What's the Best City in West Virginia? (Morgantown, Beckley: taxis, to live)

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by vec101

UrbanCharlotte,
Thanks for the video. Good to pass on to others.
Couple of our regulars will also love it.

No Problem!!! I tell everybody in North Carolina that Huntington is way ahead of many large cities with Pullman Square and Huntington's downtown urban feel. The only thing missing in Huntington is a streetcar line down 5th and 3rd avenue. How sweet would that be!!!! It would also help bring in even more downtown development.

Oh, what's this I hear about Huntington's YMCA possibly closing. I used to love shooting ball and lifting weights up there!!! Does any one know what is going on? Is it money or are they just building a new YMCA elsewhere in Huntington?

[tbailey1138]

The YWCA is closing, not the YMCA. I think it was overshadowed by the YMCA and few people actually knew it was around. So don't fret, the YMCA is still going strong.

They are actually working on a trolley proposal for downtown. I'm not sure how close it is to actually materializing but they are trying. Great videos by the way. Showing a little love for Huntington!

Tim

Huntington, West Virginia, Vintage Trolley Proposal

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by tbailey1138

The YWCA is closing, not the YMCA. I think it was overshadowed by the YMCA and few people actually knew it was around. So don't fret, the YMCA is still going strong.

They are actually working on a trolley proposal for downtown. I'm not sure how close it is to actually materializing but they are trying. Great videos by the way. Showing a little love for Huntington!

Tim

Huntington, West Virginia, Vintage Trolley Proposal

Thanks for the info about the YWCA. Also, great link Tim!!! A vintage trolley actually led to a full sized light rail system in Charlotte. I think Huntington could support streetcars or light rail. A west/east line from Kenova to Milton would be very popular IMHO. If it went to Ashland, that would be even better. The one thing that surprised me about Huntington was the bus service. Busses in Huntington go all the way to Milton. Many large cities don't send their busses that far from downtown, but Huntington does!!!

Pullman Square and the Big Sandy arena downtown are gems also. Marshall Univ's proximity to downtown is like the icing on the cake. Huntington has even converted some of its older buildings into downtown condos. I wish Huntington would bring back that club Banana Joe's. I loved that place. There is a video game and inflatable play place for the kids near there now or at least there was not too long ago. I am not sure if that place is still open, but my son spent his 4th birthday there and loved it!!! Downtown Huntington has a lot and it is all walkable. This is the true defnition of urban and Huntington should be proud. A streetcar line would give Huntington the national attention the city deserves!!!

[tbailey1138]

The bus line has actually expanded more over the last few months and now goes over into Ohio as well as Kentucky. They are also getting ready to start bus service between Huntington and Charleston in the next month or two as well. It wouldn't surprise me to see some type of rail system develop out of that. They already do the Cardinal Line between the 2 cities 3 days a week. I think that would be pretty cool.

[vec101]

Didn't I see that the bus line is getting subsidized by WV govt. I thought that was pretty strange.

[tbailey1138]

I think they were grants to cover new buses for the route along with help for the cost of fuel. Most transit businesses like TTA and KVT receive government assistance to help with these costs.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by vec101

Didn't I see that the bus line is getting subsidized by WV govt. I thought that was pretty strange.

I think they got a trial grant to see if there is enough ridership to support it
and/or develop a sense for how many runs to make daily.

They have a bus route running between Clarksburg and Pittsburgh/Pittsburgh Airport with stops in Fairmont, Morgantown and Waynesburg that has worked out quite well. They are also talking of a light rail between Pittsburgh and Wheeling with point in between.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by mountiefan44

MORGANTOWN BAAABBBBBBBYYY!!!!! It doesn't get any better with the excitment of WVU sporting events all of the time!!!!!!! WOOT!

That is absolutely correct! Even if you took all the other events in the whole state and added them together, WVU Athletics beats them all for entertainment value and the numbers prove it. There are six or seven college football games every year in Morgantown. Just three of them would add up to more attendance than takes place at all athletic events taking place in any other venue. Adding the many other arts and entertainment opportunities available in Morgantown (more and better than any place else in my opinion, but even if I were wrong) are mere icing in the cake.

[BereniceUK]

Originally Posted by Too

Here I am by a quirk of misfortune stuck in Lewisburg WV....A place where they don't even celebrate the fourth of July . A place where your income needs to be in the top bracket to shop downtown. A place that celebrates a civil war battle they LOST ........WV is a beautifull place (TO VISIT)..There is no southern hospitality in Lewisburg whatsoever...I was told by a local I wasn't far enought south for that..Yikes I am NOT moving to Mexico....
How I long for that great great day when I can return to NW PA

I visited and stayed overnight in Lewisburg. Sad to say but it was by far the most disappointing place I've ever visited in the US. Too squeaky clean and touristy, half a day would have been sufficient to look round all the sights (and what there is are well worth going to see).
There were some beautiful sights around Lewisburg itself - I've posted some in the picture forum - but my lasting memory will be of having to spend a Sunday evening there and the only place open was the Irish Pub where I had to suffer the inanities of the most bigoted man I've ever met.

I'd certainly love to re-visit WV sometime in the future, Lewisburg hasn't put me off the state as a whole.

[vec101]

MoTown becomes the largest city in the state on game days - seriously. One thing that really struck me after moving to WV -- the entire state "stops" on game day and watches the game (no offense to Marshall fans). It is just awesome how you can go anywhere in the state and see WVU flags/banners/signs, etc. and all the people wearing WVU/blue & gold clothes. Really brings a sense of solidarity to the state.

Just about everyone I know checks out the WVU home game schedule before planning weddings, parties, fund raising events, etc. because if you plan something on game day, probably at least half your guests won't show cuz they are going to the game or at least watching it on TV.