Anyone moved from Portland? (renting, living, move to)

[karnival96]

Many people who live in Central and East Austin walk, bike and ride the bus system on a daily basis. The City has invested a substantial amount of resources into making itself more bike friendly and a new light rail line is scheduled to come online in 2008. Numerous mixed-use transit oriented developments are also in the works. A person living in Central or close in East Austin could easily survive without a car, today. Once the light-rail line opens, people in the far north will also have the option of going car-less.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/bicycle/default.htm
http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/

[jread]

Originally Posted by karnival96

Many people who live in Central and East Austin walk, bike and ride the bus system on a daily basis. The City has invested a substantial amount of resources into making itself more bike friendly and a new light rail line is scheduled to come online in 2008. Numerous mixed-use transit oriented developments are also in the works. A person living in Central or close in East Austin could easily survive without a car, today. Once the light-rail line opens, people in the far north will also have the option of going car-less.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/bicycle/default.htm
http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/

We are not getting light rail... we're getting a commuter train that only goes to a few stations north of the river. You will still have to take a bus to go anywhere useful.

[love roses]

I agree with jread. when I looked at the map, I was disappointed to see that unless you live almost barely outside of Austin on the West side of 35, you may never see light rail. Not even very westerly, either. One Good thing about Denvers rail line, is that they included almost every suburb. I don't think many were left as "Maybe some day, way in the future we'll decide it's worth it"

[jread]

Originally Posted by love roses

I agree with jread. when I looked at the map, I was disappointed to see that unless you live almost barely outside of Austin on the West side of 35, you may never see light rail. Not even very westerly, either. One Good thing about Denvers rail line, is that they included almost every suburb. I don't think many were left as "Maybe some day, way in the future we'll decide it's worth it"

The sad thing is that we WOULD have a fully functional light-rail system right now, but it was voted down in 2000 51% to 49%

[love roses]

I didn't live here during that vote, or I would have voted for it. I voted pro rail in Denver.

[twange]

It also looks like Austin will get those Rapid Buses(buses that look like trains). Better than nothing but not as cool as light rail/streetcars.

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/cap...trorapid.shtml

[lvdom]

Take it from someone that lives in Seattle. Buses aren't the best choice as a major form of public transit Especially when you don't even have HOV lanes - at least none that I could see traveling the highways here. Lobby for a rail system if you can.

I'm visiting Austin for the first time with my wife (we're also living in the NW and looking for a climate change). She seems to have fallen in love with the place while I'm still on the fence. Don't get me wrong, I really like the city and the people are friendly, but I seem to have some of the hang ups others have (not really all that walkable, lack of good public transit, etc...) which was not unexpected. Drivers haven't bothered me though. I must say the NW is home of some of the worst drivers I've ever encountered. Except for maybe Las Vegas, where I'm originally from.

I do love the Tex Mex here. Chuy's is awesome

[twange]

I agree, buses are horrible...stop...lurch...stop...lurch. veer left, veer right..

Makes me sick just thinking about it.

Light rail/streetcars are a superior transit.

[OREGONRAIN]

When I visited Austin this year, I was put off by the lack of transit, and I just didn't see people walking. I did find there were walking areas in parks and trails were extensive though. I always thought transit was a big part of a city, and it is if it is monitored. I have noticed here in Portland there is a very seedy side to the population, and some is gang related. The transit has had alot of incidents of crime, and I have seen it more and more. This week I had it happen to me since I ride the east line, it is dangerous. I did not get hurt but I need transit to live here as many do, and I don't want to live here anylonger. I think I may decide bus transit in cities like austin are better in the long run, I did not feel a lack of safety on the buses there like I do on the trains here. I think I am seriously going to look into moving to austin. I especially knew I wanted out of Portland when no one on the train would call 911 when these thugs after intimidating me, dumped a solution all over me, I think was soda Im not sure. So I will be looking at Austin again this summer, I know they are improving the transit there with a different type of bus, and the one line of a commuter system, I can't see Austin being as lackidasical with transit and safety in general as Portland seems to be. I would miss Portland but I would not miss how many are lackidasical to just how much crime really is here especially if you have to use transit.

[love roses]

Transit probably was not a big deal here before the city started being THE place to move because the population was not as condensed and I don't think too many people were living in town. Most people just drove in to hang out. Like on the East and West Coasts (in the cities) there are more people in one area, making it harder to drive and the need for public transport is there. But I think Austin could look at Denver for some examples.