tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868447036858347742024-03-26T04:09:24.272-05:00Carless in OKCWhat does it take to live without a car in Oklahoma City? We're trying to find out. We support walkability and alternative transportation options!Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-55872096758148740792015-02-18T18:32:00.000-06:002015-02-18T19:09:08.664-06:00Carless By Choice - Owning Up To Our Privilege<div style="color: #222222;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We all know that great things happen in Oklahoma City when the citizens rally together for a cause; let's make that magic happen for public transit!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whenever John and I tell someone that we don't have a car, we're always quick to add that we're carless<i> by choice</i>. While this distinction doesn't feel very important to us, there is a palpable expectation for us to explain ourselves, that simply not having a car is not enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It bothers me a lot.</b> It bothers me that we are expected to explain why we don't own a car. It bothers me that we feel the need to tell people that it's a choice - <i>don't worry, we're not poor</i>, it seems to say. Why does it matter? If we couldn't afford a car, how would that change the way that our message is received?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not long after we started this blog, we appeared in a segment on a local news channel. The cameraman came to meet us and took footage of us in our apartment, doing things like fake-making-dinner and fake-setting-the-table, then we went outside to the bus terminal to get some footage there: us waiting on a bench, us stepping onto the bus. We were pretty conspicuous since we were being followed by a cameraman, and one of the people waiting at the transit center finally asked why we were being filmed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"They don't own a car!" the cameraman answered. "And they write a blog about it!" He used the same tone of voice he would have used if he was saying that we came up with a really novel and useful invention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everyone around us suddenly looked like "Are you <i>shitting</i> me?" I have never felt so awkward in my life. We were surrounded by people who didn't own a car, and yet here <i>we</i> were, being put on the news for it. The only difference between us and most of the other people at the transit center that day was that we choose not to own a car. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This graph from a recent Embark survey illustrates the prevalence of carlessness among bus riders. (Click for full size)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If we were carless because we couldn't afford to own a car, would our blog have readers? Would we have as many Twitter followers? Would we get to be on the radio each week? </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because there are plenty of people in our city who don't have a car and who rely on <a href="http://kosu.org/post/negative-opinion-okc-public-transit" target="_blank">public transportation</a>; we're not the only ones. We're not special or unique. It just happens to be a choice for us. </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While being carless by choice seems to make us more credible in many people's eyes, to me, it makes us less credible; we're not the ones who <i>have</i> to do this. We could always change our mind. Our voices are not the ones that need to be listened to. <b>When we say we want the bus system to offer evening and Sunday service, it doesn't mean the difference between us being able to get to a job or not.</b> If there's no bus that gets to where we need to go at night, we can take an <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/this-aint-your-grandmas-taxi-our-review.html" target="_blank">Uber</a>. Plenty of people in OKC don't have that choice, or maybe they do have that choice, but it presents an undue financial hardship. Not everyone can afford frequent taxi or Uber rides. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJigP2xsGz03M7xnjtSzwB1IwZlSgzC_WtTqY88de0oR9YUHG1LSx3wz66QdMlLArpfOIscB4xj2w-6H91-P7JSURX_yKKmTcy_ZHe4_pSVeIiIZZuqbr2YMHp-Pi0QHgC68qgvJlAHXF/s1600/household+income-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJigP2xsGz03M7xnjtSzwB1IwZlSgzC_WtTqY88de0oR9YUHG1LSx3wz66QdMlLArpfOIscB4xj2w-6H91-P7JSURX_yKKmTcy_ZHe4_pSVeIiIZZuqbr2YMHp-Pi0QHgC68qgvJlAHXF/s1600/household+income-page-001.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another graph from the recent Embark survey illustrates how the majority of riders can't afford a car or other expensive transportation. (Click for full size)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I guess I'm uncomfortable because we're the de facto voice for a group for which we shouldn't be the ones to speak. Why is it not enough that 7% of people in Oklahoma City - or over 15,000 households - live without a car? Almost 3/4 of bus riders do not have access to a car, and many of them live below the poverty line. Why is that not enough motivation for our city to expand our public transit system for those who need it? There are many people in our city who have no other viable way to get to their jobs or grocery stores or doctors or parks. That fact, in and of itself, should be reason enough to provide adequate public transit.<b> It shouldn't take middle-class millenials like us who want to take the bus to and from a bar on Friday night to get people behind this idea. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong: I think that public transit is a good thing for everyone, not just the people for whom it is a necessity. It is a valuable service for cities to provide no matter what the reasons are that people use it. <b>What I find unsettling is that many people don't find the fact that there are people who desperately need this service a compelling enough reason to provide it, or provide it enough.</b> It is great that we have <a href="http://embarkok.com/" target="_blank">Embark</a> here in Oklahoma City, and they've been making positive changes where possible. The new nighttime routes (23 and 11) are the most recent example of how Embark has expanded service based on demand. Embark, however, can only do so much on its own. The people of the city have to get behind public transit in order to urge the city to support it, too. We all know that great things happen in Oklahoma City when the citizens rally together for a cause; let's make that magic happen for public transit.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Make sure to catch our weekly segment on KOSU on Thursday mornings! Tune in tomorrow at 91.7 FM or listen online at kosu.org. Follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC for reminders to tune in. Make sure to tweet and tell us what you think!</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-26201566876347030222015-02-04T17:45:00.000-06:002015-02-04T18:03:46.718-06:00What Does Carlessness Really Look Like in OKC?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxB8Qzl92sH7oTl8VoHg2y2OGFuy-BTAvQy555IP_5aFuWi4GmAkeM381OnM3YyHqydaGKkeHw0XwQxLGhf3q3g3iycpoaHRnvP1-vhkPmww2Y-RNnhf7ZUvqbDLmm9zSUogN_skPv-fn/s1600/CArlessness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxB8Qzl92sH7oTl8VoHg2y2OGFuy-BTAvQy555IP_5aFuWi4GmAkeM381OnM3YyHqydaGKkeHw0XwQxLGhf3q3g3iycpoaHRnvP1-vhkPmww2Y-RNnhf7ZUvqbDLmm9zSUogN_skPv-fn/s1600/CArlessness.jpg" height="350" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've been carless for more than a year now, and we'll be making a post reflecting on our findings soon. But we've never done a post with real information about others in the city who live without a car. Here's the bigger picture:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>More than 15,000 households in the Oklahoma City area do not own a motor vehicle</b>, the vast majority of whom have no say in the matter due to financial constraints. We've talked about the <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-cost-of-owning-car-vs-going-car-less.html" target="_blank">high cost of car ownership</a>, and though we can afford to buy a car, we're part of a small minority in Oklahoma City who choose not to own a car. And we live in downtown, ZIP 73102. We live next door to the transit center, and until very recently had two car-sharing locations within a short walking distance (RIP Timecar). Without these locations we came to realize that despite not owning a car, we were still quite dependent on the car-sharing service to get around the city. Car-sharing is probably too expensive for the average carless person in the city, especially compared to the bus, so now we're back to a place where we don't have access to any motor vehicles other than the bus, taxis, and ride-sharing (Uber/Lyft). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShM97XUxmx2Fpdl_gDsVH3x5Pz-uMlVBAtXh4KAruheK0vLJiEzOQXcXb-rb86QL0hsvQB0I9s_j7NoGz5FI87CT2QiTi8bmnQcnOMwECADGcDErLsaUgvvQzxRHCw4XHKeqOG0L8aY6x/s1600/18243874_BG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShM97XUxmx2Fpdl_gDsVH3x5Pz-uMlVBAtXh4KAruheK0vLJiEzOQXcXb-rb86QL0hsvQB0I9s_j7NoGz5FI87CT2QiTi8bmnQcnOMwECADGcDErLsaUgvvQzxRHCw4XHKeqOG0L8aY6x/s1600/18243874_BG1.jpg" height="221" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How did he even get here? How would it make you feel to know that your safety is such a low priority?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the carless people that live in areas away from downtown or don't work close to home, the situation is worse than for someone in downtown. Sidewalk infrastructure is missing, there's probably no bike infrastructure, and most of the buses stop running at 7:00pm. <b>Oklahoma City,</b> <b>despite the enthusiasm behind our 'Renaissance', is no closer to enabling the quality of life afforded to people with cars for those without than it ever really has been.</b> We missed the bus back to downtown while grocery shopping the other night, and had no way of getting home other than calling Uber. Someone who doesn't have a smartphone or money wouldn't have had the same option -- what would they have done? Walked nearly 10 miles in the freezing cold after dark on roads without sidewalks in order to get home? This is not fair. It's not good enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you look at the map at the top of the post you can see the ZIP codes with the highest percentage of carlessness. Unsurprisingly, 73102 (downtown) has the highest percentage at <b>25.1%</b> of households. The next two ZIP codes, while technically inner-city, do not have nearly the level of convenience afforded to those living in the downtown area. ZIP codes 73117 and 73111 have <b>24%</b> and<b> 21.1%</b> of households without access to a motor vehicle, respectively. Poverty levels in these two ZIP codes hover around 40%, so purchasing a vehicle is not an option, and therefore they are dependent on alternative forms of transportation to get around. What this leads to is a negative feedback loop with regard to both social and geographic mobility. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Think about that number, <b>15,000</b> <b>households</b> without access to a vehicle. With an average household size of 2.5 people,<b> that's nearly 40,000 people</b>. Imagine if 2/3 of the people living in Moore didn't have access to a car, and that's what you have. We have a small city of people within Oklahoma City that are incapable of reaching the standard of living afforded to people with cars. That's more people than live in Yukon, twice as many than the population of Mustang, or half of Edmond. But, because the population of Oklahoma City is so large, it's easy to dismiss a measly <b>7%</b> of the population. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic example of underperforming pedestrian infrastructure. This is at 16th, Classen, and Western.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have to find ways to improve access to transportation for this segment of the population. They are limited in their job opportunities, their access to healthy foods, their access to physical activity opportunities, civic engagement, and more. When I hear talk about commuter rail to connect Edmond and Norman to Oklahoma City, all I can think of is how the vast amount of money it would take to accomplish that would be much better spent serving the people who don't have access to transportation already, rather than spending it to try get drivers out of their cars. Right now we have 3 modes of transportation that are underperforming: pedestrian infrastructure, bicycle infrastructure, and public transit. Why would we add another mode that is likely to only serve the interests of people with access to the one mode of transportation that actually works well here?<b> We need to stand together to say that a city that only works for people with cars is not good enough. We need to help those in need of help.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-56235054887888909922014-10-19T18:42:00.000-05:002014-10-19T18:58:07.779-05:00Won't You Take Me To... Bricktown!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bricktown is a big deal in OKC. The district was actually one of the first things we knew about here. When we found out we were coming to Oklahoma City for John to have his job interview, John's program director (and former director of the Oklahoma DOT) immediately recommended that we check out Bricktown during our stay. Said stay was too short for any thorough exploration; we drove into town in the late evening, chucked our luggage into our hotel room, and headed out for a quick dinner. Because it had been suggested to us, we found Bricktown, parked, and proceeded to walk around.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Compared with how quiet the rest of the city was on a Thursday evening, Bricktown was positively bustling with people and activity. We loved walking along the canal and watching the ducks' antics, and we were impressed with the design of the public space. There were plenty of restaurants to choose from, and we chose Red Pin Restaurant and Bowling Lounge. Enjoying our delicious burgers outside and people-watching was the perfect way to blow off a little steam after being cooped up in the rental car all day, and it gave John a welcome distraction from his pre-interview jitters. We came away from that dinner thinking hey, we could totally live here, and hoping that John would get the job.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating at Red Pin during our first time in Oklahoma City!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, we all know how his interview turned out, because here we are. Although we've expanded our reach into many other districts, Bricktown does hold a special place in our hearts as our intro to OKC. Now that we've been here over a year, we'd like to finally do a post to talk about it. We have actually been hesitant to do a post on Bricktown because, in all honestly, as much as we love some parts of it, we also have some beef with it. So here we go - our real-talk rating of Bricktown.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>1. Promotes walkability: </b>Probably our favorite thing about Bricktown is that it forces people to walk! And by extension, it instills an appreciation of walkable urban places in people who might not otherwise care. Because, let's face it, the fun of Bricktown is the hustle and bustle - it's the fact that it is a place to be and be seen. The walkable design is what separates it from, say, a strip mall.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/Resturants_in_Bricktown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/Resturants_in_Bricktown.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A welcome sight - lots of people walking!</td></tr>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Helped revive downtown:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> As downtown OKC residents, I know we owe a debt of gratitude to Bricktown for reviving what was - by all accounts I've heard - a dead downtown for many years. Bricktown (and the MAPS sales tax) seems to have been the catalyst, development-wise, that changed it all, and transformed downtown OKC into a destination rather than an area to avoid outside of work hours. For that we say bravo, Bricktown; you done good.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>3. Adult <i>and</i> family attractions:</b> One of the most difficult balances to strike within an urban district is that of adult-only and family-friendly things to do. Bricktown is rare in that it achieves just that balance. There are bars and clubs for adults, the movie theatre, bowling, the baseball field, shopping, and fun attractions like the water taxi that are appropriate for grown-ups <i>and</i> kids, and yet there's no definitive tilt toward one vibe or the other. It all just coexists seamlessly, and that's no small feat.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.travelpod.com/tripwow/photos/ta-009a-7d08-b857/okc-bricktown-baseball-stadium-oklahoma-city-united-states+1152_12799956109-tpfil02aw-31652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.travelpod.com/tripwow/photos/ta-009a-7d08-b857/okc-bricktown-baseball-stadium-oklahoma-city-united-states+1152_12799956109-tpfil02aw-31652.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bricktown Ballpark - and carriage rides!</td></tr>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Brings people downtown who might not come otherwise:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> When we're walking down the street in Bricktown on a Saturday night, we can often overhear passersby talking about where they came from that evening - and it's usually not OKC. It's really great that Bricktown is an attraction that brings people to the city - people who might not otherwise come. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>5. Community gathering space:</b> Not only is there a lot to eat, drink, purchase, and experience in Bricktown, but it also serves as a place for people to simply gather, whether it's for a concert, a march, or just for fun. The importance of community gathering spaces for civic wellbeing cannot be overstated, OKC residents (and surrounding residents) have this area to just go and be with others, whether it's for a common purpose or just a Saturday night.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>6. The canal:</b> It would be so easy to just slap up a bunch of sidewalks and retail/restaurant spaces and call it an entertainment district, but it's something else entirely to go the extra mile and build a water feature like the canal. The designers of Bricktown could have taken the easy way out, but they didn't, and now we have a distinctive and enviable downtown feature. It's pleasant no matter if you're just walking alongside, watching the ducks, or taking a water taxi ride. The canal really sets Bricktown apart from other districts like it. I had heard of the San Antonio canal and was excited to see Oklahoma City had one of its own!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://welcometobricktown.com/sites/default/files/Bricktown-History2_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://welcometobricktown.com/sites/default/files/Bricktown-History2_1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A water taxi tour in progress.</td></tr>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7. Now we've got to brag on some of our favorite places in Bricktown;</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>- Skinny Slim's -</b> We've been living here for over a year, and we've visited a number of bars, but at this point, Skinny Slim's is our go-to and has been for awhile. Located in Bricktown, it's not too far from our home - it's an easy walk. The cozy setting, the low-key vibe, the excellent beer selection, and the great patio are all reasons why we keep going back to Skinny's. Even when it's a little crowded (which isn't difficult in such a small space), it still feels kind of homey.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtCa5n-N67JRXdHs67HY10ujk5v6LwrCmVTeEJVHpLMvp5XI4GfrhbjvwcxvSGmBXY7D7hpSKaJZ_9AmxzO1tNROjVYoHBJO2KsEmviw-dXB4eUfwmdTgV_EOLiFVIOiDPVBP29sRMS05/s1600/1525425_422736304519766_492005922_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtCa5n-N67JRXdHs67HY10ujk5v6LwrCmVTeEJVHpLMvp5XI4GfrhbjvwcxvSGmBXY7D7hpSKaJZ_9AmxzO1tNROjVYoHBJO2KsEmviw-dXB4eUfwmdTgV_EOLiFVIOiDPVBP29sRMS05/s1600/1525425_422736304519766_492005922_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare moment when the bar is empty.</td></tr>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- Red Pin Restaurant and Bowling Lounge -</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Like I said earlier, this is the first restaurant we ever tried in Oklahoma City, and for that reason, we'll always love it. Well, that reason, and also the delicious burgers! Not to mention, having a bowling alley downtown is such a nice amenity. Who doesn't want to bowl a game or two while enjoying a cold Coop Native Amber?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>- Hot Dog OKC -</b> I don't know if you know this, but hot dogs are kind of a big deal with Carless In OKC. John, especially, loves a good chili dog, and we love being able to get a late-night fix after a trip to Skinny Slim's or on our way home from a movie. The owners are super nice and always pleasant to talk to. All in all, we love Hot Dog OKC.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>- Harkins Theatre -</b> I never thought I'd be saying this, but this is a really great movie theatre. I haven't had such a good time going to the movie since about 1996, but such is the magic of Harkins Theatre, and more specifically, Cine Capri, which is one particular theatre there. We're the kind of people who pretty much exclusively watch dramas on Netflix, yet we look for excuses to go to a movie in Cine Capri. I really don't even know why it's so good, other than it's huge and the speakers are really loud - oh, and a person comes out to <i>announce </i>the movie before it starts - but it makes going to the movies fun again. We absolutely loved seeing Catching Fire and Guardians of the Galaxy there, and you can bet you'll see us there for Mockingjay Part 1.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love you, Harkins Theatre</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">And now for the things we don't love about Bricktown:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>1. It's a little heavy on chain restaurants</b> - Bricktown, you've got a good thing going on, but you know what would make you even better? A little more local flair in your offerings. I could go to Hooters, Starbucks, and IHOP literally anywhere. At least the Bricktown Sonic is a little different in that it's a sit-down establishment, instead of the same drive-in we see everywhere. It would do Bricktown some good to have some kind of incentives for more local businesses to open in the district. I love the ones that are already there - let's keep that going!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>2. The curfew</b> - Listen, I <i>get</i> why there's a curfew for teenagers. But when I'm out having fun, it's a little bit of a buzzkill to watch the cops rounding up teenagers at the strike of 11:00. Maybe I just feel for the kids who are just hanging out with friends - I mean it's not like they're going to be smoking crack in front of Sonic or anything - but I wish the police could find a less "the man" way to enforce the curfew.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>3. </b></span><b style="color: #222222;">Tapwerks -</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Oh, Tapwerks. We wanted </span><i style="color: #222222;">so badly</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> to like you. In fact, you were the first bar we went to once we moved here. "I love this old building!" we said. "Look at this extensive beer list!" we said. "Is that sign in Comic Sans?!" we said. And then we were charged a cover, to get into a BAR without live music. And then we were served lukewarm, flat beer. Hey, maybe that one was a fluke. Nope, it sure wasn't. Lukewarm, flat beer, over and over again. And then there's that whole "two-finger head" rule you have on your draft beers, which pretty much means that you get to charge for a full pint but only serve 12 ounces. Your food is actually surprisingly good; there is the potential for this to be a great bar if a few key issues were addressed. If nothing else, at least chill your glasses.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17DBGoTXCcrGT2agEgQhtFHNzuPMMbD0cTj859kMeclm9ZiRTWnZJcToAgSuLyIIxLVF3oEi5D5eoOItNk46amfUlJYL8GnNilvyMBeAZKxHPKNavIt40pmZ0S-4mYOQI_qfbwNpFt2tW/s1600/tapwerks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17DBGoTXCcrGT2agEgQhtFHNzuPMMbD0cTj859kMeclm9ZiRTWnZJcToAgSuLyIIxLVF3oEi5D5eoOItNk46amfUlJYL8GnNilvyMBeAZKxHPKNavIt40pmZ0S-4mYOQI_qfbwNpFt2tW/s1600/tapwerks.jpg" height="259" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They've changed this, but at one point, they had a Comic Sans sign!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks to the things we like, and in spite of the things we don't, Bricktown is overall a great asset to Oklahoma City, and I'm glad to have such easy access to it. </span><br />
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<i style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Make sure to catch our weekly segment on KOSU on Thursday mornings at 7:35am! Tune in at 91.7 FM or listen online at kosu.org. Follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC for reminders to tune in. Make sure to tweet and tell us what you think!</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-73922395065795689742014-10-12T11:25:00.000-05:002014-10-12T11:25:59.204-05:00On Simplification and Fluid Beliefs<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some people think that what we're about here at Carless In OKC is simply this: ANTI-CAR. Which, I mean, we kind of are? But only for us, at this current point in our lives. We've never claimed that living without a car is the be-all, end-all answer to life's problems for everyone. Even when I claimed that ditching your car is an all-in-one <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/going-carless-radical-act.html" target="_blank">radical act</a>, the point I was making wasn't that every single person needs to get rid of their cars. No matter how indignant we are about the problems that come along with car ownership, we always qualify our claims with a challenge to simply be <i>less</i> dependent on cars. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amishreader.com/plaingoodstuffsimplethat/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NoCars_Yes-Buggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.amishreader.com/plaingoodstuffsimplethat/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NoCars_Yes-Buggy.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this what people think of us?</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The big problem, as I see it, is the system. It's not the car itself, really. It's the urban-suburban model of living which keeps the status quo at a cozy 2.5 cars per household with a long commute to work. The problem is that for many, if not most, families, the idea of even cutting down to one car seems insurmountable and improbable. When it's common for people to live far away from their jobs as well as from their grocery store and their children's schools, with few viable public transit or walkability options, if any - and they're doing this because of the economic benefit of cheaper suburban housing costs - <b>it's not as much a choice that people are making. It's more like the default mode borne out of a perceived necessity. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I say it's a <i>perceived</i> necessity because it's not exactly a <i>real</i> necessity in many cases. We've talked about the <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-cost-of-owning-car-vs-going-car-less.html" target="_blank">cost of owning a car</a>, which we've established as being an enormous monthly and yearly expense. While the cost of housing in suburban areas may be lower, when you remove all (or even some) of the costs of car ownership, that can offset the sometimes-higher cost of urban life. Your transportation costs can drop considerably when your work, school, and necessities are accessible by public transit or on foot. Even if you choose to retain one car, you're still slashing that average yearly cost of car ownership by over half. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reason I'm thinking about this is because I recently read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Summit-Seeker-Vanessa-Runs/dp/1482502933" target="_blank">The Summit Seeker</a>, by ultramarathoner Vanessa Runs, which I highly recommend. Vanessa talks about her life as a modern nomad - after feeling stifled by her desk job for years, she took a leap of faith one day and changed her life completely. After quitting her job, Vanessa packed up and moved to San Diego from Canada with no job, no money, and no real plan other than to do the two things she loves most: write and run. Eventually Vanessa met her partner, Shacky, and the two of them got rid of most of their belongings, bought an RV, and now they travel around with their cat and dog, running in and volunteering at races, exploring trails, <a href="http://vanessaruns.com/" target="_blank">writing</a>, and having fun.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanessa Runs during one of her adventures.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I started thinking about Vanessa's current lifestyle and while, yes, she does own an RV and therefore drives a good bit, I wouldn't say that her lifestyle is at odds with my philosophy. For me, it's ultimately about simplification and a rejection of a pervasive system that aims keep us trapped in our cars, isolated from our neighbors, and in debt pretty much forever. Vanessa and Shacky do drive a vehicle, yes, but they've also managed to buck the status quo in their own way. They've eliminated a lot of bills that come with traditional home ownership and they make a living off of their passions. Their lifestyle is not extravagant, but they are very happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The point I'm making here is that contrary to what some may believe, I am not just anti-car or anti-driving. If that were the case, I'd have a serious conflict of interest going on when we rent a <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/do-you-know-about-car-sharing-services.html" target="_blank">Timecar</a> to go grocery shopping each week, or when we call an <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/this-aint-your-grandmas-taxi-our-review.html" target="_blank">Uber</a> to catch a ride to and from a friend's house who lives a little bit far away. You've got to do what you've got to do, and it's not always possible to adhere to a strict ideology, especially when that ideology relies heavily on excellent access to public transit and a safe, widespread system of sidewalks and bike lanes. Not all of us live in places that provide us with that ideal situation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What we ultimately want to achieve with this blog is to prove that it's entirely possible to live without a car - or with less dependence on cars - in Oklahoma City, or places like it that aren't exactly equipped with all the alternative transportation bells and whistles. People have literally said to my face that you <i>have</i> to have a car to live here, but John and I are living proof that that's simply not true. <b>However, rejecting the system and shedding your unnecessary encumbrances doesn't look the same for everyone</b>, and I'm 100% okay with that. All I want is for people to really look at their lives and why they do the things that they do, and make the decisions for themselves, rather than just falling into what they've always seen being done. Your version could be ditching your car, dropping down to owning only one car, or it could be a little more out of left field: quitting your job, selling your house, and taking your RV right out of suburbia and into the great wide open. It's your life and your journey, and I want you to embrace it the best way you know how. </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Make sure to catch our weekly segment on KOSU on Thursday mornings at 7:35am! Tune in at 91.7 FM or listen online at kosu.org. Follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC for reminders to tune in. Make sure to tweet and tell us what you think!</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-17825808159971143022014-09-24T21:30:00.000-05:002014-09-30T11:05:11.642-05:00There and Back Again - The Katy Trail<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Katy Trail, <a href="https://www.okc.gov/trails/katy.html" target="_blank">located</a> in northeast Oklahoma City, is a hidden gem. Measuring just under 7.5 miles in length, it's an out-and-back type of trail that follows NE 4th Street and then an abandoned train track north toward the <a href="http://www.okcadventure.com/" target="_blank">Adventure District</a>, eventually ending at a trailhead around NE 50th Street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On Sunday, we decided to take our bikes and check it out for ourselves. This was a convenient way for us to take Elizabeth's new road bike out for a spin, and also to see a part of the city that we hadn't seen yet.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mfc9Rs4b6zTz05Zp67Gf1cu9Zwp9yiCrEfItIJ8uBiWj3VBcLWSNko5UjXF9pAbWzUAzPIcK2vFKjleNWBIO_PKw_tLxzz9cLpEN6YDI4B2yGYmsXcGO1KJfhiJIk4II6WL1Dd30cCx-/s1600/photo+3+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mfc9Rs4b6zTz05Zp67Gf1cu9Zwp9yiCrEfItIJ8uBiWj3VBcLWSNko5UjXF9pAbWzUAzPIcK2vFKjleNWBIO_PKw_tLxzz9cLpEN6YDI4B2yGYmsXcGO1KJfhiJIk4II6WL1Dd30cCx-/s1600/photo+3+(3).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge over NE 10th Street</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We’re going to list some of our likes, dislikes, and observations about the Katy Trail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Likes:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Now, if there is one thing that has struck us about OKC, it's that we've never been to a flatter place in our lives. Not so on the Katy Trail, and when you’re on a bicycle, you become keenly aware of the topography. For the most part, this trail is flat, but there are several long, uphill portions. What we like is that the climbs are evenly spread; that is, that neither direction is hillier than the other. It's a challenge both ways!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the Katy Trail leads to quite a few attractions. Some of them, we already knew about, like the <a href="http://www.okczoo.com/" target="_blank">Zoo</a>, the <a href="http://www.thezooamphitheatre.com/" target="_blank">Zoo Amphitheatre</a>, the <a href="http://www.sciencemuseumok.org/" target="_blank">Science Museum</a>, and <a href="http://www.remingtonpark.com/home.aspx" target="_blank">Remington Park</a>, but we discovered several other entertainment destinations on this ride. We rode by the <a href="http://www.osfa.info/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Museum" target="_blank">Firefighter Museum</a>, with its enormous and <i>alarming</i> statue, and the <a href="http://www.oklahomarailwaymuseum.org/" target="_blank">Oklahoma Railway Museum</a>, which boasts a collection of vintage train engines, cars, and cabooses (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lutNECOZFw" target="_blank">"this is special!"</a>), neither of which we had any idea existed until then. The trail winds through two golf courses, and passes by a perfect picnic spot!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/mqdiscover/26ce8defe4136010e824395b7b463017" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/mqdiscover/26ce8defe4136010e824395b7b463017" height="387" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge statue outside of the Firefighter Museum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Another unexpected feature of the Katy Trail is how pretty it is. While some sections of the trail are simply multi-use sidewalks by roads, other segments carve through lush woods and fields dusted with wildflowers. In some areas, we were surrounded by nature and able to experience some quiet, even in the midst of the city. In some <i>other</i> areas, however... well, that takes us to our first dislike.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ0qxXOqGjZmuugcJQ6uptEsRgpvJp8BXTnC5XibjAgG6UlJ_M1F9RkL0M4SFklhwtnfDNClXIcWDsZz0HrrLmD7wEAe_CBI0MIgEJnt3qmVGDrMKGBWVSQVWlOPHM3BGUClj3pS66q1H/s1600/photo+2+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ0qxXOqGjZmuugcJQ6uptEsRgpvJp8BXTnC5XibjAgG6UlJ_M1F9RkL0M4SFklhwtnfDNClXIcWDsZz0HrrLmD7wEAe_CBI0MIgEJnt3qmVGDrMKGBWVSQVWlOPHM3BGUClj3pS66q1H/s1600/photo+2+(7).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An especially scenic portion of the trail</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Dislike:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Nothing disturbs the peacefulness of a bike ride through the woods quite like the neverending roaring racket of the interstate. On a significant portion of the trail, the path flanks interstate 35, one of the most-traveled highways in the region. This shatters the ambiance and has the potential to be somewhat dangerous as people of all ages breathe in the air pollutants and particulate matter emanating from the interstate like Pigpen’s <a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/64/66/fe/6466fe1233ff123b4ff15ca52655278a.jpg" target="_blank">dirt cloud</a> on Peanuts. Maybe it would be a good idea to plant some more trees along the roadway as a visual, aural, and air quality buffer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. The section along NE 4th Street is not only just a five-foot wide sidewalk, it's poorly maintained, and cars are parked across it in places. This doesn't make for a very safe or enjoyable ride, when you're having to dodge bus stops, broken glass, parked vehicles, and knobby plants that have grown through the sidewalk cracks. If this segment were designed as a 10-foot wide multi-use path, like the portion up by the Zoo, it would be a great improvement. No matter how wide you build it, if you’re not keeping it up, then your riders won’t be satisfied.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQBqH_Zb0Izf5OYh6bKsObQ-6KxK4HPKmHP4HUTf8W-C2X4JzVNFpdsvlOa6XE4w2sIl-udk4LUnIOs5UnFF9Ud4jEepPm_s_1hhdSunluT3udFmV2gL9o-Pdk42lER6nSIWn4DOQT6RM/s1600/photo+1+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQBqH_Zb0Izf5OYh6bKsObQ-6KxK4HPKmHP4HUTf8W-C2X4JzVNFpdsvlOa6XE4w2sIl-udk4LUnIOs5UnFF9Ud4jEepPm_s_1hhdSunluT3udFmV2gL9o-Pdk42lER6nSIWn4DOQT6RM/s1600/photo+1+(3).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, by all means, go ahead and park there. In the middle of the trail.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Crossing Lincoln is a nightmare. This isn't actually part of the Katy Trail, but for us, it's on the way to the trailhead. The intersection is no less than seven lanes across, with a traffic light that not only lasts barely enough time to cross at full speed on a bicycle, but does not recognize cyclists waiting for the light to change. <b>There are actually “bike route" signs on either side of this intersection on NE 4th, so this is almost embarrassingly bad. </b>Another easy fix; guess we’ll call the Action Center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Observations:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. It's good to see a nice amenity in a part of the city which tends to be underserved, though we only ran into one other person on our entire 15-mile trip on the trail. How can we engage more people who live in the proximity?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd7kQF2GNaVDeAz6qv5CGEapClUyd8xtn3TOi_V1sr8ktlplVZNGH7XSb4fkZPrmimD6Gg1Ysrj53ka-HClSfKlmwa-6vUnoDY3wSBSa7moV7OsL731cLaSsV9T9ZhnqxgKgx75o-J779/s1600/photo+4+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd7kQF2GNaVDeAz6qv5CGEapClUyd8xtn3TOi_V1sr8ktlplVZNGH7XSb4fkZPrmimD6Gg1Ysrj53ka-HClSfKlmwa-6vUnoDY3wSBSa7moV7OsL731cLaSsV9T9ZhnqxgKgx75o-J779/s1600/photo+4+(4).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful tree caught our eye.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. There's a great opportunity for the Katy Trail to continue on Grand Boulevard through Nichols Hills to connect with the Hefner Trail. Additionally, with an extension through Bricktown to connect to the River Trails, as well as the project underway to connect Lake Overholser to the River Trails, a large city-wide loop would be completed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTzCQBDLI-fTJuDsiQaGR2OJcprnlI096qDPSXYdtrNjn4WNpTXrQPs-jPnPE3K1hNP8b02YiBTnECEpcU-cCs3guklXLo1flIHMBJW5pz5sCkFFKxqRJ6yT7ZrOLuxCfZiC1Nm_9NJOc/s1600/photo+2+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTzCQBDLI-fTJuDsiQaGR2OJcprnlI096qDPSXYdtrNjn4WNpTXrQPs-jPnPE3K1hNP8b02YiBTnECEpcU-cCs3guklXLo1flIHMBJW5pz5sCkFFKxqRJ6yT7ZrOLuxCfZiC1Nm_9NJOc/s1600/photo+2+(6).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The turnaround - now we get to ride alllll the way back!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overall, we enjoyed our ride and plan to do it regularly. Now that autumn has begun, the trees are bound to be beautiful. We even had the idea to organize a group ride to a concert at the Zoo Amphitheatre sometime! If you're cyclist in OKC, you definitely need to try out the Katy Trail if you haven’t already.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make sure to catch our next segment on KOSU 91.7 FM tomorrow morning (Thursday 9/25) at 7:35am! Follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC for reminders to tune in. Make sure to tweet and tell us what you think!</span></i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-77770686439304881362014-09-17T20:44:00.000-05:002014-09-19T14:39:07.111-05:00All The Leaves Are Brown - Carlessness In Every Season<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello, everyone! As of September 25th, we will have been living here in OKC for a full year! Now that we've experienced all four seasons of being carless, I'd like to talk about the specific challenges and advantages each new time of year brings.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Fall:</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We moved here in the fall, and that was our first experience with being carless. At that point in time, we were mainly walking to get to the places we needed to go. Here in OKC, fall is mostly what we were used to in Georgia: i.e. it's pretty much still summer, with cooler mornings. What we weren't used to is the phenomenon of being hot and cold at the same time - you know, when the sun is shining brightly, so it's hot out in the open, but the wind is cold, and it's chilly when you walk into the shade or when the breeze is strong. It presents quite a conundrum when we're trying to be prepared for the elements, as it pretty much doesn't matter what we wear, we're going to be uncomfortable at some point during the trip. When I think about fall in OKC, I think about all the times John and I were sweating while shivering, trying to figure out how to layer more and delayer at the same time. I'm sure I looked like a weirdo all the times I trudged along, stripped down to a t-shirt but still clutching my scarf around my neck and wearing a knit hat. And here we are - the season of hot-and-cold-at-the-same-time is upon us again! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTDXcneU7GP-1csSoVDRs2tsXhyvgwL0EzmydNscPhWV4jZlFJcQC0RlYA1_zE6Lc6ugAepMhZ5gyn4DK2ARnyqUF9o_PBUIrjVKAlEDPnHgkULiC0mgpDZ0FkyLEBBniXkGIv3qGJcrd/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTDXcneU7GP-1csSoVDRs2tsXhyvgwL0EzmydNscPhWV4jZlFJcQC0RlYA1_zE6Lc6ugAepMhZ5gyn4DK2ARnyqUF9o_PBUIrjVKAlEDPnHgkULiC0mgpDZ0FkyLEBBniXkGIv3qGJcrd/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful fall weather at Myriad Gardens.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Winter: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Winter in OKC was a total trip for us. We're not only used to milder winter temperatures in Georgia, but we're also used to driving through that mild weather. We knew we were in for a whole new ball game with being carless in the wintertime, but our expectations were definitely surpassed. Coming from a place where a little mild snowfall happens, oh, maybe once a year (which is evidenced by how <a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/atlanta-snow-storm-102839.html#.VBoqqvmwJNk" target="_blank">prepared</a> Georgia is for accumulation), we were totally amazed by the amount of snow and ice we experienced last winter. That said, you would think it would have been a challenge for us to keep warm, but that came fairly easily. Get pelted a couple of times with 20 mph winds in 20 degree weather and you'll quickly figure out that you need to put on thermal underwear and double up on socks. Once we got the layering under control, we were pretty good to go. It's weirdly fun in its own way, being carless in the winter - going out in snowy weather feels like an adventure, and I'm actually looking forward to it this year. Watch out for me - I'll be the girl with two hats and two scarves on. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9haEnjIL9MhQ1Si-v6m6R1qJ6v_CB1BXkk_YC6qghHaWH3wkvFBiuHXp37AhVDbfk8DfyNnf9Awn3BHF55njvwts7HmbRnDxf1XseSsRWMMmJyS4ZWrK92pQnvE0vnbPSvaLe_2LCi0od/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9haEnjIL9MhQ1Si-v6m6R1qJ6v_CB1BXkk_YC6qghHaWH3wkvFBiuHXp37AhVDbfk8DfyNnf9Awn3BHF55njvwts7HmbRnDxf1XseSsRWMMmJyS4ZWrK92pQnvE0vnbPSvaLe_2LCi0od/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Christmas Story.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spring: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spring in OKC is a lot like fall in OKC, except with more rain and scarier storms. We thankfully didn't experience anything life-threatening this past spring, but we did our best to be <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/06/you-versus-force-of-nature-what-to-do.html" target="_blank">prepared</a> for it. Other than the potential for tornadoes, spring is generally pleasant if a little bit unpredictable. As with any time of year, it's good to read the weather reports and be prepared with an umbrella and layers. We started riding bikes this past spring as well, which made an already lovely season even more enjoyable after the winter of the polar vortex. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW6Vdz_cm4RifUHKsNTxaCT8enLFkbzy9HlyGJMtFOmc8VsVOgfS7Qrujiyfk-c4UFKZYIwDBrWrDTryuW37PKRfbJi0kruWpNyirnF2QCC1gBD2C0dCnqZHVuvPXUqKOxrVv-2e4fRhC/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW6Vdz_cm4RifUHKsNTxaCT8enLFkbzy9HlyGJMtFOmc8VsVOgfS7Qrujiyfk-c4UFKZYIwDBrWrDTryuW37PKRfbJi0kruWpNyirnF2QCC1gBD2C0dCnqZHVuvPXUqKOxrVv-2e4fRhC/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring frolicking.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Summer: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we first moved here, a lot of people told us to watch out for the summer heat, and I have to admit, we kind of laughed in their faces. We come from GEORGIA, we boomed; the DEEP SOUTH, if you're unfamiliar, where summer means swimming through 100% humidity with a cloud of gnats flying around your head. *We've got this*, we scoffed. And while the humidity in OKC doesn't come close to what we grew up with, I have to say, the heat itself did surprise us. We're used to hills and shade trees, both of which go a long way to alleviate the scorching heat, as well as cool breezes, which are surprisingly scarce in the summer here. In Oklahoma, HOT WIND is a very real phenomenon, and as it turns out, a breeze isn't always a blessing on a blistering day. We learned just how hot it can feel out here on the flat, treeless prairie, especially when each gust of wind may as well have come out of a hairdryer. That said, we adapted pretty well. We learned to accept a little more sweat into our daily lives, and how to dress for maximum coolness. Furthermore, we learned that when the high is 100, you just don't go out in the middle of the day if you can help it. Timing is everything. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcfBYi8Iwo7zdpZuJaqlwpIY8brM0ctbsXXeAZkF6C5gGgpLFefwxc89Gv2rFDAGmydiTw4qqusJCvhbtD6kWokl1560dJGs0V6mDjfPoo0c0RiQ-2mOT1CZ7dWsuVRqHSdZN6AqZmwRK/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcfBYi8Iwo7zdpZuJaqlwpIY8brM0ctbsXXeAZkF6C5gGgpLFefwxc89Gv2rFDAGmydiTw4qqusJCvhbtD6kWokl1560dJGs0V6mDjfPoo0c0RiQ-2mOT1CZ7dWsuVRqHSdZN6AqZmwRK/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cycling on a summer evening, because otherwise we'd probably die of heat exhaustion.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's to our next cycle of seasons in OKC! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Make sure to catch our segment on KOSU 91.7 FM tomorrow morning (Thursday 9/18) at 7:35am! We'll be on next Thursday at the same time as well. Follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC for reminders to tune in. Make sure to tweet and tell us what you think!</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-50258668912227637162014-09-04T21:25:00.000-05:002014-09-04T21:25:22.411-05:00Our Three Least Favorite Times To Be Carless In OKC<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello, everyone! Our goal here at Carless In OKC is to show everyone that it's possible to live without a car, even in a city without good <a href="http://www.news9.com/story/23962823/okc-ranked-low-in-walkability" target="_blank">walkability</a> or extensive public transit options. We've been carless for almost a year now, and I would definitely say that we're <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/06/carless-and-loving-it-reflections-on.html" target="_blank">succeeding</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>However.</i> As positive and dedicated as we are, there are a few aspects of daily life that are surprisingly difficult with a carless lifestyle. It's not necessarily what you would think, and these are, for the most part, specific to Oklahoma City. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Banking</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Banking has been a problem for us since day one. Neither of the banks we used in Georgia are in Oklahoma City, so we had to open new accounts here. Determined to avoid the big banks, we chose a credit union upon our arrival, and while we're happy with their service in general, we made that choice before we decided to go carless. We've been dealing with a bank that is not only not very close to our home, but isn't even located on a bus line, and that is only open during business hours. We would probably switch banks, but that would mean we'd have to take time off during the workday and then rent a Timecar to get there, and so far, we've been unwilling to do the former just to change banks. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view. So many banks that we can't even use.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I never imagined that banking, of all things, would be such a problem. Maybe I've always been spoiled, but I'm used to extended hours, Saturday banking, and a branch on every corner. <b>And living downtown, where we can literally see at least 4 banking headquarters from our living room window, it seems ridiculous that we can't even use one of those banks.</b> They're located mere blocks away from our apartment, but they're only open when we're at work, Monday through Friday, which renders them useless to us. That's the paradox of living in downtown Oklahoma City - in most places, downtown is where the action is. Here, however, when everyone goes back home to the suburbs after 5:00pm, everything closes. Sure, we have some great restaurants, but those of us who live downtown are left without access to some basic goods and services, like banking and...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Grocery Shopping</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forgive me if I'm beating a dead horse here, but<b> it's ridiculous to me that there's not a walkable, full-service grocery store in or near downtown Oklahoma City</b>. That's not to say that there aren't <i>any</i> grocery options, but I don't feel that I'm being overly nitpicky to say that they don't fulfill my needs. I love Native Roots, and I shop there regularly, but they don't carry everything that I buy on a weekly basis. Homeland is also located somewhat nearby, but I prefer a wider selection of organic foods. And since it's located about a mile away, it's just far enough of a trek to make carrying groceries home a pain, but also just close enough to make taking a cab seem like a waste. We used to solve this by walking to the store, and then taking a cab home with all of our purchases. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then came <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/do-you-know-about-car-sharing-services.html" target="_blank">Timecar</a>. Once we discovered this service, we were then able to make our weekly trip out to Sprouts or Whole Foods with relative ease. As much as we love Timecar, though, we shouldn't have to go to 63rd and May to get groceries.<b> Downtown (or more likely, Midtown) Oklahoma City needs a smaller-format, full-service grocery store, period.</b> It's not like they don't exist elsewhere. Trader Joe's or <a href="https://www.earthfare.com/" target="_blank">Earth Fare</a>, where are you?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/lead_photo_wide/members_EarthFare081814_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/lead_photo_wide/members_EarthFare081814_0.jpg" height="177" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earth Fare - the best store. I want it here so badly.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Nature</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll be honest: I know we're a little spoiled. Before we moved, our home in Georgia was surrounded by woods. Our backyard actually connected with the hiking trails of the State Botanical Gardens. We were living in the midst of the great outdoors, and our house was only a couple of miles from downtown Athens. Pretty much anywhere in Georgia, you have the feeling that nature could take back over within a couple of years if given the chance; the flora seems to be barely contained. Even when I lived in Atlanta, I never felt like I was that far from nature. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another concession I'll make is that we're kind of comparing apples to oranges with the outdoors experience there versus here. Flat, grassy prairie will never feel the same as the hilly, tree-covered Piedmont region that we grew up with. Therefore, when we start craving nature, part of us is looking for the Deep South experience we're used to, and it's harder to get that here. Trying to achieve that without a car, we've learned, is not easy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last weekend, for example, we wanted to go check out the Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge. Like we always do, we researched the best way to get there. No bus route stops there, of course, but neither does one even get close enough for us to ride the bus with our bikes and then cycle the rest of the way. It's possible, I'm sure, but in this heat, it didn't seem like a viable or pleasant option. Not to mention, I'd be afraid to ride on the roads that far out from downtown - I doubt that it's very safe for cyclists. Again, of course it's <i>possible</i>, but<b> the bottom line to me is that the transit system fails if it doesn't take people to recreation areas.</b> There's not a Lake Hefner stop - the closest you can get to Hefner on the bus is about a half mile to a mile - nor is there a stop for Lake Overholser itself or Lake Draper. <b>These recreation areas are pretty much only accessible by car, which I don't think is very good public health policy.</b> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are plenty of parks that are on bus routes, yes. The Oklahoma River <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/04/happy-trails-okcs-best-kept-secret.html" target="_blank">Trails</a> are located close to downtown and have great connectivity with Bricktown, but at least on the north side, the sidewalk and bike lane access is inconsistent. Again, it's <i>possible</i> to reach them on foot or by bike, but those paths are poorly marked and/or maintained in many areas, and it sends a clear message that pedestrian and bike access to the trails is not a priority. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was a lot more accepting of this situation until <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/06/no-car-no-problem-our-trip-to-portland.html" target="_blank">our</a> <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-sincerest-form-of-flattery-lessons.html" target="_blank">trip</a> to Portland, Oregon. Before that trip, I had never personally used such an effective array of transportation options, and I was thrilled by just how much we were able to do without a rental car while we were in the city - including taking a bus directly to a wilderness trailhead, taking a 7 mile hike which passed multiple bus stops at road crossings in the middle of the woods, and then being able to hop onto the MAX light rail at the end of the trail to head back into the city. Now I just feel indignant that I have to work so hard to experience the outdoors. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQU9zNvDivyzHyuVGXoUzJmaDNSUtBkDdjEIE2bqLVayotUnND6IqcwhjM88N9rQGBrRPUai_LYIz_K63CkaWot6KtZ09BVFrmDBVFgbsaLRAaIbpBbmNalI7xtRaSU2_ZP2brmAEw1k7/s1600/pdx102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQU9zNvDivyzHyuVGXoUzJmaDNSUtBkDdjEIE2bqLVayotUnND6IqcwhjM88N9rQGBrRPUai_LYIz_K63CkaWot6KtZ09BVFrmDBVFgbsaLRAaIbpBbmNalI7xtRaSU2_ZP2brmAEw1k7/s1600/pdx102.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, Portland: Ride a bus to the middle of a hike if you want.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">None of these issues is severe enough to deter us from our car-free mission, but we'd be lying if we said everything we do is a cakewalk. We live in a place where we have to make it work, because we want to, and these are the three areas where making it work is a mild, yet consistent, annoyance. One reason why it's frustrating is because this state of affairs is so counter to our ideals. <b>We support walkability and alternative transportation options because we want accessibility for everyone, regardless of where they live and how they choose to travel. </b></span></div>
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<i>Tune in to KOSU 91.7 FM and listen for us on the radio in the coming weeks, as we begin a series of radio segments about the blog. We don't have a set time yet, but follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC and when we find out, we'll let you know when to listen. Hope you enjoy!</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-52420990408822115142014-07-29T18:57:00.000-05:002014-07-29T18:57:30.945-05:00How To Beat The Summer Heat Without A Car<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Summer is in full force, which means very high temperatures
in Oklahoma City. Now, I know there’s always someone who lives in a hotter
place (trust me, I’ve lived in Georgia most of my life) but no matter who lives
in the hottest area of the world, <u>this post offers tips for what has worked for
us in beating this summer heat on foot or by bicycle.</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>First thing is first: You’re going to sweat</b>. You can
regulate it to some degree with the tips below, but it’s not likely you’ll be
able to avoid it, so figure out what works best for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1. Stay hydrated!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everyone knows the importance of this one. Dehydration has
many symptoms that you should be aware of: Increased thirst, Dry mouth and
swollen tongue, weakness, dizziness, palpitations (feeling that the heart is
jumping or pounding), confusion, sluggishness, fainting, inability to sweat,
and decreased urine output (<a href="http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/dehydration-adults" target="_blank">WebMD</a>). If you are experiencing any of these while
outdoors, immediately seek water; this is your body telling you that something
is dangerously wrong, so listen up! Don’t wait until you feel these symptoms to
start drinking water. Drink water before you go walking or biking, and bring
along the largest water bottle you can easily carry. A general rule of thumb is
to consume 1 cup of water every mile (15 to 20 minutes) in addition to 16 oz.
before you go out. Gatorade or something similar after a long walk or bike ride
will help to replenish </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">electrolytes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tUJwz8tY1FNPay-_NQUEaSXbaMsXrVzJ-drXfGDeSfR9XM9HfBPKI-mgcalrq0WLGT2nAnP0v4N5FYUosm_6l-ACKL4T_EyCEaa4lJq89fc9Hi3_kr16c8jAwYTKTGJvYZjZK_hD77Vz/s1600/hydrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tUJwz8tY1FNPay-_NQUEaSXbaMsXrVzJ-drXfGDeSfR9XM9HfBPKI-mgcalrq0WLGT2nAnP0v4N5FYUosm_6l-ACKL4T_EyCEaa4lJq89fc9Hi3_kr16c8jAwYTKTGJvYZjZK_hD77Vz/s1600/hydrate.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This may be a little overboard...</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Wear suitable clothes!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I walk to work in the morning, then back home for lunch,
back to work after lunch, and back home after work. The temperature in the
morning is always manageable, but around lunchtime and 5:00pm it’s typically
very hot. Since I’m dressed business casual, I don’t have a lot of options to
reduce the impact of the heat on me. What I can do is wear light colored shirts
that reflect the sunlight rather than absorb it, and wearing a hat can provide
a little shade for your face and neck. When not dressed for work you can wear
sporty clothes that wick sweat from your body, and avoid cotton socks that may
get damp and cause blisters on your feet. Breathable shoes are
great as well. And, of course, wear sunscreen. You also always have the option
to change clothes at work (and shower if you’re employer provides this option).
Read about this from our friends over at <a href="http://bikeokc.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/bikeokcs-guide-to-biking-in-the-summer/" target="_blank">BikeOKC</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNfq-53AimNZW6f16vzNvHltTbRtkydVq-IVSsehyphenhyphenwhWmC2Ksc7-2-prWv7hCnxf_Vm4mWwpW12WOQGrgDH6pvZ6giYYMX762LwZLag5luWiOoCmq9hexjdD5Yg1hQty3jCTBG2eAy6LA/s1600/Nike-Fly-Knits-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNfq-53AimNZW6f16vzNvHltTbRtkydVq-IVSsehyphenhyphenwhWmC2Ksc7-2-prWv7hCnxf_Vm4mWwpW12WOQGrgDH6pvZ6giYYMX762LwZLag5luWiOoCmq9hexjdD5Yg1hQty3jCTBG2eAy6LA/s1600/Nike-Fly-Knits-1.jpeg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are knitted shoes -- very breathable!</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. Plan your route to be as pedestrian-friendly as possible!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take the time to prepare your route to include as much shade
as possible. While there is no rule of thumb about the difference in
temperature between direct sunlight and shade, shade is your best friend on a
long walk during the summertime. So, plan the shortest route you can that you
know has vegetative cover. This can be pretty difficult in OKC, due to a lack
of street trees. I suggest going through older neighborhoods where there are
older trees along the streets and in people’s yards. You can still get
sunburned if it’s overcast outside, and you likely won’t have a totally shaded
route, so wear sunscreen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim51TzGt09OJ2YXqPxTdKGsK5YISwmGgq7D5l4i5Km1u8-UFdVo3XDCdIY4YFkEQbM3iZ758pJaJdQypWKvaYFKyW65dEtIBrtXtLuTrEDn-MA1ktMgiJHPKiIAcvDP4kOwmaAEMqV1RJp/s1600/Shady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim51TzGt09OJ2YXqPxTdKGsK5YISwmGgq7D5l4i5Km1u8-UFdVo3XDCdIY4YFkEQbM3iZ758pJaJdQypWKvaYFKyW65dEtIBrtXtLuTrEDn-MA1ktMgiJHPKiIAcvDP4kOwmaAEMqV1RJp/s1600/Shady.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These street trees provide ample shade; a perfect place for walking or biking when it's hot out.</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Plan your walks around the daily temperature cycle!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If possible, take your walks in the morning and evening to
avoid the heat of the mid-day. The angle of the sun will cast longer shadows at
these times of day, giving you a greater amount of shade.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQe9Lo4j_-P7JyWfNPhk0w5XH6IpBJEmak611f9Eei1gwiIYTeOdnRFmORUCOb-G4CUekyFCtQ6gVw0QONaWWhxWDjXbTkVC6wrerQKOwWkbfWpSZ_KJk7i6BSa-xMv3gBXo6wQnZH6YD/s1600/Obama-Sweating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQe9Lo4j_-P7JyWfNPhk0w5XH6IpBJEmak611f9Eei1gwiIYTeOdnRFmORUCOb-G4CUekyFCtQ6gVw0QONaWWhxWDjXbTkVC6wrerQKOwWkbfWpSZ_KJk7i6BSa-xMv3gBXo6wQnZH6YD/s1600/Obama-Sweating.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the President deals with the heat. It's okay to sweat, just be prepared like Obama!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>5. Be aware of air conditions!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This applies to heat and air quality. The summer heat and
humidity create conditions that increase ground-level Ozone (O<sub>3</sub>),
which is harmful to humans and animals, potentially causing respiratory
problems, particularly for young children, the elderly, and people with chronic
diseases. Ozone is a by-product of motor vehicle emissions, and in Oklahoma
City, very little mitigation has occurred. Oklahoma City will likely be
considered a non-attainment area by the EPA in the next couple of years, which
will cause stricter regulation to be taken to improve air quality. You can do
your part to avoid this by driving less, making sure your vehicle is performing
properly, and taking public transit when feasible. We’ll do a full post on air
quality in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklAUbe0oSlV4r5t5XlIvLd9x2KVRKPmtLFGtmgQigxghGLLJO-aIbEA1UlQM_qcBa0ss7zWlu9BLAgHcyAS03Lh_DmCxaF3ulUU8uGC2v2dz2faXB06mzIhcEEAfx8y5ecvUQHXWU8qiz/s1600/poor-air-quality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklAUbe0oSlV4r5t5XlIvLd9x2KVRKPmtLFGtmgQigxghGLLJO-aIbEA1UlQM_qcBa0ss7zWlu9BLAgHcyAS03Lh_DmCxaF3ulUU8uGC2v2dz2faXB06mzIhcEEAfx8y5ecvUQHXWU8qiz/s1600/poor-air-quality.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cough Cough</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As always, being prepared is the best way to mitigate the
negative risks associated with being carless. Whether the weather is very hot
or very cold, making sure to take the necessary preparatory steps to ensure
your comfort and safety will keep you happy.
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are plenty of other strategies to beat the heat that
we didn’t mention, so leave your tips and tricks in the comments!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-74440509655274878232014-07-20T15:47:00.000-05:002014-07-20T15:48:29.062-05:00Waking Up From The American Dream - Suburbanization, Public Transit, and Racial Segregation<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here at Carless In OKC, it's probably fairly obvious that we are not fans of suburban sprawl. The suburbs themselves are not inherently harmful or offensive; it's what they represent, the circumstances from which they grow and thrive, that are problematic. The history of U.S. suburbs is quite insidious, and it's good for everyone to know why they developed in the first place. Other factors contributed to suburbanization, such as the rise of the automobile, the post-WW2 economic boom, and the growth of the U.S. interstate highway system, but it is undeniable that racism and classism played a considerable role in how our current urban/suburban model of living has developed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You've probably heard the term white flight before, but in case you're unfamiliar with it, I'll define it here. <a href="http://www.citylab.com/work/2013/11/mapping-60-years-white-flight-brain-drain-and-american-migration/7449/" target="_blank">White flight</a> is a term that is used to describe the vast migration of mostly middle- and upper-class whites from increasingly racially mixed urban regions to racially homogeneous suburban areas. The term "white flight" is somewhat of a misnomer because it implies that whites left the area immediately upon the arrival of minorities into their neighborhoods, but that's not exactly how it went. Yes, there were some who packed up and got out of Dodge the moment they saw (or <a href="http://abagond.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/blockbusting/" target="_blank">thought</a> they saw) a non-white person move in on their street, but there were many more who stayed, at least for awhile, and defended "their turf" using various unsavory and unethical methods.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8d13000/8d13500/8d13572r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8d13000/8d13500/8d13572r.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Over the following years during this post-WW2 period there were </span><a href="http://reimaginerpe.org/node/2807" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">many practices</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and institutions in place that served the purpose of preserving the homogeneity of the white urban neighborhoods. </span><a href="http://wpsa.research.pdx.edu/meet/2012/greer.pdf" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Redlining</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, named for the lines on a </span><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2014/05/30/where_to_find_historical_redlining_maps_of_your_city.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">map</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> that denoted unfavorable (read: predominantly non-white) areas, involved denying or charging more for services like banking and insurance for residents or businesses within those areas. </span><a href="http://reimaginerpe.org/node/2809" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Institutionalized mortgage discrimination</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> enabled its sinister companion, contract sellers, who </span><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/03/the-ghetto-is-public-policy/274147/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">preyed on</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> would-be black homeowners by collecting payments on a home and not relinquishing the deed until the contract was paid in full. This effectively stripped the "homeowner" of the ability to build equity while simultaneously saddling him with all the responsibilities of home ownership, along with the looming possibility of being put out on the street in the case of a single late payment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These practices, along with racially restrictive <a href="http://www.bostonfairhousing.org/timeline/1920s1948-Restrictive-Covenants.html" target="_blank">covenants</a> and <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-08-21/news/1997233064_1_daisy-myers-levittown-epithets" target="_blank">violence and intimidation</a>, disenfranchised and discouraged minorities from owning homes or living in certain areas. This cycle went on for at least a couple of decades, most notably in cities like <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131004/METRO01/310040001" target="_blank">Detroit</a>, <a href="http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/May-2014/The-Long-Shadow-of-Housing-Discrimination-in-Chicago/" target="_blank">Chicago</a>, and <a href="http://mappingdecline.lib.uiowa.edu/map/" target="_blank">St.</a> <a href="http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/discussing-delmar-divide-line-stark-racial-and-economic-division-st-louis" target="_blank">Louis</a>, until they fell (or were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelley_v._Kraemer" target="_blank">legally</a> forced) out of practice. The damage, however, had already been done throughout the years of quasi-segregational practices, and when the smoke cleared, by the 1980s, urban and suburban areas were, for the most part, <a href="http://www.wired.com/2013/08/how-segregated-is-your-city-this-eye-opening-map-shows-you/" target="_blank">heavily divided</a> along racial lines. <i>(To read more about this time in American history and how it still affects us today, I highly recommend this incredible <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/" target="_blank">piece</a> by Ta'Nahisi Coates.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since then, there are <a href="http://streetsblog.net/2011/03/30/pro-sprawl-policies-help-make-milwaukee-americas-most-segregated-region/" target="_blank">many</a> <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/08/06/2419681/ohio-bus-discrimination/" target="_blank">metropolitan</a> <a href="http://sandiegofreepress.org/2014/04/faux-transportation-planning-in-san-diego-racism-and-red-herrings/#.U8r2ifldVDw" target="_blank">areas</a> where the public transit situation has deteriorated and consequently reinforced these racial and socioeconomic divisions. In Atlanta, for example, proposed extensions of the local rail system (MARTA) into the surrounding counties have been defeated again and again, despite the fact that Atlanta suffers from notorious traffic congestion and would greatly benefit from expanded public transit for commuters. Why would these municipalities knowingly reject a plan that would relieve one of the biggest problems of the region? Many say - and there's <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/atlanta-braves-move-cobb-county-about-race-not-transportation-1470814" target="_blank">considerable evidence</a> <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/01/atlanta_s_snow_fiasco_the_real_problem_in_the_south_isn_t_weather_it_s_history.html" target="_blank">to support</a> <a href="http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2013-02-17/fight-over-atlanta-mass-transit-raises-race-issues" target="_blank">this</a> <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/31/how-racism-preordained-the-atlanta-transit-mess.html" target="_blank">idea</a> - that it's the same old white flight song and dance; namely, that affluent whites who live in the <a href="http://project.wnyc.org/backofthebus/" target="_blank">suburban counties don't want to extend</a> public transit to their areas for fear of poor minorities from the inner city gaining access to their precious exclusive neighborhoods. Fearmongering around this idea is widespread; for years, opponents of public transit have spread lies about increased crime and decreased property values that are sure to follow the expansion of service into the Metro Atlanta suburbs, and unfortunately, many have bought into these lies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Furthermore, a stigma <a href="http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2012/07/race-class-and-stigma-riding-bus-america/2510/" target="_blank">has grown around public transit</a> in many cities, not just the ones with firmly defined urban/suburban racial and socioeconomic regions. Public transit such as commuter rails and buses <a href="http://grist.org/cities/mass-transit-ridership-is-increasing-from-pathetically-low-to-just-low/" target="_blank">were once</a> viable transportation options for everyone, but as negative ideas about public transit have spread in some areas, ridership has decreased among those who have the choice to drive. As a result, those left on the buses and trains are the groups who don't have the choice. As this ridership demographic shifts, so does the opinion of what it means to take public transit. This is why, in certain cities, those who utilize public transit are pitied or labeled as less fortunate, regardless of their actual circumstances, and this discourages many people from taking public transportation. Using public transit has become a stigmatized activity in places like Oklahoma City, and as long as this is the case, problems with racial diversity and transportation will, at best, remain stagnant, if not worsen. </span></div>
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<a href="http://socialistorganizer.org/wp-content/uploads/end-racism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://socialistorganizer.org/wp-content/uploads/end-racism.jpg" height="188" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">not</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> trying to say that everyone who lives in the suburbs is racist, just like pointing out that white people benefit from privilege and institutionalized racism isn't the same thing as saying that every white person is a racist. This is a commentary on the societal systems that have been in place for many years and how they have informed our current state. The way to move forward is to raise awareness and to be open to ways that we can mitigate these conditions for the betterment of everyone's way of life. The first step, to me, is to approach city planning with an open mind - as far as I'm concerned, that's an entirely reasonable order, with the potential for revolutionary effects.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-17839205572972548632014-07-13T16:35:00.000-05:002014-07-13T22:55:15.263-05:00The Sincerest Form Of Flattery - Lessons Learned In Portland, Oregon<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In our last <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/06/no-car-no-problem-our-trip-to-portland.html" target="_blank">post</a>, we talked about our fabulous vacation to Portland (and Bend) Oregon, and what we experienced while using the superb array of transportation options there. Here, I'd like to cover what we saw as takeaways from those experiences - the lessons that we think would be helpful here in OKC as we expand our alternative transportation infrastructure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1. </b><u>One little tidbit we picked up in Portland is streetcar sponsorships.</u> The <a href="http://embarkok.com/" target="_blank">Embark</a> buses obviously already sell print advertisements and bus wraps on the outside, which brings in revenue, but the Portland Streetcar went a step further: the "voice" that announces stops inside the vehicle would add, "The <a href="http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/" target="_blank">Portland Streetcar</a>: Brought to you by (insert company name here)." I'm sure a local company would love to pay to get that exposure, maybe even enough to help close the funding gap that's keeping Embark from providing evening and Sunday service on all routes. Just a thought.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYbLqahJ8fpXKoaajObIFUZOQ6XijvXRxDe7oqrCIlAGt4FCYaeiuP-zUH3IW8uz2oVfK99Af3isEalc-juvWnBajWBzmFGhO9ijw3NiSiuvzM_ujWs_v4rA994Vzsi3-phh_ncztAEmS/s1600/pdx115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYbLqahJ8fpXKoaajObIFUZOQ6XijvXRxDe7oqrCIlAGt4FCYaeiuP-zUH3IW8uz2oVfK99Af3isEalc-juvWnBajWBzmFGhO9ijw3NiSiuvzM_ujWs_v4rA994Vzsi3-phh_ncztAEmS/s1600/pdx115.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The MAX pulling up to Pioneer Courthouse Square</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2.</b><u> The pedestrian infrastructure in Portland is extremely conducive to walking as a way of getting around.</u> There are sidewalks and crosswalks everywhere, along with automatic walk signals. How does this differ from normal walk signals? Automatic signals don't have a button that has to be pushed to activate the signal; when the traffic light turns green, the pedestrian signals in that direction immediately switch to "walk."<b> It's important psychologically to not have to "ask permission" to cross at an intersection as a pedestrian. This simple change makes a pedestrian feel welcome and included, rather than alienated. </b>I can't tell you how many times John and I have come up to an intersection in OKC just as the light changed, but because we pushed the crossing button at just that moment, we didn't get the walk signal. It's frustrating and demoralizing; and worse of all, since we usually just go ahead and cross (after checking to see if cars are turning across the crosswalk), if we happened to be struck by a car, we would bear the liability because the walk signal wasn't on. We shouldn't have to wait through an entire traffic light cycle just because we arrived a second too late to hit the button, and we should also have some legal protection if we get hit by a car when lawfully and reasonably crossing the street at a crosswalk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another great feature of Portland pedestrian crossings: the "walk" signal stays on - not blinking, but steady - for a LONG time. There's none of this getting the "walk" signal for 5 seconds (not even enough time to cross the road in most places), then blinking "don't walk" for 10 seconds. Again, this is another subtle difference that makes a pedestrian feel welcome and protected.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0uid065ge4Qey1kLxZm9EV3Cy_01yhQZcXp73iGZ4Z9AnBUI6s8poj-uVhrMQCIaSnIyQWid3T3ClBs9DKsNIHn9Fy7VF25gL1evr0bK1Gp-T-JeSM2HNPzgN7-75I1uxfrUA78EI73u/s1600/pdx023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0uid065ge4Qey1kLxZm9EV3Cy_01yhQZcXp73iGZ4Z9AnBUI6s8poj-uVhrMQCIaSnIyQWid3T3ClBs9DKsNIHn9Fy7VF25gL1evr0bK1Gp-T-JeSM2HNPzgN7-75I1uxfrUA78EI73u/s1600/pdx023.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walking across the Burnside Bridge - note the car lanes, sidewalks, AND bike lanes.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxI4EUFmKCDbr30nGOPtzsi_SQH4vlJN4AxLtl6-jb1OUzkfua7LnOjYo2Yr0Z7zbMqiOrjRSUU9wBHP-cPGh5oqmIQ81-9FdNjGsdbJHufq5grq0ulFh50fwH1VMhmS8Wmk2YkLqYByH/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxI4EUFmKCDbr30nGOPtzsi_SQH4vlJN4AxLtl6-jb1OUzkfua7LnOjYo2Yr0Z7zbMqiOrjRSUU9wBHP-cPGh5oqmIQ81-9FdNjGsdbJHufq5grq0ulFh50fwH1VMhmS8Wmk2YkLqYByH/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunset view from the streetcar - yet another way to get around in Portland.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>3. </b>Similarly, <u>the bike infrastructure in Portland is supportive of cyclists.</u> To some extent, it's as simple as having lots of bike racks available all over the city. We also found that bike lanes are nearly universal; if there is a main road, there's a bike lane on it, period. Even when we headed out of town on our way to Bend, we were still seeing bike lanes at around <i>200th Street</i> and beyond. This was an area that you could barely call the city anymore, bordering on woodsy. And better yet, people were still USING the bike lanes at that point. <b>With bike and pedestrian infrastructure, there really is a level of "if you build it, they will come" that plays into it. From a public health standpoint, this is a no-brainer: want a healthier, more fit population? Provide your citizens with ways to walk, cycle, and move more, and they will use it; everybody wins.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3TmaOxPjfG6JMVfV5Hu-opw7A9U_QYDI61zLffJy7YkXZeqJgYUn7vBxuF7gGilpiimTYyuZpqiHmIpWZlGgcrXUspMsi_8_EEV93wNBeCqGFglSZeMGjfjFo63r9zxwc8A99KsYUfT1/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3TmaOxPjfG6JMVfV5Hu-opw7A9U_QYDI61zLffJy7YkXZeqJgYUn7vBxuF7gGilpiimTYyuZpqiHmIpWZlGgcrXUspMsi_8_EEV93wNBeCqGFglSZeMGjfjFo63r9zxwc8A99KsYUfT1/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Part of the Riverfront Bike Trail</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS3G5JVr7ab7JP-4XguSavXoVcGq4p2Fpshz4zae4nTe95XJl1DWzQ0Mz19U4PAzUbNVKTfgbc_dQEtsADH8F4RnAHD2pVgJE5Poz5eDfs8BiPepTVQ0qKwbv7TD4jNrT7gDKaZt0nlIk/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS3G5JVr7ab7JP-4XguSavXoVcGq4p2Fpshz4zae4nTe95XJl1DWzQ0Mz19U4PAzUbNVKTfgbc_dQEtsADH8F4RnAHD2pVgJE5Poz5eDfs8BiPepTVQ0qKwbv7TD4jNrT7gDKaZt0nlIk/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View from the Riverfront Bike Trail</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>4. </b>In that same vein, <u>another big asset in Portland is the connectivity of public transit to hiking and biking trails, and how this plays into the overall connectivity of the city.</u> As I said in our last post, we were able to take a bus out to a wilderness hiking trail and then hike in the forest for 7.2 miles. At multiple points during our hike, we could have hopped onto a bus (there were bus stops out there) and gone home, and when we reached the end of the trail, we were able to get on the MAX light rail train and head back into downtown Portland. Between the extensive bike lanes, the various bus and MAX routes, and the many miles of hiking trails, we could conceivably walk, bike, and hike all over the city, anywhere we choose. This is helpful to John and me as people who choose not to own a car, but it's also a great option for anyone who wants to get out and move more rather than driving. OKC is already working on <a href="http://www.okc.gov/maps3/projects/trails.html" target="_blank">extending and improving</a> bike trail connectivity, and I'm here to say that we need to keep doing exactly that! I've seen the future and it's totally worth it.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uArJPIOMtaPt9uTWJw-xYcNzeO68PZuxtfgozCqKlSPQSYuzSpJlITKiC0_4G9DxagvbJIvbMD0LG1xF4Y8QW9AP_P3YHQMKEmi1omLElHTL9ysE30lw-8QCM0Slx_4yFfh7OdyWt28i/s1600/pdx102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uArJPIOMtaPt9uTWJw-xYcNzeO68PZuxtfgozCqKlSPQSYuzSpJlITKiC0_4G9DxagvbJIvbMD0LG1xF4Y8QW9AP_P3YHQMKEmi1omLElHTL9ysE30lw-8QCM0Slx_4yFfh7OdyWt28i/s1600/pdx102.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finished hiking? Just catch a bus back home!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchxj7VlzTZE6S-bFNzG2lRmDDgbYHrzaw4DPIboPa4ipvXFG09FO1qeUyzbvUQGhzrXF6nebYlFzLBgx5urAKN9GKdImchtzVZuIsqrapJXTL9XhMQSMEH25-dj6zXaI1mx_cIolT_lO1/s1600/pdx104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchxj7VlzTZE6S-bFNzG2lRmDDgbYHrzaw4DPIboPa4ipvXFG09FO1qeUyzbvUQGhzrXF6nebYlFzLBgx5urAKN9GKdImchtzVZuIsqrapJXTL9XhMQSMEH25-dj6zXaI1mx_cIolT_lO1/s1600/pdx104.JPG" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finished hiking? You also have the option of taking the MAX light rail.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYLJEP9btbisHt1xXbZ5TZ2kOyM6v_v2oo8lZQ83o73b75sN1x9NapYNg3kEMe6GhEBNbjHkggslQ2-mo3-M7y0VMMEOJtYrqhODEBKjh6aOVCplIoAYWaZjSwZ6nJ7KUX1tqqnkyxRms/s1600/pdx105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYLJEP9btbisHt1xXbZ5TZ2kOyM6v_v2oo8lZQ83o73b75sN1x9NapYNg3kEMe6GhEBNbjHkggslQ2-mo3-M7y0VMMEOJtYrqhODEBKjh6aOVCplIoAYWaZjSwZ6nJ7KUX1tqqnkyxRms/s1600/pdx105.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Washington Park underground MAX light rail station at the end of our hike through Forest Park.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The point here isn't to dump on OKC. Portland has its own issues, like the skyrocketing homeless population (to be fair, however, this is not because Portland repeatedly fails its most vulnerable citizens; the situation is <a href="http://www.kgw.com/news/Several-cities-providing-homeless-one-way-bus-tickets-to-Portland-230134681.html" target="_blank">quite the opposite</a>. And while we enjoyed our riverfront bike ride on Thursday morning, John and I both had to admit that we definitely prefer the <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/04/happy-trails-okcs-best-kept-secret.html" target="_blank">river trails</a> in Oklahoma City - they're much easier to navigate. The reason we're talking about this is because evidence shows an <a href="http://www.today.com/id/47992439/ns/today-money/t/cities-grow-more-suburbs-first-time-years/#.U8L53vldVDw" target="_blank">upward trend</a> of young people moving into walkable cities, and if Oklahoma City wants to continue to attract that demographic, it will have to keep making changes that align with that culture. So far, OKC has been doing many things right, but there's still a lot of potential for improvement. I've seen a great deal of community pride and excitement since moving to OKC, so I have faith that the city can continue to grow in a way that will make us the kind of place that other cities aspire to be be like.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-3047092306255740602014-07-06T19:57:00.000-05:002014-07-06T19:57:39.220-05:00The Paseo District and First Friday - Carless Rating #9 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuduxYryn_unwPdGjr9feM1EBuNMs_MPuMlA4zWWAtqEPXv46pCezjw7Dqaxya3vrPaL6BTuaXcHuVd8X_GyOfrhFDQaRUNqm_NCf5hwdxkwTgh8ubH_PLB5t-9dG-OfdBbGL18XX8ZXM/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuduxYryn_unwPdGjr9feM1EBuNMs_MPuMlA4zWWAtqEPXv46pCezjw7Dqaxya3vrPaL6BTuaXcHuVd8X_GyOfrhFDQaRUNqm_NCf5hwdxkwTgh8ubH_PLB5t-9dG-OfdBbGL18XX8ZXM/s1600/cover.jpg" height="147" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borrowed from VisitOKC website -- The Paseo District is Oklahoma City's local art district</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Let's do a carless rating! But first, some thoughts on art
and what it means to a city...</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Creative types
get a lot of flak in modern society, being seen as flighty, lazy, and
self-absorbed; artists for artists' sake. But this viewpoint is poison. We're all
artists; if we want to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Something that
strikes me about the concept of art is its inherent uselessness. Sure, there's
interactive art, but I think the real beauty of art lies in the fact that it
requires concerted effort towards the creation of something that does very
little more than exist. Objects in space that interact with the people who find
themselves in their presence. And every piece of art, means a great deal to
someone. We see ourselves in art -- the celebrated, and the forgotten, the
realism and impressionism. Pieces of art are collections of the interior beings
that created them, put on display for all the interested people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> <i> "Yes, I like
this piece.. the colors, the brush strokes, the joining members..."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i> "Look how the artist chose to mix media."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i> "It's as if the subject is breaking out of the frame,
transcending worlds." </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These matters of opinion let us into the mind of someone
else for a moment. They're exposed. The psychology of association allows us to
draw conclusions about another person's life, while we compare it to our own
experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5h6fmA_2fNb77edJUx_FNn-X8G6fjE9bhgVPizjXZgx_RdbW8mQKXjEfzap9evCCrp5Ml8JbNH-U9CCzlK183lQunsAV1y07iNTkIMXRIWVaXzTTFAYtWB_gVH-844C0swqZHH5YEL-g/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5h6fmA_2fNb77edJUx_FNn-X8G6fjE9bhgVPizjXZgx_RdbW8mQKXjEfzap9evCCrp5Ml8JbNH-U9CCzlK183lQunsAV1y07iNTkIMXRIWVaXzTTFAYtWB_gVH-844C0swqZHH5YEL-g/s1600/painting.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A painter was painting this fantastic portrait during the First Friday event!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And can a city really be a city without local artists? Sure.
But without culture, a city is just a machine. A robot. There are signs of
humanity, but any emotional expression is superseded by the whirring of
turbines, the clanking of steel, and the repetitious banging of hammers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>That's
why the Paseo District is important to Oklahoma City.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We visited the Paseo District on a recent First Friday. Whether you like the art
or not (and I do like some of it, but also feel there is waaay too much
pseudo-Impressionist work -- making it feel like people acting like artists
rather than artists contributing their insight to the culture <span style="font-size: xx-small;">sorry for being blunt!</span>) there is an frenetic energy during First Friday that swirls through the air whispering
in your ear how desperately Oklahoma City wants to express itself. Musicians
occupy any gap in the sidewalk they can nest in, while their melodies overlap
with their adjacent neighbors, creating a symphony of earnest creation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpKWnpeFdqMaM52PUgUG1HtyLvTyx3VuHNUQi1QJplCa1vY7rvEQh_EopJOtUTnwRtcnld7iq4zwiOaQ91fseUL1zKtLAdcL0lx7gF9HPnZVtBEA5-4H1ssBN1rFCI7qI7xDV7sFgRK0S/s1600/from+ground.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpKWnpeFdqMaM52PUgUG1HtyLvTyx3VuHNUQi1QJplCa1vY7rvEQh_EopJOtUTnwRtcnld7iq4zwiOaQ91fseUL1zKtLAdcL0lx7gF9HPnZVtBEA5-4H1ssBN1rFCI7qI7xDV7sFgRK0S/s1600/from+ground.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image is borrowed from our friends over at Downtown on the Range. It really captures the energy of First Friday.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, in principle, First Friday is fantastic. In practice...
it's still pretty great, but some things are amiss. Half of the so-called
galleries are actually women's retail outlets that pass for galleries because
they have aquamarine-colored stones in their necklaces </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(again, sorry for being so blunt!)</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. I don't have a problem
with these types of establishments, and First Friday is a great way to increase
their visibility (thereby strengthening a very localized economy), but I can’t
help but feel that it cuts the art walk in half (especially for men).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regardless, I enjoy the galleries that do feature work from
different artists. It seems that Paseo is halfway between being a retail
district and an arts district, without completely being either one. There are shops
with paintings and sculpture for sale, a pottery studio, and plenty of shops
that sell odds and ends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ruW42Kk0aCksiaT8jacJURzKbwInsb4qNhw-jKNaDg2m8FOK7SAgxii3nC9wxRfAD-BOAOgjbfgh4ALEu_h2mVaeonWGBZteq4mUFyD-hH9vyal7SINGL-Qt2rd2JM0MO7jtm3QRv-Pt/s1600/food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ruW42Kk0aCksiaT8jacJURzKbwInsb4qNhw-jKNaDg2m8FOK7SAgxii3nC9wxRfAD-BOAOgjbfgh4ALEu_h2mVaeonWGBZteq4mUFyD-hH9vyal7SINGL-Qt2rd2JM0MO7jtm3QRv-Pt/s1600/food.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy pizza and beer at Sauced.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As far as food goes, this is where Paseo impresses me the
most. I've only eaten at Sauced and Picasso, but I've been very happy with the
quality of food, service, and atmosphere. The price isn't half bad, either. SOS
Bar is a great place to grab a beer and hang out, and is especially busy during
First Friday.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-rDU5mNsRIIpb-OdHOECGcK8bfIhWNVgaHXyasP4RA5T4dS26ARoqbHU5Q1pT_Mjy_ZbKrOIDhqWlxQon_SaQpZvjC7soq6RtHpAGPtebJsEgSLFrAXVav4yupjXuQ51cZ0SkvByqLLx/s1600/Us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-rDU5mNsRIIpb-OdHOECGcK8bfIhWNVgaHXyasP4RA5T4dS26ARoqbHU5Q1pT_Mjy_ZbKrOIDhqWlxQon_SaQpZvjC7soq6RtHpAGPtebJsEgSLFrAXVav4yupjXuQ51cZ0SkvByqLLx/s1600/Us.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is us and our friend enjoying beers from SOS in the same area that patrons of Sauced eat dinner.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Alright, so now let’s move on to the carless rating:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We're going to change a section in this carless review to
evaluate the walkable infrastructure located within Paseo (or any district from
here on out). The letter values will still be A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, and F
= 1. There will be five categories: Distance from home, Infrastructure between
home and the location, infrastructure within the location, atmosphere, and land
use choices.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_bky7n3nIXbkdOnPF9CitDHaumizDb4YHa9Xpwh9zhqz94yM1KxQGQsbQlml3UlYZDatBL5qH97gKzRKIuOf1NUiOkZpaq3iwBUOgxAhrz24NGY6Mu9hCcdrbg2dMJzCHDicq7gcaifo/s1600/above.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_bky7n3nIXbkdOnPF9CitDHaumizDb4YHa9Xpwh9zhqz94yM1KxQGQsbQlml3UlYZDatBL5qH97gKzRKIuOf1NUiOkZpaq3iwBUOgxAhrz24NGY6Mu9hCcdrbg2dMJzCHDicq7gcaifo/s1600/above.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial view of the Paseo District on a sleepier day.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Distance</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Paseo is a 2-mile journey from our building. By foot it'll
take a little more than a half hour, but by bike (our new favorite mode of
travel to Paseo) we get there in around 15 minutes. <b><i>This scores a C on our
scale.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Infrastructure between Home and Destination</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Getting to Paseo, we travel north on Hudson into Heritage
Hills, then cut westward to Walker and go north across 23rd and up to around
28th Street. There are sidewalks the entire way (though they are not very
accessible between 23rd and 28th), and there are bike sharrows the full way
(though these are not a very powerful form of bike infrastructure).
Unfortunately, bus line number four no longer comes by Paseo as it was removed
from service with the recent changes made to the Embark (formerly Metro
Transit) system. The closest route now is on Classen, a 7-block walk from the
Paseo District. I'd give the sidewalks a B, the bike infrastructure a C, and
the transit infrastructure a D. <b><i>Giving an average of score of C for
infrastructure between home and the Paseo District.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Infrastructure within the Destination</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sidewalks line the streets of the Paseo District, but there
is surprisingly only one crosswalk along 30th Street.. There are no bike lanes
and only one bike rack at a private business. Parking is limited to mainly
on-street parking. It doesn’t seem like much thought has been given to making
the area accessible to the surrounding areas, and would be low-hanging fruit to
really improve the district. <i><b>For Oklahoma City, this area scores a C, but in
many cities Paseo would be a good example of bad walkability. </b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Land-Use Choices</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I’ve stated, Paseo is somewhere between a retail district
and an arts district, being home to dozens of small locally-owned shops, all
with unique qualities. There are restaurants, a bar, and even a convenient
store. There are multi-family residences and single-family residences all
around the district, and common areas for people to gather. Paseo is a good
example of the benefits that a diverse land-use mix can have on an area
(property values have increased steadily since the district has regained
strength in recent years.) <i><b>I’ll give Paseo District an A in this category.</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Atmosphere</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Paseo teems with energy when events occur, and is somewhat
sleepy at other times. It can be busy and crowded, or virtually abandoned. I’d
recommend visiting at times of each, because the character differs in mostly
pleasant ways. I really enjoy walking from store to store, quelling my
curiosity around each corner. Musicians, painters, sculptors, restaurant
owners, and residents all value the space and keep it a positive (wink wink)
Paseo. <i><b>I’ll give Paseo an A here as well.</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">So that is three C’s and two A’s, giving a final score of 19
out of a possible 25. </i>We'll be recapping the first 10 carless ratings in an upcoming post to compare the different locations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Paseo is a great asset to the Oklahoma City community, and
it would benefit greatly from efforts to better integrate it into the city’s
transportation networks. I’d like to see a portion of Paseo permanently closed
to car traffic to serve as a pedestrian mall, but a good first step would be to
add crosswalks, bike lanes, and bike racks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think would improve the Paseo District? What do
you love about the Paseo District?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-77952648053498578372014-06-26T19:53:00.000-05:002014-06-26T19:53:47.995-05:00No Car? No Problem! - Our Trip to Portland, Oregon<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello everyone! We are back from Oregon and feeling - well, pretty tired, to be honest, but that's because we had a fantastic time on our vacation. The first few days of our trip were spent in Portland, and it's true what they say - the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVmq9dq6Nsg&feature=kp" target="_blank">dream of the 90s</a> is alive and well there. When you're in Portland, the prevailing attitude is <i>No car? No problem!</i> Needless to say, we fit right in, and our decision to forego a rental car while we were in the city was a smart one. (We did drive a rental car when we left Portland to drive to Bend for the wedding weekend. It's also worth noting that we took <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/this-aint-your-grandmas-taxi-our-review.html" target="_blank">Uber</a> to and from the Will Rogers Airport on each end of our journey, which was easy, efficient, and cost-effective as always.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhrC8r5WPAVYWf3ly1TfM4MzTEihF57Zdekju6H-1zxDP7xf1ewqdMAcqoh3V074YeH9sOvzAAkFfKjDRAui-MEett7DiHlJ4G7Ffd_-kedhNqavjwzuUzheoBQsLH4vyzVfalTlUIKaD/s1600/photo+1+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhrC8r5WPAVYWf3ly1TfM4MzTEihF57Zdekju6H-1zxDP7xf1ewqdMAcqoh3V074YeH9sOvzAAkFfKjDRAui-MEett7DiHlJ4G7Ffd_-kedhNqavjwzuUzheoBQsLH4vyzVfalTlUIKaD/s1600/photo+1+%252811%2529.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portland International Rose Test Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Once we arrived at PDX, we were immediately taken care of transportation-wise. The </span><a href="http://trimet.org/max/" target="_blank">MAX</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, which is Portland's light rail system, leaves directly from the airport, so we were able to hop right on with our luggage to head to our hotel. Before we got to the MAX, however, we passed a group of several FULL bike racks, as well as a "bike assembly area", which must be a place where you can make adjustments and repairs to your bicycle before or after riding. It seemed to us like the airport employees overwhelmingly took advantage of the opportunity to cycle to work, which makes sense in a place where it's made so easy to do so. As we rode away from the airport on the MAX, we could see many paved trails available for cyclists in addition to the bike lanes on the roads.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIsRcygb7ocmn1bYeWVuEbzu425_83B-41123B5u5hUMrIzoCJNlFY-P0vY6dujXGAyxxEVy0JC_RLCBUtucdE01yCJxneLsQtu5E7MA9gatKxkxvdt7EJWTwb2vey_kjADiTQ-VP2g3e/s1600/photo+1+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIsRcygb7ocmn1bYeWVuEbzu425_83B-41123B5u5hUMrIzoCJNlFY-P0vY6dujXGAyxxEVy0JC_RLCBUtucdE01yCJxneLsQtu5E7MA9gatKxkxvdt7EJWTwb2vey_kjADiTQ-VP2g3e/s1600/photo+1+%252813%2529.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a lotta bikes outside the airport.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAFWuoruerraRrzFBM-5FoGvvjZ5ldr3tfHCcBzQZHOBYxHc0PJbHPF0OXNMv4yb1bcOEGbRGZnI8NM4M2MH2XfKwVCvy5OkS5wuA0P1HMhxcfUh4fsl8ajcn3b_F1L2AwE2J0MgvBULm/s1600/photo+2+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAFWuoruerraRrzFBM-5FoGvvjZ5ldr3tfHCcBzQZHOBYxHc0PJbHPF0OXNMv4yb1bcOEGbRGZnI8NM4M2MH2XfKwVCvy5OkS5wuA0P1HMhxcfUh4fsl8ajcn3b_F1L2AwE2J0MgvBULm/s1600/photo+2+%25288%2529.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike assembly area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0LxaZ04XK0hI7xuYfPfLSPFQTr7SBBrkwjt4VcjlHqr9HUDtczzqGSZ9nv203YIDFQmIe15gALEQdNPoP2AGdNM4KdVroavp3mvSctFJWCixAPZ0SEbxg_bAUJnvc3z2OgCptHsoL_oi/s1600/photo+3+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0LxaZ04XK0hI7xuYfPfLSPFQTr7SBBrkwjt4VcjlHqr9HUDtczzqGSZ9nv203YIDFQmIe15gALEQdNPoP2AGdNM4KdVroavp3mvSctFJWCixAPZ0SEbxg_bAUJnvc3z2OgCptHsoL_oi/s1600/photo+3+%25286%2529.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's what I'm talking about! The bike assembly area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we approached our MAX stop, the light rain progressively worsened, and by the time we stepped off with all of our luggage, we were assaulted by a full-on downpour, complete with hail. Our umbrellas provided pitifully little shelter for us and our huge suitcases, and our feeling of unpreparedness was compounded by the fact that everyone around us seemed blissfully impervious to the rain. The citizens of Portland were splashing around in sandals without umbrellas or waterproof jackets, riding bikes and going about their activities while we dragged our sopping luggage behind us and tried desperately to figure out which way we were headed, blinded not just by the rain but also by our sense of disorientation in a new city. Luckily, the torrent let up a bit once we were under our bus stop shelter, and we were able to hop on our bus with ease.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once we got to our hotel and unloaded our belongings, we headed back out to explore the city. We were struck immediately by two things: first of all, we were shocked at how many dang cyclists there were. People were biking everywhere! At any one moment, we could look around and see <b>at least</b> 3 or 4 people on their bikes nearby, and it was clear that the vast majority of them were commuters - as in, not pros wearing kits and training, just regular people toting backpacks and traveling from place to place running errands. Bike racks were located *everywhere* and I rarely saw an empty one.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB3clRnZJtpo50rEbT_Nh4yadGrwvIQEHMQlp8lJGjRU6Ey7hvFZpWbQz-ExDzlagCtjn0VaefTSL8QIp4hY9Ut1th7xAvjXaIC4JV7pRyJpO25ildHw7WAQP8fBxKU7Fn5DH3_uDc0yd/s1600/photo+2+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVB3clRnZJtpo50rEbT_Nh4yadGrwvIQEHMQlp8lJGjRU6Ey7hvFZpWbQz-ExDzlagCtjn0VaefTSL8QIp4hY9Ut1th7xAvjXaIC4JV7pRyJpO25ildHw7WAQP8fBxKU7Fn5DH3_uDc0yd/s1600/photo+2+%25289%2529.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WAIT HERE, CAR. Bike lanes at intersections in Portland.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Secondly, we found out that being a pedestrian in Portland is the easiest thing in the world. There are sidewalks, crosswalks, and crossing signals everywhere, and furthermore, most of the crossing signals are automatic - as in, you don't have to press a button when you get to the crosswalk. The signals switch with the traffic lights. If there's a green light in the direction you're going, then the walk sign is on, period. Furthermore, drivers take pedestrian (and bike) right-of-way very seriously. Cars never creep into the crosswalk, and they always allow pedestrians to cross without trying to beat them or cut them off. Even when a sidewalk crosses a driveway, cars leaving the parking lot are very patient to let oncoming walkers cross before proceeding. This attitude is, to say the very least, refreshing. Being a pedestrian among a culture that accepts you wholeheartedly has interesting psychological effects; namely, it made us want to be better pedestrians. We never jaywalked or took any other kind of shortcuts; we always waited patiently for our signal, because <b>we always knew the signal was coming</b>, and that the surrounding cars would let us take our turn to cross. It was a surreal experience for us.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxmmvUwKEy_fyZ7MjuRVgy3OK5Epxn6zSDvHJYAG5j8d4uhzwppAmeM6CM4b2L2EjtnZDCW-zxwvaK1L7S4xPfBiQnDEna5Eu2aBdak4Pz7ooGxFREsKKt3kVgLMGIB8At-yMl248Z1mz/s1600/photo+2+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxmmvUwKEy_fyZ7MjuRVgy3OK5Epxn6zSDvHJYAG5j8d4uhzwppAmeM6CM4b2L2EjtnZDCW-zxwvaK1L7S4xPfBiQnDEna5Eu2aBdak4Pz7ooGxFREsKKt3kVgLMGIB8At-yMl248Z1mz/s1600/photo+2+%252812%2529.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John on our riverfront bike ride.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next couple of days were spent in much the same manner, but we did cross the river to spend more time downtown. The same alternative transportation infrastructure applied to the bridges across the river; we didn't experience a single bridge that was built only for cars. They all featured bike lanes and sidewalks, period. We meandered and eventually made our way to Washington Park, a huge, lush park that's home to the Portland International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden. Both of these attractions are beautiful, but we would particularly recommend the former, where hundreds of varieties of roses are grown in pretty structured gardens, and you can see it all for free.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_ND7f9GrUKp68Kdb7gwJrcU4ZYRwIzH5Ac8jJegwsyWSgnVUgZJrmtYACKR5F6svau3ppkFSFxwrkSX1cL6tyM_Pn6Jii74yoTN_mNJw9AcS3zRy0Y3LMrHk1hv3yZBZvWUo_EBqCotE/s1600/photo+3+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_ND7f9GrUKp68Kdb7gwJrcU4ZYRwIzH5Ac8jJegwsyWSgnVUgZJrmtYACKR5F6svau3ppkFSFxwrkSX1cL6tyM_Pn6Jii74yoTN_mNJw9AcS3zRy0Y3LMrHk1hv3yZBZvWUo_EBqCotE/s1600/photo+3+%25288%2529.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pioneer Square - an amazing public space. Note the MAX in the background.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We also got the opportunity to take a 7+ mile hike in Forest Park, which is an incredible wilderness experience considering that it's still an actual part of the city. Our path crossed the road a few times, and about half of those times, there was a bus stop located right off the path. You can literally take a bus to the middle of a hike in the woods in Portland. Furthermore, once we reached the end of our hiking trail, we were able to hop directly onto the MAX and take it right back into downtown. Being able to do this was an unparalleled luxury for the two of us.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxfc6Or2A9BgW-80RjMhyphenhyphen2AOD7MpvaW9RRbWywUhXs9Jx2Mcl9N-JvHaiKimwTo9kJTO3nVvDChVNcapACoQSPECaA_u74Iu9HNgar2XA2ijAm-qiwpDkYZGm0HuqQMkSZbmL2eTr2b6x/s1600/photo+4+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxfc6Or2A9BgW-80RjMhyphenhyphen2AOD7MpvaW9RRbWywUhXs9Jx2Mcl9N-JvHaiKimwTo9kJTO3nVvDChVNcapACoQSPECaA_u74Iu9HNgar2XA2ijAm-qiwpDkYZGm0HuqQMkSZbmL2eTr2b6x/s1600/photo+4+%25288%2529.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need to take a bus to the middle of the woods? Go right ahead!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAyB37aJdK_KN_0EDFy22Hp2_XQUbvnWkUsl9VHLG6Oo7ofOo-P9EjVquNpEBcIYH-z_SeUtX3CHKy62s4uomdHzPrFBHYBTydnjnEyqnQoa41STimytpgwu7MsOc_ES0DjLo9VEfKjED/s1600/photo+2+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAyB37aJdK_KN_0EDFy22Hp2_XQUbvnWkUsl9VHLG6Oo7ofOo-P9EjVquNpEBcIYH-z_SeUtX3CHKy62s4uomdHzPrFBHYBTydnjnEyqnQoa41STimytpgwu7MsOc_ES0DjLo9VEfKjED/s1600/photo+2+%252810%2529.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sequoias in Forest Park... IN Portland.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Portland, we were constantly surrounded by alternative forms of transportation. Yes, there were plenty of cars and traffic, but there were ALSO many other options, and at times, we could look around to see the MAX, the streetcar, and several buses, as well as many people walking and cycling. The buses run out to the suburbs and multiple lines run every 15 minutes in those areas. Public transit is truly a viable option in Portland, and because of the positive culture surrounding it, people of every age, gender, race, and socioeconomic class make use of the many forms of transportation. What's happening in Portland is what I imagine to be close to the ideal of urban transportation, and I believe that Oklahoma City could take several lessons from them in order to develop into a world-class city of the future.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Stay tuned for our next post, a summary of what we see as the takeaways of our trip - the lessons that OKC could take from Portland to build a more pedestrian-friendly city with greater transportation options.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-82220281783008712172014-06-15T13:07:00.000-05:002014-06-15T13:19:00.763-05:00Carless and Loving It - Reflections on the First Six Months<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello dear readers! I realized this morning that we've been writing this blog for a little over six months already! I realize that this is the most cliche thing I could possibly say, but it really seems like just yesterday that we were sitting in McNellie's Pub, googling "hobbies for couples", and deciding to <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/introducing-carless-couple.html" target="_blank">start a blog</a> together. Yes, that's really how all of this started - the blog part, anyway. We've been without a car in OKC for about nine months now, and while this started as a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8S4PZety-4" target="_blank">great experiment</a>, living without a car is now a seamless and inextricable part of our lives. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the things we've done and learned in the first six(-ish) months of writing this blog.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oqmb0U53v8VT7S_ynU05zHor7x6gGOpEUYAT5fMW5S0drnAKbpLzGmTIH8huXD80vH3uUrNW3sWQK0VUf5KnTwxLBmNlV9mnPsbyi0xPXjyHKN9EZ1WTq5QiaVs00o4rHKbMPW9DXyo2/s1600/photo+2+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oqmb0U53v8VT7S_ynU05zHor7x6gGOpEUYAT5fMW5S0drnAKbpLzGmTIH8huXD80vH3uUrNW3sWQK0VUf5KnTwxLBmNlV9mnPsbyi0xPXjyHKN9EZ1WTq5QiaVs00o4rHKbMPW9DXyo2/s1600/photo+2+%25285%2529.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out at our beloved Elemental Coffee.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #222222;">1. Haters gonna hate.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> - "Hate" might be a strong word for it, but I can assure you that some people will never be convinced that living without a car isn't crazy. It doesn't matter how much you explain the </span><a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/is-your-commute-killing-you-or-me.html" target="_blank">health</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/05/double-duty-how-being-carless-can-make.html" target="_blank">benefits</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, the </span><a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/five-perks-of-being-carless.html" target="_blank">environmental</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/going-carless-radical-act.html" target="_blank">benefits</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, or the </span><a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/okc-residents-spend-more-on-cars-than.html" target="_blank">financial</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-cost-of-owning-car-vs-going-car-less.html" target="_blank">benefits</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, there are many people for whom the idea of living without a car seems truly impossible. It's incredible how many people will straight-up tell us that living without a car simply can't be done here in Oklahoma City, despite the fact that we're living proof that you can not only live, but thrive, car-free in OKC. That said...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqpUbt9TZVZO9zYIy20X4n_yxJYc4YA0KSHIvmUxQi8u6nWMIb79sVWC_PIe38kKvtNRiChuy9gLYwseu5gH-uko4oMD_9AdZ8Lj_B4zqX5dBffM_dXCC8dxVYmiHbtwWYXMddCs6V_CB/s1600/photo+4+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqpUbt9TZVZO9zYIy20X4n_yxJYc4YA0KSHIvmUxQi8u6nWMIb79sVWC_PIe38kKvtNRiChuy9gLYwseu5gH-uko4oMD_9AdZ8Lj_B4zqX5dBffM_dXCC8dxVYmiHbtwWYXMddCs6V_CB/s1600/photo+4+%25284%2529.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John + bike at the Skydance Bridge.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2. OKC is an incredibly supportive community.</b> - Since we've started Carless In OKC, we've received so much positive feedback regarding what we're doing here. From our radio <a href="http://kosu.org/post/carless-okc-couple-promote-walkability-blog" target="_blank">interview</a> on KOSU to our appearance on the Fox 25 local news, to our <a href="http://greenokla.com/2014/04/green-oklahomas-best-of-2014/" target="_blank">win</a> for Best Green Blog in Green Oklahoma's Best of 2014 Reader's Choice Awards (which YOU won for us with your votes!), there's been no shortage of interest from OKC citizens. We <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/do-you-know-about-car-sharing-services.html" target="_blank">discovered</a> <a href="http://timecar.com/" target="_blank">Timecar</a>, which has become a valuable resource for us, because Benny Jacobs, their founder, heard about our blog and reached out to us. We've also met quite a few friends as a direct result of the blog, which is definitely helpful for us socially, considering that we moved here in September and didn't know anyone.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6eNYJliR2NFqH0UJ6oSP1KwdEl30DvQ1ez9EeiC3ktVzmIkGNhjNOs7XmNWmV6AyDL9Mj0RMFmwQte-zhpVOx8EnBMzXirFqanlF7u7pfRHwqSTxafS1w1NpALQyRm0-4Z7Q3GRctcNL/s1600/photo+1+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6eNYJliR2NFqH0UJ6oSP1KwdEl30DvQ1ez9EeiC3ktVzmIkGNhjNOs7XmNWmV6AyDL9Mj0RMFmwQte-zhpVOx8EnBMzXirFqanlF7u7pfRHwqSTxafS1w1NpALQyRm0-4Z7Q3GRctcNL/s1600/photo+1+%25288%2529.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying The Loaded Bowl during H&8th the first weekend that we lived here.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>3. Where there's a will, there's a way.</b> - 99% of the time, we can get where we need to go and do the things we need to do with no problem whatsoever. There are other times when circumstances call for us to get a little more creative. In those instances, we implement the "patchwork" <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/03/spring-cleaning-carless-edition.html" target="_blank">method</a> of transportation, in which we'll utilize a combination of walking, <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-next-logical-step-biking-in-okc.html" target="_blank">cycling</a>, riding the <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/bus-riding-101-basics-route-1-and-route.html" target="_blank">bus</a>, taking a taxi or <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/this-aint-your-grandmas-taxi-our-review.html" target="_blank">Uber</a>, and/or renting a Timecar to achieve a certain errand. It takes some finesse, but it gives us a chance to flex our creative problem-solving muscles, and it transforms a typical weekend errand into an adventure that we can undertake together.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrWbHIxtx8Vyk0bQmRkHcVCiuhjRJFzlg_ixQ7vbsrPMeAz73WQnzzL_Rbjij7PfqeNiJ36To91lH_zOC35J6XJk9lQYTG7skN_1c-LoeL2kP3MX2XB4kYjaWUcKk9d0igxz-HAAdVtsJ/s1600/photo+2+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrWbHIxtx8Vyk0bQmRkHcVCiuhjRJFzlg_ixQ7vbsrPMeAz73WQnzzL_Rbjij7PfqeNiJ36To91lH_zOC35J6XJk9lQYTG7skN_1c-LoeL2kP3MX2XB4kYjaWUcKk9d0igxz-HAAdVtsJ/s1600/photo+2+%25285%2529.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John during one of our "patchwork" trips.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #222222;">4. Being carless brings us closer together.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> - Not to get all sappy on you, but I firmly believe that living without a car has made us a stronger couple. The fact that we spend time on foot and biking together gives us a lot of extra time to talk and enjoy our surroundings as well as each other's company. Our experiences walking and cycling together stand in stark contrast against the times we've spent in the car, which are usually stressful because of traffic and navigating directions; additionally, whomever is driving must concentrate on the road, which creates a disconnect and is not conducive to quality time together. And like I said in #3, our otherwise-mundane travels sometimes turn into interesting journeys that we must figure out - facing that low-level adversity as a team strengthens our bond.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelT7diZBXTB10BObSIx3J1pdVczkjdgNo2E7WBbRLz4xVFQvfAA4B4LkrSfDwPFBn4oKNAyR2cUKJRmCXooOWxQ9oLSdoElvw4EzfyaN8bFRnyUcKo14ZDhoqKnxtNFObk7Ro0N-vZRtS/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelT7diZBXTB10BObSIx3J1pdVczkjdgNo2E7WBbRLz4xVFQvfAA4B4LkrSfDwPFBn4oKNAyR2cUKJRmCXooOWxQ9oLSdoElvw4EzfyaN8bFRnyUcKo14ZDhoqKnxtNFObk7Ro0N-vZRtS/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for a carless Valentine's Day date at Packard's.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>5. OKC is a city on the verge.</b> - We knew there was something special about Oklahoma City from the first night we spent here when we visited for John's job interview. After an evening spent checking out the city and eating dinner at Redpin by the canal in Bricktown, we were hooked, and knew that we wanted to live here. Once John got the job and we made the move, our already-high expectations were met and exceeded again and again as we settled into our life here. Up-and-coming <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-plaza-district-carless-rating-6.html" target="_blank">retail</a> and <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/automobile-alley-carless-rating-7_15.html" target="_blank">entertainment</a> <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/03/midtown-carless-rating-8.html" target="_blank">districts</a>? Check. Friendly people? Check. Top-tier NBA team? Check. Booming local economy? Check. Delicious <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/all-this-within-mile-walkable-eats-and.html" target="_blank">food</a>? Big-time check. Even the areas where we could hope for improvement are, for the most part, already being dealt with. Our biggest concern, the necessity for better public transportation and alternative transportation options, is an item that the city government has taken an interest in. The downtown streetcar, the MAPS 3 <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/04/happy-trails-okcs-best-kept-secret.html" target="_blank">trails</a> project, and the newly-passed extension of two bus routes (11 and 23) to offer evening service are all steps in the right direction toward a <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/complete-streets-whos-going-to-use-them.html" target="_blank">greater array</a> of transportation options. One of our favorite things about OKC is the desire to improve, not just on the part of the citizens but also on the part of the city government. We moved here from a place where the city government seemed to actively try to implode the city at every turn, so it's refreshing to see a new, more positive attitude here. If Oklahoma City continues on its current trajectory, it will truly be a world-class city in the very near future, and we are so excited to be here to be a part of that.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8x4CjmYiQI80OHsC6sy7thcZQ_89OtpaFw3s59mIGYkakxkmWTdRpVXdAuM4S4LTmIBwBzMyJd2nmsjExTlGlyISMpQszE4KHk7_sfy4DZSb2viWdHu-326vcq0KceNzTorzQcaiOSuu/s1600/photo+4+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8x4CjmYiQI80OHsC6sy7thcZQ_89OtpaFw3s59mIGYkakxkmWTdRpVXdAuM4S4LTmIBwBzMyJd2nmsjExTlGlyISMpQszE4KHk7_sfy4DZSb2viWdHu-326vcq0KceNzTorzQcaiOSuu/s1600/photo+4+%25284%2529.JPG" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OKC from our window.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXUoz_-Pz6zInWssP-GTJMpr_9GC2NjreqND8oJa1RNlTHhNR9Byr57Swm09JKwCcqHlI3nSJ_2fBEE-by7CcISBzw3cUrwfNY0l0U7Opc6SEvw54bvbP16nbYLxNhq9-lFncTf-k0KT7/s1600/photo+1+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXUoz_-Pz6zInWssP-GTJMpr_9GC2NjreqND8oJa1RNlTHhNR9Byr57Swm09JKwCcqHlI3nSJ_2fBEE-by7CcISBzw3cUrwfNY0l0U7Opc6SEvw54bvbP16nbYLxNhq9-lFncTf-k0KT7/s1600/photo+1+(6).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first dinner & evening out in OKC at Redpin while we were here for John's job interview.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The first six months writing for Carless In OKC, and our first nine months of <i>being </i>carless in OKC, have been more rewarding than I could ever have imagined. What started as an interesting experiment has turned into a way of life for us, and we have <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/so-when-are-you-going-to-get-car-top-5.html" target="_blank">no intention</a> of going back to the car lifestyle. We can't thank you, our readers, enough for taking us in as part of your community. Here's to the next six months!</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>With that, we are off to a week-long vacation in one of the country's foremost walkable cities: Portland, Oregon! (Well, we're spending half the week in Portland and then the weekend in Bend for a friend's wedding.) We will report back soon with our experience of being Carless In Portland! Follow us on Twitter at @CarlessInOKC for pics and updates while we're there!</i></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-33984499256506231822014-06-04T18:13:00.002-05:002014-06-04T18:13:50.137-05:00You Versus a Force Of Nature: What To Do If You're Caught Outside During a Tornado<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the most significant identifying characteristics of Oklahoma City, and the region in general, is the high occurrence of tornadoes in the area. When we found out that we were moving here from Georgia, the first thing out of everyone's mouth, upon hearing the news, had something to do with the dangerous weather. Now, I might just be restating what the locals already know, but as a Georgian who grew up in cushy, more-or-less non-threatening weather conditions, I thought it might be worthwhile to talk briefly about what to do if a tornado hits when you're outside walking or cycling. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.soundsurvey.org.uk/common/tornado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.soundsurvey.org.uk/common/tornado.jpg" height="400" width="326" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Don't be like this lady - take cover!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First, familiarize yourself with the signs of an imminent tornado. The main things to look and listen for are:</span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A dark, greenish sky</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Large, dark, low-flying, fast-moving clouds </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Large hail</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A loud roar that sounds like a freight train.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are out walking or cycling and you see or hear one or more of those, you should take cover until you know that the coast is clear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best thing to do is take shelter in a nearby building, preferably one with a solid in-ground foundation or basement. Large long-span structures like movie theatres or gymnasiums may be the easiest to get into, but their roofs are only held up by the outside walls and don't have good structural support, which means that they collapse easily - not good news for the people taking shelter inside if a tornado strikes the building. The same goes for large common areas within a building like cafeterias or auditoriums. Once inside, stay away from windows and get to the lowest, innermost level of the building. Don't use the elevator in case the power goes out, leaving you trapped inside. Ideally, you want to be able to get into a doorway or small, windowless interior room like a closet. Crouch down and protect your head and neck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are outside walking when a tornado is coming and you aren't in an area where you can immediately take cover in a building, you need to find the lowest point possible and lie down face-down with your arms protecting the back of your head and neck - the ideal area would be in a ditch or similarly sunken or recessed area of ground. If you have a jacket or backpack, you can use that to cover your head and neck as well. Because tornadoes can pick up trees and other heavy objects which can then harm you if you're in the path where they're flung, you'll want to try to take cover as far away as possible from anything that can be lifted up and thrown. For this reason, I would assume that you wouldn't want to lay your bike on the ground right beside the place where you're lying down - it might be picked up by the tornado and thrown at you. Highway overpasses may seem like a good place to hide, but they're still relatively open and leave you vulnerable to flying debris.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are also many mobile <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/12/tech/mobile/tornado-apps/" target="_blank">apps</a> that you can use to receive tornado updates and alerts. Staying informed about the possibility of severe weather is very important, and if you can stay indoors, in a safe place, when the risk of tornadoes is high, that's the best course of action that you can take. Sometimes, however, you have to travel no matter what, leaving you especially vulnerable if you're using alternative forms of transportation, which is why I've covered these bases today. This is all new for me, since the biggest weather risk in most of Georgia is heatstroke from the godforsaken heat and humidity. Thanks for reading, and stay safe!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-74306214266813810732014-05-15T20:29:00.000-05:002014-05-15T20:29:09.963-05:00Where Do The Children Play? - Gang Violence in OKC<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cities are never random. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No matter how chaotic they might seem, </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">everything about them grows
out of a need to solve a problem."</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> - </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neal Shusterman, Downsiders</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GMNNOGn3lPD-SkYXXxWkPSS4F91eEyIPif1chdJBs9K6o4OlUPFSQ0hEe4VlpweGBFUqu8G5n0w__41309gKaoZZIV_n2bf26BCKx12WqrPgdqwL3uMzDdW_8Ww0AAO50QAZUO923IdK/s1600/kids-school-crossing-636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GMNNOGn3lPD-SkYXXxWkPSS4F91eEyIPif1chdJBs9K6o4OlUPFSQ0hEe4VlpweGBFUqu8G5n0w__41309gKaoZZIV_n2bf26BCKx12WqrPgdqwL3uMzDdW_8Ww0AAO50QAZUO923IdK/s1600/kids-school-crossing-636.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We normally keep it pretty light-hearted
at CarlessInOKC, but today I want to talk about something more serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What is the scariest thing about a city?</b>
The buildings aren't scary. Streets as a physical construct, aren't scary.
Parks aren't scary. Sidewalks aren't scary. What's scary are things that are out
of our control: weather, loose animals, and most of all, <b>other people</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recently had the opportunity to work
with a school in the northeast of the city, where the group I was with taught
5th graders about walkability. We took them on a walk in the neighborhood
around the school and got them to talk about areas that needed improvement.
When asking them what the biggest impediments to walking to school or around
their neighborhoods was, a surprising theme arose -- they didn't rank lack of
sidewalks or bike lanes highly, nor the amount of lighting; they were afraid of
kidnappers, of gangs, of being hit by cars, and of vacant buildings (because
there might be scary people in them). Their biggest hindrance to being out and
about is that they don't feel that they can trust the other people who would be around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We got the students to write letters to
their Councilman, and one stood out. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6bFEFDBeOSjK2Qlfeat4OT3107x75wVVtRJzQy5gRTW6cZhZucOlI6eNhl-sevLuUTWwx1s_5L5YHgdq1ZH3SwtxasJDEFohadl2hpwpysG4yOs675RRw-zyGyGtYhpg9QBVEZ9hrcTJ/s1600/Letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6bFEFDBeOSjK2Qlfeat4OT3107x75wVVtRJzQy5gRTW6cZhZucOlI6eNhl-sevLuUTWwx1s_5L5YHgdq1ZH3SwtxasJDEFohadl2hpwpysG4yOs675RRw-zyGyGtYhpg9QBVEZ9hrcTJ/s1600/Letter.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This 5th grader's letter was one of the
most eye-opening things I've seen since beginning work in OKC. He wants to be
able to play outside, go to his park, play basketball, but he's afraid of the
people he may encounter on the way. It's an injustice that a child can't enjoy
his neighborhood for fear of violence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gang violence is an issue in Oklahoma
City, and it's not easily remedied. In fact, Oklahoma City was ranked in the
<a href="http://www.citylab.com/crime/2012/01/5-us-cities-worst-gang-violence/1095/">Top 5 U.S. cities for worst gang violence</a> by the CDC. In neighborhoods
with high poverty and low social mobility, gangs have become a solution (albeit
a faulted one) to the problem of a lack of support from a community. The
violence and illegal activity are side-effects of a much deeper problem. The
maps below show where the highest rates of gang activity occur, as documented
by incidences that resulted in police action.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4jYy_P3mMyxJuMvwlXjYAOd7EoKRAqCB9l-Q8PMJEGyg3CKRk3b7kPoNp3HgECGiaSdvl-eTmIiRJ1El4s4MesrBHerx67AnMdH_-IU6FVPHktNpMSLNw1LSsNNll5_inksyrSXu1HAB/s1600/FinalDensity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4jYy_P3mMyxJuMvwlXjYAOd7EoKRAqCB9l-Q8PMJEGyg3CKRk3b7kPoNp3HgECGiaSdvl-eTmIiRJ1El4s4MesrBHerx67AnMdH_-IU6FVPHktNpMSLNw1LSsNNll5_inksyrSXu1HAB/s1600/FinalDensity.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heat map showing where gang violence occurs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDyj6TxKiCOFMLhqPtYFTTKsxrS7JNo8Vt-r-cpkTgZXNXBJQ9eaR7fsbD_hmSbK49a50oT6ypxLoJk1Fw867kwRU7ZJBj3YXWZq3eZed2N4AYcRiXpqHLhatFYd5x6gfAKNhvHfnbmYN/s1600/PerCapitaZip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDyj6TxKiCOFMLhqPtYFTTKsxrS7JNo8Vt-r-cpkTgZXNXBJQ9eaR7fsbD_hmSbK49a50oT6ypxLoJk1Fw867kwRU7ZJBj3YXWZq3eZed2N4AYcRiXpqHLhatFYd5x6gfAKNhvHfnbmYN/s1600/PerCapitaZip.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map showing ZIP codes with highest rates of gang violence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are the incidences of the top 5 most common gang-related
crimes committed since 2008. Notice the upward trend of drug-related arrests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Year<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Drive-By<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Assault with a Deadly Weapon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Poss. Of Controlled Substance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Poss. Of Firearm<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shots Fired<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2008<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">123<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">135<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">65<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2009<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">125<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">58<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">86<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">98<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2011<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">129<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">108<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">189<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">91<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">91<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid; mso-border-right-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted; mso-border-width-alt: .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">47<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">85<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">87<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">162<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">86<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">X<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Total<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">710<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">644<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">319<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.4in;" width="134">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">222<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 79.8pt;" width="106">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">183</span></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Crime is a complex concept, and it would be a dubious venture to attempt to correlate any social trends with the numbers above; however, it is interesting to see the reliance upon drive-by shootings in a city that is known to be very car dependent. <br /><br />39 of the 63 ZIP codes within the Oklahoma City municipal boundary have at least one recorded incident of gang violence. The table below shows the five ZIP codes with the highest number of gang-related incidences since 2008, as well as the five ZIP codes with the highest number of gang-related incidences per capita (population of respective ZIP codes).</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted 1.0pt; border-color: windowtext; border-left: solid 1.0pt; border-right: solid 2.25pt; border-top: solid 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.7in;" width="163">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ZIP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73111<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73119<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73129<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73114<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73108<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .3in; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.7in;" width="163">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Total Incidences<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">308<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">284<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">238<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">231<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">210<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.7in;" width="163">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ZIP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73111<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73105<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73108<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73117<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">73114<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: .3in; mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.7in;" width="163">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Per-capita Incidences<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: solid 2.25pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">26.14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">19.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">13.68<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">13.48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: .3in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: dotted windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .7in;" width="67">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">13.26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Often, these areas with the highest
incidences of gang violence seem to be forgotten when all the great
improvements to the city are occurring, and the situation doesn't seem to be getting much better. The quality of schools, grocery stores, housing, and
infrastructure decreases because these areas must compete in a free-market
economy with regions of the city that have more wealth and a much more
well-represented citizenry.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskO1uud6OX3AUMbvcfdcqTKjfEAb7vH9xJXhJbsevoGZ9-1pZ2zsJjLgvcFzTBc-6Sh0NnFgbEXsYlz2A3vxo2Bt3V_pXFDa1QAgi8yU1zoYKo2eBYLXHBPPCN8emLTSQlrIgpGLPa-sR/s1600/ganggraffiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskO1uud6OX3AUMbvcfdcqTKjfEAb7vH9xJXhJbsevoGZ9-1pZ2zsJjLgvcFzTBc-6Sh0NnFgbEXsYlz2A3vxo2Bt3V_pXFDa1QAgi8yU1zoYKo2eBYLXHBPPCN8emLTSQlrIgpGLPa-sR/s1600/ganggraffiti.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Bad areas of town" needn't remain that way, and they
don't have to be "gentrified" to improve. What we need is a concerted
effort by the community to improve blighted areas -- incentivize revitalization
and rehabilitation of housing in the area; improve streetscape designs so that
people without vehicles can access their daily needs; incentivize grocery
stores and clothing stores to open businesses in these areas; and grow a sense
of total community such that people from all over the city can participate in
helping to bring these areas up to a more livable standard. We need intervention in the lives of at-risk teens, and support for families. We need a lot.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s difficult to overstate the importance of being able to trust
people in your community. No child should be afraid to go to the park because
of the threat of violence. They can't drive, and they are citizens just like the rest of us; we should build sidewalks and bike lanes with that in mind. Oklahoma City has so much potential, and I’d be very
happy if it could be realized for everyone across the city, regardless of where
they live, what their income is, and how old they are. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't pretend to know how to solve all of the issues related to scary people, and I would love to hear from you about your ideas to improve conditions for children; maybe, together, we can make a difference.</span></div>
Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-87640404956183883332014-05-11T20:50:00.000-05:002014-05-11T20:50:35.792-05:00Double Duty - How Being Carless Can Make You A Better Athlete<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lately, I've been thinking a lot about sports training; more specifically, I've been thinking about running, because John and I are <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/05/running-in-okc-oklahoma-city-memorial.html" target="_blank">beginning to train</a> for a half marathon in October.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Full disclosure: This is an extremely audacious goal for me. I ran my first nonstop mile a little less than a year ago, and I ran my first 5K last August, and a couple of 5Ks since then. As a person who spent my entire life being told (and worse, believing) that I was just naturally unathletic, I never thought that I'd be running races, or hell, even running at all... <i>for fun</i>. Because of that, I owe these achievements to the support of John, who always believed in my potential and who has coached me through whenever I thought I couldn't take the next step.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsTUCtvrpNCuc5e60H_m-_zSVSCSvq4S7ffmcMZSU8AWWOM7dMGDPcDjis-l2Z337vbzCDKaCAAArkz3uA6uxzDNodxCb1N4UEQz1yAuDImxyx2FXT3JkcUaYCbY8nHwklVDUnZVK7tqg/s1600/photo+1+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsTUCtvrpNCuc5e60H_m-_zSVSCSvq4S7ffmcMZSU8AWWOM7dMGDPcDjis-l2Z337vbzCDKaCAAArkz3uA6uxzDNodxCb1N4UEQz1yAuDImxyx2FXT3JkcUaYCbY8nHwklVDUnZVK7tqg/s1600/photo+1+(8).JPG" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our first 5K together - my first ever!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, there's another influence at play here that has allowed me to make the quantum leap from running 5Ks to actually thinking I have a shot at running a half-marathon in less than six months, and for that, I have being carless to thank.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know it sounds a little weird to say that not owning a car is making me a better athlete, but I absolutely believe it. My running skill before I moved to Oklahoma City (when I still relied on a car for transportation) and my running skill since I've moved here and ditched the car has followed a trajectory that isn't entirely explained by the normal rate of improvement that comes with continued practice. In fact, there was a period of about two and a half to three months there in which I didn't run at all because we were in the midst of final-stage wedding planning, the wedding itself, moving to Oklahoma City immediately afterwards, and then settling into our new home. And yet, when I began running again here in OKC, I was a much better runner than I was before, even with the extensive break from training.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoW-fbLP2lyOzsyMupNz6kLh9HTvxkgMtx48F296gWZdHpFTYWhSJ9AO-o_tA2esWirdlnpG3GUGR0uaKJDWfgm9Nine209AvsZagj-WquhUe6T0MqiocGtzleSJ-1XdnRnPLj-eGyBGr/s1600/photo+2+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoW-fbLP2lyOzsyMupNz6kLh9HTvxkgMtx48F296gWZdHpFTYWhSJ9AO-o_tA2esWirdlnpG3GUGR0uaKJDWfgm9Nine209AvsZagj-WquhUe6T0MqiocGtzleSJ-1XdnRnPLj-eGyBGr/s1600/photo+2+(8).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cats help with sports training. It's a scientific fact.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It didn't take long for me to realize why I had improved so much: Relying on walking as our main form of transportation had greatly upped my overall endurance. Ever since ditching our cars, John and I were regularly trekking around on foot for hours at a time, and without even realizing it, I had increased my ability to keep moving at a quick pace.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a lot of knowledge out there to back me up; almost every beginning running program employs walking as a way to build up endurance in preparation for running. It's one thing to set aside a certain amount of time during the week to walk; it's another thing entirely for walking to be an integral part of your everyday life. It adds up quickly to help you get to a point where you're comfortable walking for a long period of time, which translates easily to being able to run (if slowly at first) for a long period of time. Without even realizing it, our lifestyle change had positively impacted my athletic skill in an unexpected way.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Similarly, getting <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-next-logical-step-biking-in-okc.html" target="_blank">bikes</a> has coincided nicely with our training for the half marathon, as our training plans both call for cross-training a couple of times a week. Generally, cycling for a workout is much different from cycling to and from the library; however, getting those extra bike rides in during the week, even on non-training days, is helpful to us from a training standpoint. There's also the option of planning and executing our evening bike rides in a way that can serve as cross-training: cycling to dinner, for example, at a restaurant that's located far enough away to constitute a good workout.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVjFKXxYe0vYW8QYAV0JSiFKrtnM-lt5TjLC6O6PLo0hyqErbg1m6uif-HstQMYmkuTlkIQOLuDjEMVAy6893yunAdSxfyCVX3WjrMmq_4YK45EnI3swCEEEkBkpT-APN8RivU6EcxOc2/s1600/photo+3+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVjFKXxYe0vYW8QYAV0JSiFKrtnM-lt5TjLC6O6PLo0hyqErbg1m6uif-HstQMYmkuTlkIQOLuDjEMVAy6893yunAdSxfyCVX3WjrMmq_4YK45EnI3swCEEEkBkpT-APN8RivU6EcxOc2/s1600/photo+3+(7).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Training hard or hardly training, am I right?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This kind of training/living overlap was not the case when I was driving a car as my primary mode of transportation. If I wanted to train or work out, I had to fit designated workout times into my schedule. Serious training and exercise, of course, have to be planned and executed no matter what, but because of my carless lifestyle, there's this seamless integration of many of those same elements into how I get around. Training and becoming healthier and more athletic is just a natural part of my daily life now, and I love that. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-16461487658464498692014-05-01T18:40:00.004-05:002014-05-01T18:40:57.587-05:00Running In OKC - The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This past weekend was an exciting one in Oklahoma City. Between the Arts Festival, the H&8th Night Market, the Norman Music Festival, and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, there was no shortage of fun, exciting things to do in the community all weekend. Here at Carless HQ, we were particularly thrilled about the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Not only are we running enthusiasts, but we also live next door to the Memorial, and therefore next door to the festivities, making it super convenient for us to spectate on what was sure to be an unforgettable race.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxfLwYsS4DmDhD17wMZlrnlQ-PpoK49X9InkU2nXO0gjUHhs6G9lpaOq-TFiJAypkYRpXVdrRFKe8kfvqIXAykTv9fqFtz8yj0XiMXc5QaPWhJFgr4w7GqANx43Kaqi3gtcmt7lZ8BSvW/s1600/photo+1+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxfLwYsS4DmDhD17wMZlrnlQ-PpoK49X9InkU2nXO0gjUHhs6G9lpaOq-TFiJAypkYRpXVdrRFKe8kfvqIXAykTv9fqFtz8yj0XiMXc5QaPWhJFgr4w7GqANx43Kaqi3gtcmt7lZ8BSvW/s1600/photo+1+(7).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Starting to get lined up and ready to run.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We went to sleep early on Saturday night so as to be able to wake up early enough to catch the race start just after 6:00am. I woke up a little earlier than John and made my way downstairs to see how things were shaping up. I was stunned to see hundreds and hundreds of people outside of our apartment building, mostly people in running clothes with numbers pinned on, stretching and otherwise preparing to race. The air was practically buzzing with anticipation and I could barely stand still, I was getting so caught up in it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating. An intermittent light drizzle and occasional lightning in the distance threatened to ruin everything, but the weather experts insisted it would pass, so the start was pushed to 7:00, then 8:00. John had woken up and joined me by this point, and we came back downstairs to watch the runners leave once the organizers received the go-ahead to start around 8:15.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRanFUOM4f3jr5nj7KO8TE_6RkWVZz0QRSAPtkt0MgfZ5hz7WyaG19EC7BbqKZL0v7iIjH0xcAfJFybHwZb3cgsUPtpuKHa9jDl9FHx_sL6Tcl1cTKB7eT9GaeT_VX74huHzVwBBGMEKQ/s1600/photo+2+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRanFUOM4f3jr5nj7KO8TE_6RkWVZz0QRSAPtkt0MgfZ5hz7WyaG19EC7BbqKZL0v7iIjH0xcAfJFybHwZb3cgsUPtpuKHa9jDl9FHx_sL6Tcl1cTKB7eT9GaeT_VX74huHzVwBBGMEKQ/s1600/photo+2+(7).JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And they're off!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am still new to running, so I had never been to a race of this magnitude. 26,000 people were running in either the 5K, the half marathon, the marathon, or the marathon relay, and the enormous crowd of runners stretched back several blocks down Harvey. As the first wave of runners dashed off at the gun, I was overwhelmed with emotion to see so many people who had worked so hard to be here. As a new runner, I know what it's like to be in that place after so much training, so the whole scene really hit home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">John and I were almost immediately hit with another feeling familiar to runners at races in which they are not participating: "the itch." We wanted to be a part of this! I have only run 5Ks so far, and John has run one half marathon but not in several years, but as soon as we saw the runners leave out, we knew we wanted to start training for a half marathon. This feeling only grew stronger as we moved up to Broadway to watch the finishers come in. Standing at the sidelines with our Coffee Slingers coffee in hand, we saw thousands of runners cross the finish line, including the male and female winners of the half and full marathons, while listening to the awesome emcee encourage the finishers while keeping the crowd pumped up. (By the way, does anyone know who the finish line emcee was? He was incredible!)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDbxhiRMYpIGAlGiYv96liyLJMxcEGCKRpr-8bb66q1N8KAkf2Sa0d0hqNyscFWExtQ58ShSv0qf3U4-dJeJdvGtN-nHzieVt-pB2CDTDoxEyWiwnnzL4egH8Li0RpegV38e1Y-EGWaYL/s1600/photo+5+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDbxhiRMYpIGAlGiYv96liyLJMxcEGCKRpr-8bb66q1N8KAkf2Sa0d0hqNyscFWExtQ58ShSv0qf3U4-dJeJdvGtN-nHzieVt-pB2CDTDoxEyWiwnnzL4egH8Li0RpegV38e1Y-EGWaYL/s1600/photo+5+(2).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Camille Herron coming in strong to win the women's marathon.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-d-_CVQwKj-_QVoQLaaLxCf0KWO2BdzLGIRgsGdmna3ZYRis501Nk9eko_os28bSWwma1gmSO2_WD7IpZcJ7jJlTzKu0LhUE5CLzp4RD_68FzaGRBo0vgK2zcUO9rxjXk-U5FucJrw7M5/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-d-_CVQwKj-_QVoQLaaLxCf0KWO2BdzLGIRgsGdmna3ZYRis501Nk9eko_os28bSWwma1gmSO2_WD7IpZcJ7jJlTzKu0LhUE5CLzp4RD_68FzaGRBo0vgK2zcUO9rxjXk-U5FucJrw7M5/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Jason Cook crossing the finish line to win the men's marathon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We went home afterward and immediately started looking up races taking place in the next few months. My original plan had been to train to be able to run a half marathon by next year's Memorial race, but after John found a half marathon scheduled for mid-October </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> a 25-week half marathon training plan, I decided to just go for it. Watch for the Carless Couple running around town in upcoming months because we are now officially in training - and we were inspired by the runners of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-68274689767691580052014-04-21T20:40:00.001-05:002014-07-29T21:39:50.153-05:00Let's Find The Worst Bus Stop In OKC - Contender #3<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's time to continue our search for the <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-search-is-on-lets-find-worst-bus.html" target="_blank">worst</a> <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/04/lets-find-worst-bus-stop-in-okc.html" target="_blank">bus</a> stop in OKC! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's specimen comes from 6th and Walker, and at first glance, it doesn't seem to be <i>that</i> terrible. Once you start pulling back the layers, however, that onion gets pretty stinky. Let's talk about why.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QrkI0wahPtuFD2lLDllJlOaZz8QdCKkyUk2Sv5oml-ach2emnfv7xy-u2gPNeMg8hw0vj0Rtt9YsNag9OrM-_vXM0vdNGOZLAJ1DdRGzQ1LBN8E5vhhhE5v1pymFIzU8TYgNSoAgTyI6/s1600/photo+1+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QrkI0wahPtuFD2lLDllJlOaZz8QdCKkyUk2Sv5oml-ach2emnfv7xy-u2gPNeMg8hw0vj0Rtt9YsNag9OrM-_vXM0vdNGOZLAJ1DdRGzQ1LBN8E5vhhhE5v1pymFIzU8TYgNSoAgTyI6/s1600/photo+1+(6).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's not 100% apparent from this photograph, but this sidewalk is not only in rough shape, but it's also kind of steep, so this bench is sitting at an uncomfortable sideways angle. For once the bench isn't positioned in a way that tips forward or leans back, but don't get too excited with OKC bus stops, because they'll often find a way to be awful. In this case, you might fall off the side. Also, while the seat itself isn't leaning forward, the seat back is thisclose to doing so, which is definitely not a comfortable way to sit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think the starkest issue with this bus stop is the fact that between it and the utility pole directly beside it, the entire sidewalk is taken up. It's one thing for an able-bodied person to be able to squeeze by, but a person with a wheelchair trying to get through would get <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AxcZYOMPwVurr4I2wMqaHRGCgcZLbDLSxrbqCFfWjLnkwNcbSsWGSuU8UWp7_BG2Qv79jh5ABdfML1s-BBLYcmqudozjS9MPBcR3ZqyZDokdiVfChHg2uWnuYa-x6H1DlEVpnmVGsBet/s1600/shall-not-pass.gif" target="_blank">the Gandalf treatment</a>. This bus stop is so inaccessible that it's basically come full-circle back to being accessible, in a way, because rather than not being able to get to the bus stop, a physically challenged person would have <i>no choice</i> but to stop and use it. So I guess in a way it's like an ADA-<b>super</b>-accessible bus stop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I guess I should just be thankful that the stop isn't covered with heaps of trash and that there's no splintered wood sticking up out of the seat, but I have to say, this one is just so idiotically placed that I find it just as offensive. Maybe it's not even the bus stop's fault - even if the bench weren't sitting directly beside the utility pole, the sidewalk is still too narrow to accommodate both the bench and a wheelchair. That is the result of inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, plain and simple. It's not only disabled people that would be at risk; this stop is directly beside a school. And I'd like to see a mother with a stroller try to get past it. This bus stop situation is irresponsible and dangerous. On top of that, this is located in downtown. Is THIS what we want tourists to associate with OKC public transit?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is this the worst bus stop in OKC? I bet we can find worse. If you find a terrible OKC bus stop, comment and let us know, or better yet, snap a picture and share it with us on Twitter using the hashtag #WorstOKCBusStop!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-49083443934761873552014-04-16T19:12:00.000-05:002014-04-16T19:14:26.302-05:00Happy Trails - OKC's Best-Kept Secret<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you may have read in our <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-next-logical-step-biking-in-okc.html">post</a> from a couple of days
ago, we’re riding bikes now! Living downtown, we’ve gotten to experience a
little bit of riding in an urban environment, but one of the best kept secrets
(maybe not that much of a secret) in downtown OKC is the river trails. Oklahoma
City has employed great measures to activate a once derelict stretch of the
Oklahoma River, with such success that it is now a <a href="http://boathousedistrict.org/training-site/">certified Olympic and Paralympic Training Site</a> for rowers, canoe-ers, and kayakers. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEssN-LFVFN4M7m_JvZOO02YJacCaapd8o5FeYYZcANIXoQ3J_8-eoHdL9KP657tt8BUPZRoDPBkNcIvPyeILSqFfWS5FVIiXySxtwsXiiFwj9QjchPi71xkbcWFgvAdd5PAMxD5izaBZ/s1600/Rowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEssN-LFVFN4M7m_JvZOO02YJacCaapd8o5FeYYZcANIXoQ3J_8-eoHdL9KP657tt8BUPZRoDPBkNcIvPyeILSqFfWS5FVIiXySxtwsXiiFwj9QjchPi71xkbcWFgvAdd5PAMxD5izaBZ/s1600/Rowers.jpg" height="217" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a team of rowers practicing while we were down there.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We rode the roughly 2 miles to the North River Trail, which
is a 6-mile stretch of well-paved multi-use path, primarily utilized by cyclists.
We headed west and were very pleased with the wonderful views of downtown, the
wetland habitats that are either being restored or maintained (not sure),
plenty of people exercising, and a wide variety of waterfowl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmeqLSpCfyZ-9Y4Ywp_7D-Iv1qSHhIx4GsWgUmLOKZ29VRZUFBC26SFANeUKQc0Du-jkz9MO6OhC-t1CH41asx0OWyfBeY1wouRvmbXGlYiQUwRSo3Z66CqpVSrFB2S6AtSMeD1O-0Clz/s1600/river_trails_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmeqLSpCfyZ-9Y4Ywp_7D-Iv1qSHhIx4GsWgUmLOKZ29VRZUFBC26SFANeUKQc0Du-jkz9MO6OhC-t1CH41asx0OWyfBeY1wouRvmbXGlYiQUwRSo3Z66CqpVSrFB2S6AtSMeD1O-0Clz/s1600/river_trails_map.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We rode all the way
to Agnew Avenue and then turned around and rode east to the end of the trail at
the boathouses, where we then went under Interstate 40 and into Bricktown. We
did all of this without having to get off of our bikes or interact with motor
vehicles. I’m of the opinion that these trails should be coupled with Complete
Streets to increase the amount of biking in the city. If we prioritize streets
that intersect with the multi-use trails around the city and improve them with
sidewalks and bike lanes as connections to specific points of interest in the
city (neighborhoods, districts, downtown, etc.), we can build the culture of
alternative transportation that is struggling to take hold presently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, let’s talk a little bit more about the trails. Right now
there are 80.5 miles of trails in Oklahoma City, the majority of which align
with the major water bodies (Oklahoma River, Lake Overholser, Lake Hefner).
There is an additional 53.5 miles of trails that are planned and in the process
of completion, mostly funded through the MAPS 3 sales tax. The completion of
these trails will create quite a large network around the city, connecting
south to Moore and Lake Stanley Draper. There doesn’t seem to be a planned
connection to Edmond, which would be a nice addition.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAGb6N0mnwB2UG5TKFp_JdDBqVejp6IUH5NG12lBfkewBKyk4PE-FC7WWkBVpCe8z8PmIRevW_WW-lJSodXdi_hGO77iap9iWhLPOmrG3BnU9eZfYiWjJ-mzglISjZjf4iCksaidzzq95/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAGb6N0mnwB2UG5TKFp_JdDBqVejp6IUH5NG12lBfkewBKyk4PE-FC7WWkBVpCe8z8PmIRevW_WW-lJSodXdi_hGO77iap9iWhLPOmrG3BnU9eZfYiWjJ-mzglISjZjf4iCksaidzzq95/s1600/Picture1.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OKC Trails Network</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What’s a reasonable distance to travel without a car to the
trails? On foot, I’d say a half-mile, which is about a 10-minute walk. By bike,
I’d say 2.5 miles, or about a 10-minute bike ride. The maps below show
residential units that are within these distances. Nearly 45,000 people (7.2%
of the total OKC population) live within a 10-minute walk, and a whopping 394,000
people (63.2% of the total OKC population) live within a 10-minute bike ride of
the existing trails system, which will only increase with the addition of the
planned trails.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4pGSmMF9sxhT39i09oHdU48nmpwvR_SAA9M_tmZRyUTlk7r6Xb0ox92lrnX7_aHCK_qIparYVVjpVeAVR0lRgVnsGm3w3TlOz8BZK_E3gF-MEoWe8lqblrhthGZow65Mut5Gyeaf-rjc/s1600/10Walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4pGSmMF9sxhT39i09oHdU48nmpwvR_SAA9M_tmZRyUTlk7r6Xb0ox92lrnX7_aHCK_qIparYVVjpVeAVR0lRgVnsGm3w3TlOz8BZK_E3gF-MEoWe8lqblrhthGZow65Mut5Gyeaf-rjc/s1600/10Walk.jpg" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18,000 homes are within a 10-minute walk of the trails</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7B9SKjWwSiSpMkAZyicQkDm4_033Kbi5JLkEgAAbH0LRXhBXaVUKuA6aVG6fAgfBrOP0EoC6m6WC4P_yic61ZDeYsLkOAyDXmWKtRBcsbN9cZN5u-UCxpHVUBtNeOHT7kl7BSIAVwwPW8/s1600/10BIke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7B9SKjWwSiSpMkAZyicQkDm4_033Kbi5JLkEgAAbH0LRXhBXaVUKuA6aVG6fAgfBrOP0EoC6m6WC4P_yic61ZDeYsLkOAyDXmWKtRBcsbN9cZN5u-UCxpHVUBtNeOHT7kl7BSIAVwwPW8/s1600/10BIke.jpg" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">157,600 homes are within a 10-minute bike ride of the trails</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oklahoma City has an opportunity to increase the level of
physical activity within the population in a fun and environmentally attractive
way. I imagine that most of the people who live within a 10-minute bike ride of
the trails don’t realize it. We need to spread the word and get people out on
the trails to see their city while also getting exercise. The trails represent
a great opportunity to improve public health, feature public art, host events
that generate income, and many more positive things. We can make these trails
more than just an exercise venue as well; we can better connect people to jobs,
housing, schools and other daily needs if we invest the money needed to create
a network of usable bike and pedestrian infrastructure fused to the greater
network of the trails system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below are more photos from our adventures down at the river
trail. Thanks for reading, and go vote for us for <a href="http://greenokla.com/2014/04/best-of-2014-voting-open/">Best Green Blog on Green Oklahoma’s </a> website!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmiH8NtCRPR5MmvdtGTkSciwTrR07U2I0kowKuGWIi_lJxrZnoDsM6Fs0HlOgbfYNxvwLX4pcacP9QMoav98MAifZiH_ye_Wm_drmu_V5OQKI6omwY7JAdE3h3n5qoqexpm3kPvDahw2K/s1600/Johntwo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmiH8NtCRPR5MmvdtGTkSciwTrR07U2I0kowKuGWIi_lJxrZnoDsM6Fs0HlOgbfYNxvwLX4pcacP9QMoav98MAifZiH_ye_Wm_drmu_V5OQKI6omwY7JAdE3h3n5qoqexpm3kPvDahw2K/s1600/Johntwo.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta-da! The trails.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ9PCOs2DEBHV3yA6GnH2ZeYwT_8npBcyRT72oJ8XZ0I-wYCIS0RW1hTfVC4jZnY7Cwxnss3oRR5W4wa4Wo8fcoVcPezNb1VrRQWErb77vGHsmAQaSH-qA6qzpWNPKVBrCdwwTvxzZcOf/s1600/exercise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ9PCOs2DEBHV3yA6GnH2ZeYwT_8npBcyRT72oJ8XZ0I-wYCIS0RW1hTfVC4jZnY7Cwxnss3oRR5W4wa4Wo8fcoVcPezNb1VrRQWErb77vGHsmAQaSH-qA6qzpWNPKVBrCdwwTvxzZcOf/s1600/exercise.jpg" height="205" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People getting their exercise on with downtown in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyJ1dSwD4SxYpHf9YvIfaZDZn7E-ipE97Ypwgj9Xk8dGYtI9R-Ate5w34R8aNrXVSyZAyB3KaE69kPuQxUrkHehMRRrv4o1ttdTSP5OMo-i8bZIlnHaWEyYwuwmjj2Qhf-us8jpBdg2Z2/s1600/beth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyJ1dSwD4SxYpHf9YvIfaZDZn7E-ipE97Ypwgj9Xk8dGYtI9R-Ate5w34R8aNrXVSyZAyB3KaE69kPuQxUrkHehMRRrv4o1ttdTSP5OMo-i8bZIlnHaWEyYwuwmjj2Qhf-us8jpBdg2Z2/s1600/beth.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth always finds time for a selfie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPcMTARTaCXe_-Cj0zgtCGqgLKE7VYsTQhRplxCo0ipzyC2O8QwbemHxHsBDw33Uot4QcL1kuYS0UfKbE600v4nHpRuJxjnHkHfnYhrtVfNH8izORShRsgdy_6Hx9I0a3qZ2CTXnDnY1H/s1600/Devon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPcMTARTaCXe_-Cj0zgtCGqgLKE7VYsTQhRplxCo0ipzyC2O8QwbemHxHsBDw33Uot4QcL1kuYS0UfKbE600v4nHpRuJxjnHkHfnYhrtVfNH8izORShRsgdy_6Hx9I0a3qZ2CTXnDnY1H/s1600/Devon.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken from a moving bicycle, no Photoshop. It really captures the feeling of downtown from the trails. Who needs a tripod?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBmugQSvuY8f5QoKXSoPCHFnX23mcrqdFX_Y-6Dr_ZJnxlB9GtCf6n9eFokEDfME-_5kebaYi7u_RWRAIhRppdQT-8P8VrDQYTMPVp7F5jIPa_FqbpNHe3a6GESIngffTUBJkqYbNhIEt/s1600/featheredfriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBmugQSvuY8f5QoKXSoPCHFnX23mcrqdFX_Y-6Dr_ZJnxlB9GtCf6n9eFokEDfME-_5kebaYi7u_RWRAIhRppdQT-8P8VrDQYTMPVp7F5jIPa_FqbpNHe3a6GESIngffTUBJkqYbNhIEt/s1600/featheredfriends.jpg" height="217" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HONK HONK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejGNBW7lgvuqHBekRcAxNmW3J7JSJXoJiG1XlrVPeh1upBSj7nlLWWCHhQZ8n2y8_FBmAm9B9d-WRHc6z6ywMv7ldxGcNI1_dDHdB9Y8hWD0Xk4qml-3aSnDg2erQSS4U8lJvc5Z2crei/s1600/johnback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejGNBW7lgvuqHBekRcAxNmW3J7JSJXoJiG1XlrVPeh1upBSj7nlLWWCHhQZ8n2y8_FBmAm9B9d-WRHc6z6ywMv7ldxGcNI1_dDHdB9Y8hWD0Xk4qml-3aSnDg2erQSS4U8lJvc5Z2crei/s1600/johnback.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We finally found some beautiful nature in the downtown area, and we're very happy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-71535930143302733732014-04-15T18:21:00.000-05:002014-04-15T18:27:24.666-05:00Let's Find The Worst Bus Stop in OKC - Contender #2<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday! It's been awhile since I started <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-search-is-on-lets-find-worst-bus.html" target="_blank">this feature</a>, but don't worry, I've been collecting the evidence. Today, let's take a look at another contender for the hallowed title of Worst Bus Stop in OKC. There's some stiff competition in this category, folks, but I'm determined to find the winner.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOeTYQ5y-dL-0XDOIeufQKJ6eSqsbIlGC04DkvpY0nhO0OtyPr-DwGBGuVV8PH9LLIMBUD-RUHtMb0wmGyYBCLObCgqr6tiZg8OBI2DGY8UL124Zktp_zsJJWHLkkfc73kZWSMqQUsnof/s1600/photo+4+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOeTYQ5y-dL-0XDOIeufQKJ6eSqsbIlGC04DkvpY0nhO0OtyPr-DwGBGuVV8PH9LLIMBUD-RUHtMb0wmGyYBCLObCgqr6tiZg8OBI2DGY8UL124Zktp_zsJJWHLkkfc73kZWSMqQUsnof/s1600/photo+4+(5).JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today's example comes from the Plaza District. John and I came across this frightening specimen during a snowy walk to RetrOKC several weeks ago. The bus stop was empty when we discovered it, which is no surprise, because <i>honestly</i>, who would (or could) sit on that thing? I've observed before that OKC bus stops tend to tip forward like the occupant is teetering just over the top of the first hill on a rollercoaster, but this one really takes that concept to a new level. It's like something out of a carnival funhouse. Maybe that's what's been going on all along- OKC bus stops are specifically designed to make us feel like we're going crazy. Hats off to Tyler Outdoor Advertising for that one, because <i>it's working</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Who am I kidding... we know exactly <a href="http://www.tyleroutdoor.com/bus-benches" target="_blank">why</a> these benches are made to be so difficult to sit on.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What kind of carnival funhouse only caters to the able-bodied population? I'll tell you what kind: the crappy kind. It's 2014, everyone; it's time to make your bus stops and pedestrian infrastructure ADA-accessible. A wheelchair ramp on a bus doesn't do much good if said wheelchair can't get to the bus stop to begin with. A decent, level sidewalk that's kept free of snow and ice would actually benefit everyone here, disabled and able-bodied, because no matter how you're getting around, that slippery snow bank is going to be treacherous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I mean, honestly, this bus stop hardly fulfills minimum requirements. If people can't sit on it, or even get to it, what is the point of even putting it there? <a href="http://www.tyleroutdoor.com/bus-benches" target="_blank">Oh yeah...</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is this the worst bus stop in OKC? This one <b>is</b> nearly impossible to use, but it's also not covered with garbage like <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-search-is-on-lets-find-worst-bus.html" target="_blank">the last one</a>, so maybe we need to keep looking. If you know of a particularly awful OKC bus stop, comment and let us know, or better yet, snap a picture and share it with us on Twitter using the hashtag #WorstOKCBusStop!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guess what? Carless In OKC was nominated for Green Oklahoma's Best of 2014 Reader's Choice Awards! We would really appreciate it if you would go <a href="http://greenokla.com/2014/04/best-of-2014-voting-open/" target="_blank">vote for us</a> in the Best Green Blog category - every vote counts! Feel free to vote for whomever you want for the other categories, but if you're stumped on the Best Green Service category, vote for Timecar!</span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-43616846847499351512014-04-14T21:16:00.001-05:002014-04-14T21:27:26.802-05:00The Next Logical Step - Biking In OKC<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hello everyone! Despite today's <i>snow</i>, it's technically springtime, and we here at Carless HQ are excited because our range has grown considerably.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Watch out - we're on bikes now!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvyu4iXy8A7K__ACnoID80AszQUNQWGDwA36tUujnplL_2g8vhuixu9YTYYz30IpqKrAYtGgYcZTQbXIhMXWZASXJCPkVq-8vhQSj1YEpzqMXCjQumaehPSB7Ru0NLi-wkpPp3B5FkNfe/s1600/photo+1+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvyu4iXy8A7K__ACnoID80AszQUNQWGDwA36tUujnplL_2g8vhuixu9YTYYz30IpqKrAYtGgYcZTQbXIhMXWZASXJCPkVq-8vhQSj1YEpzqMXCjQumaehPSB7Ru0NLi-wkpPp3B5FkNfe/s1600/photo+1+(5).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My bike!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last weekend, we set out to find a bike for me, and we were fortunate to find a great deal on a Schwinn comfort bike in fantastic condition. John already had a good bike, so we took his in to <a href="http://schlegelbicycles.com/" target="_blank">Schlegel Bicycles</a> in <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2014/01/automobile-alley-carless-rating-7_15.html" target="_blank">Automobile Alley</a> for a tune-up. While we were there, we stocked up on a helmet, lights, and a basket for my bike as well. As someone who is new to biking and who definitely feels a bit intimidated by the idea of going into a bike store and dealing with really experienced cyclists, I have to say that the folks at Schlegel are awesome! Everyone that we talked to was helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. John paid a very reasonable amount to get his bike tuned up and into riding condition, and again, the bike shop guys were on top of their game and explained everything that needed to be done in a concise yet thorough way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once we got our bikes all set up and ready for the road, it was time to get acquainted with riding in OKC! John has done city biking a good bit before now, but I'm more or less an amateur. Luckily (at least in this scenario), downtown streets aren't very crowded outside of business hours Monday through Friday, so we're able to ride around without too many cars on the road, which is great practice without it being too scary. We've gone for several rides since getting our bikes going, and they've all been fun and safe!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pYIBZ5JBoEYfTr9Km7NrpuocI1LyT0AQEzjDrZt74CVdwWegBiWxv4JORyMS7MkAX_Dnh17eNmkp6DAZPXG10aeRsjtrr0MD5vXgY7c-KNFyyH5k_2KSoNf4rE4XIprMf8GhbXlM6V4y/s1600/photo+4+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pYIBZ5JBoEYfTr9Km7NrpuocI1LyT0AQEzjDrZt74CVdwWegBiWxv4JORyMS7MkAX_Dnh17eNmkp6DAZPXG10aeRsjtrr0MD5vXgY7c-KNFyyH5k_2KSoNf4rE4XIprMf8GhbXlM6V4y/s1600/photo+4+(4).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John at the Skydance Bridge</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a great development for us as a carless unit because it really expands our range and options on a daily basis. For example, we love the <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-plaza-district-carless-rating-6.html" target="_blank">Plaza District</a>, but because it's located about 2 miles away, which is around a 30-35 minute walk for us, it wasn't always the most viable option for, say, dinner on a weeknight. That distance was also too short to really warrant renting a <a href="http://timecar.com/" target="_blank">Timecar</a>. If I wanted some Fungus Among Us pizza from Empire Slice House, which is usually only available as a slice in the middle of the week, we would be looking at an hour of walking for dinner, plus the time it takes to eat. We have no problem with the time or distance in and of itself - we are very used to walking long distances - but on a weeknight after work, it's a little prohibitive to spend that much time traveling to and from a restaurant. Now, however, the Plaza District is an easy 10-15 minute bike ride, which is totally do-able on a weeknight after work. This means that I can eat my favorite pizza, Fungus Among Us, alllll the time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not to mention, we can now ride our bikes down to the river and then run on the pedestrian trails. The Paseo District is also way more accessible to us and we can finally do some real exploring there. Having our bikes also adds another possible method to the days when we need to cobble together a transportation plan, like yesterday when we went to buy the matching loveseat to our couch. We needed a truck to get it home, so we rented the Nissan Frontier from <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/do-you-know-about-car-sharing-services.html" target="_blank">Timecar</a> at OCU because the Ranger was unavailable at the Deep Deuce location, which meant that we needed to take an <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/this-aint-your-grandmas-taxi-our-review.html" target="_blank">Uber</a> to get to OCU in a timely fashion. We took the Timecar to 63rd and N. May to purchase our loveseat, loaded it up, brought it home, and then John threw his bike in the back of the truck, returned the truck to the OCU Timecar location, and rode his bike back home. This kind of patchwork transport may seem a little convoluted, but we've gotten used to it, and it totally works for us. Furthermore, it's rarely necessary; we only have to do this when there's some extenuating circumstance, like a large load that requires a truck.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BhkTYTPVg-mQciMHiNL0tgrRvxjZRjwGmKcQvvY9oeepPrPzJGy_DqRmxMN4RABjpfgD0LV3GitjBAPDcYQ4vpKsty7XhQqbRXjqj-dvxlrMc-y3cxVJUFYCG01lvxGDGR6AyvsjWnIK/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BhkTYTPVg-mQciMHiNL0tgrRvxjZRjwGmKcQvvY9oeepPrPzJGy_DqRmxMN4RABjpfgD0LV3GitjBAPDcYQ4vpKsty7XhQqbRXjqj-dvxlrMc-y3cxVJUFYCG01lvxGDGR6AyvsjWnIK/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Buster is pro-bike, too!</span></td></tr>
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<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Expect more cycling-related posts this spring and summer as we really get into navigating the city by bike. We'll share our exploits, and hopefully we'll eventually have some tips and tricks for how to get around by bike in OKC. Likewise, if you have any pointers to share, we'd love to hear them! Comment below and tell us how YOU get around by bike in OKC!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-41497533600169172332014-03-25T18:01:00.000-05:002014-03-25T18:01:26.584-05:00Spring Cleaning: Carless Edition<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last Thursday was the first official day of spring, and we've been welcoming the new season with some spring cleaning here at Carless Central! We don't usually operate on such a seasonal schedule, but the issue was pushed this year when my father came to visit from Georgia two weekends ago. The purpose of his trip to OKC was twofold: the main reason, of course, was to see John and me for the first time since we moved here last September. The second reason was to bring a huge load of our remaining furniture and other belongings that were still in Georgia being stored at my parents' house. If you'll <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/introducing-carless-couple.html" target="_blank">remember</a>, we moved here on an airplane, with a couple of stuffed suitcases and two angry cats in tow. We had no furniture, and only as much clothing and bedding as we could carry in our baggage.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oVWZJ5c9iQw-x9eRKNiiVKnx4j3wAsjNwvaRCffiPh5eYHVfv9DWlQQL99W-ndDoMt2NbH_eUPGIDq7zImY1xpqGWcntXVgzUzmwL6sqNWatJfe_u0hbUrNjkVquoTUEiyuVvS5JjWLo/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oVWZJ5c9iQw-x9eRKNiiVKnx4j3wAsjNwvaRCffiPh5eYHVfv9DWlQQL99W-ndDoMt2NbH_eUPGIDq7zImY1xpqGWcntXVgzUzmwL6sqNWatJfe_u0hbUrNjkVquoTUEiyuVvS5JjWLo/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Very Impatient Pet</span></td></tr>
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<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had already received one carload of belongings when John's dad visited us back in <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/transit-meltdown-aftermath-carless.html" target="_blank">November</a>, and we've been purchasing <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-last-5-days-have-been-full-of.html" target="_blank">furniture</a> since we've been here in OKC. We were anxiously awaiting a dresser and two sizeable bookshelves from my parents' house, in addition to the assorted clothing, books, musical instruments and equipment, wall art, etc that we left behind as well. What we were not expecting, however, was the sheer AMOUNT that was coming. For example, I've moved multiple times in the last few years, and because my parents lived nearby while I was living in Georgia, I was able to keep things at their house when I needed to. In that time, I've amassed an absurd amount of clothing, and I didn't realize exactly HOW MUCH until my mother packed all of it to send with my dad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a fun weekend spent showing my dad and his best friend around Oklahoma City, we settled in to assess the situation. We had boxes and bags up to our eyeballs, wall to wall, and it was obvious that we were going to have to do a serious amount of unpacking, organizing, cleaning, and, most importantly, DONATING what we didn't need or want anymore. It took several days, but we finally got everything sorted, and then we were faced with the prospect of getting a massive number of bags of clothes and boxes of other items to the Goodwill Donation Center on NW 23rd. Without a car. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKCYSN3fMg-arFF9l-uZ8M_0ER5XEPwp3ObwtTcFLGU2T9N5q0EBslUHi1F5zeSnMD3g1m-lBM1c3CW-F3bWQXvBK_DnhNPiNeV-JNOMXnc1V037AEIsK69QorSC5RnMPT-fgbB0_DlZv/s1600/IMG_20140316_132444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKCYSN3fMg-arFF9l-uZ8M_0ER5XEPwp3ObwtTcFLGU2T9N5q0EBslUHi1F5zeSnMD3g1m-lBM1c3CW-F3bWQXvBK_DnhNPiNeV-JNOMXnc1V037AEIsK69QorSC5RnMPT-fgbB0_DlZv/s1600/IMG_20140316_132444.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's a lot of junk.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BgIGNmatiWTWytLYLbighN_5vV8G7ph8zOlJE0-BRP4OoNOR2k1C-byp0nGSMmKmwKFaOWBJKsQDffMLNujduMDjk7kcYeIz5AcumORvtXr2ewIMqoa3ibY812RveeL_2r-k9r1_2WVW/s1600/IMG_20140316_132413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BgIGNmatiWTWytLYLbighN_5vV8G7ph8zOlJE0-BRP4OoNOR2k1C-byp0nGSMmKmwKFaOWBJKsQDffMLNujduMDjk7kcYeIz5AcumORvtXr2ewIMqoa3ibY812RveeL_2r-k9r1_2WVW/s1600/IMG_20140316_132413.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ready to go!</span></td></tr>
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<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily, we are members of <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/do-you-know-about-car-sharing-services.html" target="_blank">TimeCar</a>, and we have access to a Ford Ranger AND a Nissan Frontier for short-term rentals when and if we need them. Our plan was to rent the Ranger from the Deep Deuce <a href="http://www.timecar.com/" target="_blank">TimeCar</a> location, which is a short walk for us, load it up at the apartment and then drive it to the donation center. What actually happened was that by the time we were ready to take this excursion, the Ranger was already rented from the Deep Deuce location. The Frontier was still available at the OCU location, which is about 2 miles away from us - a walkable distance in theory, but this was last Sunday morning, and I don't know if any of you remember, but the weather here was very cold and extremely windy, and we were not in the mood for an arctic adventure. We took <a href="http://carlessinokc.blogspot.com/2013/12/this-aint-your-grandmas-taxi-our-review.html" target="_blank">Uber</a> to OCU instead, which was super convenient and affordable, as always, and well worth the money not to freeze our butts off OR waste time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a little bit of trouble finding the OCU TimeCar location on campus (just so you know, it's near 27th and Florida), but once we found the truck, we were on our way. We ran a couple of other "car errands," then headed to the apartment, loaded up the truck with all of our items, and happily unloaded it all at the donation center for Goodwill to deal with. In case you're wondering, giving to the donation center is a breeze, at least it was at the location on 23rd. We backed the truck up to the door, the two attendants helped us get everything out, and then we were on our way. After dropping off the truck at OCU, the weather had warmed up just a smidge, enough that we were able to take a nice (but chilly) walk home!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnix1jHV2bkA0GH-nZj1Gop8VqsvOGkPoB00VZ-87orElNvuaU2xNX-D657vdTki4km9XoSk06LOu8LZee_h33hw3RUYVfN_NTuh451y6sHxnXN9GYaX8h_Yrt1pZR9PrsZycWZM5-PqDN/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnix1jHV2bkA0GH-nZj1Gop8VqsvOGkPoB00VZ-87orElNvuaU2xNX-D657vdTki4km9XoSk06LOu8LZee_h33hw3RUYVfN_NTuh451y6sHxnXN9GYaX8h_Yrt1pZR9PrsZycWZM5-PqDN/s1600/photo+2+(5).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brrr</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because we are carless, this spring cleaning venture could have been a big pain bordering on impossible, but because we have a membership with TimeCar, we were able to easily get a truck and take care of all of our hauling needs. I know we've bragged about TimeCar a lot, but we always manage to find new, helpful ways to use the service. Maybe you can use it, too. Happy Spring Cleaning!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBY-c3ipdJXme-Mz5cETrRFpbpnXM0RLF4beerJTnq7sJF1QZLTgkYNOBfDyDVd_ktnGrtcM0XmRgZ6vF8BrLD3js-BZ1P3mExsSrjv_DHnnHkFaq5NG0ibN9HksZJiiDXh0MNfIzGrpw/s1600/IMG_20140316_132427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBY-c3ipdJXme-Mz5cETrRFpbpnXM0RLF4beerJTnq7sJF1QZLTgkYNOBfDyDVd_ktnGrtcM0XmRgZ6vF8BrLD3js-BZ1P3mExsSrjv_DHnnHkFaq5NG0ibN9HksZJiiDXh0MNfIzGrpw/s1600/IMG_20140316_132427.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Timecar saves the day!</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-74206143239118480692014-03-18T19:36:00.000-05:002014-03-18T19:36:59.548-05:00You vs. A Two-Ton Death Machine: What To Do If You Get Hit By A Car While Walking<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You’re walking down the sidewalk on the right side of the
road and get to an intersection. You see the Don’t Walk sign is on so you pull
out your phone and check to see if you’ve gotten any messages. You put up your
phone and look up to see the sign change to Walk and step out into the
intersection. Unfortunately, you didn’t see the car to your left who has
decided to turn right on red, and everything happens really quickly, and you
get hit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UPkY7PqL4Rkx__WlO_SAP6lTo8uU7L-aQK5ljyYhtAIPbDUBDMivYriu-56Do9paEUZRKA0MPoBbXfXkkpZK1TLv5gl1-j7MzmqkrLGgNQRjlxpCfrjQCitgMwMydDyNaktI5DJ181Tx/s1600/crosswalk-with-car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UPkY7PqL4Rkx__WlO_SAP6lTo8uU7L-aQK5ljyYhtAIPbDUBDMivYriu-56Do9paEUZRKA0MPoBbXfXkkpZK1TLv5gl1-j7MzmqkrLGgNQRjlxpCfrjQCitgMwMydDyNaktI5DJ181Tx/s1600/crosswalk-with-car.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, this and many variants of this situation
occur daily in our country, and every 3 days in Oklahoma City on average. And
most of the time they end in injury. In fact, out of the more than 1,400
pedestrian collisions that have occurred in OKC since 2003, less accidents have
resulted in no injuries than have resulted in a pedestrian fatality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you were in the situation described above it would be
less likely that you would suffer serious injury as a car turning right on red
is probably traveling relatively slowly. Speed is the real killer, which is why
nearly 95% of all pedestrian collision fatalities occur on streets with a speed
limit of 30 mph or greater.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So what do you do in this situation? I’m no lawyer, but I’ll
do my best to offer advice based on what I’ve learned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you see that you’re about to be hit by a car
and there’s no chance of getting out of the way, try to jump up so that you
land on the hood; it’s much better to go over a car than under a car.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">First thing is first; seek immediate medical
attention, as internal injuries may not manifest themselves for some time.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Call the police as well to get them onto the
scene to file a report. If there are witnesses, have them speak with the
police. If the driver leaves the scene, witnesses will be your best chance at
justice.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Exchange insurance information with the driver.
If you have car insurance, use it. If not, then health insurance. If you are
uninsured, things are going to be more difficult if any of the liability rests
upon you.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Do NOT discuss the accident with anyone except
the police. And when you do, do not assign blame or make any accusations; the
investigation will take care of this.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you plan to make a claim on the driver’s
insurance, speak with an attorney to ensure that you do not somehow get cheated
out of what is due to you.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Take pictures if possible of injuries, the
scene, and any damage that occurs to belongings.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Who is at fault will be determined by a variety of measures,
so it’s best if you make sure that you have followed all of the laws that
govern pedestrianism. In Oklahoma City the laws surrounding crossing at
intersections are quite outdated, and could lead to you being liable for being
hit even if you think that you’ve followed all of the rules:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">§ 32-66. Pedestrian control signals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Special pedestrian control signals
exhibiting the words "walk," "wait" or "don't
walk" shall regulate pedestrian movement as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(1) "Walk." Pedestrians
facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall
be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(2) "Wait" or "don't
walk." No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of
such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the
"walk" signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety zone while the
"wait" signal is showing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The signals downtown give you 6 seconds of “Walk” and then
around 20 seconds of flashing “Don’t Walk”, and this ordinance seems to say
that if you were to walk out into the intersection after 7 seconds of the “Walk”
sign coming on, you would then be held liable for the collision as you are not
allowed to start to cross a roadway, even though 20 seconds is more than enough
time to cross a 4-lane street. I’ve timed myself, and I usually get a little over
half-way across the street before the “Don’t Walk” signal begins flashing.
Other signals in the city have countdowns, which are much better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Don’t jaywalk.</b> Well, do it if there’s no chance of you being
hit and you’re paying attention, but as a rule – Don’t jaywalk. If you’re hit
while jaywalking, you’re likely to incur the majority of the liability for your
injuries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsi4L2ef4jEnzztyXxRdR2bdEyGWAPXCl0OO_fx3ukzEDAnI5xgKPSMdkoMwGAE1gG6jbusL95yFMAcxcFJ96AUSh-J1DhMxb_0fbTKgp_d0zuAsvJOdwi2mxuuVLK3OvA6A1bVB4HwVF/s1600/jaywalking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsi4L2ef4jEnzztyXxRdR2bdEyGWAPXCl0OO_fx3ukzEDAnI5xgKPSMdkoMwGAE1gG6jbusL95yFMAcxcFJ96AUSh-J1DhMxb_0fbTKgp_d0zuAsvJOdwi2mxuuVLK3OvA6A1bVB4HwVF/s1600/jaywalking.jpg" height="253" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Don’t wear headphones.</b> You could be accused of negligence
for not being aware of your surroundings being distracted by your music
device/phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFlg2Z-tvqDZyFRoE5hhiO68jL4TxYaKqMd2RDa4MkDtZaDcVzf33VsaHY6sK2iln8Oc124LDyYVw1tYjH1mBKy20tAvKUMSF2ASXtl7oomOZy8LUCk0EPS7ssZq1hU6w_7ewUeCCdQ-7/s1600/1-17-pedestrian-headphones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFlg2Z-tvqDZyFRoE5hhiO68jL4TxYaKqMd2RDa4MkDtZaDcVzf33VsaHY6sK2iln8Oc124LDyYVw1tYjH1mBKy20tAvKUMSF2ASXtl7oomOZy8LUCk0EPS7ssZq1hU6w_7ewUeCCdQ-7/s1600/1-17-pedestrian-headphones.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Don’t cut corners on crosswalks.</b> If you step out of the
designated crosswalk area, you could bear liability for not following the
rules. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Don’t risk it.</b> If you have the right-of-way and a vehicle
doesn’t look like it is going to yield to you, don’t risk being hit. “I had the
right-of-way” would make a great inscription on a tombstone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you follow all the rules for being a pedestrian, in case you
do get hit someday, you shouldn’t be liable for covering the costs of injury,
suffering, and property damage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be safe out there.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-69888574995194409082014-03-02T13:01:00.000-06:002014-03-02T13:01:52.779-06:00Midtown - Carless Rating #8<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With all of the walkability ratings that we've done here at Carless In OKC, there's one glaring omission when you consider that we live downtown, and that's Midtown. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX2ErwpvHtSPc24sp0JD96Oz4cTeiXx3WV24KldCp19e7opOodFTE9-Swl1aHEwYEbcE_bbRdgWP_k2nqaiHgFx6DLyUaN5StIgGQCjNvWydVYTLE-He4QwaQjpc6FDmnuQfPEfrWX7sl/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX2ErwpvHtSPc24sp0JD96Oz4cTeiXx3WV24KldCp19e7opOodFTE9-Swl1aHEwYEbcE_bbRdgWP_k2nqaiHgFx6DLyUaN5StIgGQCjNvWydVYTLE-He4QwaQjpc6FDmnuQfPEfrWX7sl/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Carless Rating: Midtown - 21/25</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://midtownokc.com/" target="_blank">Midtown</a> is our home base. It is one of the closest districts to our apartment building, with an array of restaurant options, most of which are super affordable. Our favorites (so far) are Irma's and Boulevard - we've got a thing for home cooking, being recent transplants from the South. Our closest <a href="http://timecar.com/" target="_blank">TimeCar</a> location is in Midtown, in in the parking lot of Brown's Bakery. We can have drink at our favorite bar, McNellie's, where the beer list never fails to astound us, and the atmosphere is bustling and cozy. There's not one but two bakeries in Midtown, Brown's (where I like to buy donuts), and the amazing Prairie Thunder Baking Company. At Prairie Thunder, one can eat a delicious breakfast or lunch (we've only eaten breakfast there so far, and it's SO tasty), pick out a delectable dessert pastry (the almond croissants always call my name), and then take home a loaf of their fresh-baked bread, which is delicious, rustic, and made without any preservatives. Yes please!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRr6HxgOFHE-9GSXeG9umfZ0GZXC6JYdkkTp-8sjp5Jfs9UoavrqcKH3fA6hp6xTG1Mg9661UkKwye53qu43fuX-j8qNRd-3gUGJEJfzac36aHPbXy6taLNnChTTU211364w9mNN4EgEcu/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRr6HxgOFHE-9GSXeG9umfZ0GZXC6JYdkkTp-8sjp5Jfs9UoavrqcKH3fA6hp6xTG1Mg9661UkKwye53qu43fuX-j8qNRd-3gUGJEJfzac36aHPbXy6taLNnChTTU211364w9mNN4EgEcu/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie Thunder Baking Company</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You've heard us harp repeatedly on the necessity of a downtown full-service grocery store, and if we had our choice, we'd put that store in Midtown. It's the perfect location, and there's already a good bit of development going on in the area, so it would be a very natural part of the growth and diversification that's happening there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're still making the rounds in Midtown. I'm anxiously awaiting my first trip to Waffle Champion, and one of these days I'll finally have a bison burger from Kaiser's. Tell us about some of your favorite places in Midtown! We would love your suggestions. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6jXktxgxZh055GqeEg9ITY64UNNpdLerOXSMnKKOUJE_7pX5RlK-IP34epf-Hz8-8waTqlRSMrYUhLJXr4Ah018-MeOmw-vBZB3skSVm8Y4xTp2tEc6cHq1CoAgyvxrQLvGVbPrr9VJC/s1600/mcnellies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6jXktxgxZh055GqeEg9ITY64UNNpdLerOXSMnKKOUJE_7pX5RlK-IP34epf-Hz8-8waTqlRSMrYUhLJXr4Ah018-MeOmw-vBZB3skSVm8Y4xTp2tEc6cHq1CoAgyvxrQLvGVbPrr9VJC/s1600/mcnellies.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McNellie's Pub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And now for the walkability rating!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Midtown is located just about half a mile from our apartment (actually less, because we take a shortcut), which would get an A rating for distance.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">The walk to and within Midtown gets a B rating for pedestrian infrastructure. We are able to take safe, well-maintained sidewalks all the way to Midtown. There are usually crosswalks and crossing signals when we need them, but the pedestrian infrastructure isn't always very ADA-accessible. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBOAVBBgvJISEXvVAZqgiV3gLXDuUhhhmP2jo3JyyZ3RDVMMXC3AWnMesKSH342Xnsd3vJCQMz3tSt-HQ8E7yE0VsfRtrn1iMPfF41Gw6-DFWmiz0rJoXK50-wAy1TWGA7WH8g0b22x4P/s1600/Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBOAVBBgvJISEXvVAZqgiV3gLXDuUhhhmP2jo3JyyZ3RDVMMXC3AWnMesKSH342Xnsd3vJCQMz3tSt-HQ8E7yE0VsfRtrn1iMPfF41Gw6-DFWmiz0rJoXK50-wAy1TWGA7WH8g0b22x4P/s1600/Sign.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">Midtown has a good array of transportation options. There's obviously the road and car infrastructure, with the added bonus of the roundabout at Classen and 10th, which drivers seem to be figuring out a little more every day. Bus route 5 runs through the area, and Bus route 4 to a lesser extent. There are also sidewalks for pedestrians, but no bike lanes. The roads are also fairly narrow in the area, so it doesn't seem like the safest place to bike, although the roads leading into and out of Midtown are wider. I'll rate Midtown a B for transportation options. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">The land use in Midtown is good, and seems to be getting better. A lot of older buildings are being repurposed, and the density is fairly high in the residential areas. There are some areas that could be developed to make the land use even better; the area where the holiday pop-up shops were held would make a fantastic small park area (I'm having a total Leslie Knope moment here - there's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vMpfbuI9FY" target="_blank">a pit</a> and everything). Land use in Midtown gets a B.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;">I love the atmosphere in Midtown! It feels like a special little community within the city, but I would, however, like to see Midtown start its own regular, monthly event like Automobile Alley's Shop Hop, Plaza District's Live on the Plaza, or Premiere on Film Row. Midtown's aesthetic also adds to the atmosphere with its classy vintage vibe. Midtown's atmosphere gets a B - that A is totally attainable in the future with a little more community involvement! The holiday pop-up shops were a great event and really demonstrated the potential of Midtown to host its own monthly shindig. (I just realized something: does <a href="http://h8thokc.com/" target="_blank">H & 8th</a> count as being in Midtown? To me, it's not the same. The Hudson & 8th St strip is its own little district as far as I'm concerned, and I'm ANXIOUSLY awaiting more development there. I'm talking about something in the area of the pop-up shops.)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCi1tZ48CBHrVhpazWO6lNWMuJ7RTXCL_dsXDJfOJ5_mvRpxvA8sSyEUzCWhTjYRdrf9CF2cxKH2su8j83_sytVtkNjO0CUcRDV4ltkRRUJ_85Uyh09YU81uZ6XaRcnoBpPjbJPXhfMtQ/s1600/Popup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCi1tZ48CBHrVhpazWO6lNWMuJ7RTXCL_dsXDJfOJ5_mvRpxvA8sSyEUzCWhTjYRdrf9CF2cxKH2su8j83_sytVtkNjO0CUcRDV4ltkRRUJ_85Uyh09YU81uZ6XaRcnoBpPjbJPXhfMtQ/s1600/Popup.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of this, please!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Overall, Midtown gets a solid <b>21</b> out of <b>25</b>! All the elements are there for Midtown to score even higher, so let's all support and encourage the district so that they'll know that we want more Midtown!</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11841076918338998940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286844703685834774.post-82078161169332944292014-02-19T21:13:00.000-06:002014-02-19T21:13:03.142-06:00DON'T WALK | Why We Need Better Pedestrian Infrastructure <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every now and again I read a news story about an unfortunate
accident where a pedestrian was struck and killed by a motorist. There will
usually be discussions ranging from people who are saddened to hear such tragic
news, to those who are appalled when the driver gets off without even a ticket,
to those who use their apparent logic to say that the pedestrian was asking for
it by not paying attention. I’m of the opinion that a good deal of pedestrian infrastructure
is set up to leverage liability onto the pedestrian in case of a collision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Think about it:</b> Push-button crosswalks force pedestrians to
wait minutes at a time to cross the street (please, cars, can I please cross
your street?!), and when these are on all the corners of a grid-patterned
street network, it’s just not reasonable to have to wait several minutes at
every intersection… which is why people jay-walk <b>CONSTANTLY</b>. Here’s another example, the crosswalk signs say “WALK”
and “DON’T WALK”; when it’s the pedestrian’s turn to cross the street “WALK”
illuminates for 5 to 10 seconds and then “DON’T WALK” starts to flash until it
stops and it is no longer safe for the pedestrian to be in the crosswalk.
Disregarding the psychological negativity of the sign saying “DON’T WALK” 90%
of the time, if I’m a driver who glances over at the crosswalk sign and my eye
catches “DON’T WALK” so I think it’s safe to turn, I may hit a pedestrian, and
I may be able to defend myself saying that I saw the sign say “DON’T WALK”; how
was I supposed to know that people were crossing the street in my blind spot? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And let’s not get into areas of the city that don’t have
sidewalks so pedestrians are forced to either walk on the shoulder or in the
street… how well does a wheelchair do on a grassy shoulder compared to a paved
street?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Here’s the good news: </b>
In downtown you’re less likely to be killed as a pedestrian if you get
hit by a car than if you are hit on one of the major arterial streets in the
city (May, 23<sup>rd</sup>, Penn, Reno, etc.). Do you know why? Speed limits.
Sure, you can’t guarantee that people will obey the posted speed, but the
difference between the number of pedestrian deaths on roads below and above 30
mph is staggering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since 2003 there have been <b>1,401 </b>pedestrian collisions and an even <b>100 pedestrian fatalities</b> in Oklahoma City. Of these 1,401
collisions, 953 occurred in areas of the city with sidewalks resulting in 51
fatalities. The remaining 448 collisions occurred in areas without sidewalks,
resulting in 49 deaths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY-mDLOYGHUiMwOITTrB4DLJFtRKMkli5HYj1xIL1CChQwpQ_tjf5S0b17b2EVoZ9EaYgwRc2ICQxnZIbEprReuIY4DIdDjcplaRH-VJbAcDKBOpWarPA3q3qxudvMUAcgwB1FopV4UgO/s1600/PedLocationSeverity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtY-mDLOYGHUiMwOITTrB4DLJFtRKMkli5HYj1xIL1CChQwpQ_tjf5S0b17b2EVoZ9EaYgwRc2ICQxnZIbEprReuIY4DIdDjcplaRH-VJbAcDKBOpWarPA3q3qxudvMUAcgwB1FopV4UgO/s1600/PedLocationSeverity.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a map of the pedestrian collisions since 2003. Fatalities are the big red dots.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let’s break that down by the percentage of collisions that
are fatal:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>51/953 = 5.4%</b> fatality
rate in areas with sidewalks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>49/448 = 10.9%</b>
fatality rate in areas without sidewalks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Y<b>ou are
twice as likely to be killed in a collision in areas of the city that do not have
sidewalks</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Less people walk in these areas, but virtually the same number
are killed, because the same roads that don’t have good sidewalks also have
higher speed limits. THEY ARE DESIGNED
FOR CARS ONLY<b>. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>94</b>% of the <b>100 </b>fatalities occurred on streets with
a speed limit of 30 mph or higher. Another fun fact, <b>47%</b> of the <b>100</b> deaths
involved alcohol; unfortunately the data doesn’t tell whether that means the
driver or the pedestrian were under the influence of, but it’s clear that it’s
safer to be sober when on the roads, whether you’re driving or walking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below is a map that breaks the city into 1-mile squares and
illustrates the areas of the city where the most accidents occur. The map below
that shows the likelihood that being hit by a car as a pedestrian will result
in death based on the ODOT severity of incident scale (1 means no injury, 5 means a fatality) based upon the number of pedestrian collisions that occur in the area. Though the majority of accidents occur in the downtown area, it’s
clearly more dangerous to be a pedestrian further out from downtown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZSkwIPXn6iEStFvjpi3AbtfIaJcqf8V4AFKo62muQ-KssQcl43sGxBTg8gUKfOixRZp3ZsWX95sjb6MkCKfF4DHXcejk1ol05VX2EbclJ_erO7NbbauLjBXeL9FaTYySEa70kvb2lVPT/s1600/DensityOfPedHits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZSkwIPXn6iEStFvjpi3AbtfIaJcqf8V4AFKo62muQ-KssQcl43sGxBTg8gUKfOixRZp3ZsWX95sjb6MkCKfF4DHXcejk1ol05VX2EbclJ_erO7NbbauLjBXeL9FaTYySEa70kvb2lVPT/s1600/DensityOfPedHits.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The two red squares in the middle of the map are over downtown. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbVLesqGrbq6hShkijeNAWPlagRfIT97gjXGgzmqVKxhSFJUmm_RpjF6L04xRRDdrW7UhCEE3JD52kU-x8iCvvgEWPBXDU41pTdy-W8PESH_7giwWtfxMZKqPjCvEsWCUMuOA4ssSGI9m/s1600/SeverityPed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbVLesqGrbq6hShkijeNAWPlagRfIT97gjXGgzmqVKxhSFJUmm_RpjF6L04xRRDdrW7UhCEE3JD52kU-x8iCvvgEWPBXDU41pTdy-W8PESH_7giwWtfxMZKqPjCvEsWCUMuOA4ssSGI9m/s1600/SeverityPed.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This map makes it very clear that pedestrians should be very careful on major arterials and to stay away from highways!<br /></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We need safer streets for everyone.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
Carlessinokchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530291812483241878noreply@blogger.com5