The Possible City

The Possible City

Home
Notes
Shorts
Essays
Bomunsan Forest Protocols
Archive
About

bicycle

Urban Japan: Shotengai, the Street That Connects Everyone
The way a place connects people — or how it pushes us all further apart — has a big effect on whether or not we can function well as a society. We…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
25
The Importance of Being a Beautiful Idiot
Three more illustrations Japan's Kansai region, exploring the meaning of 'division' and what happens when we dance like beautiful idiots.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
9
How to Use an Urban River — Lessons from a Korean City
They say you get what you build for. On this urban river, you sometimes get heron and kids and the scent of fried chicken. But this is a river in…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
5
Building the Cities We Want — Part 2: Every Path is Possible
"Any path is possible," Suhee said. I believed her. I still do. But after losing two homes and two shops, I had to ask myself: were we moving forward…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
2
Urban Japan: Cities of Smallness and Awareness
In the heart of Japan's mega cities, it’s not the big chaotic rush, but the subtle flow of smallness and awareness that keeps everything moving. Join me…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
6
Urban Japan: The True Cost of Cars and Parking
Free street parking is not exactly free, and most Americans are paying a lot for it without knowing. This week we look at the real cost of street…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
10
SHORT #40: Bikes, Parks, Kids, and the Slow Tide of a Political Movement
A true story of a politician and his 'crazy' idea for making cities more livable
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
Staying Put: How to Replace Public Transit with Cars, Part 2
This week we imagine what our urban areas would look like if everyone had electric cars, and we completely removed public transit, cycling, and walking…
Moving Through: How to Replace Public Transit with Cars, Part 1
Somebody asked recently, why not just have everyone drive electric cars, and make wider roads.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
Beautifully Abnormal Urban Japan, Part II: Jūsō and The Pedestrian Empires
Last time in Part I of this series, we explored the rail corridor between Osaka and Kobe, uncovering why it is so cheap and reliable compared to those…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
2
Rush Hour in Japan
a few films, notes, and a map help us dive into cycling, walking & efficient commute routes in Osaka and Takamatsu.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
4
Reasonable Urbanism: Escaping the Gravity of the City, by Train
in Japan, the city has a pull on us, but at times so does the countryside
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
4
© 2025 Patrick M. Lydon, The Possible City
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture