Early Poll Results Shows Trend Away From Land Phones

Used a phone booth lately?  Even seen a pay phone in the last decade?  Wireless technology has changed the urban landscape.  No more pay phones.  No more phone booths.

This weeks poll, still active in the upper right corner of the main page, shows the continued transformation away from land-based phone lines to wireless phones.

The question asked is, Do you have a land-based phone line at home?

As of last night, half of the 58 responses indicated no they did not.  Of the half with a land line, 55% of those are considering dropping the line and going cell only.  Combine the people without a land phone with those who are considering dropping the land line and you get 72.4%.

I like having only a single number.  I also like saving money. Having messages in only one location rather than at the office, at home and on my wireless device is also convenient.

In a decade we probably won’t have new places wired for land phones at all.  I think I was a teenager before I could have a phone in my room — not my own line but just a phone on our single line.  Now young kids have their own wireless phones.

Wireless phones enable people to meet up in public places — calling when close to pinpoint their exact location.  Waiting for a call no longer means staying at home.  Hopefully the end result will put more folks outdoors in great public places.  Phones with cameras and email allow people to share where they are.  I’m guessing the Wal-Mart parking lot will not be shared.  Vibrant pedestrian-filled streets, however, will be emailed on posted on sites like Facebook.

The technology of the automobile has physically seperated our society.  Handy wireless devices may be just the item to help reduce our distances.

I Was Wondering Today

What About an Ikea for St. Louis?

I’ve been an loyal Ikea shopper for about 15 years this month. I’ve been to five of their stores in the suburbs of Washington D.C., Seattle, New Jersey, Oakland (CA) and Chicago. Many of us in St. Louis make the pilgrimage to Chicago to buy great (& cheap) products.

I think we need an Ikea. Most people would likely agree. The issue of where should an Ikea go is the subject of debate. In the suburbs at St. Louis Mills Outlet Mall? Northwest Plaza? Crestwood? I’ve always thought in Illinois near a MetroLink line would be wise. Some want a store in the City of St. Louis – suggesting the old MSD location at I-44 and Hampton.

You can only vote once so make it count.

– Steve

New Poll on Washington Avenue Parking

I think by now it is pretty clear that I am in favor of parking on Washington Avenue. In my efforts to get parking on the street I’ve decided to conduct my own non-scientific poll on the topic to see what others think.

[NOTE: This post first appeared on 7/17 but I have updated it and moved it to today (7/20). If you have not voted yet please read on and vote.]

I personally would like to see on-street parking all the way to the Eads bridge. I would exclude no part of the street such as in front of the convention center or convention hotel. I’d be OK with a few spaces maybe as 15 minute maximum to allow someone to run into Starbucks. Having valet permits such as they do West of Tucker would also be acceptable.

However, for the purposes of this poll I’m limiting the area to the four blocks from 8th to Tucker. The argument in favor of on-street parking is that it provides a buffer between vehicles and pedestrians, it calms traffic, it provides good short-term spaces necessary to support retail businesses, it makes sidewalk dining more pleasant and gives the general impression to visitors that things are happening in the area.

I’ve supplied a wide range of possible answers ranging from no restrictions (my ideal) to a full ban (what we have now). I’ve included the option in the answer to exclude big events. Some answers are for certain times only. You are only allowed to vote once so make it count.

If you feel I should have included another possible answer please let me know in the comments section.

[UPDATED 7/20 @ 10AM. In three days nearly 70 people have voted. Over 90% are in favor of having on-street parking at all times, ignoring rush hour. The only difference being special events like a RAMS game. In retrospect I should have done an option that excluded M-F 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm. Again, if you haven’t voted please do so.]

– Steve