Comments on: Transit-Oriented America, Part 2: Three Cities

By: Jen

Jen — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:08:10 +0000

I'm in Chicago for the Labor Day weekend to take in the Jazz Fest. and the biking here is sweeet! Puts NYC to shame. People ride the bike lanes and cars actually respect us! The path along the lake is crowded in places, but really beautiful. Bikes are locked up everywhere and my sources tell me that commuting here is a breeze because many buildings actually have showers and places to lock your bikes inside. Hey NYC, you know I love you, but, I think it's time the DOT take some notes!

By: Aaron Donovan

Aaron Donovan — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:30:03 +0000

Dave KCMO: That is a great set of posts. You lived the dream that I could only aspire to: You liveblogged your travels. I wanted to liveblog the trip but decided in the end to wait until it was over because A) Susan said "you just wanted to say the word 'liveblog', and B) it was hard to live through the travel and blog it at the same time. Excellent, excellent work on your part - the trains you rode look to have been a lot of fun as well.

By: serial catowner

serial catowner — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:04:58 +0000

The key in Seattle is to know where to walk (duh). But really, it makes a difference because of the hills and the town layout.

If you walk the waterfront in Seattle, definitely consider taking the ferry to Bremerton (2+ hour RT) or Winslow (1+ hour RT). Fare is about $6 outbound and return is free. You can get reasonably good food and beer on the ferry.

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:08:12 +0000

Yes, but this link does work for Dave KCMO's blog. Nice story!

By: v

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:48:49 +0000

Rainy - How about helping the homeless get into homes? Seems like a major (and fiscally silly) inconvenience to everyone else just to avoid folks who are down on their luck. Just a thought.

-v

By: Broken link

Broken link — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:48:34 +0000

Oops, Dave KCMO, your link does not work (because of extra "." at the end).

By: Susan Donovan

Susan Donovan — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:47:26 +0000

Matt was out "best man" he's a great guy. I think he's working on a new video project now.

Thanks for the links, Ethan!

By: DaveKCMO

DaveKCMO — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:57:20 +0000

great reading! i also went on a similar trip earlier this year; read about it at http://homepage.mac.com/discodave2/C76841292/index.html.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:53:32 +0000

Aaron,

I think you have gotten us all wanting to travel somewhere by train!

Rainy,

As much as we all want to support transit, in some instances, when we ask what we are trying to accomplish with a tranist investment, it just does not make sense to charge a fee.
The free downtown Seattle transit services helps people use it for short trips getting peole to move around downtown(the downtown is unfortunately not much for walking) and to prevent long loading processes at the busier stops. It would probably cost more in time to collect a $.25 than it generates in revenue. It is also very tourist friendly.

Last month, I was in Seattle for a "Great Places Symposium" that we helped organize. It was a symposium of the leadership of Seattle, including the mayor, dept. commissioners, coucilors, developers, advocates, etc. all gathered to make creating "great places" a primary agenda and a core strategy for addressing the environmental crisis regionally and globally.

Seattle is really taking a leadership role on these issues... at least in rhetoric.

An article about the event:
http://www2.pps.org/updates/one-entry?entry%5fid=80949

The declaration:
http://greatplacesforum.org/Declaration_072107.pdf

We are planning a much larger public conference and "great places” celebration for next year:
http://www.greatplacesforum.org

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:04:37 +0000

OMG, you're friends with WHERE THE HELL IS MATT? I was just watching his stuff on youtube the other day - he's like a youtube juggernaut.

Sounds like you had quite a trip - I look forward to reading future installments.

By: Rainy

Rainy — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:56:17 +0000

Re: Seattle - Yes, buses are free in the downtown area. Supposedly its to help shoppers, tourists, and workers on lunch break get around in the downtown core area. It encourages people to take the bus instead of walk. Homeless people in transit to other areas frequently hop on downtown, making the ride very unpleasant for paying riders. Why not charge downtown riders a low fee instead, say $0.25, with a transfer for the return trip? Nothing in life is free, and probably for a good reason.

As a former Seattle resident, I remember the bus system with revulsion. Stinky, filthy buses, and late, slow buses. Buses that blew by stations without stopping. Drivers who were entirely too tolerant of fare dodging and disorderly behavior. I hope it has gotten better.

By: Joeventures

Joeventures — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:51:02 +0000

Tell me this Craig Flynn guy lost the election.

By: Susan Donovan

Susan Donovan — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:20:54 +0000

I'm still SHOCKED by all of those free rides we had. That was amazing. No swiping, no handfuls of quarters, you just get right on. I felt like I was getting away with MURDER.

Also, although there are no pedicabs in Chicago's loop, there were tons of people on bikes. The city is SUPER FLAT and easy to bike. I saw people in suits with those goofy leg clips on bikes, messengers, students etc. Chicago has the same bike parking problem as NYC: bikes locked to every piece of street furniture. I felt right at home.