My own private parking

Spotted an interesting use of public space for private profit at the downtown San Jose P. F. Chang's restaurant.

Most unsuspecting downtown drivers who are used to the drive-up spots found at many suburban national chain restaurants would assume that these are P. F. Chang's spaces, but upon a closer look one sees (12 minute) parking meters which are partially obscured by their sidewalk signs. Also, if you look closer the curb color code hasn't seen fresh paint in quite a while, further confusing the typical suburban based San Jose motorist.

It would be interesting to see what city staff thinks of this. By the way in each instance I've have seen a car parked in a space with an expired meter.

Curb in front of P.F. Chang's
on San Fernando

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Location:S 1st St,San Jose,United States

Short Shelf Life

Although the sign days "Closed for Remodel" the "For Lease" days otherwise. Penguin Froyo had only been in business for about nine months before going under. This is especially a big concern given the opening of a another restaurant nearby at about the same time.










Google Streetview


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Wayfinding comes to San Jose

Jay Stagi and his crew from the MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commision) were in front of the "Silicon Valley" Arena this morning installing one of San Jose, few wayfinding signs aimed at pedestrians. This is however not a San Jose sign, so someday if the city follows the lead of Washington DC, New York, or Portland, the signs will fall outside of any standard. But hey at least it's a start.





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Cash For Clunkers Approved!

Had to take a photo of this car while riding


by this morning. The sign on the windshiel says "Cash For Clunkers Approved.

The car was parked at a Shell station at the corner of Stelling Rd. and Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino. Can't figure out what the direct connection to the Shell Station.


-- Post From My iPhone

Bike Racks The Right Way

After my post two days ago about Csr Parking signs in downtown San Jose it's good to see a bike rack done right.



This rack located just outside the front door at the San Francisco REI is a perfect example of how good planning invites and welcomes customers who arrive by bicycle.

With a greeter placed at the front door to welcome all customers; shoppers will feel that their bike is safe and secure.


-- Post From My iPhone

Park San Jose

This sign seems so natural for a city that boasts "Come Downtown to play. We have over 23,000 parking spaces".

Translation - Cars are are number one priority. Bike/Ped projects.....nah.....not on our list.



-- Post From My iPhone

Imagine - This picture was in EVERY Starbucks in America

New York Times - Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Lose the Traffic. Keep That Times Square Grit.

Every Starbucks that I have been in sells the New York Times.  This picture was in just about every state, every city in America yesterday.  Maybe other towns and cities except (Chicago, San Francisco, El Paso, Cleavland, Miami and others) said;

If New York City can do this WHY CAN'T WE?

Why can't we?  San Jose

Why can't we? Los Angeles

Why can't we? Dallas

Why can't we? San Diego

This was not an accident! - Crash Kills Mom, Uncle, One Twin Son, other Twin on Life Support

We are so used to seeing those two words Traffic Accident.  But many times the incident cannot be described as an accident.  Trees falling in the roadway striking a car; that's an accident.  Deer enters the roadway causing a car to loose control; that's an accident.  But the Modesto Bee calls it an accident.

The solo vehicle accident claimed the lives of two of the Terras' adopted children, David, 20, and Sara, 23. Sara Terra's 3-year-old identical twin boys, Jason and Jessie Woodson, were critically injured. One later died.

Here are some reasons it doesn't warrant the term "traffic accident"

1. The car was travelling at a high rate of speed.
   
2. The car was seen to be weaving in and out of traffic.
   
3. The 3 year old twins were not placed in car seats.
   
4. The twins were not restrained in any manner.
   
5. The driver was driving on a suspended license.
   
6. The driver was described as smelling of alcohol (toxicology tests pending).
   
7. The driver was driving on one the most dangerous days of the year (Memorial Day Holiday).
   
8. The driver was driving at one of the most dangerous times of the day (or night).
   

With all of these risks; most of which were obvious to the mother, why did Sara Marie Terra allow her and her family to be driven in such a risky situation.  Three lives lost with one twin unlikely to make it of of life support; this shouldn't have happened.

Gone in an Instant: Modesto family devastated by Oakland wreck- Modesto Bee

Three Year Old Has No Brain Activity - SJ Mercury News 5-27-2009

In Memory of Paul Benabides, 20

In was only just over a week ago, Saturday, that Paul Benabides was killed in a car "accident" near my house. This morning I went to go find any evidence, of the spot where he was tragically killed. I though I might spots flyers, posters, flowers, or candles. Since the newspaper report listed only Lois Ave., which runs North/South for about a mile, I peddled through the neiborhood slowly trying to find something that would remind neigbors ofthe tragic incident.

Peddling at a slow 5 mph I found no evidence of any accident.

Paul Benabides RIP

August 10, 1988 - May 15, 2009

Tivo this! From KQED Friday 9:00 PM "Blueprint America: Road to the Future"

Blueprint America: Road to the Future

Friday evening at 9:00 PM on KQED and tonight at 8:00 on PBS stations across the country, a new one-hour documentary film will highlight the state of affairs for Americas highway system.

Blueprint America:
"PBS reports on the infrastructure crisis"

Road to the Future:
Film Documentary

With examples drawn from Denver, New York, and Portland, veteran CNN correspondent and anchor Miles O'Brien will visit places where local officials and residents face agonizing choices between the easy status quo and the path less taken.

Good to see Jonathan Maus of Bike Portland and Janette Sadik-Khan

30 second video preview

Is This The End Of The (Suburban) World As We Know It?

Notice to Residents of Victorville - "Your Home May be Worth Less Than Your SUV"

As a follow up to my last post this morning (Is This The End ExUrbia as We Know It?). I went back to check on some of the other "possible unfinished developments" that Guaranty Bank, (currently at 64 cents a share - GFG) or any other bank may own. I had to stop because my eyes and hands were tired from clicking. If you think this real estate thing is over, you may want to think again.

Someone borrowed money from Guaranty, or B of A, or Chase/WAMU to pull the building permits and get the heavy machinery to start construction. Somebody lent on the hundreds of empty pads that dot the high desert. I'll tell you one thing; the bank presidents - they aint living in Victorville.

See Zillow Graph (You may have to scroll down)

Los Angles Times - "Housing Crunch Becomes Literal in Victorville"

Each Pin Represents a New Development in Victorville; a city of 100,000


View Victorville Real Estate in a larger map

Is This The End ExUrbia as We Know It?

Partially completed Southern California housing tract demolished

Original Article in the Daily Press Los Angeles Times - Article "Housing crunch becomes literal in Victorville"

In a story Associated Press article syndicated by the San Jose Mercury News, the demolition of the remaining partially constructed was noted. The article desribed the site as follows:

"The planned 16-unit tract on the fringes of a suburb about 65 miles northeast of Los Angeles included four finished homes with granite counter tops, whirlpool bathtubs and dual-pane windows."

Two things worth noting about the above statement. "Fringes of Suburb" is an understatement. Victorville is over 80 miles from downtown Los Angeles. According to Google Maps the drive to Victorville is over 80 miles which theoretically takes over 1 hour and 20 minutes and up to 2 hours, 40 minutes in traffic. Also to get to Victorville you would need to drive over a 4,200 foot high pass through the San Gabriel and San Bernadino Mountains. On some of the worst commutes; the trip could take over 5 hours, round trip.

Notice that the article described the homes with granite counter tops and whirlpool bathtubs, a classic add on at the hight of the real estate bubble.

Victorville is classic suburban type development gone wild and gets my Golden Asphalt Award . The gobbling up of desert land is clear noticeable from "the air" as you view the city on Google Maps . With only a 2007 population of just over 100,000 it has hit the suburban big time with their own mega mall, creatively called "The Mall" (I'm not making this up) featuring stores such as Sears, McDonalds, and Starbucks.

If you want to buy land next to this mall its only $7 million.

Book Review - Pedal Power

Just finished reading "Pedal Power - The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life" The author J. Harry Wray has been teaching a "Politics and the Bicycle" class at DePaul university

Vauban - Realistic Experiment?

Yesterday's New York Times reported on a town in southwestern Germany, nestled between the French and Swiss borders that has made a civic commitment to go car-free or more realistically as car-lite as possible.  Titled "In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars", the article (along with photos) describes a suburb of Frielberg, Germany (Google - My Maps).  The Times also featured a discussion page about going "Carfree in America?". 

Comparing Sunnyvale to Vauban

After reading the article take a look at the pictures that I have linked above and also my map created on Google Maps to get an idea of the scope of the car-free village.  I am always curious the amount of land devoted to roadway.  In a previous blog post I took a look at a corner of Sunnyvale, California (which due to the square mile grid pattern makes it a little fun and easy).  In that post I estimated that this purely residential area devotes about 20% of its land area to road way (not counting the concrete used for driveways on private lots).  In Vauban I calculated that less than 4% is used for auto roadways!

Here are some additional links on Vauban
Bike Portland - "Germany's Car Conscious Community"

The Christian Science Monitor - "New German Community Models Car-Free Living"

Also this article is linked to in the New York Times article - "Students Give Up Wheels For Their Own Two Feet"



Vauban Photo courtesy of Ecofaubourg at Fickr



View Vauban in a larger map