Photo by Éole.

Talk and text in Metro stations

Metrorail riders who use mobile networks other than Verizon should be able to start talking, checking their email, and texting in 20 stations starting October 16th. The other 27 underground stations will follow next year, and tunnels in 2012. The carriers will also pay Metro, and Metro will be able to use the system for operational communications and The Metro Channel, Metro’s planned electronic customer information and advertising system.  

Raise our TOD standards

Smart Growth advocates have to start demanding high quality projects, not just tall buildings around transit, argues NRDC’s Kaid Benfield. He says it used to be such a struggle to get anything denser than suburban tract sprawl that many advocates welcomed high-rise TOD projects, but many of these projects are pretty lame. If we’re to win over skeptical neighbors in places like Tenleytown, where he lives, we need good quality density, not cookie-cutter sameness that happens to be next to transit. (Switchboard, Andrew)  

Why don’t more people bike?

Tom Vanderbilt says lack of bike parking is the biggest problem. (Slate) … Lack of decent shower and changing facilities, too, are a major impediment, possibly even more so for women? (DC Bicycle Examiner)  

Lock ‘em up or build ‘em lanes

Continuing the cyclists vs. those who want cyclists to act differently debate, the Post letters include one non-cyclist who sees bicycle infractions daily (but not driver or pedestrian infractions?) and another calling for buffered lanes (“cycle tracks”) (via WashCycle). A Vancouver Sun letter writer takes the “lock up cyclists” mentality through reductio ad absurdum and calls for the arrest of sprawl developers, city planners, SUV drivers, anti neighbors, and everyone else who, besides bicyclists, contributes to traffic jams.  

Inflating more than the tires

Based on some anecdotal evidence, it looks like the great popularity of bicycling in Portland has driven bicycle prices way up. Bikes at Costco are cheap, but aren’t selling. (Freakonomics, RDHD)  (Tip: RDHD)  

Inclusionary zoning vs just more housing

Matthew Yglesias isn’t sold on inclusionary zoning yet, or more importantly, whether the DC government can actually implement it correctly. He suggests enabling more housing by relaxing rules that require parking, larger units, and/or shorter buildings.  

Parking rules too tough to enforce? Just try anarchy

After years of spotty enforcement of the two-hour time restriction for free parking, Fairhope, Alabama decided to remove the time restriction rather than charge for parking. Local shopkeepers expect other shopkeepers to park all day in front of their businesses. Did I mention there’s free all-day garage parking nearby? (PT’s Parking Blog, Michael P)  (Tip: Michael P)