Car Free living in Denver (Colorado Springs, Fort Collins: home, rent, travel)

[Katiana]

When DH worked in Golden, for him to take the bus, I had to take him to Table Mesa and Broadway in Boulder. No park 'n ride there. That meant me driving 10 miles round trip after rousting two sleepy kids to get into the car. That is why he only did that when one car was in the shop.

Coming home, he could get a transfer to Louisville from S. Boulder. However, the whole trip was rather time consuming.

It took my DD 45 min to get home from Louisville Middle School on the bus, which is 1.6 miles from our house. That included walking the last quarter mile. She probably would have walked the whole way if it weren't uphill while carrying a cello. I decided she had more time than I did to go down there and get her.

I don't mind the dregs of society, either. I did worry when my DD first started riding the bus in 6th grade (age 11), that she would miss her stop and end up at the Boulder Transit Center. There are some people there that an 11 yr old shouldn't have to deal with alone. But it never happened.

Thanks for agreeing with me, Oberon.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by oberon

You know, once in a while, it wouldn't hurt to "bump into the dregs of society".

Been there, seen that. Don't need more of it. If that's what interests you, then more power to you. As I wrote, to each his own.

[livecontent]

I resurrected this thread to have the current readers to think more about using their cars less. I wanted to describe honestly about a bus trip but the muses took over and I good a little poetic. I wanted to say that the buses were more crowded than I ever saw and I having been using them for years as a full paying customer.

I should tell you about the "dregs" of society. If you have read my post, you know I am disabled, and sometimes I can look it, sometimes not. I have to use sometimes "the stick", as my niece calls it, to walk when it becomes more difficult. I could have taken the Access a Ride Bus for the disabled to be picked up and transported to my destination for $3.00. However, on days that a person feels better then you can take any bus for free. Yes, I could have driven but taking the bus gives me much needed exercise--and it was such a crystal clear day in Denver.

My lonely part of my trip was returning from downtown on the express bus, during rush hour to one of the park and rides---I have noticed the more educated people are, the more they want to be isolated from each other, and that is where you get more of the intentional "non look" and the severe expressions, saying to me "go away" we do not acknowledge you. "You better not sit by me", "I am not moving over, my bag is on the seat--move on" "Do not shake your palsy hands in front of me", "Get your stick out of my way" I see it all in their expressions. Some educated and well off people want conformity and do not want to see anything but their pristine perfect lives and I see it, I perceive it, and I cry for them, because of it. These are in my words "The Perfects" vs, "The Dregs"

In taking a bus with the other "dregs", some people talk to me, they smile and most important people acknowledge my existence. Many are lonely, aged, want to be heard, and see me as a safe person. I do see the same behavior as the "perfects" but much less of it--maybe the "dregs" in seeing differences gives them an immunity.

Yet, there is a much kindness you see and feel, in both "perfects" and "dreg" but many time you have to look to perceive. Some people in both groups do not want to move out of their self-perceived conformity.

We are all "dregs". We are all "perfects". As our body and mind changes, we move from the perfect innocent child to the dregs of aged infirmity. "All Dregs" were at one time "perfects" and try and succeed to be "perfects' again. Some "perfects" were, in their life struggle "dregs" and may become "dregs" sooner then when they are old.

So "perfects" be aware that your comfortable conformity can change suddenly--it did for me.

livecontent

[Katiana]

So "perfects" be aware that your comfortable conformity can change suddenly--it did for me.

Well put, livecontent. It changed overnight for my mother, too. I remember some of the "non-looks", etc given her, even when I was with her. The middle/high schools students are also considered "dregs" by many people. They're loud, they're a little crazy.

[gpraceman]

I wouldn't call someone who is disabled "the dregs", so it seems that our definitions of that term are different. Anyways, you like riding the bus, that's fine. I prefer to take my car. I've ridden enough public busses in my life to get my fill.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by gpraceman

I wouldn't call someone who is disabled "the dregs", so it seems that our definitions of that term are different. Anyways, you like riding the bus, that's fine. I prefer to take my car. I've ridden enough public busses in my life to get my fill.

With respect, I cry for you--you are not using your perception to see, you are not using your understanding to understand, but I know that you have the intellect to think--think, understand, perceive then you will know what I am saying.

livecontent

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by livecontent

With respect, I cry for you--you are not using your perception to see, you are not using your understanding to understand, but I know that you have the intellect to think--think, understand, perceive then you will know what I am saying.

I hear what you are saying, but that doesn't mean that I have any (or should have any) desire to go hop a RTD bus. I'd be more likely to hop the light rail, but only in certain situations. That's just my preference. You are welcome to yours.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Carrie_Blair

Great Post, LiveContent! Thanks for spending the time to give us all the great tips and insight on mass transit. I found it very informative!

Thank you for your comments. Perhaps you can help me understand. I was talking to a neighbor who is selling a house 1/4 mile from a new commuter rail station. The listing does not indicate that the house is near a new station. The station would not be completed until 2015. The neighbor did not know about the station and contacted her real estate agent. The neighbor got back to me and said that the agent did not know about the station. In addition the agent felt it would not effect the value because it would not be built unitil 2015.

I thought this was short-sited and ignorant. I would assume that agents would be aware of all changes with the mass transit. Also , I pointed out to the neighbor that even though the value may not change this far out from construction, the buyer will benefit, when the station is built, and this would be an incentive for him to purchase, In addition, even if the buyer was planning to sell the home before 2015, he would still benefit because the closer it gets to completion then the value would then would start to be evident and a subsequent buyer would have an incentive, knowing that they would achieve an increase in value when the station is complete.

She told me that the agent was a relative.

Yet, I still all these listings with homes within a 1/4-1/2 mile from a proposed station and nothing is said about it. Why????

[oberon]

I actually bought mine in part because of its proximity to a future Fastracks station and the fact I plan on being there long enough to potentially reap economic rewards for it.

However, it's important to remember that just because it's proposed, there's money behind it because voters approved it, and there's a plan, doesn't mean it will have an enormously positive economic effect, like it has in many other cities with good mass transit... let alone that it'll actually be built at that location. It doesn't help that currently the vast majority of people in Denver drive and rarely if ever use RTD, nor that the average amount of time people own a house is about 3-5 years. So agents don't know or care about it.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by oberon

I actually bought mine in part because of its proximity to a future Fastracks station and the fact I plan on being there long enough to potentially reap economic rewards for it.

However, it's important to remember that just because it's proposed, there's money behind it because voters approved it, and there's a plan, doesn't mean it will have an enormously positive economic effect, like it has in many other cities with good mass transit... let alone that it'll actually be built at that location. It doesn't help that currently the vast majority of people in Denver drive and rarely if ever use RTD, nor that the average amount of time people own a house is about 3-5 years. So agents don't know or care about it.

It does not matter if the average time to own a house is short. It is the perception that value will be created that can be a sales incentive--and I see no reason to use it in advertising and they can pass on that perception to the next buyer, even before the station is built.

If it is proposed, that is enough to advertise, at the beginning: "proposed commuter station", final approval and under construction: "commuter station under construction" , near to open "soon to open commuter rail station" all these phrase modify "neaby within ___miles". Why would that not hurt to say that?? Unless you live right across the street, it is perceived as value. Real Estate valuation and costs are many cases a perception of value.

Yes, it has had economic impact on homes near the station in all cities--that is enough to make a prediction that the value would increase. Obviously, either your are a fool or you are smart person because you have bought because of that potential--I would call you smart.


Mass Transit does help the majority of people who live here, even though they do not use mass transit:

1. There are people because of income, disability, age and desire do own a car or drive less because of these reasons--benefit.

2. By allowing a segment of the population to have alternate means of transportation, that give more room to the people who need or want to drive---benefit

3. By getting off the roads the elderly and infirmed--that gives everybody safer roads--benefit

4. Less cars, less energy used to move a body, less pollution, better environment for all---benefit

5. It has been shown that good public transit encourages employers to move into the area so they have a better ability to attract workers--benefit

5. It encourages redevelopment in old tired depressed neighborhoods with Transit Oriented Development---Look Around Denver, it has been done---benefit.

Many of these benefits cannot be measured with simple cost studies, just as the real cost of car ownership cannot be totally measured without looking at the cost to the environment, cost for infrastructure, and cost to the quality of life.

I have gone to numerous planning meetings on the commuter rail. I have read reports and the economic analysis of the impact in other cities. It is a great move for Colorado, is needed for the future. The planning, EIS and construction starts are on target. If you cannot see it, I am not going to convince you. However, enough people of Colorado has perceived the benefits to make the funds available. Fastracks has been built; It is being built and It will be built. Fastracks is not only about commuter rail, it is funding an intermodal system and parts have already been built--you do not know which parts??? well, you have to read and find out, after all it is your money.

The press you read is just the normal problems that occur in building such a large and expansive system and they should be discussed. Modifications will be made, changes will occur, that is a result of a thinking and interacting community. These arguments and cost issues have been hashed in other cities and the systems were built. If you have been here long enough to remember the arguments over costs and need for the airport--you will understand.

So on with it--I am trying to show how people can use the existing public transit system. If you do not use it, that is your choice but you will benefit and your are going to pay for it; I thank you for your money and let us get out of your way on the highway. We welcome you to join in the discussion and planning--after all it is your money.