Stroad is my new favorite word but my least favorite thing. I LOATHE them. They are dangerous, yes and so much more. Ugly, too, and built around consumerism, not community. The only "gathering places" are in places of commerce. The only thing to do is spend money. I just found out that my daughter got reassigned to a new middle school for next year that will entail her crossing a stroad, and I'm heartbroken. It's so important to me for her to be able to walk to school, but this particular stroad sees the most pedestrian deaths of any other in my hometown of Portland, Oregon.