A Charlottesville e-bike Success Story
I have an e-bike. I love my e-bike. I ride it to meetings all over the City of Charlottesville instead of driving my car. e-bikes are great. A friend got an e-bike. He loves his e-bike. He has a different perspective, and I asked him…
#WeekWithoutDriving – in Charlottesville
My world does not really allow for being car-free. I can have car-light days, or car-free days when I'm working at home. This week is the national #WeekWithoutDriving. Livable Charlottesville promoted it locally. I rode my e-bike a bit more around Charlottesville. Tried to schedule…
Bike Lanes in Charlottesville
Oops. We should be able to do better when planning developments on main corridors of traffic in the City of Charlottesville. Simple. With so many large developments continuing on West Main Street in Charlottesville, one would think that they'd do better.
Scooters in Charlottesville
Get ready for scooters, Charlottesville. Because they are coming. For some reason, I can imagine a gaggle of scooters heading into Woolen Mills. What are they? To my eye, they are souped-up motorized versions of those razor scooters kids ride. But really. Scooters have become enormously…
Housing has Challengers Everywhere
A few thoughts as I'm in Portland this week for a quasi-real estate conference. I said on Twitter Had an interesting conversation with my Lyft driver this morning. Topics he raised: - unsustainable housing market - gentrification - rental properties - unsat infrastructure - rising…
Fire Trucks and Street Design
Surely, we can do better. Why do we design streets almost exclusively for massive vehicles, rather than for vehicles and people to interact safely? Another question - how long would it take to redesign Charlottesville and Albemarle planning to accommodate more reasonable streetscapes designed for humans first?…
Connecting Communities with Trails & Greenways in Charlottesville
(Most) People want trails and bike lanes. Here's a way to help build that conversation. via email: "Please join the Piedmont Environmental Council and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission for a community conversation about ways for Charlottesville and Albemarle to develop a bicycle and…
Riding a Bicycle from Hollymead to Downtown Charlottesville
Riding a bicycle from Downtown Charlottesville to Hollymead Town Center - I drove the new Berkmar Extension recently with a client who also rides a bicycle, and we discussed the feasibility of riding from there to Downtown Charlottesville. Commuting by bicycle from 29 North to Downtown…
Bike Lanes and Train Tracks?
Walking and bicycling are good - for the body, for the soul, for the community, and the environment and real estate property values. Yes, my lens is somewhat self-selecting, but the trends amongst home buyers and renters is to be closer to walking and biking…
(Urban) Planning for Self-Driving Cars
I don't know the answers, but it's worth the conversation and awareness. How are Charlottesville/Albemarle/Central Virginia planning for self-driving cars? They're coming. Uber swallows self-driving truck startup Otto for $680 million Columbus’ smart city win may lead to autonomous trucks Local smart city planners want big…