And Another Example Of The Roads Paradox

See Freakanomics: Reducing Traffic by Closing Roads

Another Argument For Urban Density

Better health obviously. See PhysOrg: People who bike or walk to work are more fit, less fat than drivers

Stay Cool TC

Traditionally, the houses in northern Michigan have not had air conditioning. While eventually we may all need AC as a necessity here are 10 Tips at Treehugger for reducing cooling costs (includes the obvious like plant trees and the less obvious like plant vines): 10 Overlooked Low-Tech Ways of Keeping Your Home Cool

The Facts: Four Cases Of Closing Roads DECREASING Traffic

In what may be inconceivable to many people, there have been many examples of traffic congestion being solved by closing roads. This is discussed in the book 'Traffic'.

For the latest examples see Infrastructurist: 4 Cases Of How Tearing Down A Highway Can Relieve Traffic Jams (And Save Your City)

The Cook's House Tries A Guerrilla Garden

[7/2/2009 Update. The garden is allowed: Calling all gardeners!!!]

And gets smacked down for no good reason.

But this is the underlying issue in Traverse City. Residents who want things to stay the way they have been for the last 50 years versus residents who want to bring back the old ideas that worked (e.g., city gardens and chickens, granny flats) and new ideas that will work.

Read the account at Chef Eric's blog 'from behind the stove': Terroist [sic] Gardeners Unite!!!

...so we thought it would be nice to put in a community garden. I tried calling the city a couple times to get the OK but after giving them ample time to call me back, a month or so, I decided to take action on my own and began to build. We put together two 5 foot by 10 foot raised beds and got some good planting dirt donated. It was not more than 30 minutes after the dirt was unloaded that the police showed up. The police!! Apparently someone in our building, someone who's life is so pathetic, so lonely and without meaning, called the police because they wanted to make sure we have all the proper governmental OKs.

...So to that miserable bastard who called the police, f%$k off. We're planting our garden, and we are going to make our part of Traverse City a much nicer place to be, even with you being here. The only thing we'll have to change is to plant more so we can cover up your self righteousness.

How A Colorado County Does Road Planning

Routt County, Colorado, where Steamboat Springs (an amenity town like Traverse City) is located, is planning for future road projects and is taking the right approach.

See the SteamboatPilot: Commissioners signaling new road policies

Commission Chairman Doug Monger said before an audience of more than 50 people Monday night. “From now on, whenever we fix a road, we need to fix it to certain standards so that it will include the things all of us need on those roads.”

Monday night’s meeting was billed as an open discussion on the shared uses of county roads, one that would take into account the needs of pedestrians, people who move livestock on county roads, bicyclists, and to a limited degree, snowmobiles.

Not everyone in the audience was a cyclist, but virtually everyone who stood up to address the commissioners closely identified with a perceived need to make Routt County’s roads more bicycle friendly.

Contrast this with what Grand Traverse County Commissioners are best known for - asinine statements. See: Commissioners slam global warming

If Traverse City Is To Be An Economic Innovator It Needs More Population Density

Keep the wilderness wild and build up the cities.

Humans have evolved to be innovative. And we are innovative when surrounded by a lot of other people. You can't argue against human nature...

See PhysOrg: High population density triggers cultural explosions

Increasing population density, rather than boosts in human brain power, appears to have catalysed the emergence of modern human behaviour, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) scientists published in the journal Science. High population density leads to greater exchange of ideas and skills and prevents the loss of new innovations. It is this skill maintenance, combined with a greater probability of useful innovations, that led to modern human behaviour appearing at different times in different parts of the world.