Why more Triangle motorists are using public transit

Triangle Business Journal: "A beefed-up transit infrastructure is making public transportation more appealing to Triangle commuters, as confirmed by a recent report that shows transit ridership has nearly doubled. At just $1 for local fare, it’s easy to see why."

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NC Triangle #publictransit - 30 months of double digit ridership increase

Triangle Business Journal: "“The trend of increasing public transportation ridership also has a positive impact on our highway network,” Walls says. “The more cars we get off of the road, congestion will be less and maintenance will not need to be performed as frequently.”"

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Floridians are driving less, relying more on mass transit, study finds

Tampa Bay Times: "A study released Wednesday by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that people living in Florida's most populous areas are driving less, mirroring a national trend among urbanites. And in places like Sarasota, Miami and the Tampa Bay area, people are relying more on public transportation, such as buses and rail, to ferry them around."

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Dad Arrested For Picking Up Kids At School By Foot

The Urban Country: "A Tennessee father was arrested recently by an overzealous officer for picking his children up at school by foot. The school’s policy is that children can only be picked up by parents driving cars or kids can board a school bus."

Amsterdam school pick-ups – Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country - See more at: http://www.theurbancountry.com/2013/11/dad-arrested-for-picking-up-kids-at-school-by-foot.html

Meanwhile, in Amsterdam, parents chat while waiting for kids.

Governor's Oklahoma United We Ride Council - Home

Governor's Oklahoma United We Ride Council - Home:

"Vision Statement

Create an Oklahoma transportation system that supports/meets the needs of all Oklahoma citizens including older adults, people with disabilities and low income individuals.

Mission Statement

UWR will Partner in the development, outreach, and marketing of the Oklahoma Mobility Management Network with the understanding that public awareness of existing transportation services has the potential to help Oklahomans meet their transportation needs."

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Children less fit. We need #walkable neighborhoods.

Slow-poke generation? Kids less fit than their parents were, study finds | CTV News: "DALLAS -- Today's kids can't keep up with their parents. An analysis of studies on millions of children around the world finds they don't run as fast or as far as their parents did when they were young.
On average, it takes children 90 seconds longer to run a mile than their counterparts did 30 years ago. Heart-related fitness has declined 5 per cent per decade since 1975 for children ages 9 to 17."

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Three-foot higher sea levels could flood $156 billion of Florida’s real estate

Quartz: "Florida’s 1,197-mile (1,926 km) long coast line has long been some of the hottest real estate in the country for retirees and beach lovers. Billions worth of those homes are likely to soon be underwater—and not in the real estate sense.
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“$76 billion of Florida property sits on land less than two feet [0.6 meters] above the high tide line,” says a recent report (pdf) co-authored by Climate Central, a group of scientists. ”Within less than the term of a 30-year mortgage, sea level rise could cause floods this high to occur once every five years, or even every year, depending on location within the state.”"

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Tupelo considers public transportation options

WTVA.com: "TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) — According to the American Public Transportation Association, Americans took over 10 billion trips on public transportation in 2012, and now, the city of Tupelo and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is looking at ways to adopt its own public transit system.

For many, the idea of having public transportation in Tupelo is long overdue.

"Today was one of the most encouraging things I've heard since being on the council," said Councilman Buddy Palmer. "I think we have a great opportunity. We're gonna set up some meetings, and I think this could be a reality. I really do.""

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#climatechange soaks Austin, TX

Floodwater rose 11 feet in 15 minutes | KXAN.com: "AUSTIN (KXAN) - Floodwaters roared into neighborhoods along Onion Creek at nearly double the average flow rate of Niagara Falls, the U.S. Geological Survey said."

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Metro Atlanta Speaks survey shows strong support for public transit

SaportaReport: "One of the most striking results of the survey was the strong support for public transportation.

More than 71 percent of respondents replied that improved public transportation was “very important” for the Atlanta region’s future.

When asked what was the best way to fix traffic challenges in the region, 41 percent cited improvements in public transportation and 30 percent said the solution was for better roads and highways."

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