Tag Archives: mass transit

Combating the bus transit snobs

Posted on March 15, 2017 by

In the years preceding our move from Greater Lansing to Traverse City, there were lengthy discussions on developing some form of enhanced transit along the primary corridor in the region – Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) Route 1 which extends … Continue reading →

Posted in Active transportation, Advocacy, Bus transportation, civics, demographics, environment, geography, health, inclusiveness, infrastructure, land use, placemaking, planning, social equity, spatial design, transit, transportation, urban planning | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

When transportation becomes the destination

Posted on June 18, 2015 by

Now and then, a part of the transportation network becomes iconic in itself. In those cases, the infrastructure not only serves its intended purpose, but also becomes a focal point and source of community, regional, or even national pride, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Active transportation, airports, architecture, bicycling, bridges, cities, civics, commerce, culture, economic development, geography, hiking, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, Passenger rail, placemaking, planning, product design, rail, rivers/watersheds, spatial design, tourism, Trade, traffic, trails, transit, transportation, Travel, tunnels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Opting-out of mass transit = modern redlining

Posted on June 12, 2015 by

Currently, more than 50 communities in Southeast Michigan opt-out of participating in SMART (the regional transit system). Just yesterday, in a narrow 3-2 vote, Bloomfield Hills voted to continue opting out. Most often, the rationale for not participating is due … Continue reading →

Posted in Active transportation, Advocacy, Bus transportation, Cars, cities, civics, civility, commerce, culture, diversity, economics, geography, government, history, homelessness, human rights, humanity, inclusiveness, infrastructure, placemaking, planning, politics, social equity, spatial design, sprawl, transit, transportation, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Michigan needs a Car Czar like a hole in the head

Posted on December 15, 2014 by

It was recently announced that Michigan’s Governor has appointed a new Car Czar. Really? In a state that is already far too over-dependent on the automobile, we need a Car Czar to tip the scales even further towards one industry? … Continue reading →

Posted in Active transportation, Advocacy, Alternative transportation, bicycling, Bus transportation, Cars, climate change, culture, economic development, economic gardening, Economy, entrepreneurship, environment, government, health, history, planning, product design, Railroads, Renewable Energy, Small business, sustainability, transit, transportation, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Exit ramp academic epidemic

Posted on November 20, 2012 by

Drive past or through nearly any population center these days and you are likely to observe America’s epidemic of exit ramp academic institutions situated on prime real estate aside the highway. The University of Phoenix is probably the best known of these entities nationally, but they … Continue reading →

Posted in Active transportation, adaptive reuse, architecture, bicycling, Biking, Bus transportation, cities, culture, economic development, education, fitness, geography, government, health, infrastructure, land use, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, revitalization, schools, spatial design, sprawl, sustainability, transit, transportation, urban planning, walking, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

25 Most transit-friendly cities of Canada

Posted on July 30, 2012 by

Below is a list of the 25 most transit-oriented cities in Canada based on data provided by MoneySense utilizing 2006 Census transit data. The percentage given represents the percent of commuters who utilize mass transit. As one can see, the race for the top spot … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycling, Canada, cities, civics, climate change, culture, density, energy, environment, geography, infrastructure, land use, new urbanism, North America, planning, pollution, rail, spatial design, sprawl, Statistics, sustainability, technology, transit, transportation, urban planning, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Make gas hogs pay thru the snout

Posted on May 3, 2012 by

I am still amazed at the number of people who continue buying gas hogging SUV’s like Navigators and Tahoes. There are very few, if any, justifiable instances where these vehicles are practical, especially for family use. To me, those who continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Biking, Cars, Climate Change, consumerism, economics, Environment, EVs and hybrids, government, Passenger rail, politics, pollution, product design, technology, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Where mass transit matters – BRTs in Bogota: el mejor en autobuses de tránsito rápido

Posted on April 13, 2012 by

In the past decade or so, bus rapid transit (BRT) has become a popular mass transit option for a number of cities in the United States and around the world. The first such system opening Curitiba, Brazil in 1974. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in cities, climate change, culture, density, energy, environment, geography, land use, planning, South America, spatial design, transit, transportation, urban planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On Transit: A comparison by Miles of Track

Posted on March 4, 2012 by

On Transit: A comparison by Miles of Track. Interesting data and comparison by Ink & Compass.

Posted in Cities, Environment, Passenger rail, Transportation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Explaining the “WOW” factor!

Posted on February 24, 2012 by

Recently, I noted in a post about mass transit rail versus buses on rustwire.com, that bus rapid transit (BRT) does not have the “WOW” factor of a light rail transit (LRT), commuter rail, subways, or a modern streetcar system. At … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, cities, culture, economic development, entertainment, history, land use, new urbanism, placemaking, planning, skylines, spatial design, tourism, transit, transportation, urban planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments