Planning for GA 2013: plenty of parking!

Just read this post at a Louisville, Ky. urbanism blog (Broken Sidewalks) that’ll I’ll keep in mind when I plan for the 2013 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association. There is an extraordinary amount of parking downtown — and so much of it in surface lots — and that means reduced amenities and a… Continue reading Planning for GA 2013: plenty of parking!

WMATA on Google Transit

Today, D.C.’s transit hounds get what once thought impossible: the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA; “Metro”) is on Google Transit, a service that integrates maps and service schedules. It is available for dozens of other services worldwide. So now it’s possible to plot driving, walking and transit trips in the area. Other, smaller transit… Continue reading WMATA on Google Transit

Where is that Unitarian church? Directions, please.

I was going to reply to Unitarian minister and blogger Stephen Lingwood, who recently wrote “Church Planting and Church Renewal: The Way Forward” on his Reignite blog, with a very pushy and American alternative plan. (And shall still do so.) But in lining up my arguments, I researched where some British Unitarian churches were physically… Continue reading Where is that Unitarian church? Directions, please.

Commuting to church: D.C., elsewhere tool

The folk wisdom about getting to church is that people will go as far to a church as they will go to work. That makes commuting data important for church plants, but failing that assume that someone won’t take more than a half-hour to get there. There’s a new interesting tool that maps how far… Continue reading Commuting to church: D.C., elsewhere tool

Will we recall the oil decline beginning like Georgia, N.C.?

My friend Katharine has commented on her own LiveJournal on the gasoline that cannot be found in metro Atlanta. Other reports I’ve read note great anxiety in western North Carolina with spot shortages in other Southern locations. The word is that these shortages are due to hurricane-hampered refinery production, but new refineries aren’t going to… Continue reading Will we recall the oil decline beginning like Georgia, N.C.?

Evacuation!? No, a really useful bus map

A little lunchtime blogging, following a quick review of the news feeds. (DCist) Seems Metro has issued emergency evacuation maps keyed to each exit for each Metrorail (subway) station. See each station page — like Dupont Circle — to download the PDFs. In each one, you see a map and landmarks for what’s in a… Continue reading Evacuation!? No, a really useful bus map

We need transportation options

I want you to call your representative, or better call your representative’s legislative assistant on energy or transportation, and say you support the newly introduced H.R. 6495, “To authorize programs and activities to support transportation and housing options that will assist American families in reducing transportation costs, and for other purposes.” (OpenCongress, missing full text… Continue reading We need transportation options

A vision for U.S. passenger rail

With gasoline within sneezing distance of a United States average of $4 a gallon and continuing airline cutbacks and failures, let me return to domestic passenger rail. I was looking at a list of Metropolitan Statistical Areas — this is what led me to the Micropolitan areas I mentioned last week — because the National… Continue reading A vision for U.S. passenger rail

Helping Lower Walnut: demanding public transportation

The Rev. Angela Mather, minister of the Lower Walnut Universalist Church, has been hearing the grumblings at the grocery store and bank. Gasoline and diesel fuel prices have skyrocketed and other prices are beginning to follow. She knew it was bad when the an egg salad sandwich went up a quarter at Niko’s Cafe. Niko… Continue reading Helping Lower Walnut: demanding public transportation

Help needed: Passenger rail advocacy

Do you know of a good organization (a c3 or an advocacy c4) — in addition to the National Association of Railroad Passengers — that advocates for increased passenger rail service in the United States? Especially state initiatives. Thoughtful blogs are welcome, too.