[Summit] parking ban and cars

[Jim Kelley]

I'd like to continue your hope and (and hopefully not fantasy) by sharing anecdotal evidence of one: when my company moved my job to providence 20 years ago I moved to Summit so I could take the bus, bicycle, and roller blade to downtown (this was before "downcity" to my job which I did for 15 years (now my job is in Warwick---i think a difficult and dangerous place to bicycle).

INMO, one necessary first step to reduce  the use of autos is to cluster jobs and business downtown by creating a business friendly environment to create demand so businesses Want to be here (not 'bribed' by one-off incentives: 1) reduced costs (power, eliminating the tangible and other outdated business taxes, open shop labor, efficient, fair, transparent, and honest process in opening and conducting business with gov't entities). 2) inexpensive, 1st class ways of shipping goods (port of providence, rail, air, Quonset, and information (broadband network) 3) quality workers who can innovate, identify, and capitalize on the competitive advantages in operating in downtown providence----which do exist and many excellent individuals and groups already understand and work hard to do this, of course--Jack Templin and Alan Tear jump immediately to mind among many others).

Only then can a different funding mechanism be put in place to expand RIPTA, build the subway and maximize the excellent progress  of the bikeways being built to connect and bring prosperity to the neighborhoods; thus reducing auto usage to commute to jobs in the sprawl surrounding Providence or driving to the sprawl surrounding Boston. 
Jim Kelley

-----Original Message-----
From: sumati eberstadt <sumieber at earthlink.net>
Sender: summit-bounces at sna.providence.ri.us
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:11:18 
To: <summit at sna.providence.ri.us>
Subject: Re: [Summit] parking ban and cars

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