Look, Pedestrians!

Lately readers have commented they never see pedestrians in my photos.

My photo library contains just over 46,000 images — few with people.  In St. Louis there are quite a few pedestrians but they pass as quickly as they appear so you are more likely not to get pedestrians in pictures.  In NYC, on the other hand, it is nearly impossible to take a pic without people.

No matter when you press the shutter there will be people in your photo.  I’m going to try to get pictures that are more representative of our pedestrian traffic.

– Steve Patterson

Readers Like St. Louis’ Gateway Transportation Center

In the poll last week readers liked our combined Amtrak & Greyhound station but were not impressed with the surroundings.

Q: St. Louis’ combined Amtrak & Greyhound station opened on 11/21/2008. Your thoughts on the station?

1. Can’t compete with the heyday of Union Station but it is a vast improvement over facilities for the decades prior. 84 [58.74%]
2. The station is OK but the immediate area needs attention. 33 [23.08%]
3. Other answer… 11 [7.69%]
4. James Howard Kunstler was right, it is an embarrassing eyesore. 8 [5.59%]
5. Unsure/no opinion 5 [3.5%]
6. I didn’t like it at first but I’ve warmed to it. 1 [0.7%]
7. I liked it at first but I’m less and less impressed as times goes on. 1 [0.7%]

The following are the “other” answers:

1. I LOVE IT !
2. Needs to be near the Metro, needs multilevel parking garage.
3. nice. but money should be invested in union station
4. Should of used Union Station
5. Why not re-use Union Station? It works, and would make it seem less empty
6. Where is the option for like?
7. It is an eyesore, and embarrassing that the original is so under-utilized.
8. functional, but architecturally weak
9. I like it, plain and simple
10. It’s not terrible, but an under utilized Union Station is criminal!
11. I have liked it all along.

Amtrak pulled out of Union Station in the early 70s, switching to a shack under the large train shed and finally to a “temporary” along the rail lines.  Union Station, a massive structure, was sold to private developers.  Additional structures have been constructed between the former station and the rail lines.  Amtrak doesn’t like to back into stations.  Need more reasons why not Union Station?

I don’t get the comment above, “Needs to be near the Metro.”  They could not be any closer together!

ABOVE: View of Civic Center MetroLink & bus transfer center as seen from the east entrance