I Love Montreal: A Photo Essay

Montreal has a big city feel (1.65 million residents), but isn't overwhelming.

Like Toronto, they have bikeshare. But, Bixi Montreal has over 5,000 bikes, more than Toronto and DC combined. 

Excellent bike infrastructure. Many miles of protected, separated bike lanes.

Subway stations indicate where to stand on the platform. Daytime: trains arrived every 2-4 minutes; late-night: 5-6.

Aging Olympic structures are getting an overhaul, but still look like 1970s time capsules.

Olympic Stadium (where the Nationals played as the Expos) has a cool tower, though.

The MLS team has a soccer specific stadium.

I'm not a Habs fan, but RESPECT.

Atwater Market is one of many neighborhood markets for wholesale and retail food, flowers, gifts, etc.

I've never been to Europe, but I imagine parts of it look like this; Old Montreal.

Pop-up restaurants made of shipping containers. Very cool.

Lots of good coffee! Pikolo, Myriad, Tunnel Espresso, Resonance, more.

Vegan food everywhere. Aux Vivres, Invitation V, Yuan Vegetarien, Resonance Cafe, Resto Vego, Lola Rosa, and more.

What's a great vegan meal without dessert? This was one of the many great small businesses.

MARC Weekend Trains Work

Weekend MARC service means easier access to Baltimore via transit.

Before last week, I had ridden a MARC train to Baltimore for a few work meetings, weekday trips to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum when they first opened (I was a member), and that was pretty much it. Otherwise, I was visiting on the weekends and had to make the trip by Amtrak, or way more likely, by renting a shared car / getting a ride form someone.

But, late last year the Maryland Transit Administration was finally able to offer weekend service on the commuter train, opening one line for trips on Saturday and Sunday. And it is awesome! On Saturday I was able to take a 10:02 am MARC train from Union Station to Baltimore Penn Station ($7), transfer to Circulator bus (free) to Inner Harbor, have lunch, and walk to a 12:35 pm Orioles game. After the game, I walked to Harbor East for dinner and took the same Circulator to Penn Station for a 6:25 pm train ($7) back to Union Station. My house to Baltimore and back, via transit, for about $15.

There are nine MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter) trains from DC to Baltimore on Saturday and six on Sunday. All trains run on the Penn line, which services New Carrollton, BWI Marshall Airport, and other stations on the way to Baltimore Penn Station. [FYI, this train does not stop at Camden.] Here's the full weekend schedule (PDF). MTA recently added more capacity to the weekend trains due to high ridership. They now run four and five car trains, up from three. Hopefully ridership stays high and next budget year they decide to offer more trains, especially on Sunday. Here's to transit! 

I Love Toronto: A Photo Essay

I recently vacationed in Toronto, Ontario and just loved it. Here's why, in photos.

It's huge. With 2.8 million residents, it's the 4th largest on the continent, behind only Mexico City, NYC and LA.

They have bike sharing. Same infrastructure as DC's system. Same bikes, too.

Diverse economy: finance, arts, sports, tourism, education. Diverse people: 2/5 residents are foreign born.

It's close. Flight time from DCA is just 58 minutes.

So. Much. Vegan. Food.

I mean, everywhere: I ate at Urban Herbivore, Sadie's, Karine's, Kupfert & Kim, Fresh, a few others.

Toronto Islands. Very cool and quiet spot in Lake Ontario.

Subway trains run 2-5 minutes, except on weekends when you have to wait the whole 5 minutes. For real.

TTC Metro puts DC Metro to shame. Here, an articulated train with no need for interior doors.

The street car system is the real gem though. Even more so than the subway. Take notes DC.

Great in town neighborhoods like Kensington Market. Lots of  street art, much of it government sanctioned.

This is what happens to cars in Kensington Market.

They have an an established Chinatown.

Queen Street is a microcosm of the city. You get a bit of everything as you traverse east and west from downtown.

Just a cool, cool, town. I will be back! Thanks TO.

Lost Angeles

One occurrence that did not come to pass while I was in LA last week was me getting lost. Another was was me driving a car. Nor was I late to dinner dates or denied a visit to any destination because of inaccessibility.

Later this week: how LA transit surprised me, delivered me to spots all over the county (and beyond) and how it stacks up to DC's Metro.

LA Metro bus arriving in Theater District

Charlottesville Pedestrian Mall Could Be Model

Downtown pedestrian mall.

On a recent trip to the Virginia city of Charlottesville, VA I had a chance to enjoy its pedestrian mall. Initially it looks as if it could have been an organic, original part of the downtown, but it was constructed fairly recently, 1976. 

C'ville is small  --population 43,000-- but it has a defined downtown area with offices, shops and other city amenities. The pedestrian mall is a major presence there. It is about 8 blocks long and as wide as any other street downtown. One end is anchored by a 3,500 seat outdoor performance pavilion and a new green transit center. The pedestrian walkway of the mall is divided into three sections: two 15 foot wide walking areas adjacent to the shops on each side and a 30 foot wide median/plaza area with public art, seating, lighting and outdoor dining areas for the many restaurants on the strip. 

The city claims over 120 businesses on the mall. I saw a great mix: a museum, at least two really awesome indie coffee shops, multiple restaurants, art galleries, a cupcakery (of course!), a real theatre, a newer Regal movie theatre, sports bars, a hotel and much more. Also, City Hall! So, as far as retail options go, there was a decent mix. No residential buildings (that I saw), but institutional, open space, industrial, and commercial sectors were all represented. That's mixed-use by definition. My favorite aspect was outdoor seating for the restaurants. Made the whole 8 block expanse feel alive.

The only downside was that a few of the cross streets allowed automobile traffic. And drivers on those side streets often sped through with at least one in particular not respecting the fact that I was in the road and the fact that he had a stop sign. At only 8 blocks, I would have liked to see traffic forced around the whole pedestrian area. There is plenty of parking, including a massive surface lot (next to additional garages) only one block form the pedestrian mall. Pretty cool when the farmer's market is on the lot, but pretty unattractive at other times.

I'm wondering if the C'ville mall could be a model for a small scale similar set up in DC. We have residents in Cleveland Park asking for automobile controlled space to be turned back over to pedestrians. Adams Morgan is currently getting more sidewalk space for its patrons. And one of the largest downtown development projects in the nation is taking shape at City Center. Southeast DC has two decent examples of this with Eastern Market and surrounding streets closed off on the weekends as well as Half Street's closure during Nationals games. 

Where else could we incorporate a permanent pedestrian mall? 8th St NW b/t D and F? F St NW b/t 6th and 7th? M St in Georgetown (could you imagine?). Adams Morgan? Tweet me ideas @The42BusDC with #dcpedmall. Meanwhile, go Charlottesville. I was very impressed.

Cross-posted on Greater Greater Washington.

Transit center

Dining outside.

San Diego Show Down

So, you’ve probably heard. DC is one of ugliest cities in the country. Not architecturally, or even politically. I’m talking about us, the people. You and me. Ugly. We’ve been voted one of the least attractive cities in the country by the readers of Travel and Leisure Magazine. Over 60,000 people participated in the survey. Its official. Only lowly Philadelphia is rated worse. Who tops the list? No surprise, Miami, followed by the consistently forgotten and underrated city of San Diego. Oddly Charleston, SC took 3rd. I've been to Charleston. That's suspect. I can't say more.

Wait, I’m not ready for this. I will not concede. I’m not demanding a recount, but I am demanding a reevaluation. Let’s stack up the candidates; let’s compare apples to oranges. I’m not so sure we are one of America’s ugliest cities. Since we’re second worse, I’m targeting the so-called-second-best, San Diego. Who's more attractive, FOR REAL. Forget polls and surveys, let's look at the facts, er..., I mean faces.

Round One:
DC's Mayor Adrian Fenty VS San Diego's Mayor Jerry Sanders

With all due respect, there's no contest here. And Fenty is a marathon runner. Plus he personally returns email. DC 1, SD none.

Round Two:
DC's NBC Sports Reporter Lindsay Czarniak VS San Diego's NBC Sports Reporter Derek Togerson

Call in a sick day Togerson. DC 2, SD zero.

Round Three:
DC's Hometown Celebrity Dave Chappelle VS San Diego's Hometown Celebrity Ted Danson

Paging Doctor Becker. Becker? Doctor Becker. More like Dr. Washed Up. If the time period was 1986ish, this may have been a fair fight, but its 2007. DC 3, SD nada.

Round Four:
DC's Ward 4 Member Muriel Bowser VS San Diego's District 4 Member Tony Young

Oh Muriel. She's done such a good job replacing the mayor in Ward 4 and responding to neighborhood wants and needs. Mr. Young; not sure about his record. But, as far as being easy on the eyes, I have to go with Ms. Bowser on this one. DC 4, SD zero.

Well, I could go on here, but just imagine. We'd have to invoke the 10 run rule. The game would get ugly, we'd brushback one of their guys, they'd charge the mound. Umps would break up the fight. The game would resume, with DC still up 22-0. That would be ugly.

Who’s walking who now San Diego!? So sad. Obviously Travel and Leisure Magazine was a little off. Either that or the readers haven't REALLY people watched in either of these cities. And hold your head up Philly. You may well be the fattest, but I'm pretty sure you're not the ugliest. And neither are we.