Atlanta: I Hardly Know Ye!
Decatur Metro | March 6, 2012A new “Future Metropolis Index” report from Zipcar – the national car-sharing program – ranks Atlanta near the top in many interesting categories. The index is designed to “recognize cities that demonstrate smart urban planning and policy-making.
Atlanta ranks 7th overall among the 36 cities analyzed, with these rankings in the five individual categories…
- #1 in Innovation, determined by the number of universities and Wi-Fi hot spots per residents (?)
- #17 in Sustainability, determined by miles of bike lanes and percentage of hybrid cars
- #5 in VIbrancy/Creativity, determined by park acres and arts-related jobs (Atlanta ranks #1 in arts jobs, according to the study)
- #4 in Efficiency, determined by % of commuters that use public transportation and the number of “unlinked” trips on public transportation
- #32 in Livability/Optimism, determined by homicide and burglary and unemployment rates
Who knew that Atlanta such an innovative, creative, efficient city with some trouble being sustainable and looking on the bright side of life??
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Atlanta a sustainable city? What a joke.
An underfunded transit system that insures most people will drive to work; bike lanes that are ignored by drivers, so that getting anywhere on your bike is dangerous; a refusal to institute reasonable water conservation measures that would allow the city to quit draining Lake Lanier each summer – – if we rank high on this list, I hate to think what the lower ranked cities are like.
The ITP (inside the perimeter) area of metro Atlanta has such amazing potential with its networks of interesting neighborhods. There are alot of intelligent and engaged people working within the neighborhoods and communities all over metro Atlanta including working on some huge projects like the Beltline. It seems to me like since the great recession people are not as mobile so they staying put and are investing more in thier neighborhoods/communities and are more involved in thier communities? Perhaps its just me, but thats what I see. The one thing I wish could be much more improved upon is the air quality. Oh, and I wish they would get rid of that parking lot in middle of Decatur square. It sets a bad example for smart planning and growth.
You are looking on the bright side (of life). Atlanta ITP will be such a great place, if we can get the Beltway. Such a great project to change us for the better.
Atlanta has been good for Zipcar. Zipcar has been good for Atlanta.
Word.