I live and work in the South Valley, a universally acknowledged “poor part of town” where poverty rates for children reach as high as 40% in some census tracts. I know those statistics from research I do as part of my current “day job” writing grants seeking funds to improve the economy down here. One… Read More How Vehicles Keep the South Valley Poor

Ten days ago, BB posted photos of the new road striping on 4th St. between Bridge Blvd. and Coal Ave. The double lines only about 2 feet apart seemed intended as “door-zone buffers” for opening driver-side doors of parked cars, and certainly not bike lanes. But we weren’t sure. Now we’re definitely not sure. While… Read More What the Hell Update: 4th St. Striping/Signage at Coal Ave.

The Albuquerque Journal editorial board yesterday chimed in with its view on the current status of the proposed Complete Streets Ordinance renewal/revision, chiding its authors for lack of safety and “user volumes” emphasis. I can’t find fault with that analysis, and the lack of safety/volumes emphasis is an important aspect of the legislation’s overall lack… Read More Where to Start with “Complete Streets”? Answer: Here, Here, and Here

If you’ve driven/ridden/walked along 4th St. between Downtown and Bridge Blvd. recently, you’ve noticed the new, ongoing paving and striping job. Riding yesterday, BB came upon what might be final striping. I didn’t stop to precisely measure, but that pair of skinny white stripes is roughly 2.5 feet wide if you count each and every… Read More 4th Street S.W. Striping: What the Hell is That?

Proposed revision to the City’s Complete Streets Ordinance moved “without recommendation” last Wednesday from City Council’s Land Use, Planning, and Zoning (LUPZ) Committee to a full Council vote scheduled for its August 5th session. Brought by LUPZ chair Isaac Benton, the proposal failed to receive recommendation for three reasons: 1. Concerns about its ramifications of… Read More Thoughts on Complete Streets City Council Vote Scheduled for August 5th