Finished reading Street Smart by Sam Schwartz (a.k.a Gridlock Sam) this week. One of the things he points out how easy access to transit information increases transit ridership. In hindsight, this is obvious, but I hadn’t really thought of it. Sure, public transit needs to be frequent, safe and connect many places. But, if it is difficult to decipher the maps and timetables, it’s also difficult to understand how to get where one wants to go.

I remember how difficult it could be to navigate an unfamiliar city’s transit network. Especially when one doesn’t speak or read the local language. Things have gotten so much better in the past several years. Most of us are carrying a connected computer with specialized apps, not to mention the inclusion of open data in the popular map applications. Tap to ride is also a great improvement. Tapping with a credit/debit card or phone makes transit in unfamiliar cities much more approachable. Don’t get me wrong, fumbling around the first time I used a strippenkaart (Dutch) is an experience I’m happy to have had. However, I’m sure the commuters waiting for me to do it are happy I can just tap and ride now.

Links

• May 25th was Towel Day via Andre Louis
• Made in Brooklyn Tours: Meet the man mapping the borough, one small business at a time
• As Rents Soar, Londoners Turn to Vacant Pubs, Offices and Police Stations
• What I Learned About Loss While Skateboarding at Costco
• Inside America’s Oldest Neighborhood Bars | Milwaukee (video)
  I can envision a trip to Milwaukee that includes a visit to some of these places.
• The Dead Economy Theory via Beto Dealmeida