Midtown vs. Downtown

If biking isn’t purposely made easier from North Hills to downtown and points immediately east and especially west of it, I am not sure what the value of a bike share is within just the North Hills community. What are the destinations for such bikes if not for downtown? This has to be carefully considered if bike share is to succeed.

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I give instant approval, meeting adjourned.

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And to Midtown, which is on the way to Downtown.

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The bike share is pointless unless you add in bike share options elsewhere. Bike to Crabtree, cool but where do you dock the bike? If the time limit is 45 minutes, you may as well ride to Crabtree and turn right around. I’m curious about other’s opinions, but I don’t really like the Cardinal bikes. Since it’s one gear, you really have to pedal to get above 10Mph. It is extremely easy to get up to 10Mph as you barely need to pedal, but the gearing is so bad that going higher than that is hard. I think the pedal assist stops at 10Mph but again the gearing is bad. I ride quicker on my bike and I’m definitely not a road cyclist.

The way to Crabtree isn’t too bad with the neighborhood streets. There are bike “lanes” on Lassiter Mill, but I’ve almost gotten hit by stupid drivers who tried to squeeze between me and either a car making a left or at the at grade crossing on the greenway. Riding south on Lassiter may not be a problem, but up will be a problem for many as it is uphill.

They also need to make it easier to get across Six Forks for bikes. Heading east on Main St. in NH isn’t too bad but heading west on Dartmouth Rd needs a bike lane. Both sides should have one. Trying to turn East onto Lassiter Mill Rd from Pamlico Drive is a little uncomfortable as well. The street is busy and with impatient cars, it makes it a mess for everyone.

On Currituck Dr heading East is also a pain. The speed limit is 30 (of course I see cars go 40). With the traffic calming medians, the lanes narrow to where I have to take the full lane. Luckily I haven’t had a close call there yet, but I can see it happening.

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I suppose the gearing is low to make going uphill easier? Riding between NH and Crabtree you’re going to encounter some stiff climbs no matter the route. And adding multiple gearing with shifting probably decreases reliability/increases maintenance. In any case I’m all for making the area more bikeable.

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i dont see a 4 bike bike-share requirement doing much at all. im not sure what the bike-share bike-costs are but a rad-power ebike mostly assembled and delivered to your door for 1500 bucks cant be far off.

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It’s a we have power we can make you do stupid stuff against common sense or your nature if we want to. Happening every day.

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What is happening across St Albany’s from Midtown Exchange? The site is cleared, with construction site fence & construction entrance.

Apartments. Senior living I think.

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Good location since it’s right by Duke Raleigh hospital.

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Lots of attributes of North Hills here, but at least it’s not ringed by a giant parking lot like a standard suburban mall.

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Apparently there was a presentation about the Midtown Waterfront Park at the Appearance Commission Meeting yesterday? Can’t find the stream or any presentation on the City’s website or youtube. Anyone know anything about this?

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Here she is as of 12-Dec-22. I’d much rather see this as a life sci space than another stupid big box chain like Home Depot. There’s already 2 in Raleigh, 1 in Cary and 1 in Apex, 1 in Garner, lol

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Since new users are only allowed 1 media item per post…

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Great first post, welcome!

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I feel like a place like Southpoint fits the description of a lifestyle center better than North Hills does. North Hills has some genuine density, even if it is still car centric at the end of the day.

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Looks nice but for my selfish reasons I wouldn’t have minded another Home Depot. I usually bike to the one up on Strickland but would have preferred something closer and right along the greenway. But I’m not complaining.

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Well, the video also notes Santana Row in San Jose, which is very similar to North Hills. North Hills is definitely a lifestyle center from the definition of the video. It’s certainly a better version of one, but it’s one nonetheless.

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You are welcome to feel however you want. That’s your prerogative. I’d argue that any such center that’s controlled by one overarching private entity, like North Hills is, is a lifestyle center. I don’t think that the density of North Hills is a differentiator.
I already said that North Hills is a better version, and I certainly prefer it to the example in Las Vegas from that video. However, it’s not an organically grown, rich collection of experiences that one finds in a true urban area. North Hills is run like a mall, by a developer that controls the experiences. Here’s an example.

I’m not aware if North Hills has operating hours, but I find it hard to believe that folks can just casually walk down a sidewalk in North Hills at 2AM without being confronted. Most of North Hills is built on private streets.
Again, I’m not saying that it’s bad example of a lifestyle center, but it certainly is one in my book, as is Fenton, as will be Seaboard in its private streets, and Downtown South as well in its private streets.

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There a 24-hour gym. I applied for a smoothie job next to it actually was a pull down door, so in the same block. RALEIGH NEVER CLOSES OR SLEEPS.

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