My Weekend Plans…
Well, I’m taking a road trip this weekend.
I’ve always wanted to head west to Kenosha, Wisconsin to check out their heritage streetcar system. You see, Kenosha beat all the odds and installed this system, with restored TTC streetcars in a 2 mile downtown loop, at costs far below that national average in a city less than half the size of Windsor.
And, it has apparently reinvigorated their downtown to boot!
So along with Ron Drouillard from the Windsor Workers Action Centre, I pulled my old VW hippy-Van out of storage, packed it up and we’re hitting the west bank of Lake Michigan to see the streetcar system for ourselves and talk with some of the people involved in making it a reality. Well be visiting the car-barns where they maintain these pieces of Canadian history as well. And we’re going to capture it all on film for you as well. Wish us luck.
Then, it’s off to Custer, Wisconsin to check out the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s 20th annual Energy Fair! I’m sure this years event, with the mainstream finally catching up with this movement, will be phenominal!
So, be sure to catch Mark and Andrew on Monday’s ScaleDown Radio as I take the week off from my hosting/producing duties.
I’ll let you know how it goes…
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Sounds awsome! Can’t wait to see some video! I hope you can arrange for some sort of interview with their transit system’s director / president, etc. Maybe even talk someone in to comming back to Windsor to give a presentation to our council on the benefits of T.O.D. I can dream…
I love street cars. The Toronto system is quick and easy. I’ll wait to hear about your weekend. Sounds good and it does move peopel quickly.
It was very nice to meet you. I just wanted to thank you for stopping by to talk with Gabriel and me. If you should find yourselves back this way please let me know.
When Kenosha started the Trolley system it demonstrated a level of commitment from the city that gave us a comfort knowing they were going to try with us.
Let me know if you need a hot dog stand in Windsor, I can visit with my cart and we can discuss liters and gallons(LOL)
Joe - It was excellent meeting you and Gabriel this weekend. Kenosha should use the fact that it is one of THE most hospitable and friendly cities around in its marketing material! You guys rock!
You will see us again, as I’m sure another delegation from Windsor will make it’s way north to visit you. Maybe then I will take you up on that artery-clogging deep-fried-bacon-wrapped-hot dog!
I stumbled across this today and it’s definitely worth a read;
The StreetCar Conspiracy
How General Motors Deliberately Destroyed Public Transit
http://www.lovearth.net/gmdeliberatelydestroyed.htm
GMs deliberate trashing of the streetcars system in the US, and then consequently in Canada, is well documented. I hear that some is in the middle of producing a documentary on it as well.