For a laugh (and perhaps a good cry), click on this link to the Strong Towns website and a video called “Conversations With an Engineer.” Its deadpan delivery is funny, but its mindset never swerves out of its lane, if you will. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We try to create an attractive, lively urban environment, and the engineer scuttles it all in the name of “improvement,” “safety” and the dreaded “standard.” Case in point: 42nd Street in Minneapolis The City of Minneapolis, using federal funding, is currently completing a cross-city, on-street bike route that primarily runs through a…

Tell me this, how many people enjoy changing planes at O’Hare? It was announced the other day that Wisconsin is losing their stimulus funding to create rail service from Madison to Milwaukee, something the incoming governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, was opposed to. He cites the cost to the state for maintaining the service, and questions who will ride between the two cities. Taken in that context, Mr. Walker is probably right – there will be a cost borne to the state for continued service, and perhaps there will be fewer riders between Madison and Milwaukee than the existing service…