Comments on: Urban planning lessons from the inauguration http://richmondva.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/inauguration/ Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:46:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: wb http://richmondva.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/inauguration/#comment-1938 wb Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:23:59 +0000 http://richmondva.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-1938 I've always been a big transit advocate, but unless you're going straight from Willow Lawn to downtown, it really is almost impossible to get anywhere efficiently on GRTC. Forget transfers. Forget out-of-the-way neighborhoods. Forget odd hours. I mean, WMATA is successful not because it was able to accommodate all those people who came to DC for Obama Day, but because it's a very practical system, useful for daily commuting and tourist activities, and it's also pretty sturdy and reliable, compared to many systems in other cities of similar size (I'm looking at you, MARTA). Meanwhile, Richmond has more expressways than people, and we're still building more, presumably so exurbanites can zip to Powhatan County in less than 25 minutes, which we all admit is a truly noble goal. I mean, come on. Even Norfolk is building a light rail. I agree with Elle that there's an entrenched culture in central VA that is very pro-car, pro-exurb, and anti-urban. Even in the city itself, which is a shame, given our history. I don't know how to change that, although I suspect the right kind of city leadership would help. I’ve always been a big transit advocate, but unless you’re going straight from Willow Lawn to downtown, it really is almost impossible to get anywhere efficiently on GRTC. Forget transfers. Forget out-of-the-way neighborhoods. Forget odd hours. I mean, WMATA is successful not because it was able to accommodate all those people who came to DC for Obama Day, but because it’s a very practical system, useful for daily commuting and tourist activities, and it’s also pretty sturdy and reliable, compared to many systems in other cities of similar size (I’m looking at you, MARTA). Meanwhile, Richmond has more expressways than people, and we’re still building more, presumably so exurbanites can zip to Powhatan County in less than 25 minutes, which we all admit is a truly noble goal. I mean, come on. Even Norfolk is building a light rail. I agree with Elle that there’s an entrenched culture in central VA that is very pro-car, pro-exurb, and anti-urban. Even in the city itself, which is a shame, given our history. I don’t know how to change that, although I suspect the right kind of city leadership would help.

]]> By: wb http://richmondva.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/inauguration/#comment-1937 wb Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:16:40 +0000 http://richmondva.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-1937 I've always been a big transit advocate, but it really is almost impossible to get anywhere efficiently on GRTC. I mean, WMATA is successful not because it was able to accommodate all those people who came to DC for Obama Day, but because it's a very practical system, useful for daily commuting and tourist activities, and also pretty sturdy and reliable, compared to many systems in other cities of similar size (I'm looking at you, MARTA). Meanwhile, Richmond has more expressways than people, and we're still building more, presumably so exurbanites can zip to Powhatan County in less than 25 minutes, which we all admit is a truly noble goal. I mean, come on. Even Norfolk is building a light rail. I agree with Elle that there's an entrenched culture in central VA that is very pro-car, pro-exurb, and anti-urban. Which is a shame, given our history. I’ve always been a big transit advocate, but it really is almost impossible to get anywhere efficiently on GRTC. I mean, WMATA is successful not because it was able to accommodate all those people who came to DC for Obama Day, but because it’s a very practical system, useful for daily commuting and tourist activities, and also pretty sturdy and reliable, compared to many systems in other cities of similar size (I’m looking at you, MARTA). Meanwhile, Richmond has more expressways than people, and we’re still building more, presumably so exurbanites can zip to Powhatan County in less than 25 minutes, which we all admit is a truly noble goal. I mean, come on. Even Norfolk is building a light rail. I agree with Elle that there’s an entrenched culture in central VA that is very pro-car, pro-exurb, and anti-urban. Which is a shame, given our history.

]]> By: Elle http://richmondva.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/inauguration/#comment-1935 Elle Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:32:38 +0000 http://richmondva.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-1935 I agree, if Richmond were to make driving more difficult and the city more transit friendly then I believe Richmonder’s would be more enticed to use public transit to get around. Just the other night a friend of mine was commenting on how odd she found it that at the Richmond bus stops they do not post the schedules of the buses for that stop. She said that in most if not all large cities you can find the schedule listed at the bus stop. I agree with her. If I wanted to take the bus tomorrow to work, and I didn't have a chance to check the schedule online I wouldn't have a clue what bus would come to the stop closest to me and I wouldn't know where it would take me. I would love to incorporate the public transit into my daily life and cut down on wear and tear on my own car, but it right now it doesn't seem like Richmond really wants us "drivers" to change. I agree, if Richmond were to make driving more difficult and the city more transit friendly then I believe Richmonder’s would be more enticed to use public transit to get around.

Just the other night a friend of mine was commenting on how odd she found it that at the Richmond bus stops they do not post the schedules of the buses for that stop. She said that in most if not all large cities you can find the schedule listed at the bus stop. I agree with her. If I wanted to take the bus tomorrow to work, and I didn’t have a chance to check the schedule online I wouldn’t have a clue what bus would come to the stop closest to me and I wouldn’t know where it would take me.

I would love to incorporate the public transit into my daily life and cut down on wear and tear on my own car, but it right now it doesn’t seem like Richmond really wants us “drivers” to change.

]]> By: Mark Elliott http://richmondva.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/inauguration/#comment-1933 Mark Elliott Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:48:10 +0000 http://richmondva.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-1933 Well, we could just close all the bridges and see what happens. Well, we could just close all the bridges and see what happens.

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