Like many Austin residents, I'm quite familiar with our city's alternative transportation system. I cross the rails at MLK or Manor Road or 45th Street - often several times a day. However, I'm always in my car. But a full day of presentations at the Austin Convention Center provided the perfect opportunity to test the train. I've posted my thougths on Austin's transit system in a previous blog ... Read More
Imagine a world without any gas stations - none on the roadway, none in the neighborhood. Imagine a stoplight with waiting cars and no smell or fumes. Imagine a busy street without the rumble of engine noise. Don't just imagine these things, get ready for them. Electric cars are coming and there are big implications. Avoiding the high cost of gasoline is just the beginning. The electric car ... Read More
It's not a scientific study, but the best way to find out whether alternative transportation is worth using is to try it. My car was in the shop this morning. Instead of asking a colleague, or the courtesy car for a free ride (still the best alternative if it is available), I decided to make use of the newest and highly promoted alternatives - MetroRail, Austin's light rail, and the Car2Go ... Read More
In a previous post, I documented my frustration when I tried to use the innovative Car2Go program. Within hours of that post, a representative of Car2Go had me on the phone and arranged to deliver a new card within 24 hours. Wow! So, as I mentioned previously, I'm impressed with the concept of Car2Go, and I'm also impressed with the customer service. Last week, I had a new opportunity to test ... Read More
As architects, we're concerned about all aspects of the built environment, and that includes transportation. Here's my first encounter with an innovative idea - Car2Go. Austin is one of three cities to have a first try at the car of the future. No, it's not the rocket inspired sedans or the sporty muscle cars we all imagined as kids. The car of the future is all about technology, efficiency and ... Read More
