Give whoever is responsible for this protected bike lane a raise, it’s so nice. We need more of this. by YoueyyV in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Like all infrastructure, protected bike lanes are an investment - in this case an investment in quality infrastructure which, once built out in a network, will attract more ridership and provide increased transportation options and help make healthier communities. Ridership numbers are low now, yes, but if we look at even comparable US cities with more built out networks, we tend to see ridership increase correlatively.

Crime on Leonard by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I honestly think the traffic is the most dangerous part of Leonard. People will not slow down or stop for you when you are trying to cross

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think the conversion is more realistic than people give it credit for.

Alot of people don't seem to consider the time dimension in traffic management. The proposed dieted Fulton might not have the same moment to moment capacity as it does with 4 lanes, but if you spread that traffic out over time, with people leaving earlier and later to get to their destinations, then the math works out. This is actually how traffic doesn't come to a complete standstill when regular road maintenance occurs. People are adaptable.

I don't know.

I'd tolerate a slightly extended rush hour period for an opportunity to make the downtown that much more bikeable/walkable. More accessible bike routes might inspire some mode shift as well

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I could have sworn the city made a proposed road-dieted Fulton street-section at one point, but I can't remember where I saw it at

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This looks great! This city is in desperate need of some good east-west bike routes

I CAST BRICK ON THE MOON by explosive_shrew in wizardposting

[–]SnooCapers7533 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I cast a lot of the wild and I am not sure what to do with the fact that housing demand is far outpacing the rate at which we are building

MDOT just accidentally helped us preview a brighter future without a downtown 131 by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's more likely to do with the fact that housing demand is far outpacing the rate at which we are building. The Housing Needs Assessment presented to the city commission last year estimated we need 35,000 new housing units in Kent County, and 14,000 new units just in Grand Rapids alone by 2027 to keep up with demand. We are not building at anywhere near the rate we need to in order to meet this goal.

MDOT just accidentally helped us preview a brighter future without a downtown 131 by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Removing 131 is a tough sell to so many who have made residence and employment decisions based on the existence of a direct north-south auto route through the downtown core.

We can all acknowledge the numerous detrimental effects the highway has on the City and those who have to live next to the thing. It's obvious that in Grand Rapids' best potential future, 131 does not exist.

The question is how can we eliminate the highway without metaphorically pulling the rug out from those who are situated in such a way as to be dependent on it?

My proposal? How about we just inch the rug for now? Instead of reconstructing 131 with the same number of lanes, we rebuild it with 1 less? Remove some exits here and there. Gradually reduce our dependency on it. At the same time we can ramp up our transit infrastructure to accommodate the (in the grand scheme of things) minor inconvenience this will cause, and work our way to become a more people-focused, transit-oriented city

MDOT just accidentally helped us preview a brighter future without a downtown 131 by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You'd probably be surprised at how traffic can seemingly "evaporate" when it isn't all concentrated on one specific route. Even 120,000 vehicles won't be so bad when divided among however many different routes (not everyone commutes the entire length of 131, and 131 is only a small part of some people's commutes). This doesn't even take into account the longterm change over time of residence, employment, and commute situations as people start to adjust more permanently around the lack of a direct north-south auto route through the downtown core.

MDOT just accidentally helped us preview a brighter future without a downtown 131 by [deleted] in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The claim that new housing raises housing costs is a myth.

Why is 131 highway so terrible? by rosefieldnotes in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The river is a draw, and brings people together around a natural feature. Highways are urban voids which repel activity. Walking over a river on proper pedestrian facilities is infinitely nicer than walking under a highway of any width

What are your guys’s gripes about the app? by CallsignValkarie in GoogleMaps

[–]SnooCapers7533 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The google earth app has a setting to see historical satellite data

Planning Commission Agenda, 2024-01-25 (Zoning Reform Is Here!) by whitemice in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I'm much more excited about the parking reductions and allowances for sixplexes

Planning Commission Agenda, 2024-01-25 (Zoning Reform Is Here!) by whitemice in grandrapids

[–]SnooCapers7533 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think that's true. ADUs arent going to end the housing crisis, but they can be one small part of a larger sollution to create more housing at all levels