It’s probably not correct to say horsewoman, as in horseman, but I’ll have to find out what they’re really called. These riders, both men and women, are fairly common on Moscow sidewalks. They’ll bring you to your destination for a negotiated price. Though just one of many transportation options in the city, they offer an interesting counterpoint to the powerful traffic rushing through the streets.
[Originally posted to Where] When it comes to transition, it seems there is a lot to learn in Moscow. I’m currently writing from there, after a day of walking around and taking a few pictures. The things that really stand out are the lasting marks left on the city from very different governing ideas: ornate metro stations, trees everywhere, aging apartment blocks, modernist masterworks, cars racing down streets that take an incredibly long time to cross. Everything Stalinist is gigantic.
Many public works have aged remarkably well. The metro stations are efficient and well maintained. The ones in the center of town have all kinds of architectural touches usually reserved for mansions, theaters, monuments, city halls, and museums. There is a basic sturdiness that prevents them from seeming too extravagant. Public green space lines the streets and fills the insides of apartment blocks. It’s very refreshing on summer days. Parks are full of young couples, new families, and elders reading or just watching people pass by. The ones I’ve seen so far have been clean but not highly manicured, which gives them a kind of wilderness feel.
The recent plans for metropolitan Paris include many interesting ideas for using trains to integrate outlying neighborhoods into the city. They also helped change my perspective on urban transportation.
I’ve always favored streetcars, trains, and subways. Maybe it’s the poetic qualities alluded to by Mario, or that they move so many people efficiently, with fewer negative ecological impacts than gas-powered autos. It’s also nice to be able to relax on the way to work instead of negotiating rush hour traffic.
However, trains aren’t available in many areas and new systems require massive political and economic backing. While I agree with Burnham, Brendan, and others who encourage planners to think expansively, small changes can generate momentum behind larger changes. When it comes to public transit, we might start with the city bus. (more…)
Neil Young is retrofitting his 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV with a battery-powered engine and biodiesel backup. He’s planning to drive it to Detroit to raise awareness about the potential of electric vehicles. I really admire his creativity in adapting such a beautiful car in an environmentally friendly way.
Unfortunately, it’s too expensive for most of us to afford a set-up like Neil Young’s. But I hope it becomes less expensive soon. As much as I love public transportation, I can’t see it overtaking the car in the United States, especially, since our living areas are so spread-out. Engineering cost-effective clean transportation seems to be the answer.
Photo by Robert Blane (I hope I have the spelling right)
Quoted from the New York Times article, “Vintage Neil Young, Still Working for the Muse“: Mr. Young’s grizzled face lit up as he described his Linc-Volt. The car is a 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, a 19-foot, two-ton behemoth. It was a commercial flop in the year of the massive tail fin, and in its original configuration the car is an ecological disaster, guzzling gas and leaving giant black exhaust spots on the ground as it starts up. That’s the Linc part. Volt is because Mr. Young is converting the car to battery power, with a biodiesel engine for backup, and he plans to drive it to its birthplace in Detroit to demonstrate the viability of electric cars. He’s making a movie about the trip.
SustainlaneLane ranked the most populous 50 cities in the United States according to sustainability factors such as commuting, air quality, and green buildings. Their findings and methodology are featured on the SustainLane 2006 US City Rankings web page.
Walk Score provides “walkability” ratings for your address based on proximity to useful places such as libraries, grocery stores, and restaurants. The information is drawn from Google Maps.
Quoted: Walk Score helps people find walkable places to live. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks…
Great Communities (greatcommunities.org) is a San Francisco Bay area nonprofit dedicated to sustainable planning and development. They are especially focused on reducing the need for automobile transportation at the local, regional, and state levels.
Quoted: The Bay Area has an incredible opportunity to fundamentally shift growth to be more equitable and sustainable. We can redirect growth away from natural areas and working farms, and instead reinvest in our existing communities, many of which have been ignored for too long. We can build homes that provide choices so that all residents, at every income level, can find great communities to live, work, and play: communities with access to good jobs, schools, parks, transportation, shopping, and other necessities.