Is is the grid? Or something else?

Human Transit: the power and pleasure of grids.

Very good post.

My own view -- and I am curious to know if you agree or not -- is whether  the grid must be literally so: must "the grid" be perfectly rectangular? Is it composed of 90 degree angles? etc etc.

My own thought is that 

• yes "the grid" is essential

but 

• it can (and maybe probably should) be the grid broken every now and then for "surprise."

More importantly, I think that the concept of "gridness" should also be understood more as "continuity" than as boxes.

Of course the grid is more practical and easier to design/build and works just fine in terms of property transfer etc etc -- we have wonderful cities with just grids so why gild the lily?

But I think that it is important both politically and intellectually-correct to  allow the "eccentric grid" which can allow surprise etc etc. And after all, from a transportation POV, what we care about is not rectangles and 90 degree corners but multiple paths.

The grid functions to allow redundant routes and the rectilinearity is just a means, though a very simple one and simplicity is usually good.

Or do I miss something? Your perspective?