Quote(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Denver-2019/i-xdxJcQM/0/c7aee71e/L/20191215_151655-L.jpg)
The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe that what works in internationally known cosmopolitan settings may not be applicable for cities in America that have struggled with embracing walkability. If we look hard enough, we may realize that this type of view should be challenged. Despite the diversity around the globe, all lively cities, downtowns, and urban cores have something in common: being pedestrian friendly.
Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/visions-of-vibrancy-denvers-lodo/
I wish Denver would bring back their diagonal xings for peds at intersections.
https://www.denverpost.com/2011/04/05/denver-to-eliminate-diagonal-crossings-at-intersections/
Heck, Jacksonville used to have "barndance" pedestrian crossings downtown. If I remember correctly, there were 3 - 2 on Hogan (at Monroe and at Adams), and I don't remember the third. This was back in the 1970s (I think) when there was still vibrant retail downtown. Maybe Lake has some pictures?
A barndance at Hogan and Adams back in the 1970s:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/3985748858_DSBGBgK-L.jpg)
Just came back from Denver and WOW! Such a beautiful city. This thread and the one about Union Station from a few years prior inspired us to go there.
I feel like Denver is what Jacksonville could have been like had we had the right planning and leadership. Doesn't feel overwhelming like some of the other large downtowns. No empty blocks or blocks dedicated to only parking garages. Great architecture and reuse of old buildings. Every street had people on it and although covid had killed some businesses we never felt like there were any areas that were completely dead.
The combination of light rail, amtrak, street cars, dedicated electric bus streets and electric bicycle/scooter networks are great. They could use a little more expansion, but overall it's something totally feasible to model after for a 10 year plan. Day passes on the light rail ranged from 6.50-10.50 and you could use them to hop on the buses too. We visited so many great spots away from downtown without using a car and it the trains were always 15 minutes apart or less, clean and on time.
Their downtown is perfectly walkable, but the addition of lime, lyft and jump bikes/scooters makes it so much easier to explore without a car. We went up and down basically every street downtown and never felt unsafe day or night. We did run into 2 major homeless areas (one next to the shelter and the other near a food bank), but they were nothing compared to other major cities we've been to.
We can't wait to go back.