Tag: travel

environment, Life, transport, travelLeave a comment

Residential Parking Permit Programs

Mark Cathcart

This is bound to come up here in #louisvilleCO sometime, given the city wants to expand downtown, and doesn’t have a parking solution. Back in my old town, Austin Texas, it’s still a thing. I read this excellent blog post by Meghan Skornia. I’d like to have commented on her blog directly, sadly it requires a facebook ID, which regular readers will know, I don’t have anymore. I tried to reply via twitter but it was typo-ridden and out of sequence. So, here it is with corrections. I lived on the 600-block of W Johanna St for 10-years. The block … Continue reading Residential Parking Permit Programs

music, Politics, politics, transport, travelLeave a comment

Ripping off customers

Mark Cathcart

I saw the following tweet and literally laughed-out-loud. In the past two years I’ve got to the checkout confirmation step on music and theatre events and cancelled out and closed the browser window more times than I care to remember. Ticket “fees” and “convenience” charges are rampant. The airline industry over the past year has gone the complete opposite direction, some forced by legislation, some by marketplace competition. They nickel and dime you for charges for everything. The Trump administration has rescinded a rule requiring Airlines to disclose baggage fees upfront. This rule previously made it easier to compare airfare prices … Continue reading Ripping off customers

automation, Life, Politics, politics, technology, transport2 Comments

Giant fleet of small scheduling nightmares

Mark Cathcart

In tenuous link between my recent posts on automation, here and especially here, where back in November I discussed autonomous vehicles and their impact on employment. I also said: While many cities are salivating over the ability of self-driving, autonomous … Continue reading Giant fleet of small scheduling nightmares

automation, transport, travelLeave a comment

Will self driving cars save Austin from itself?

Mark Cathcart

If you had 100 destinations you’d have removed some of the major bottlenecks, but we don’t. We have the Central Business District. It’s a major constraint and getting people in cars in and out of it no matter how automated the cars are will have the same fundamental problems and constraints. Anyone who says otherwise really doesn’t understand the problem. Continue reading Will self driving cars save Austin from itself?

Life, transport, travelLeave a comment

DVT and the American Way

Mark Cathcart

As we approach the holiday season, I am reminded to check the American Way magazine to see if they’ve updated their advice about Deep Vein Thrombosis, aka DVT. My legs are sore from Sundays race, so better safe than sorry. Looks like I’m still in with a chance to win the 100,000 award miles for my letter to the editor last month, after all they have not changed the advice. Here is what I wrote: I’m in 22a of AA 1149, I’ve been here for about 3.5 hours since boarding. The guy in the exit row seat in front, despite … Continue reading DVT and the American Way

Life, Politics, transport, travel3 Comments

Decaying Texas

Mark Cathcart

It’s been an interesting month. I live in Austin Texas, boom town USA. Everything is happening in construction, although nothing much in transport. In many ways Austin reminds me of rapidly developing cities in China, India and other developing countries. I’ve travelled some inside Texas, but most on I10 and out East. I’ve tended to dismiss what I’ve seen in small towns, mostly because I figured they were unrepresentative. Earlier this month I did my first real US roadtrip. I had my Mum with me for a month and figured a week or so out of the heat of Texas … Continue reading Decaying Texas

LifeLeave a comment

Holiday Travel, make coming home better

Mark Cathcart

I had an interesting discussion about holiday travel yesterday, what tips, tricks and special things had I learned over the years? The one that got the most surprised reaction, was my advice on coming home. One thing that I’ve learned to before leaving, along with turning off the lights, emptying the trash, clearing out the coffee maker etc. is to put fresh, claen sheets on the bed, to change the towels in the bathroom and every trip to change my toothbrush and to try to leave the house as tidy as I can. When you get home, not only will … Continue reading Holiday Travel, make coming home better