and frankly would not want to grow food ADJACENT to it. How many times have the walls along the freeways been painted, repainted and trashed with other toxic materials like herbicide and pesticides and remains from the once-upon-a-time leaded gasoline? This would require tons of cooperation from drivers in not tossing their garbage and still lit-cigarette butts out of their windows anymore. What about all of the animals that currently live in these otherwise unusable (to humans) areas? I’ve seen coyotes, raccoons, all sorts of birds, ground squirrels, rats and mice in these, even in mostly urban areas. Nevermind the quality of life issues for the people living in the “freeway villages”. Even behind a sound wall, the freeway can be incredibly loud and dirty. Whenever I leave my windows open, my windowsills are quickly covered with thick layers of black “dust”. Sooooo gross. And those freeway resurfacing projects that go on all night long…. ugh…

]]> By: ubrayj02 http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/11/17/old-macdonald-had-a-freeway/comment-page-1/#comment-49721 ubrayj02 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:59:00 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=21021#comment-49721 I've dreamed of the same thing for years, but never thought anyone else would share my same ideas. So strange. There are some serious problems with this, however. Few of these areas of the freeway are safely accessible (other than by car), and there are no barriers to protect you from careening cars. CalTrans workers get plowed into, a lot. Also, the pollutants from vehicles would produce ... food and plants of questionable integrity (I think). The soil in those embankments can't be that great nor healthy. It is really interesting to see one of my day dreams independently fleshed out by someone else! I’ve dreamed of the same thing for years, but never thought anyone else would share my same ideas.

So strange.

There are some serious problems with this, however. Few of these areas of the freeway are safely accessible (other than by car), and there are no barriers to protect you from careening cars. CalTrans workers get plowed into, a lot.

Also, the pollutants from vehicles would produce … food and plants of questionable integrity (I think). The soil in those embankments can’t be that great nor healthy.

It is really interesting to see one of my day dreams independently fleshed out by someone else!

]]> By: Adam Christian http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/11/17/old-macdonald-had-a-freeway/comment-page-1/#comment-49701 Adam Christian Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:43:09 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=21021#comment-49701 Thanks for the warm welcome...I will be returning the favor :) Thanks for the warm welcome…I will be returning the favor :)

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