would you use it if you had it?

Elevated Trains

This is going to become a more and more important question as cities grow in population and suburbs get farther away from the city center. Commuting time is getting longer and traffic jams are just aggravating. No one likes to wait in their car; not even with their favorite music playing.

After visiting Chicago recently I was reminded how convenient their system of public transportation is. More specifically, the "L" or elevated train impressed us because not only does it get you where you need to go, but since it is elevated, the view of the city is a unique view only seen from the train. My colleagues and I found it convenient and rather punctual. Being able to travel to areas of the city that would have taken an extremely long time to get to in a car, let alone walk, was really useful. Having to find a place to park everywhere we went would not have been possible and extremely expensive.

Where I live has only 70,000 people in the zip code. There are less than 25,000 people in the city area, so an elevated train is not likely to appear. The public transportation is only buses and they are geared for longer trips than just a few blocks up the street. Outside the city area, most buildings have seas if not oceans of asphalt because you have to drive to get there. (See my earlier post about parking).

I know public transportation isn't cheap, it's expensive to build and maintain and has a series of its own issues. However the public transportation pundits need to get this in their head, if public transportation is not more convenient than taking a car, no one will ever use it. I hear this time and time again, why don't people take the bus? As Americans, we like our cars and until it is so painful to take our car, we're not going to use public transportation, simple.

Everyone complains about parking, but as said before, no one wants to give up their car either. It is the prime symbol of American freedom. So what gives? Can we have it both ways?.

What about you? If your neighborhood had a good public transportation system, would YOU use it? Why or why not?

what would you like to hear about?

Newspapers B&W (5)

I am tired of the same old architectural rhetoric in the news. A new $200M museum here, a new concert hall here, and the latest skyscraper that's bigger than yours is really getting old. Why does every magazine (architectural or not) have to feature something that I don't have, don't need, in a city I'll never live, in a house I'll never afford, with someone I'll never look like driving a car I'll never own?

Where is the story about how the new rural school design is helping students have a better learning environment? What about the part where the design gives back to the teachers too?

Where is the story of the small business owners in the small town who invested in design to make their new storefront capture the brand of their new coffee shop or diner without spending their life savings?

Where is the news story of the small architectural firm whose pro bono work for the church camp or non-profit group has helped them realize their long lost dream to expand?

Is there a story about a rebuilding community that worked with local architects to design houses that respect the tradition of the neighborhood rather than the out-of-towners who injected their narcissistic expressions on those grateful just to have a house?

Where is the story about smart, practical, and affordably sustainable design for the average person?

And where is the story where the local arts community hired a local architect and a local contractor to add onto their one hundred year old historic property with a respectable but exciting new addition that fit within their modest budget?

Where are the stories where we hear from the people who use our architecture rather than the architects for a change? We know what the architects are thinking about themselves. What do the people think about us?

Yes, these stories appear...occasionally as features in the back. When will news ever be real more often?