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Happy Feet OKC

Observing Pedestri-oddities in Oklahoma's Capital City

  • Pedestria-trocity of the Month
    • April, 2016
    • March, 2016
    • February, 2016
    • January, 2016
    • December, 2015
  • Pedestria-nomalies
    • Cute little two-step to the right
    • Best Place for Vertigo
    • Quirky Quad
  • Pedestri-ana-ganza
    • Veterans’ Hospital
    • State Capitol, South Side
    • Northpark Mall and Surrounding Neighborhood
  • Buffalo Republic Dispatch
    • Casinos: Growth Industry of the Bible Belt
    • Robotic Candidates Coming to an Election Near You
    • Robotic Customers to Save Failing Economy

Gulch Update, October 2016

November 20, 2016 by Kelley Smith

Tree growing in gulch in NW Oklahoma City; trunk not visible from ground level
Before: April, 2016
Biggest tree removed from gulch in NW Oklahoma City
Meridiana Gulch, October, 2016

Your intrepid blogger has been preoccupied for some months, but this update simply could not wait. As of October 16,2016, Meridiana Gulch had some infrastructure changes. Note the removal of large tree.

Filed Under: Everyday walking

Walking by a Bus Stop

September 17, 2016 by Kelley Smith

Pedestrians in OKC will walk to or by a bus stop now and then. It’s discouraging that some of them look like this.

Come on people! Buses have a trash can inside (will check and report back if this is a regular policy or if my particular bus drivers are just extra-diligent).

Picture of covered bus stop with candy wrapper, various discarded cups and traash
Bus stop located on N. E. 13th Street between Phillips Ave. and N. Kelly Ave.
Discarded plastic bag and cigarette box at covered bus stop located in Health Science Center area of Oklahoma City
We can do better!

Filed Under: Happy feet ride the bus

Umbrella

July 29, 2016 by Kelley Smith

Umbrellas, red, purple, lime green appear to be floating
Image Source, Flickr, Licensed as Creative Commons

Umbrella -[uhm-brel–uh] (American term) 1. An object, commonly held vertically or at a slight angle to prevent raindrops from falling on one’s head and person  2. (more common in Oklahoma City) An object, held perpendicular to one’s person, when walking or standing during rainstorms near moving traffic, perhaps at a bus stop. The perpendicular angle is intended to prevent drowning from enormous volumes of muddy water splashed on pedestrians by Oklahoma City drivers

Filed Under: Walk-i-pedia

OK, Let’s Talk about Embark

June 19, 2016 by Kelley Smith

Screenshot 2016-06-19 18.05.46One of the places pedestrians sometimes go in Oklahoma City is the bus stop. So, we’re going to diverge somewhat from our theme of walking to discuss an upcoming change in the bus system. And this really does involve walking.

For a couple of years now, Embark has been implementing changes, one of which is that the buses will only pick up and drop off at designated stops; that is, locations where there is an Embark sign. The announced “big day” is July 1, 2016. Starting on that day, buses will only stop at official Embark stops. This would be somewhat different form the old days when any bus would stop at any bench, covered stop, or far corner of any intersection. Embark has placed signs all over town at the various designated stops, and generally, the sign includes the number of the bus serving that area. Of course, most stops are only served by one bus route.

The Health Science Center is an exception. Due to the large number of passengers needing to travel to and from the may health facilities there, the area is served by a number of different bus routes.

Routes #2 and #3 have served that area for years, traveling east and west on N. E. 13th. The Crosstown #23 also swoops by, turning south from N.E. 23rd on Lincoln, traveling east on N. E. 13th to Kelly, then turning north, before heading back to the west on N.E. 23rd. The Norman Express #24 also drops in during rush hour as well as the Edmond Express #38.

So, let’s talk about bus stops. On N.E. 13th, just east of Phillips Avenue (north side of OU Childrens’ Hospital), is a stop. It is not a covered stop; indeed, it doesn’t even have a bench, but it does have a sign. The sign says the stop is served by the #23 and #24, although at present, the #2 and #3 pick up and drop off there. Further down the street (almost at Kelly), where Childrens’ Hospital used to be, (a building named Garrison Tower), is a covered stop. The sign at this location says the stop is served by the #2 and #3, although the #23 stops there regularly. In fact, at 4:30 p.m., the drivers change shifts on the #23 at Garrison Tower.

So, what is involved if riders on the #23 can only board or get off the bus at the Childrens’ Hospital stop (Stop ID 201) rather than also stopping at Garrison Tower (Stop ID #178)?  What’s the problem if a mom and kids (perhaps one in a stroller) must get off or board the #2 or #3 at Garrison Tower rather than directly north of Childrens’ Hospital?

We need to look at the geography of the area. Since the stop at Childrens’ Hospital (ID 201) has no shelter or seating, this could be a little difficult for a parent with sick children waiting for the #23 in the rain, or for a veteran who has just visited Veterans’ Hospital. The mom and kids, or the veteran, could have taken the skywalk to Garrison Tower and stepped outside to the covered stop. Likewise, a veteran who is seeking care at the VA Hospital would have to walk extra distance if he/she traveled to the area on the #23 in order to reach his/her destination.

The extra distance would also be a problem for parents and children traveling on the #2 or #3 to Childrens’ Hospital. In the past, it was possible for an Embark patron to get off the bus at Garrison Tower, go inside, and take the skywalk to Childrens’ Hospital, or Veterans’ Hospital for that matter, but in the last few months, Garrison Tower has been locked for improved security. Now it is not possible to enter the building from N.E. 13th street without a security badge.

For these reasons, Embark really must add #23 (and possibly #24) to the Garrison Tower stop (ID 178) and #2 and #3 to the Childrens’ Hospital stop (ID 201). It’s the least they can do.

Filed Under: Happy feet ride the bus

Backpacks Beware

June 12, 2016 by Kelley Smith

Many pedestrians carry a backpack out of necessity. Those who walk need to have a bottle of water, umbrella, cell phone, billfold, bus ticket… some critical items. Some of these items are also used and needed by car drivers, but since they have a rolling storage closet at their disposal, no one notices.

So, what happens when a pedestrian walks to a store to purchase a few items? Some pedestrians are told they cannot take their backpack inside. Or, the store personnel offer to keep the backpack behind a cash register while the backpack owner shops. If one could be sure the backpack would be safe, this might work out… but are store owners going to be responsible if cellphones, wallets, Kindles, or other items disappear?

My latest backpack-unfriendly encounter was at Walgreens at NW 63rd and MacArthur. Though I have spent thousands of dollars at this store, they fear I will steal…what…lipstick?

So, we add a new category to the blog, and invite readers to email the locations of other backpack-unfriendly retailers. We all need a list of places we just should not go.

Email: happyfeetokc@gmail.com with your backpack story.

Filed Under: Backpacks Beware

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Categories

  • Backpacks Beware
  • City regulations and programs
  • Everyday walking
  • Happy feet ride the bus
  • Inside walking
  • Walk-i-pedia

Recent Posts

  • Gulch Update, October 2016
  • Walking by a Bus Stop
  • Umbrella
  • OK, Let’s Talk about Embark
  • Backpacks Beware
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