Transportation and society are intimately linked, evolving together and informing each other along the way. Any segment of society can be linked to transportation, from the distance of cities from one another (used to be a day's walk would be a good distance), the location of cities (on water routes, rail--why else would Chicago exist?), segregation, the form of cities and the resulting societies that grew up within those cities.

Take Paris. The broad boulevards were established in the 19th century as military routes to prevent any future revolutions. The French Revolution was largely successful because of the intricate web of medieval streets and paths. Only the poor who lived there could figure them out, so the Revolution was not stamped out. Something to think about for the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo (as two examples). Now, however, the grands boulevards of Paris are intricately associated with the culture and society of the city.

Or Chicago. Nature's Metropolis is a wonderful book (if you are a planning and transportation geek like me, that is) about the growth of Chicago and the midwest, all stemming from the railroads and associated economic activities, like meat packing and agricultural trading. That required lots of workers, drawing immigrants from all over the world, and makes Chicago Chicago. Without the railroads, Chicago would not have developed.

And New Orleans--Mississippi River, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Not to mention Rome and most European towns and cities, all connected by the Romans. Oxford is the place where the oxen forded the river...on their way to market in the agricultural transportation system of the day.

There's no questioning the role of the interstate highway system on American culture and society. And then there are cities like Davis, California and Portland Oregon, which proactively planned their transportation system to encourage the kind of society that they wanted.

This is so much fun! Thanks, CC!