I attended a lecture at ASU in the Design College discussing the opportunities for lighting installations as public art. Gabby Shawcross spoke on behalf of Jason Bruges Studio based east of London. Their studio specializes in interactive designs and their principle medium is lighting. As Gabby put it, they try to “set up conversation between people and place with interaction”.
One of the points discussed was that Bruges Studio uses existing technology that is readily available. They do not invent new technology, but use existing technology in innovative ways. The products they use are already in use in theater and rock concerts. Creativity is the key to their success. Their installations are spectacular. They can be seen at: www.jasonbruges.com.
My take from the lecture is that we need more creative ways to display public art using alternative media types. Arizona could add solar power to this type of public art and create art that is both wonderful and sustainable.
What are your thoughts on adding sustainable art to public spaces? Should they be considered in a down economy? I believe they do as they add to our cultural well-being regardless of the economy.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
I've just read the new administration's agenda for creating green jobs and an overview of the energy plan. This quick note is focused on the tax incentive for green cars. Based on some of the prices I've seen for "advanced" vehicles, I wonder if the proposed $7000 tax credit is large enough. I would be first in line to purchase or lease a green vehicle, but my concerns are pretty basic and have been repeated by colleagues and friends. Why can't they make them a little more attractive? I have a hard time getting excited over the stylings of the Prius and the Honda. The other concern is that many of the current "advanced" vehicles are overpriced, in my opinion. Would it kill the designers to make something a little more sexy? Like I've said , I'm just a regular guy trying to make sense of this sustainability thing and make it work for everyone. Yet again my efforts are foiled by high prices and ugly design!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Light Rail Suggestions
Thai is probably my last post on Metro Light Rail in Phoenix. I have a couple of pointers that will help you understand some of the intricacies of riding. The first is the yellow button on the doors. There is no rhyme or reason why the doors open automatically or not. Whether you are standing on the platform waiting to board or anxiously waiting to exit, the yellow button is your key to passage. All you need to do if the door does not open for you is press the yellow button and the door will open. I have seen many a passenger standing on the platform in disbelief as the train rolls away without them. I can't invent a hand signal to alert them from my seat.
The other tidbit is to wait on the far end of the platform. If your train is approaching from the left, stand at the far right of the platform so you are not scurrying to catch the train when it stops. The platforms are very long, and the trains will not generally stop until they are at the end of the platform.
The other tidbit is to wait on the far end of the platform. If your train is approaching from the left, stand at the far right of the platform so you are not scurrying to catch the train when it stops. The platforms are very long, and the trains will not generally stop until they are at the end of the platform.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Phoenix Metro Light Rail Observations
Phoenix Metro Light Rail is definitely a shiny new toy. It glides smoothly along the tracks making short work of the stops from Mesa to Phoenix. Anyone susceptible to motion sickness may want to deal with it before boarding. Starts and stops are also smooth and fast. When it's standing room only, these stops and starts may make you quick friends with those around you if you aren't prepared.
The seats are contoured, hard and narrow. I couldn't see riding for a long trip if this were a regional train to Tucson. The seats in the front of the car face the rear and the seats at the rear face forward, There are aisle-facing seats in the middle, with a few facing forward. Hand bars over the seats are high and there are no hand straps, like on the Metro buses. Maybe they're on order.
There is a map of all of the stops in the middle of the car, but it is hard to read from any distance. There is also an electronic scrolling message board overhead that announces many common sense messages. At a designated distance from every stop, the message clears and the arriving station is announced. There is also a pre-recorded audio announcement that mimics the electronic message. Be aware that if you are traveling west, the message for the Roosevelt/Central station is not announced as of Friday, January 2nd. The Van Buren/Central announcement is mistakenly announced twice.
One last tip for riders: the train will not automatically open doors when the train is fairly empty. There is a yellow disk on the door with flashing LED lights. Just give it a tap and the door will open. This is true if you are entering or exiting the train. The doors do open automatically when there a lot of passengers.
Take advantage of it as often as you can. Use the park & rides along the way. They are well-lit and patrolled by officers. I plan to use it to get to work and to classes at ASU.
The seats are contoured, hard and narrow. I couldn't see riding for a long trip if this were a regional train to Tucson. The seats in the front of the car face the rear and the seats at the rear face forward, There are aisle-facing seats in the middle, with a few facing forward. Hand bars over the seats are high and there are no hand straps, like on the Metro buses. Maybe they're on order.
There is a map of all of the stops in the middle of the car, but it is hard to read from any distance. There is also an electronic scrolling message board overhead that announces many common sense messages. At a designated distance from every stop, the message clears and the arriving station is announced. There is also a pre-recorded audio announcement that mimics the electronic message. Be aware that if you are traveling west, the message for the Roosevelt/Central station is not announced as of Friday, January 2nd. The Van Buren/Central announcement is mistakenly announced twice.
One last tip for riders: the train will not automatically open doors when the train is fairly empty. There is a yellow disk on the door with flashing LED lights. Just give it a tap and the door will open. This is true if you are entering or exiting the train. The doors do open automatically when there a lot of passengers.
Take advantage of it as often as you can. Use the park & rides along the way. They are well-lit and patrolled by officers. I plan to use it to get to work and to classes at ASU.
Phoenix Metro Light Rail (Day 3 - New Year's Eve)
OK, so I've figured out that the morning commute is pretty locked in at this point. My drive time is consistent. There is plenty of parking at the Sycamore/Main Park & Ride. There are plenty of lights and there are walking patrol officers. I'm off to save the planet one commute at a time. That's the beauty of taking sustainability personally. It's the little things we do that add up to a greater sum that really does make a difference. My commute to Phoenix is uneventful. There is still plenty of room. They still miss the announcement to the Roosevelt/Central stop. I'm a little leery of the ride home, but I'll just have to deal with it.
2:15PM my office loses power. It's New Year's Eve and we determine the folks doing demolition work nearby have cut a line. My masters have allowed me to leave early. It wasn't like we were really getting earth-shattering work done. As I walk toward the station, I suddenly think, "Hmm, no power, electric train - how will I get home?" No worries. I see a train speed by in the opposite direction to where I'm going. The 2:30 train I catch is again packed to the rafters. There's a bit of a stare-off at every stop downtown as those looking to get on stare at those already jammed in like they're supposed to magically make room for them. Some feel it's a mosh pit and it's their duty to crowd on anyway. What fun!
Today marks the last free day. Most riders on the way east are looking to get off in Tempe early for the Insight Bowl and the Tempe Block Party. My assumptions were correct and most departed at the two main ASU stops. I actually got a seat for the rest of the ride. All is well with the world. Office to garage is still an hour and a half. Not bad for the last free day.
2:15PM my office loses power. It's New Year's Eve and we determine the folks doing demolition work nearby have cut a line. My masters have allowed me to leave early. It wasn't like we were really getting earth-shattering work done. As I walk toward the station, I suddenly think, "Hmm, no power, electric train - how will I get home?" No worries. I see a train speed by in the opposite direction to where I'm going. The 2:30 train I catch is again packed to the rafters. There's a bit of a stare-off at every stop downtown as those looking to get on stare at those already jammed in like they're supposed to magically make room for them. Some feel it's a mosh pit and it's their duty to crowd on anyway. What fun!
Today marks the last free day. Most riders on the way east are looking to get off in Tempe early for the Insight Bowl and the Tempe Block Party. My assumptions were correct and most departed at the two main ASU stops. I actually got a seat for the rest of the ride. All is well with the world. Office to garage is still an hour and a half. Not bad for the last free day.
Phoenix Metro Light Rail (Day 2)
This had to be better than yesterday's fiasco, or I was going to seriously reconsider my commitment to walking the walk and reducing my carbon footprint. My drive from home took about 25 minutes and my driving distance doubled to 15.5 miles. I'm still cutting my miles nearly in half, I thought. I board at 6:40 and depart at 6:45. The train is still very empty compared to the afternoon ride home. Everyone still has a sense of adventure. Everyone also has a seat to themselves and plenty of elbow room around them. Yesterday, the driver had to announce all of the stops himself as well as when the doors were about to close. Today, all announcements are pre-recorded. There is an electronic "bing-bong" to warn of closing doors. Already an adjustment for the better from yesterday. My train arives at Roosevelt/Central in a brisk 45 minutes. Exactly as advertised online. I'm a much happier camper than I was yesterday.
My return trip left at 4:11 after what seemed like a long wait. I noticed two trains arriving and departing in the other direction before my train to Mesa arrived. The ride home was no less crowded than Monday. I'm starting to think I may have to stand all the way to Mesa every day. I'm getting pretty grumpy about trying to do the right thing and all of these freeloaders taking up space reserved for me. Who takes their kids out on a joy ride during rush hour? I'm trying the "saving the planet, saving the planet" mantra, but it isn't working. Bad breath and body odor is weakening my resolve to want to make a difference.
The entire trip fom office to garage was an hour and a half. I felt better about being green and doing the right thing. I kept reminding myself that it would get better as soon as people had to start paying for a ride.
My return trip left at 4:11 after what seemed like a long wait. I noticed two trains arriving and departing in the other direction before my train to Mesa arrived. The ride home was no less crowded than Monday. I'm starting to think I may have to stand all the way to Mesa every day. I'm getting pretty grumpy about trying to do the right thing and all of these freeloaders taking up space reserved for me. Who takes their kids out on a joy ride during rush hour? I'm trying the "saving the planet, saving the planet" mantra, but it isn't working. Bad breath and body odor is weakening my resolve to want to make a difference.
The entire trip fom office to garage was an hour and a half. I felt better about being green and doing the right thing. I kept reminding myself that it would get better as soon as people had to start paying for a ride.
Phoenix Metro Light Rail (Day 1)
My first adventure on Light Rail was Monday, December 29th. It was the first "work" day after a weekend of celebrations showing off the valley's newest toy. My intention was to eliminate as much driving effort as possible and let someone else do the driving. My normal drive into downtown Phoenix is 30 miles one way. It takes me about an hour regardless of the ways I go. I thought I'd try the closest Metro Park & Ride at Superstition Springs and take the new Link bus from there to the starting point of the Light Rail in Mesa at Sycamore and Main. That was my first mistake. I should have heeded my wife's advise and driven directly to the park & ride at Sycamore and Main.
It took 13 minutes to drive the 7.2 miles to the Superstition Springs Park & Ride from my house. The Link bus - all shiny and new - awaited my arrival. I waited another 10 minutes before we started our journey to the Light Rail station. 35 bumpy minutes later, we (all six of us) arrived at the equally shiny and new Light Rail Park & Ride. Cheerful and helpful station attendants answered all of my questions and informed us that the train was about to leave.
There were about 20 of us on that train. We smoothly departed at 6:55AM. When we arrive at one of the ASU stops, a couple of bicyclists boarded with an awkward moment trying to figure out what to do with their bikes. There are hanging racks, but they aren't obvious. A passenger nearly lost his head at the next stop when he boarded as the handlebars from the bikes stuck out into the aisle. My trip ended at the Roosevelt/Central Ave. station. My total train time was about 55 minutes. Not bad for the first day, I recon. The online estimate is 45 minutes. Total travel time from my garage to my office was about two hours.
My return trip was more of a nightmare. I arrived at the Roosevelt/Central platform around 5:00PM. What was I thinking? 5:00 on a day that riding was FREE? I can't really describe what standing room only meant when the doors opened on the first train. I politely excused my way on. Most were extremely friendly and conceded that their idea of joy-riding was a bad one. I held my tongue because I was just trying to do the right thing by using mass transit to get to work!
5:50 our overloaded train arrived at the Veteran's Way station. "Everyone off" the driver stated. Huh? I'm trying to get to the end of the line to take the Link bus to my car! Once empty, the train sped off in the opposite direction back into central Phoenix. 10 minutes later another equally jammed train arrives. Most of the bewildered passengers from my train attempted to board this one. I couldn't get my camera phone out fast enough to record the mayhem that ensued. Are they kidding? No one from Metro was around to give any explanation. I waited for the next train. As I waited, I called my wife. She was kind enough to let me know she was right and that I should have driven to the starting point for the train. I suddenly realized that my nightmare was not over and that I'd need to transfer from the train to the bus before I could get to my beloved car and the peace and quiet within.
6:35 arrive at the Sycamore/Main station. I quickly walk over to the Link bus area to catch the bus to Superstition Springs. I double-check the schedule and find that the next bus leaves at 6:45. I board with a minute to spare and take a big sigh of relief. Foiled again, the bus does not leave until 7:00. Much as my ride was nearly 13 hours prior, it's dark. 35 bumpy minutes later I arrive at my car. My 15 minute drive home concludes a nearly three hour commute home.
I did it all in the name of saving gas and making the planet healthier. I'm pretty sure a five hour total commute by mass transit is not better than a two hour total drive. It is the first day, and I have to give my wife the credit she deserves for being right - again. I was discouraged, but I wasn't going to give up. I would try my wife's suggestion tomorrow.
It took 13 minutes to drive the 7.2 miles to the Superstition Springs Park & Ride from my house. The Link bus - all shiny and new - awaited my arrival. I waited another 10 minutes before we started our journey to the Light Rail station. 35 bumpy minutes later, we (all six of us) arrived at the equally shiny and new Light Rail Park & Ride. Cheerful and helpful station attendants answered all of my questions and informed us that the train was about to leave.
There were about 20 of us on that train. We smoothly departed at 6:55AM. When we arrive at one of the ASU stops, a couple of bicyclists boarded with an awkward moment trying to figure out what to do with their bikes. There are hanging racks, but they aren't obvious. A passenger nearly lost his head at the next stop when he boarded as the handlebars from the bikes stuck out into the aisle. My trip ended at the Roosevelt/Central Ave. station. My total train time was about 55 minutes. Not bad for the first day, I recon. The online estimate is 45 minutes. Total travel time from my garage to my office was about two hours.
My return trip was more of a nightmare. I arrived at the Roosevelt/Central platform around 5:00PM. What was I thinking? 5:00 on a day that riding was FREE? I can't really describe what standing room only meant when the doors opened on the first train. I politely excused my way on. Most were extremely friendly and conceded that their idea of joy-riding was a bad one. I held my tongue because I was just trying to do the right thing by using mass transit to get to work!
5:50 our overloaded train arrived at the Veteran's Way station. "Everyone off" the driver stated. Huh? I'm trying to get to the end of the line to take the Link bus to my car! Once empty, the train sped off in the opposite direction back into central Phoenix. 10 minutes later another equally jammed train arrives. Most of the bewildered passengers from my train attempted to board this one. I couldn't get my camera phone out fast enough to record the mayhem that ensued. Are they kidding? No one from Metro was around to give any explanation. I waited for the next train. As I waited, I called my wife. She was kind enough to let me know she was right and that I should have driven to the starting point for the train. I suddenly realized that my nightmare was not over and that I'd need to transfer from the train to the bus before I could get to my beloved car and the peace and quiet within.
6:35 arrive at the Sycamore/Main station. I quickly walk over to the Link bus area to catch the bus to Superstition Springs. I double-check the schedule and find that the next bus leaves at 6:45. I board with a minute to spare and take a big sigh of relief. Foiled again, the bus does not leave until 7:00. Much as my ride was nearly 13 hours prior, it's dark. 35 bumpy minutes later I arrive at my car. My 15 minute drive home concludes a nearly three hour commute home.
I did it all in the name of saving gas and making the planet healthier. I'm pretty sure a five hour total commute by mass transit is not better than a two hour total drive. It is the first day, and I have to give my wife the credit she deserves for being right - again. I was discouraged, but I wasn't going to give up. I would try my wife's suggestion tomorrow.
New Urbanism
Anyone looking for a great idea to promote to our new administration should look here: http://www.urbandesign.org/newdeal2009.html. As a regular guy trying to sort all of this mess out, this makes sense. I agree with the idea of a three-tier level of rail transportation as an alternative way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It could be as effective at stimulating the economy as was the highway bill that created our current interstate freeway system.
I know, I know - Americans love their cars. I'm one of them. I'm just not convinced it's a great idea to depend on getting the fuel for them from governments that hate us and everything we stand for. It won't happen overnight, but we should at least openly discuss this idea from the folks at NewUrbanism.org if we really want to do things in a more sustainable way.
I know, I know - Americans love their cars. I'm one of them. I'm just not convinced it's a great idea to depend on getting the fuel for them from governments that hate us and everything we stand for. It won't happen overnight, but we should at least openly discuss this idea from the folks at NewUrbanism.org if we really want to do things in a more sustainable way.
Phoenix Metro Light Rail
I decided to walk the walk last week and ride Phoenix Metro's Light Rail. Although it adds 30 minutes to my overall daily commute from Gilbert to downtown Phoenix, I am driving 50% less. That should make some reduction in the pollution I create, right? Realistically, I'm looking to save money by paying for less gas as well as reducing the wear and tear on my 12 year old car! As a full-time ASU student, I'm allowed to ride all Metro lines for free. If I were to pay the $45 monthly fee for light rail, it would only make economic sense for me to ride once gas prices for premium rose above $1.80 per gallon.
My initial thoughts on Metro's Light Rail are positive . I'd like to think that this will be successful enough to merit further regional discussion to expand the service. There are currently no plans to extend Light Rail southeast toward Gilbert or Queen Creek. I think that's a huge oversight based on the growth in the last few years. Have any regional planners actually been to Queen Creek during the morning commute?
My travel time from the Sycamore/Main park & ride to the Roosevelt/Central station in downtown Phoenix is consistently 45 minutes. It takes me 20 - 25 minutes to drive there from my home in Gilbert. The ride in to town in the morning is quite empty - about 20 commuters per car. On Friday, after the fees started and the joy riders stopped riding for free, the ridership was significantly less - about 10 commuters per car.
The ride home every day was insanely busy. I started at 5:00, 4:00 and 2:30 on consecutive days and was barely able to squeeze onto a light rail car to get home. All three days of the free commute were standing room only on the way back to the Sycamore/Main park & ride. I thought to myself that there was definitely a limit to how sustainable I was willing to be if it meant a standing commute home every day when driving took less time and was more comfortable! Outbound on Friday was also busy, but there was the Tempe New Year's Block Party and the Insight Bowl happening later that evening. Most riders got off of the train in Tempe and the rest of the ride to Mesa was pleasantly less full.
I'll share more of my light rail experiences soon. I'd love to hear your experiences as well.
My initial thoughts on Metro's Light Rail are positive . I'd like to think that this will be successful enough to merit further regional discussion to expand the service. There are currently no plans to extend Light Rail southeast toward Gilbert or Queen Creek. I think that's a huge oversight based on the growth in the last few years. Have any regional planners actually been to Queen Creek during the morning commute?
My travel time from the Sycamore/Main park & ride to the Roosevelt/Central station in downtown Phoenix is consistently 45 minutes. It takes me 20 - 25 minutes to drive there from my home in Gilbert. The ride in to town in the morning is quite empty - about 20 commuters per car. On Friday, after the fees started and the joy riders stopped riding for free, the ridership was significantly less - about 10 commuters per car.
The ride home every day was insanely busy. I started at 5:00, 4:00 and 2:30 on consecutive days and was barely able to squeeze onto a light rail car to get home. All three days of the free commute were standing room only on the way back to the Sycamore/Main park & ride. I thought to myself that there was definitely a limit to how sustainable I was willing to be if it meant a standing commute home every day when driving took less time and was more comfortable! Outbound on Friday was also busy, but there was the Tempe New Year's Block Party and the Insight Bowl happening later that evening. Most riders got off of the train in Tempe and the rest of the ride to Mesa was pleasantly less full.
I'll share more of my light rail experiences soon. I'd love to hear your experiences as well.
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