Babble Book Club: Straphanger by Taras Grescoe

Nice! Ya, the book is on pretty wide release, which is great. I usually check out the Halifax, Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver libraries, and if they don't have copies of the book, then I doubt other Canadian libraries will.

There is also a copy for me here to in the good US o' A.

That is good to hear Lagatta about la Grande bibliothèque. This guy's rationale is so absurd and dumb. It seems the internet and real life reaction has been to call this guy an idiot and move on. Lots of author's have been like "this is ridiculous, and writers don't think like this on the most part."

Thanks for reserving the book too. Seems like there are lots of copies circulating around, I have one coming in on-transit soon. 

I'm looking forward to the comparison's among all the cities in this read and specifically what is said about Vancouver transit, as when I lived there I really was not a fan, especially since they had the examples of many cities. I'm in DC right now, and have to say I'm pretty stoked on most aspects of the transit/metro system here. It is a bit more expensive than others, just a bit, but the fares also adjust with rush hour/non-rush times, and the bus is super cheap.

Funny coincidence, was just looking at it after watching an episode of Daria (!) and I might be moving to Worcester next year.

I'm not sure kropotkin1951, here is a quote from the Q&Q review:

We follow the author on bicycle rides and subway tours, and along the way we gain a new perspective on transportation and cities. We learn about different forms of public transit technology, how much each one costs, and their impact on growth. We learn about efforts to privatize public transit, and we learn about urban cylcling networks. And, of course, we are given a history of the emergence of the automobile, along with a sense of people’s hopes for the future and their frustrations with a life spent stuck in traffic.

I believe the cheif criticism of this book has been that although it is created to support the argument of mass transit for cities, it is actually structured more like a travelogue and follows Grescoe's experiences. He seems to go into detail with different authorities on transit, but I don't think it is as technically structured. A mix of story and fact it seems.

I haven't begun reading it yet though.

I hope it does go into that because that was one  of my main gripes with the Vancouver system is that the area is indeed fairly small (especially in comparison to other cities) and they seemed to have devised the worst transit map ever.

Apologies everyone, I have been under the weather and unable to really focus on anything due to various substances and fluids, and general puffiness of my face. 

So after that grossness and overshare, I'm feeling slightly better and am going to start reading Straphanger!

EricD wrote:

Am I being too hash?

Probably not!

I read your review way back when (!) and I liked that it pointed out the inconsistencies of what someone likes versus wants, it seems. I think there are the obvious desirable transit systems around the world, but all come at cost of money, time and trial and error/experimentation, and what is right for that particular city.

I'm excited to read the Vancouver section for many reasons -- my well documented distaste for Vancouver transit, the unique geography of Vancouver, and the just wonderful city planning that has taken place already. 

Let's move the selections talk over to the selections thread for further discussion BUT we were thinking it could be fuuuun to do a Earth related read for earth week in April.

I can hear the groans, but still we can get interesting and flexible with it!

kropotkin1951 wrote:

It has the most parks of anywhere in the region and a very good and ever improving network of bike trails. Burnaby Lake park and Deer Lake are some of my favourite areas.  It could use more buses but that can be said of all the cities I have lived in. The Burnaby Heights area is a great walk around area with the Eilen Dailly Pool and the seniors centre and library and Confederation park with the Model Steam railway next door.  Also I think I like that most of our neighbourhoods are very mixed culturally, ethnically and economically more so than many other parts of the Metro region.

That was one thing I appreciated about living in East Van (and Vancouver in general) is that even though it is a urban, metropolitan area, there was lots and lots of green space and public space. Port Moody's the same, but different in that it has one store.

I'm living in Washington, DC at the moment, and that is something that is prominent here as well. There is tons of green/public space due to the high volume of monuments and memorials. There are large areas dedicated to pedestrian areas as well.

It's a nice mix to live in a very large city (especially large to my Canadian standards) and have efficient metros and buses, and also have the city designed for walking. The sidewalks are huge unlike somewhere else I know...

Catchfire wrote:

Ok Ok Ok I get the message. I need to get my hands on this book -- it hasn't been available at nearby librairies, though. I'll grab a copy this weekend.

There is a large sample of the book on Harper Collins website here so you don't have to spend your dollar bills.

Also, my reading has dropped off because I was sick and doing taxes (two sets, blugh!) and then an old friend came to visit. So apologies for all of a sudden stopping reading.

I definitely get the criticisms about how it does not seem to be research-oriented or detail specific; however, I, so far, have liked his melding of details and his anecdotes. The section on New York alone is really, really interesting. The history of the transit up to its conception now, and also the hidden elements of the system. And I like that though he seems biased, obviously, he states he is, he still is critical of the systems. 

Pretty interesting so far, however, if I was needing some stone cold facts for a paper of something, I don't know if this would be the best bet. I guess it depends how you go in to the read.

Friday reading night for sure!

Also, LA seems like the worst.

I was unaware thought that they had a rail line of any sort. I watched a documentary about city bike riders and there is a growing bike culture in LA. Every rider was nearly escaping death.

regarding the parallels to Phoenix and the claims of suburbanism.

That sounds awesome, and I totally would have cracked that wine open on the way home.

My partner is in Worceter MA and is sounds the exact same, except that also encompasses the downtown too. He can see complexes he wants to go to, see them, but he can't reach them because of highways or lack of sidewalks or drop offs. Strange.

I like the points the Grescoe is making between the distinctions of 'interconnected' and 'developed' transit: some great cities have wonderful downtown transit that is interconnected with buses, trains, bikes, but lack anything to Suburbs, and then some small European towns have amazing transit both within the city and to the main downtown. The point being, what is important to transit needs and where do we want it to go?

For the development of NA transit, is it more important to bring in people from the suburbs or create efficient transits downtown first?

I would argue, Vancouver is taking the former route, which seems to be the less popular one according to the book.

I'm finally finished (also glad it's been going for so long)! Compiling my thoughts, but spoil alert, they are on the positive side.

And thanks to our lovely editor Derrick, BBC has finally (almost, dot t's cross i's) a discussion date with a transit enthusiast for the end of the week! The official details to come so soon you won't even be able to handle it.