bremkat

I live and die by the #5. The Central Ohio Transit Authority (more like Bus Authority) takes me to where I need to go. I give up my car during the week to someone who needs a car to do his day job out in the 'burbs. I get my own car back on Friday with a full tank of gas. Don't remember the last time I bought gas. Can't beat that.

Information about the outcome of the Rail/Transit Summit on March 7th is posted to our website www.allaboardohio.org

http://www.walkableneighborhoods.com/ This seems to be an interesting link I came accross while researching German Village in Columbus. They seem to have their own project of listing walkable cities.

It's about time this thread was started. There is no doubt that an environment that allows citizens to easily and safely walk in their neighborhood will have a beneficial effect on their lives. Planners and developers have to deal with the issues arising from many people these days that constantly ask where they can put their car. You know, that large piece of depreciating metal that we have to temporarily store for 22 out of every 24 hours? That's always on people's minds. Businesses have developed a rather well liked formula that they can point to that says that "if we put parking in the front, people will see that it is inviting and we'll make lots of money." Making more of these walkable communities available will take a concerted effort on behalf of all of those involved. Developers, private individuals, public officials, and transportation officials must be made aware that walkability should be embraced. After all, walking to a destination is taking a first step to true independence from Mideast oil.

Frankly, I think the idea of "congestion pricing" is a good idea given the fact that highway users will be able to spend money to drive on these lanes of luxury. However, I can envision a system that would allow these "congestion priced highways" to be built from government expense but maintained from "user fees" only later to be heralded as the next breakthrough in transportation technology. My solution would be to remove ALL subsidies to the road building cronies. I'm saddened that the administration doesn't see my way on this issue, the president's most recent budget calls for an INCREASE in highway spending by about 8%. Now, call me crazy but some people tell me all the time that highways pay for themselves...<cough>

Andrew here. Thank you both for the kind remarks. I hope that the issue of efficient trasportation becomes more of a concern to the average citizen now rather than later when the Interstate Highway Trust Fund goes bankrupt in 2009, the State of Ohio seeks more public via the ballot box to pay for sprawling infrastructure, and crude oil hits $100 a barrel. Steel wheels on steel rail is the most practical and financially feasable option out there. What will it take to convince everyone about this important fact? I'm currently working on gathering information about Ethanol, bio-fuels, etc. to see if they are the magic bullet to our energy concerns. If anyone has any suggestions on where to look, I'd greatly appreciate it.