In your opinions what makes a city feel like it is a big city? Is it tall buildings, traffic jams, crowded sidewalks, World renowned cultural attractions, trains, what?

 

For me it is wide streets. Like the wide Boulevards and Avenues of Chicago, Detroit, Clevelnd, NYC, DC, LA etc.. Also a large skyline that can be seen for miles around makes me feel as if I'm in a large city. What does it for some of you?

The most important aspect of a big city, at least at some level, is strong leadership from the mayor. Even if the economy is poor or other major issues trouble the city, a strong mayor can lend a certain credibility to the city and make it feel big and important. They need to have a certain stage presence (think Guiliani after 9/11), make the tough but necessary decisions to lead a city to remarkable financial success (think Franklin early in the 2000s or Royer in the 70s), and have a sense of business skill and proactiveness (think Daley or Bloomberg again).

 

Think about the differences between Mayor White and Mayor of Jackson of Cleveland, how they presented themselves, how the looked and acted professional, how they spoke, their relationships with the business community and appreciation for the city's problems, and you gotta admit the city had a different feel of their tenures. You can have a million skyscrapers (think Detroit), but it's not really a big city unless there's true leadership.

I think it's the opposite. In my opinion Cleveland feels like a huge city when you walk up East 6th between Euclid and Superior. The tall old brick buildings and narrow street that slightly curves makes you feel like you are in an urban mecca, especially with the small eateries lining the street. I wish all streets downtown were like that, truly my favorite spot downtown. Then there's East 9th and Lakeside. Stand at this intersection flanked by several tall skyscrapers that are set far back from the road and it just doesn't feel like a "big city."

Pretty interesting question.

 

It depends on how we're defining "big" here. For me it's a city with a population density of around 7k or higher and a metro population larger than 4 million.

 

I'll present mine as a list:

 

Narrow streets with on-street parking

One way streets

Bordering a large body of water (sorry Columbus)

Historical significance

Alleys

Pedestrian Activity

Bustling downtown

Street vendors

Graffiti

Some, but not a lot of blight

Ethnic diveristy

Diverse personalities

Aloof people

Gritty

Traffic

Tall buildings (This is why DC doesn't feel like a big city to me)

Public Transit

Large presence of Japanese and European cars and a lack of pickup trucks and SUVs.

Professional sports

 

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

It depends, really.  Zurich has tight-alley streets, cosmopolitan attractions/people, and strong transit...yet its metro is the size of Dayton.  Zurich certainly feels "big city" without question.  Phoenix has wide-streets, no pedestrian activity, and useless plazas yet doesn't feel "big city" by any stretch (to me).  I'd say a good measure is pedestrian activity, dense structures/street walls, "traffic," and a diverse scene of restaurants, shopping, etc.

 

I wouldn't agree with the "near a large body of water" thing because most of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa would be off that list.  For example, no one would generally say Detroit feels more "big city" than Berlin.

It depends, really.  Zurich has tight-alley streets, cosmopolitan attractions/people, and strong transit...yet its metro is the size of Dayton.  Zurich certainly feels "big city" without question.  Phoenix has wide-streets, no pedestrian activity, and useless plazas yet doesn't feel "big city" by any stretch (to me).  I'd say a good measure is pedestrian activity, dense structures/street walls, "traffic," and a diverse scene of restaurants, shopping, etc.

 

I wouldn't agree with the "near a large body of water" thing because most of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa would be off that list.  For example, no one would generally say Detroit feels more "big city" than Berlin.

 

Good point about Zurich. It also has to do with how close said city is to "other big cities" and if said city is the biggest in its political division, e.g. county, region, state, part of country, or in this case country. With the case of Zurich, it's the biggest in the country and also, by European standards, a distance away from another city of its size (e.g. Stuttgart, which is much bigger than Zurich, but doesn't feel "big" because you've got Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt that oust it).

 

Imagine if you just picked up the Dayton metro area and plopped it in Eastern Montana. It would be considered a big city because there's nothing else for hundreds and hundreds of miles. Just like Fargo is a commonly known place in the US, but yet has only a population of 100K. And then on the flip, most people in the US have never heard of Elizabeth, NJ, a much larger city of 125,000 because it's overshadowed by its proximity to NYC.

 

So I guess, it's all relative!

Bingo.  It's ALL relative.  Someone from Shanghai might laugh at the notion of Dallas being "big city."

It depends, really.  Zurich has tight-alley streets, cosmopolitan attractions/people, and strong transit...yet its metro is the size of Dayton.  Zurich certainly feels "big city" without question.  Phoenix has wide-streets, no pedestrian activity, and useless plazas yet doesn't feel "big city" by any stretch (to me).  I'd say a good measure is pedestrian activity, dense structures/street walls, "traffic," and a diverse scene of restaurants, shopping, etc.

 

I wouldn't agree with the "near a large body of water" thing because most of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa would be off that list.  For example, no one would generally say Detroit feels more "big city" than Berlin.

 

You stated exactly why Phoenix did not feel like a big city to me. I had my expectations set too high, which left me extremely underwhelmed during my visit. The majority of Phoneix felt like a giant barren suburb.

 

You have a point about "body of water" comment I made. I have limited world traveling experience, but in terms of North America solely, I stand by my comment.

Bingo.  It's ALL relative.  Someone from Shanghai might laugh at the notion of Dallas being "big city."

 

I was going to say the exact same thing, but I said what the hell, I guess I'll play. Some might consider Indianapolis or Kansas City big cities. Neither are big cities IMO.

rats

 

  If it's bigger than the city I grew up in, it's a big city. If it's smaller than the city I grew up in, it's a small city or a town.

The ability to flag down a taxi

 

Street vendors

 

Foot traffic (goes without saying given the first two)

 

Not being able to see the end of the urban landscape

 

Lots of lights

 

A concrete dominated landscape

I agree with what Hts121 has posted, but would also add the feeling that I can get whatever I need at any time, because there are dozens of stores and restaurants and shops open as I walk up and down the streets. If I need to duck in somewhere and get a snack, tampons, an umbrella due to unexpected, sudden rain, a lipstick, or new shoes because the ones I'm wearing are killing my feet or broken, I can stop anywhere.

@HHS78 I agree with you on DC. and it's lack of skyline.

 

I guess another thing for me is big infrastructure. Things like High bridges, and quadruple stacked Freeway intersections make a city feel big. Good point with Taxis roaming, that's something that adds to a big city feel.

 

 

The first thing that came to mind for me was pedestrian activity.

If I get disoriented quickly, that makes a city feel big to me.... :)

I guess another thing for me is big infrastructure. Things like High bridges, and quadruple stacked Freeway intersections make a city feel big.

 

Then you'll love Texas!

Pretty interesting question.

 

It depends on how we're defining "big" here. For me it's a city with a population density of around 7k or higher and a metro population larger than 4 million.

 

I'll present mine as a list:

 

Narrow streets with on-street parking

One way streets

Bordering a large body of water (sorry Columbus)

Historical significance

Alleys

Pedestrian Activity

Bustling downtown

Street vendors

Graffiti

Some, but not a lot of blight

Ethnic diveristy

Diverse personalities

Aloof people

Gritty

Traffic

Tall buildings (This is why DC doesn't feel like a big city to me)

Public Transit

Large presence of Japanese and European cars and a lack of pickup trucks and SUVs.

Professional sports

 

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

Decent answer

There are lots of variables.

 

 

Like DC, it has big city feel to it.  So does philly as long as you're in center city.  Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Houston, Dallas all feel the same.  Atlanta in particular wants to be a big city but it feels like a small town.  Lots of new big buildings, but many are empty and there is virtually no street life in many parts of the city.

 

 

I just returned from New Orleans [it is hot as hell!].  Its held onto its historical heritage Its a big city in Louisiana but doesn't feel like a big city to me.

Skyline visible from a long distance, street vendors, newsstands, public transit, traffic and pedestrians.

From an outsiders perspective skyline is important. From someone living in the city I would say street life and strong public transit

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

There are lots of variables.

 

 

Like DC, it has big city feel to it.  So does philly as long as you're in center city.  Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Houston, Dallas all feel the same.  Atlanta in particular wants to be a big city but it feels like a small town.  Lots of new big buildings, but many are empty and there is virtually no street life in many parts of the city.

 

 

I just returned from New Orleans [it is hot as hell!].  Its held onto its historical heritage Its a big city in Louisiana but doesn't feel like a big city to me.

 

Very true.  ATL IS a small town with a lot of people.  So are most southern cities.  There's no urban cohesiveness.  Now take Burlington, Vermont.  A small city that seems very big.  Plenty of street life, density, etc. 

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

 

North to South is approximately 13.5 miles long and the area from Pier 57 to 15/FDR is the widest part of Manhattan at approximately 2.25 miles.  This was one of our team scavenger hunt questions.

There are lots of variables.

 

 

Like DC, it has big city feel to it.  So does philly as long as you're in center city.  Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Houston, Dallas all feel the same.  Atlanta in particular wants to be a big city but it feels like a small town.  Lots of new big buildings, but many are empty and there is virtually no street life in many parts of the city.

 

 

I just returned from New Orleans [it is hot as hell!].  Its held onto its historical heritage Its a big city in Louisiana but doesn't feel like a big city to me.

 

I agree with most of what you said. There are blue-collar sections of Philly that have a sort of "hillbilly" type feel with a lot brash, beer guzzling, pick up truck driving type guys. I don't know what section it was of the city,  but wherever it was, it felt very similar to Newport, KY; I even saw a couple of confederate flags in the area. That definitely detracts from the "big city" feel. Travelling south of Philly, the landscape of the area also turns semi-rural rather quickly considering how large the metro is and that its located in the "BosWash" megalopolis.

 

I agree that Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston and Dallas all feel relatively similar. I wouldn't imagine Miami to feel like those, but I haven't been there so I can't comment.

 

You're right about Atlanta. One notable thing that makes Atlanta have a small town feel IMO is the overwhelmingly presence of tall pine trees in the area. Even in the city, there are a lot of pine trees everywhere.

 

Although I love New Orleans, it didn't really feel like a big city to me either. In a lot of ways, it felt like a more cosmopolitan version of Charleston, SC. And about the weather, yeah, we went in March of 07 and it was muggy and in the mid 80s the whole time we were there.

 

Not to take the thread off topic, but did you visit the 9th Ward? Has it improved? When we went down there, most of it was still errily vacant and a complete mess: overturned cars, boarded up and burnt out houses, etc. It was disheartening to see the damage the hurricane caused.

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

 

North to South is approximately 13.5 miles long and the area from Pier 57 to 15/FDR is the widest part of Manhattan at approximately 2.25 miles.  This was one of our team scavenger hunt questions.

 

Hey I was close!!! LOL.

Toll Boths!  Lots of Toll boths. 

I feel like off Peachtree street, there's not a lot of concentrated activity in Atlanta, which makes it feel like a small town. It does have a few downtown streets that seem active, busy and "Big city" though, I think almost every city probably does.

Toll Boths!  Lots of Toll boths. 

 

I forgot about that one!

I feel like off Peachtree street, there's not a lot of concentrated activity in Atlanta, which makes it feel like a small town. It does have a few downtown streets that seem active, busy and "Big city" though, I think almost every city probably does.

 

Absolutely! It seems like Peachtree Street, and only a smally section of it,  has a lot of activity. You would think Peachtree St. would be more like High Street in Columbus, considering Peachtree can take you all the way to Buckhead (if I remember correctly).

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

 

North to South is approximately 13.5 miles long and the area from Pier 57 to 15/FDR is the widest part of Manhattan at approximately 2.25 miles.  This was one of our team scavenger hunt questions.

 

Hey I was close!!! LOL.

 

I was referring to the Burrough, not the Island.  So from Wall St up to the top of Central Park it's about 6-7 miles.

from a pedestrian perspective, its all about urban canyons, mix of uses and people on the sidewalks.  Center City in Philly provides a good example.  Chestnut, Sansom and Walnut all feel more 'big city' than Market, JFK, and Arch.  This is due to the first three's narrow ROW, high building and continuous building walls (no modern skyscrapers though, just mid-rise), narrow building footprints and a mix of uses that create that active 'buzz' and of course, people everywhere!  Market, JFK, and Arch all feature th city's skyscrapers and yet feel more 'open' due to larger ROW's and odd plazas  from the skyscrapers and less 'urban' and thus, to me, don't feel as big city.  Now when you get tall skyscrapers on narrow streets ala NYC, then you have a true blue big city feel. 

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

 

North to South is approximately 13.5 miles long and the area from Pier 57 to 15/FDR is the widest part of Manhattan at approximately 2.25 miles.  This was one of our team scavenger hunt questions.

 

Hey I was close!!! LOL.

 

I was referring to the Burrough, not the Island.  So from Wall St up to the top of Central Park it's about 6-7 miles.

 

The Borough and Island and are coterminous for the most part. Manahttan the Borough may include a few smaller insignificant islands if I recall.

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

 

North to South is approximately 13.5 miles long and the area from Pier 57 to 15/FDR is the widest part of Manhattan at approximately 2.25 miles.  This was one of our team scavenger hunt questions.

 

Hey I was close!!! LOL.

 

I was referring to the Burrough, not the Island.  So from Wall St up to the top of Central Park it's about 6-7 miles.

 

That is what I also was referring to, the Island of Manhattan is the same thing as the Borough of Manhattan.

 

 

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

 

North to South is approximately 13.5 miles long and the area from Pier 57 to 15/FDR is the widest part of Manhattan at approximately 2.25 miles.  This was one of our team scavenger hunt questions.

 

Hey I was close!!! LOL.

 

I was referring to the Burrough, not the Island.  So from Wall St up to the top of Central Park it's about 6-7 miles.

 

The Borough and Island and are coterminous for the most part. Manahttan the Borough may include a few smaller insignificant islands if I recall.

Roosevelt, Randall's, Governors, Ellis, Wards & Liberty Islands, are also "Manhattan" along with the Marble Hill neighborhood, which is physically located in the Bronx.

If it takes a long time to travel a relatively short distance.

 

i.e., it takes a long time to get from 1 end of Manhattan to the other even though it's only what, 5 miles?

 

I think it's actually 12 miles North to South, and at its widest about 2 miles.

 

North to South is approximately 13.5 miles long and the area from Pier 57 to 15/FDR is the widest part of Manhattan at approximately 2.25 miles.  This was one of our team scavenger hunt questions.

 

Hey I was close!!! LOL.

 

I was referring to the Burrough, not the Island.  So from Wall St up to the top of Central Park it's about 6-7 miles.

 

That is what I also was referring to, the Island of Manhattan is the same thing as the Borough of Manhattan.

 

 

 

My mistake.  I thought Harlem was separate.

My mistake.  I thought Harlem was separate.

Interesting.  Why would you think anything above central park was not a part of the borough Manhattan?

As there is no set answer to the OP's question, it is fascinating to find people's responses to what makes a city feel big.  For example, these are listed:

 

Wide streets

Narrow streets with on-street parking

One way streets

Bordering a large body of water

Historical significance

Alleys

Pedestrian Activity

Bustling downtown

Street vendors

Graffiti

Some, but not a lot of blight

Ethnic diveristy

Newsstands

Toll boths

Taking a long time to travel a relatively short distance

Diverse personalities

Aloof people

Gritty

Traffic

Large Skyline/Tall buildings

Public Transit

Strong leadership from the mayor

Rats

Not being able to see the end of the urban landscape

Lots of lights

Disorientation

A concrete dominated landscape

High bridges and quadruple stacked Freeway intersections

Large presence of Japanese and European cars and a lack of pickup trucks and SUVs.

Professional sports

Population density of around 7k or higher and a metro population larger than 4 million

My mistake.  I thought Harlem was separate.

Interesting.  Why would you think anything above central park was not a part of the borough Manhattan?

 

Don't blame him. "They" want you to think Harlem is seperate from Manhattan. :-D

If just going by that list as a whole, London and Delhi would be akin to Cheyenne and Olympia, Washington!  :laugh:

 

Strangely, a city that matches almost entirely that description would be Sydney.

Roosevelt, Randall's, Governors, Ellis, Wards & Liberty Islands, are also "Manhattan" along with the Marble Hill neighborhood, which is physically located in the Bronx.

 

I believe Manhattan is ONLY the island. New York COUNTY is comprised of Manhattan, that one section of the bronx, roosevelt island, and maybe a few other places. Liberty island--where the statue of liberty is, is, i think in New jersey (and they once tried to sue NY for implying it was part of NYC).

To me the single most important aspect of a city feeling large and important is...

 

Pedestrian activity.

 

We are human beings first and foremost. The apparent activity of other human beings will always be the foundation of our impression that we are somewhere important.

Roosevelt, Randall's, Governors, Ellis, Wards & Liberty Islands, are also "Manhattan" along with the Marble Hill neighborhood, which is physically located in the Bronx.

 

I believe Manhattan is ONLY the island. New York COUNTY is comprised of Manhattan, that one section of the bronx, roosevelt island, and maybe a few other places. Liberty island--where the statue of liberty is, is, i think in New jersey (and they once tried to sue NY for implying it was part of NYC).

 

Wiki says MTS is right. And neither is ever wrong, so it must be so!

 

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York. The borough and county consist of Manhattan Island and several small adjacent islands: Roosevelt Island, Randall's Island, Wards Island, Governors Island, Liberty Island, part of Ellis Island,[1] Mill Rock, and U Thant Island; as well as Marble Hill, a very small area on the mainland bordering the Bronx. The original city of New York began at the southern end of Manhattan, expanded northwards, and then between 1874 and 1898, annexed land from surrounding counties.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borough_of_Manhattan

 

Technically, I think NJ has jurisdiction over the part of Liberty Island that's underwater, and NY has jurisdiction over the above water portion.

 

 

I guess a big city for me would include a lot of what's already been stated, but specifically, a dense built environment, with a definite sense of urban canyons. Lots of pedestrians. Oh, and lots of amenities ;-)

Roosevelt, Randall's, Governors, Ellis, Wards & Liberty Islands, are also "Manhattan" along with the Marble Hill neighborhood, which is physically located in the Bronx.

 

I believe Manhattan is ONLY the island. New York COUNTY is comprised of Manhattan, that one section of the bronx, roosevelt island, and maybe a few other places. Liberty island--where the statue of liberty is, is, i think in New jersey (and they once tried to sue NY for implying it was part of NYC).

that may be technically correct, or at least it was originally, way back when; but Manhattan is synonymous with New York County--as are all the other boroughs also identified as separate counties: Brooklyn is Kings Co; Queens is Queens Co; etc. But Roosevelt Island, Marble Hill in the Bx, and smaller islands are, as far as I know, officially also part of Manhattan, for municipal/jurisdictional (is that even a word?) purposes on a local level.

Foot Traffic

Street Level Retail

Street Cars

Visible Skyline from far away

Historic Street Walls

 

I guess another thing for me is big infrastructure. Things like High bridges, and quadruple stacked Freeway intersections make a city feel big.

 

Then you'll love Texas!

 

LOL, right! Plus I think LA has a 7-stack Freeway interchange, but my stand point is big cities need Big infrastructure to support them.

 

Wiki says MTS is right. And neither is ever wrong, so it must be so!

 

I guess another thing for me is big infrastructure. Things like High bridges, and quadruple stacked Freeway intersections make a city feel big.

 

Then you'll love Texas!

 

LOL, right! Plus I think LA has a 7-stack Freeway interchange, but my stand point is big cities need Big infrastructure to support them.

 

Essentially you are correct but I don't think wide roads and high-level freeways count as "big infrastructure" for "big cities."  If that were the case, you'll love Texarkana!  Mumbai and other developing cities are without question "big cities" with horrendously undersized infrastructure (some are just getting rapid public transit).  Even some developed cities such as London and Istanbul have undersized infrastructure (aside from gigantic rail networks) but I wouldn't say either aren't big city.  I think the notion of wide roads/high-level freeways is more American in nature ("going BIG!") but not necessarily concurrent with "big city."  Yaoming?

I miss gfi. I wonder what he would think makes a city feel big.

To me, the short answer is a high level of all-day pedestrian activity in an area of many square miles. That isn't possible unless there is density, mixed use, large scale, buildings designed with a publicly accessible street presence, places to work/shop/visit at nearly all hours of the day, extensive transit access, large residential population and lots of visitors, vibrant economy, etc. etc.

 

As much as pulse in an indicator of life in a living creature, so is the pulse of the city and that can be found on its sidewalks. Perhaps there's a "sidewalk pulse" index someone can come up with to measure the viability of a given district, neighborhood or an entire city....

I think LA is an example of a city that is enormous but doesn't have that "big city" feel to it.