Urban Reads: Christof Spieler

Christof Spieler, vice president and director of planning at Huitt-Zollars and a senior lecturer at Rice University, will discuss and sign his new book “Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US Transit.” He will be in conversation with Kinder Institute Director of Strategic Partnerships Kyle Shelton.

Brazos Bookstore will be selling copies of the book on-site.

About the book

In the U.S., the 25 largest metropolitan areas and many smaller cities have rail or bus rapid transit. Nearly all are talking about expanding, yet discussions about transit are still remarkably unsophisticated. To build good transit, the discussion needs to focus on what matters — quality of service (not the technology that delivers it), all kinds of transit riders, the role of buildings, streets and sidewalks, and, above all, getting transit in the right places.

In “Trains, Buses, People: An Opinionated Atlas of US Transit,” Spieler profiles the 47 metropolitan areas in the U.S. that have rail transit or BRT, using data, photos and maps for easy comparison. He offers an analysis of how geography, politics and history complicate transit planning, and shows how the unique circumstances of every city have resulted in very different transit systems.

More information at trainsbusespeople.org.

Christof Spieler has spent over a decade advocating for transit as a writer, community leader, urban planner, transit board member and enthusiast.