On a much lighter note, how many of my other fellow downtown classmates have seen the new crosswalk the city painted at the corner of 2nd street and Fillmore? If you haven't I highly suggest you stroll on over and happily skip across! Back and forth, back and forth! Just two weeks ago that crosswalk did not exist! And people like me would, Ahem!jaywalk.Ahem! across Fillmore Avenue to make it to the Nursing and Health Innovation buildings for class twice a week. Now I can casually promenade across, looking both ways first mind you, without fear of being mowed down by our crazed motorists, sort of. It's the little things in life, ya know? :D
I have also noticed the green bike lanes that line the eastbound side of Fillmore from 1st street to what looks like 7th st. New bike lanes are always exciting! Not quite sure how they will work since they are painted directly over a regular eastbound lane, but theres only one way to find out! The green lanes pair well with the new green bicycles from the Phoenix bike share program, Grid. Super stoked for that one! I have yet to utilize Grid but since my bike was recently stolen, I just might see what they have to offer.
I am proud to live in downtown Phoenix and that the city is working on approving current public transit options, as well as creating new ones. That is one of the many reasons I chose to live here. For the valley, it is one of the most diverse and walkable/bikeable areas. Even though I own a car, it is important to me to support and live in an area that supports my way of living. Not to mention I absouletly hate driving! So if I have the option of walking, taking the light rail/bus, biking, roller skating, being carried on someones shoulders, or attempting to ride my dog, then I will do it!!!
So get out there, support public transit AND reduce your carbon footprint! What have got to lose besides weight? ;)
Safe travels!
-S
The greater Phoenix area has some of the best transportation methods I have seen throughout the country. I have been to numerous countries and cities and really feel blessed to live in such a easy place like Phoenix. Its also really good to hear that they are working to expand on it as well. Good luck with the rest of your internship.
ReplyDeleteGreat message, reduce our carbon footprint. I also really like how downtown Phoenix is developing, and to keep seeing improvements we need to take advantage to what is there. Even though I don't live in downtown Phoenix, I don't live very far and I'm fortunate enough to live close to light rail. In the past I would go Tempe or Scottsdale, I'm finding I'm coming downtown more often. I can't wait to see what new developments will be coming up next.
ReplyDeleteHey, Shane! Aren't you in Gonsher's class with me?! I noticed the green bike lines on fillmore and bike-share bikes in front of the Post Office. FINALLY Phoenix is catching up with public transportation! I like living downtown, as well. A lot of the Phoenix Metro area is not conducive to walking because it is so spread out. I am not a fan of the "urban sprawl" approach to urban planning; I really appreciate the steps phoenix is taking to make our city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. It's not all the way there, but you start at the beginning and move forward!
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed with the Phoenix area public transportation system, it's very effective and widely used. Coming from Los Angeles where everyone I know has their own car and drives everywhere, this is a lot better for the environment. I love LA but the transit system is definitely lacking and should probably take a look into the Valley Metro system.
ReplyDeleteHaha, this post really made me laugh. I thought the same thing when I noticed that the city had painted the crosswalk. I cross at 2nd Street and Fillmore all the time and I was always a little confused by why there wasn’t a crosswalk there to begin with. Now that there is, I totally felt like skipping when I saw it; so funny. But this post is also a very good example of how a city sees a need and then hopefully fills it (in this case they did). Sometimes we take things like this for granted but it’s good to stop and notice the small things. Thanks again for the post.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post. It really is the little things that make life grand. That's fantastic that there's been a crosswalk installed where you find the most convenient place to cross the street at is because now you will be much safer, and more legal, crossing there. I also don't understand those green bike lanes... So if I'm driving I should just drive slowly behind the bike or get in the other lane? It makes me nervous, as a biker and a driver. It's been interesting watching the downtown campus evolve as we've spent the past several semesters studying urban and metropolitan studies, it's been neat relating what we've learned in the classroom to what's happening in an authentic, urban area. Again, great post! : )
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