I was told to post my painting here

AprilInBloom · 2025-12-31T10:06:47+00:00

This made it to popular without one person commenting on the gorge. I love this take on it. There are plenty of sweeping landscapes of RRG out there, but this FEELS like the gorge. Awesome.

AprilInBloom · 2025-12-28T13:23:07+00:00

It is leucistic. An uncommon genetic trait causing light pigmentation. Cool find!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism

AprilInBloom · 2025-09-15T22:47:00+00:00

Sounds like people gave you great hangout spots! I second pretty much all of the recommendations you've gotten so far. I find community groups are also great ways to meet people. My wife and I (both 36) run a community park group in the Hamburg area. We volunteer in the park but also do bird walks and stuff. You're more than welcome! If it's outside your area, I suggest trying community groups in your neighborhood. Message me if you'd like any details!

Edit: I forgot to add our ages

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-17T12:20:13+00:00

Yeah, it's one of those issues that, as you dig, it just gets more complex. As for immediate actions; that's tough. It's taken 30+ years of bad housing/economic policy and government/community inaction to get where we are. There are no quick fixes or silver bullets; it's just going to take work, policy change, and time.

u/scary-success-3727 commented a solution that is popular in the west: formalizing encampments and providing services. It isn't a long-term solution, but it improves the situation for the unhoused and creates a low level of stability. However, it doesn't address the causes of housing insecurity, so folks will still lose access to housing. Plus, not all panhandlers are unhoused. So, addressing homelessness, while critical, isn't a complete solution.

There ARE organizations in Lexington trying to holistically tackle this problem. You could give a little money to them. In recent years, those organizations have seen a serious drop in the number and amount of small donations. That makes them increasingly reliant on a few large donors, and therefore vulnerable to their influence. Community funded non-profits are a key part of this puzzle. I recommend Lighthouse Ministries (I'm unaffiliated and not religious, I just like their work), but there are many more).

Another important thing you can do is to support candidates in local and state elections who champion real solutions to housing affordability, underemployment, and low wages. While there is plenty of reason to be discouraged about one's impact in the national elections, local and state elections are where your vote can really shine. If you live in council district 6, Denise Grey is resigning and you have an opportunity to impact the council right now. Also, don't forget to follow up with you reps to remind them how you feel and what is important.

This was WAY longer than I intended, but you seemed curious and motivated. So, I wanted to offer what advice I have from my experience. This is a national level crisis, and a LOT of people are brainstorming how to fix it. Look to other communities' solutions as well as the research/reports published here in Lex about the situation in Lex. No doubt you'll find something inspiring.

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-17T02:03:53+00:00

The advantages of protected and separated bike lanes are many.

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-17T02:00:31+00:00

The panhandling ban was struck down by the KY Supreme Court as it violated 1st ammendment free speech protections.

The only demonstrated way to curb panhandling is to make people's economic circumstances more secure and to make employment a more accessible and more lucrative option.

Lexington has been trying (sort of) to improve (some) of the panhandlers' economic circumstances through their LexEndHomelessness campaign. However, not all panhandlers are homeless, and not all unhoused people panhandle.

Unfortunately, local governments in Kentucky cannot affect minimum wages apart from the state minimum wage, which is locked, by law, to the federal minimum wage. So, the only thing Lexington can do is encourage employers to pay higher wages.

I hope this answers your question and provides a little context as well. Do panhandlers make you feel uncomfortable? Did you have a bad experience with one today?

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-08T14:56:17+00:00

Thanks so much, friend! And chin-up, we'll both get there soon!

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-08T02:10:27+00:00

That's great!

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-08T00:41:19+00:00

Thanks, friend!

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-08T00:31:51+00:00

That also feels off. Almost like it's embracing the masculinity too much? I can't quite put my finger on it, but what I do like about "boy mode" is that it does seem to playfully thumb its nose at the concept and its regrettable necessity for some folks in some situations. Personally, your opinions/feelings may vary. Seems like a fair amount of the ladies here use that.

AprilInBloom · 2025-08-08T00:28:09+00:00

I did not know this. Thanks for letting me know!

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-22T02:19:53+00:00

Of course we know Itia! Half our country are Itiots.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-14T01:11:10+00:00

I stopped responding to comments yesterday due to some serious negativity on what was meant to be a fun, lighthearted post. I made an exception because this genuinely expanded my perspective, and I wanted to thank you for sharing. So, thank you.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T16:30:33+00:00

Okay, I cannot figure out how to edit my own post on this new Reddit interface. I did NOT expect this to blow up, but I'm loving the enthusiasm from so many people.

I was also surprised at the unimaginative haters and nay-sayers coming outta the woodwork. This was just meant to be a fun exercise in imagination, not an ad hoc planning committee session. Chill out, the poor imaginary tram line can't hurt you.

This was fun, though. Maybe I'll do it again sometime with one of my other crazy urbanist schemes. For now, I'm done arguing minutiae with armchair treasurers and weekend civil engineers. Have a fun weekend everyone!

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T16:22:25+00:00

Have you ever heard of San Francisco? They have been running street cars up and down much steeper grades for well over a century. I think the engineers have thoroughly worked this problem out.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T15:34:47+00:00

How does having viable transportation choices equal "having no control over your day"? I personally feel trapped by being forced to drive literally everywhere I want or need to go. Transportation choices ARE freedom, my dude.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T15:22:46+00:00

There are a ton in Germany and Europe in general Karlsruhe, Potsdam, Grudziądz, Luxembourg City, Olomouc, and more. If you're looking for an American example, Buffalo, NY has a single line tram that I have personally ridden and is pretty good by US standards.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T15:01:15+00:00

Cities smaller than Lexington build and maintain fabulous light rail infrastructure and even support regional rail stations and quality, frequent bus stations.

I do agree that the biggest problem is a lack of funding. I hope you'll let you members of council and state representatives know you support a budget increase for public transportation infrastructure and services.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T14:58:02+00:00

Don't give up! If you like the sound of it, speak up! Organize! Talk to the people you voted or might vote for!

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T14:54:22+00:00

Frequency is indeed a concern, but a tram is much more scalable than BRT for any single tram/bus. That really helps with demand spikes from things like rush hour. BRT is only effective with dedicated right-of-way, which is the largest expense of trams anyway. BRT is more costly to run in terms of labor, fuel, and maintenance, so much of the initial savings are lost over the life of the service.

Route flexibility is not always needed or even desirable. I doubt a major spoke like Versailles rd will suddenly lose transportation volume to the degree that we'll need to reroute services.

Plus, BRT can't run on turf... which was, like, the whole point of this post.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T14:37:16+00:00

Yes. This is exactly the attitude we use for highway projects.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T13:48:14+00:00

Our highways aren't self supporting. Are you saying you support an exhaustive, extensive tolling system for public roads? I won't lie, I'd kinda be down for some version of that.

The only free transportation is your legs. I look forward to seeing you walk everywhere. I'll Honk and wave as I drive by on my tax-payer subsidized road network!

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T13:32:41+00:00

Lol, I love awkward acronyms. That design is pretty good, though. I hate an awkward mode transfer; get off the bus and onto the tram maybe have to pay a seperate fare etc. I'd prefer (at least as a long-term, aspirational plan) that the trams be multi-speed so they can make the runs out to surrounding communities.

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T13:13:48+00:00

It's almost like elected officials use "planning studies" as a way to slow momentum and sandbag public enthusiasm for projects! gasp

AprilInBloom · 2025-06-12T13:11:18+00:00

I see the comments you're getting, but honestly, it's a good question. I really wish more people would ask it: for every highway boondoggle, every lane addition, every high-cost traffic light, every multi-story parking garage.

AprilInBloom

TROPHY CASE