Weekly poll: Where do you live?

In honor of the start of the 2010 Census, I want to know where you live.  I know quite a bit from my statistics about all readers, but those that take the time to vote each week in the poll (right sidebar) is only a fraction of the total readers for that time period.

The choices provided are:

• City of St. Louis
• St. Louis County (inside I-270)
• St. Louis County (outside I-270)
• St. Charles County, MO
• Jefferson County, MO
• Metro East (IL)
• Kansas City metro
• Other Missouri
• Chicago metro
• New York City metro
• Elsewhere in the United States
• Canada
• UK
• Country other than USA, CAN or UK
• Other:

The poll is in the right hand column.

– Steve Patterson

Three out of four doesn’t cut it

At the intersection of 11th & St. Charles the existing curb ramps were recently redone on three of the four corners.  The forth corner lacked a curb ramp.

But the three that already had ramps now have new ramps and the forth corner still lacks a ramp.  My logic would tell me to get the all directions where someone in a wheelchair (or pushing a stroller) could easily pass before replacing existing ramps.  Who makes these decisions?

– Steve Patterson

Hearing notice locations inconsistent

A few days ago I blogged about public notice signs facing the road rather than the sidewalk (Public notice signs face drivers, not pedestrians).  Then I spotted a trio of notices two blocks to the West posted on a window visible from the sidewalk, a good location.

I don’t think I had anything to do with a shift in policy, my guess is those who post the notices are just inconsistent.  All three of these hearings are on the same date & time, each permit requires notice.  I had long wondered the difference between a “summer garden” and a Side-walk cafe” so I inquired with Robert Kraiberg, Commissioner of the city’s Excise Division.  His response:

“A Summer Garden permit is obtain if tables & chairs are placed in the patio area of a licensed premise.  Whereas a Sidewalk Cafe permit is obtain if tables & chairs are placed on the City Sidewalk.  With the Sidewalk Cafe permit one would need to also go through the Board of Public Service to obtain what is called a Sidewalk Encroachment Permit as well.“

I’m still a bit confused how a place would need both a summer garden and sidewalk cafe permit but I’ll leave that question for another day.

– Steve Patterson

Mapping Loop & Cherokee restaurant districts

I’ve long been a fan of UrbanSpoon.com and their iPhone app for finding restaurants. Listings are based on location and when you find a place it shows you others nearby. I’ve rated over 125 restaurants and added 14.  I’ve got a very long wish list of restaurants to try. Other sites like Yelp exist but I really like UrbanSpoon.

But one thing really bugged me – how they grouped the restaurants.  Restaurants on Cherokee near Jefferson were grouped in “South Grand” and Pi on Delmar in St. Louis was in “University City.”  Trying to see a list of restaurants in either area was impossible because they were mixed with others.  But now it has changed.

Delmar Loop is now it’s own area as is Cherokee:

This change came about because I contacted them and worked with their mapping software to create these two areas.

– Steve Patterson

Poll results: reader’s bus ridership high

I was pleasantly surprised by the results of last week’s poll:

Q: Have you ever ridden a municipal bus?

1. Yes in St. Louis and other cities 181 [ 67%]
2. Yes but not in St. Louis 50 [19%]
3. Yes in St. Louis only 18 [7%]
4. No and I have no plans to ride a bus ever 13 [5%]
5. Not yet but I plan to do so 4 [1%]
6. Other answer… 3 [1%]

The three other answers were:

1. Rode in STL; vacationed in San Antonio
2. I certainly have and I was born in West County, went to public school
3. Yes, but never riding again

Only 5% had no plans to ride a bus for the first time.  Hopefully these folks will reconsider at some point.  I’m curious if they have ridden our light rail?

Nearly 20% hadn’t ridden a bus elsewhere but not in St. Louis.

– Steve Patterson