We should pave over cobblestone globally
Summary
A straphanger launches into an unexpectedly passionate case against cobblestone streets, arguing they're "hostile architecture" and "anti-woman infrastructure." What starts as Kareem's skepticism quickly crumbles as the rider connects the dots: try running for your life at 2 a.m. in the West Village wearing heels, ride a bike over those uneven rocks, or push a stroller without giving your baby shaken baby syndrome. The conversation spirals from women's safety to MAGA nostalgia, from rich zip codes clinging to "charm" to the realization that preserving old roads is just an excuse for the city to avoid repairs. Cobblestone is just rocks. By the end, they're ready to pave over everything, Europe included.
Full Transcript
So what's your take? We should pave over cobblestone globally.
100% disagree that cobblestone can stay. Oh, so you hate women.
What? No, no, no, no, no, no. Don't, don't, don't.
Right. No, because cobblestone is hostile architecture and it's also anti-woman infrastructure. I think it's pro-horse.
It's pro-horse when it was made, but now in 2025, there's no use for it. Have you ever tried running for your life at 2 a.m. in the West Village? You are banker bro ate.
Wait, so words? We're talking about women's safety here. We're talking about women's safety. 100% agree. Get rid of, get rid of all it.
I also find that it's like very MAGA. Like I feel like this bygone era romanticization when like only white men had like important places to be and like you can leisurely stroll down your street is not something that I'm interested in preserving. You know what? I'm being very, very quickly convinced that cobblestone is unnecessary.
Right. You can only transit with a car over cobblestone. Like a bike is— Oh yeah. On the bike. Cobblestone is awful on the bike.
Exactly. And it's horrible for mothers, too, because a stroller, if you are a regular mom, unfortunately, your kid is experiencing shaken baby syndrome as we speak. Cobblestone, it is hostile.
It's hostile. It reminds me of when they like, the when there's benches and they put spikes on them so that homeless people can't sleep. It's meant to make people uncomfortable.
And if you've ever noticed where cobblestone like persists, it's always in like rich zip codes. At first, I was like, "Yeah, but it's so charming. It's so nice to look at cobblestones." But like, is it nice to look at cobblestones? No. Just rocks. It's also not even like preserving history cuz obviously the idea is like we're preserving beauty, right?
You don't need to preserve a road. It just becomes an excuse for the city not to do road repairs. It's historical and charming.
Yeah. Just pave over it. What are we going to do about Europe? Europe's going to have to go.
Just— Yeah.