Transportation in Birmingham

photos: Blueprint America

Blueprint America , a PBS investigative look into the state of transportation infrastructure in the US, airs a two-part report today and tomorrow on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

UPDATE: Breaking news bumped the report to Monday, August 10th and Tuesday, August 11th.

The first segment examines the costs and consequences of automobile-heavy transportation policies as they've played out in Birmingham, Alabama.

The second piece looks at Birmingham's woefully underfunded bus system -a not-so-uncommon phenomenon, especially in the American Southeast where autonationalism runs rampant.

Tune into your local PBS station August 10th and August 11th for the live report. Check back here later for a link to the video.

You Can't Get There From Here

Round round get around
I get around
Yeah!

Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys


In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the Greyhound Bus station sits way out on the edge of the city, near the Interstate. Presumably, its more convenient for the bus company. Fair enough.

One problem.

You can only get there by car.

But wait a minute! If you're taking the bus, you just might not have a.!.!.!, (long exasperated sigh.) Moving on.

The bus stop's remote location makes it impractical to walk there from anywhere even if there were any sidewalks around. And of course, no sidewalks in sight.

This is a perfect example of how sprawl fails us as a practical layout for living.

In contrast, the village structure - a dense centralized node of commercial and public space surrounded by housing - lends itself to a number of transportation options.

With denser development in the center village (including multi-level apartments/condos) and surrounding single family homes within walking distance, sidewalks make sense.

Walking immediately becomes a convenient and viable way of getting around.

Biking becomes an option as well.

A bus stop within walking distance of most of the population makes taking the bus a realistic proposition.

Same applies with trains.

Segways, golf carts, roller blades - the options are many.

Ergo, Freedom!

In the New American Village, owning a car disappears as the "price of admission." Healthy and convenient ways to get around abound.

And traffic jams are a thing of the past.