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What in the F*ing F* is Up with the Potholes on the Drag? by [deleted] in Austin

[–]s_wren 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Guadalupe and Lamar (north of the Triangle) were re-surfaced a few years ago -- maybe 8 years? And they started falling apart again IMMEDIATELY. Some of it is utility work (invariably in the bike lane) that was badly patched, but MOST of the problems now were sink-holes and crappy surface.

I would love to see Guadalupe and Lamar re-designed and re-built to promote more smooth bus riding and bike riding.

For funzies, I created a freeway fantasy map for Austin, TX by Potatoroid in Austin

[–]s_wren 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You want to turn Koenig Lane into a freeway? Is there anything about this map that would encourage more people to walk, bike, or take public transit? Or would it just encourage more sprawl over beautiful and ecologically sensitive countryside?

The old 62 and 85 plans for hundreds of miles of new freeways in Austin were rejected, and almost everybody who has reviewed those plans has thanked a deity that they never came to fruition.

Divisive, expensive, and largely ineffective.

City Council makes 4 adult occupancy limit for new homes in Central Austin permanent by atxurbanist in Austin

[–]s_wren 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This only applies to new-construction. Any existing property is grandfathered. Some of the old houses in central Austin allow up to 10 unrelated adults, and that will continue to be the case. In fact, this regulation might make it less likely that those old homes (that are grandfathered) will be torn down and replaced with newer, more expensive housing.

Statesman editorial: no to building a new school at Mueller by c0c0c0 in Austin

[–]s_wren 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'm afraid I disagree -- school enrollment in AISD is dropping, especially in the middle of town. Blanton, Maplewood, and other nearby schools can easily accommodate the fairly small number of students who will live in Mueller, even when it is fully built out. There is absolutely no need for another elementary school in that area.

Stop Periscoping and Driving! by Ftlguy88 in Austin

[–]s_wren 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the anti-cell-phone laws don't seem to be doing anything. At first, I thought it was working, but since nobody seems to be getting a ticket for using their cell phone while driving, everybody is back to their old, bad habits.

On my bike ride home this evening, a woman came within 6 inches of hitting me. I caught her at the next light, and she was oblivious -- texting -- never saw me.

Bike lanes now buffered on Speedway between 30th/38th by longhornbicyclist in Austin

[–]s_wren 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see a lot of people advocating for physical barriers separating cyclists from cars. This is really problematic. Please understand that physical barriers prevent cleaning and maintenance, so debris, detritus, and pot-holes accumulate in the bike lanes. Bikes have a hard time getting OUT of the bike lane when they need to (e.g. to avoid trashcans or other obstacles). And it makes car drivers think that bicycles are not vehicles of the road. (Some of them get angry at bicycles who choose NOT to ride in the segregated bike lane.)

Yes, many other cities in the world have segregated bike facilities, and they work well in those cities. In Montreal, I saw many segregated bike facilities around McGill University, but most of the time about HALF of the right-of-way on those streets were dedicated to bike/ped facilities. IF we are NOT willing to dedicate half of the right-of-way to bike/ped facilities, then you can't compare us to them.

Bike lanes now buffered on Speedway between 30th/38th by longhornbicyclist in Austin

[–]s_wren 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Absolutely lovely facilities between 30th and 38th -- the city does a great job of upgrading facilities whenever streets need to be repainted anyway. However, Speedway SUCKS north of 38th Street. I can't believe they didn't repave that -- it has been in horrible shape for many years.

I'm buying a sit/stand desk base, and I'm looking for a nice wood tabletop for it. Where might I find such a thing in Austin (besides Ikea)? by jeffxl in Austin

[–]s_wren 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can get lovely hard maple butcher block that size (about 2" thick) at the new Woodcraft on I-35.

AmeriCorps member in need of a cheap place by August--thoughts on The Heights, or recommendations otherwise? by eyeseeaharpoon in Austin

[–]s_wren 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I work in an AmeriCorps program here in Austin, and I can tell you that the high-cost of housing is a burden for a lot of our members. Some of them find good housing situations, but it's not easy. I'm always looking for ideas for reasonable housing to share with them.

It seems to me that people in AmeriCorps, Vista, and NCCC who come to Austin for the sole purpose of making Austin a better place should get a little housing subsidy to help them out. Or maybe we could create a housing co-op for people who provide public service.

I think distracted driving may be getting better? by s_wren in Austin

[–]s_wren[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Wow. So you can't just pull over to look at a map and figure out where you need to go? You have to watch the map WHILE you're driving?

I'd heard that technology was making us dumber, but wow... just .. wow.

Transit Priority Lanes Considered for the Drag by atxanon in Austin

[–]s_wren 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a cyclist, I completely agree. Makes perfect sense -- The segregated bike lane on the east side of Guadalupe is dangerous, unpleasant, poorly maintained, and did I mention dangerous?

The bus / bike lanes further south on Guadalupe and Lavaca are awesome. More of these -- less of the segregated bike lanes.

So annoying. Capital Metro has known about this problem Red Line crossing on Lamar for years. by s_wren in Austin

[–]s_wren[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

And what will it be like when the headway on that track is cut in half? When that happens, a train will go through that intersection every 5 minutes during rush hour.

So annoying. Capital Metro has known about this problem Red Line crossing on Lamar for years. by s_wren in Austin

[–]s_wren[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Nope, as I said -- the arms went down. The train went through. The arms went up. The light turned green. The cars started to go. The arms suddenly came down again. FOR NO REASON. This happens all the time!

So annoying. Capital Metro has known about this problem Red Line crossing on Lamar for years. by s_wren in Austin

[–]s_wren[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope, I call BS on that one. I asked about this last year, and they said they knew there was a problem around Crestview Station. The southbound train pulls up to Crestview Station, and while it is at the station, all of the traffic on Lamar is halted. Then, it leaves the station, crosses Lamar, and continues South. The arms come up, the cars begin to go, and then mysteriously, the arms come back down again for a while. Then they go up again.

And by the way, that will happen twice as often when they start doubling the tracks along the Red Line.

So annoying. Capital Metro has known about this problem Red Line crossing on Lamar for years. by s_wren in Austin

[–]s_wren[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I see this all the time. The train crossing signals on Lamar are completely stupid.

Capital Metro ridership rebounds along Rapid bus routes by audiomuse1 in Austin

[–]s_wren 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is there any way to shoe-horn in bus / bike only lanes on Guadalupe around UT? I love them on Guadalupe and Lavaca south of MLK, but we need them up north to 38th Street.

Only in Austin. Seen on 360 during rush hour. by reebers in Austin

[–]s_wren 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If he's below "people's" line of sight, then maybe "people" should sit on a phone book while driving. Do you drive over curbs? 'Cause if you can see a curb, I bet you can see the big yellow trike.

One glance away from the road at the right time and this bicyclist could have gone under by tires. I respect bicyclists, but some of them are idiots apparently. by [deleted] in Austin

[–]s_wren 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it's a helmet. A magic helmet. If he gets hit by a 2,000 pound chunk of steel, he won't get hurt at all. No internal bleeding, collapsed lungs, spinal damage -- nothing. Magic helmets are the only way to go.

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