Comments on: Are Austin pedestrians and cyclists SOL?

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:12:11 +0000

Intriguing blog post. I am considering a move to Austin (vs. Portland) & one of the things I lament most about the Southwest is the lack of viable or even desirable public transportation. I try to drive as little as possible, which is REALLY hard in LA. There is so much to learn/know about making a move to another community or state. Your blog gives me hope.

By: M1EK

M1EK — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:13:43 +0000

Sorry to break it to you, but Austin’s not building light rail – we’re implementing crappy commuter rail, and we’re doing it in such a way that the 2000 light rail proposal will be impossible to ever build later (and that’s the only feasible light rail line in the city which can justify taking up street space due to high ridership). See my blog for the sad details.

By: gunsofbrixton

gunsofbrixton — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:00:03 +0000

I visited Austin last November, and one thing that struck me is that the visual landscape seemed very cluttered to me, lots more signage/advertising than I was used to. I had to return home to Minneapolis to figure out exactly why that was: it’s the parking lots. Our businesses are right up against the sidewalks, signs are on the buildings or in windows (like downtown Austin or some stretches of Guadalupe near campus). We have parking ramps downtown and some lots around the university, but otherwise few areas feature from the street parking lots before the business itself (small pay lots are sometimes found somewhere on the block or behind the stores, however, but of course they fill up quickly, leaving drivers circling and frustrated). Cohesive and distinct neighbourhood areas encourage walking and cycling, and where to park cars is a lot more expense and trouble than they are worth. The beneficial side-effect of this kind of design is that small business is supported, and corporate businesses are fewer and further in between because the city just doesn’t support a drive-up design.

I also found Austin sidewalks to be unpredictable– stopping all of a sudden, perhaps changing sides of the street– for reasons I couldn’t quite figure out. Lighting was also an issue at night in some areas, but on the other hand, you have stars and we don’t (

Cap Metro seemed brilliant to me (compare to Minneapolis, fare=$2.00 for only 2.5 hours of use, which isn’t much considering many busses take an hour to go distances which can be travelled by bicycle in twenty minutes). As someone coming new to Austin I found the public transportation system to be very convenient and easy to figure out. Austin has that part of the puzzle very well arranged.

By: enkerli

enkerli — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:57:08 +0000

I did notice the car more than the building, in that picture. The picture does seem to connect with your blog in several ways.

Not to surprising about the percentage of people living by themselves. For one thing, there might be some families in Austin which balance out these numbers a bit.
I also find Chicago a PFP (pedestrian-friendly place). Not that I spent much time there, but I still considered it compatible with carless living.
And, come to think of it, I think Austin’s drivers attitude toward pedestrians is a significant reason for me to perceive Austin as a PHP (pedestrian-hostile place). And this is also a reason why I think so much pedestrianism in Austin might run into problems. Much of it is about attitude.

By: enkerli

enkerli — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:54:46 +0000

I did notice the car more than the building, in that picture. The picture does seem to connect with your blog in several ways.

Not to surprising about the percentage of people living by themselves. For one thing, there might be some families in Austin which balance out these numbers a bit.
I also find Chicago a PFP And, come to think of it, I think Austin’s drivers attitude toward pedestrians is a significant reason for me to perceive Austin as a PHP (pedestrian-hostile place). And this is also a reason why I think so much pedestrianism in Austin might run into problems. Much of it is about attitude.

By: lauratex

lauratex — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:27:34 +0000

I was trying to find some recent data on car use… of course the census is only done every ten years, and the one thing I noticed from a report I did come across (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ctpp/jtw/jtw8.htm) is that Austin’s percentage of people driving alone to work was not much worse than Chicago – a place that I would consider pedestrian friendly based on my experience there, especially with the really old transit system they have. That’s just an interesting little slice, though.

I just realized that my main photo is of a car! When I chose it, I was thinking more about the building in the photo (which I’m not going to reveal the identity of just yet as I want people to guess).

By: enkerli

enkerli — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:43:45 +0000

Thanks for the ping, insight, and links!
As an outsider, one thing I notice is that the conversation is happening. Especially among some hardcore carfree enthusiasts, of course. But possibly gaining traction and awareness in “mainstream” carbound society. It’s possible that gas prices helped in terms of awareness. But some friends have claimed that the effect was shortlived and that even as gas prices continue to climb, carbound people go back to their “natural” habits.