Nature (including what humans decide to do) is very good at iterative optimization. When people do something and it works, they tend to continue doing that.
The reason that overly-planned cities (I live in one: Phoenix) don't work is that it's impossible to out-think millions of people all working to optimize your city in parallel all the time.
Obviously you need some urban planning to assist with things that regular citizens don't understand (utilities), but for the most part, if you let people be, they will build a city on their own.
I think your conclusion (only do the minimum planning you absolutely can't live without) is too extreme in the other direction (compare Huston with Portland or Vancouver).
I don't know what the ideal level of urban planing and regulation is, but I think it's probably somewhere in the middle of the road.
Comments
Nature (including what humans decide to do) is very good at iterative optimization. When people do something and it works, they tend to continue doing that.
The reason that overly-planned cities (I live in one: Phoenix) don't work is that it's impossible to out-think millions of people all working to optimize your city in parallel all the time.
Obviously you need some urban planning to assist with things that regular citizens don't understand (utilities), but for the most part, if you let people be, they will build a city on their own.
I think your conclusion (only do the minimum planning you absolutely can't live without) is too extreme in the other direction (compare Huston with Portland or Vancouver).
I don't know what the ideal level of urban planing and regulation is, but I think it's probably somewhere in the middle of the road.