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Yuval Levin, author and editor of National Affairs, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in his latest book, The Fractured Republic. Levin argues that both major political parties suffer from a misplaced nostalgia--a yearning for a...

I love to stretch my brain and force it to re-think what I know. This hour long podcast does a great job to lay the case for a more civil discourse in society and how we might be able to do that.

My time with the students of Texas Army ROTC from 2011-2013.

This weekend we are hosting a mini-reunion for the students I had the good fortune to meet in our two years on campus. For our final assignment in the Army, Amy and I went looking for opportunities in Texas. Fort Bliss and Fort Hood looked great. However, we were drawn to Austin and the opportunity to teach leadership and strategy at the University of Texas. Not only was the assignment incredible, but it was also a chance to focus on mentorship in a way I had not had a chance before. This article from 2012 captures how much fun we had. http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2012/09/rotc-on-the-rise/

“Iraq, crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money — millions and millions of dollars — and handing it out?,” Trump said at an evening rally.

Oh boy.... I’m done. This is the final shoe to drop. I’ll write more later about this one. I don’t claim Army sainthood but this is too far.

The U.S. Army maintains a clear and critical dependence on access to reliable energy and has successfully tapped into utility scale solar and other renewable technologies (see below) to achieve this aim on installations around the country (and here in Texas). They are now sharing this expertise with the Air...

Since my first trip to Iraq in 2004, I have worked to find ways to improve quality of life and mission performance for the Warfighter down range using new technologies in Clean Energy. Throughout this blog since 2012, there are several examples of that progress. Here is a latest effort that gets me really fired up that we are on to something big. Thanks to CleanTX for announcing it. You can learn more about our efforts at the Defense Energy Innovation Challenge as well as the National Security Technology Accelerator.

A 90 second argument to Vote FOR Prop 1 Today and Saturday in Austin

Ignoring the sensational, exaggerated media and TV commercials on both sides,

I will vote FOR Prop 1 because I am a pragmatist, transportation expert, father of 3 daughters and supporter of smart government.

I will vote FOR Prop 1 because the overall level of safety of TNCs is better than the alternative we had prior to 2014. So much so, that since 2014, I’ve often encouraged my wife and 3 daughters to use TNCs as an additional option that is both convenient and reliable.

I will vote FOR Prop 1 to allow government to move on. Despite the best efforts of Council Member Ellen Troxclair to prevent this vote and stay with the 2014 regulations, and Mayor Adler’s work to find compromise in January, we find our community debating an issue that has worked well for two years. It may not be perfect, but governance never is. At the end of the day, the benefits far outweigh the system’s imperfections.

I will vote FOR Prop 1 because if Prop 1 fails to pass, we might continue to litigate this subject indefinitely rather than concentrate on issues of Affordability, Budget and Equity.

I will vote FOR Prop 1 because at a time when our city faces an outsized challenge with transportation, affecting everything from physical mobility to economic mobility, and at a time when we are presented with such opportunities as the US DOT Smart Cities Challenge, we cannot afford any vote other than forward progress.

Find your voting locations: http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/Content.do?code=E.2016.05.07

I wrote a blog on Medium a few months ago and made a bold statement: “A smartphone could be considered your ‘new mode’ of transportation; it’s really all you need.” Think about that for a second. When was the last time you DIDN’T involve your smartphone in getting from here to there? Maybe you entered the destination in a mapping system. Maybe you used an app to locate a Lyft, Uber or a cab. Maybe you checked the bus or transit schedule. Maybe you just checked the traffic to estimate how long

This is a re-post from piece I wrote on the new platform Digi.City. It’s time to rethink how you view Urban Mobility.

Another reason I continue to believe it’s alway sunrise in America

I really do need to start blogging more. This Facebook article from my friend Eugene says it all about America’s future. In my opinion, Warren Buffet nailed it with the optimism of Ronald Reagan and the realism of John Lennon.

https://www.facebook.com/eugene.sepulveda/posts/10208266174265392

Warren Buffet: It’s an election year, and candidates can’t stop speaking about our country’s problems (which, of course, only they can solve). As a result of this negative drumbeat, many Americans now believe that their children will not live as well as they themselves do.

That view is dead wrong: The babies being born in America today are the luckiest crop in history. American GDP per capita is now about $56,000. As I mentioned last year that – in real terms – is a staggering six times the amount in 1930, the year I was born, a leap far beyond the wildest dreams of my parents or their contemporaries. U.S. citizens are not intrinsically more intelligent today, nor do they work harder than did Americans in 1930. Rather, they work far more efficiently and thereby produce far more. This all-powerful trend is certain to continue: America’s economic magic remains alive and well.

Some commentators bemoan our current 2% per year growth in real GDP – and, yes, we would all like to see a higher rate. But let’s do some simple math using the much-lamented 2% figure. That rate, we will see, delivers astounding gains.

America’s population is growing about .8% per year (.5% from births minus deaths and .3% from net migration). Thus 2% of overall growth produces about 1.2% of per capita growth. That may not sound impressive. But in a single generation of, say, 25 years, that rate of growth leads to a gain of 34.4% in real GDP per capita (Compounding’s effects produce the excess over the percentage that would result by simply multiplying 25 x 1.2%.) In turn, that 34.4% gain will produce a staggering $19,000 increase in real GDP per capita for the next generation. Were that to be distributed equally, the gain would be $76,000 annually for a family of four. Today’s politicians need not shed tears for tomorrow’s children.

Indeed, most of today’s children are doing well. All families in my upper middle-class neighborhood regularly enjoy a living standard better than that achieved by John D. Rockefeller Sr. at the time of my birth. His unparalleled fortune couldn’t buy what we now take for granted, whether the field is – to name just a few – transportation, entertainment, communication or medical services. Rockefeller certainly had power and fame; he could not, however, live as well as my neighbors now do.

Though the pie to be shared by the next generation will be far larger than today’s, how it will be divided will remain fiercely contentious. Just as is now the case, there will be struggles for the increased output of goods and services between those people in their productive years and retirees, between the healthy and the infirm, between the inheritors and the Horatio Algers, between investors and workers and, in particular, between those with talents that are valued highly by the marketplace and the equally decent hard-working Americans who lack the skills the market prizes. Clashes of that sort have forever been with us – and will forever continue. Congress will be the battlefield; money and votes will be the weapons. Lobbying will remain a growth industry.

The good news, however, is that even members of the “losing” sides will almost certainly enjoy – as they should – far more goods and services in the future than they have in the past. The quality of their increased bounty will also dramatically improve. Nothing rivals the market system in producing what people want – nor, even more so, in delivering what people don’t yet know they want. My parents, when young, could not envision a television set, nor did I, in my 50s, think I needed a personal computer. Both products, once people saw what they could do, quickly revolutionized their lives. I now spend ten hours a week playing bridge online. And, as I write this letter, “search” is invaluable to me. (I’m not ready for Tinder, however.)

For 240 years it’s been a terrible mistake to bet against America, and now is no time to start. America’s golden goose of commerce and innovation will continue to lay more and larger eggs. America’s social security promises will be honored and perhaps made more generous. And, yes, America’s kids will live far better than their parents did.

It's a great day for the RideScout family as we take another big step forward on the journey to improve communities through better mobility. By merging with GlobeSherpa and joining our parent company, moovel, in brand, name and vision-- we're stronger than ever before.

Disrupt yourself or be disrupted.

Everything and nothing changes at the same time.

I’m happy to announce that RideScout is now moovel, North America. Merging with our sister company, GlobeSherpa, we both now share the same name as a our parent company, moovel Group GmbH. A subsidiary of Daimler AG, the maker of Mercedes-Benz.

Everything changes because we now have a new name, logo, and branding.

Nothing changes because it's still the same great people working even more closely together to deliver world class mobility solutions for our communities.

Innovation, the Public at the Heart of MobilityHouston

This piece was first published on the MobilityHouston blog on the Houston Chronicle.

In February 2015, Houston METRO successfully launched a completely reimagined bus system. By maximizing ridership through a high-frequency network, the reimagining was a bold, innovative departure from METRO’s past service plans. It served as a reminder to all Houstonians of the power of a fresh approach, and transit systems around the world are learning from this example. It will likely prove long term to be a very smart use of taxpayers money.

METRO’s team impressively built connectivity beyond riders to include alternate ride providers, advocacy groups, and academics fostering shared understanding across an entire mobility ecosystem. This effort has coalesced a new conversation surrounding Houston mobility and a new constituency of public and private stakeholders seeking new solutions to traffic challenges.

Creating new solutions to dated problems is something I learned during my 20 years serving in the US Army. Back in 2009, I was working with the then Army Chief of Staff at the Pentagon and my daily commuting was troublesome. I only lived five miles from my job, but getting to and from the office was such a pain because my schedule was never the same.

I wanted one resource that could tell me the best commute options based on elements like the weather, time of day, real-time traffic updates, and more. Since nothing like that existed, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create RideScout with the help of my fellow West Point grad Craig Cummings.

Houston needs more innovation in the mobility space and MobilityHouston is a platform to offer just that. Innovation is more than the latest tech gadget, social network, or Angry Birds. It’s about improving our lives in ways we never imagined.

And with the help of Glasshouse Policy, the League of Women Voters, BikeHouston and so many other partners, MobilityHouston will allow every Houstonian and the surrounding counties to participate in the real time innovation of Houston’s transportation system.

METRO’s reimagining and Mayor Turner’s immediate focus on Houston’s roads is a testament to a renewed commitment by Houston stakeholders to hear and meet the city’s mobility expectations and MobilityHouston provides all Houstonians a new place to create them. In addition, with TxDOT announcing this week plans for adding $1.3 billion to reduce congestion, we need to make sure all voices are heard and that money is spent on the most effective projects.

Instead of venting frustration on Twitter or in the comment section of the Houston Chronicle, MobilityHouston will harness the frustrations and inventiveness of all Houstonians by putting their ideas, sentiments and know-how to work for Houston. I encourage all who call Houston home to go to www.MobilityHouston.com to learn more and join the conversation.

Our vision of a better – and more fair – San Francisco transportation system

This post originally appeared on TransForum’s blog on January 14, 2016. It was written by RideScout’s own Beaudry Kock.

Solving San Francisco’s transportation problems can be an expensive and complicated business. But thanks to the hard work of planners and engineers at our local and regional transportation agencies, plus the support of political leaders and the tax-paying public, we’re starting to see some serious progress: brand new Muni buses already on the road and a new BART fleet arriving soon; Van Ness BRT close to breaking ground; and Transbay Terminal construction looking more impressive every day.

Here at RideScout, we’re all about improving the transportation experience for the everyday rider. We don’t dig tunnels or lay concrete, but we do know how to build powerful software and great apps. So, as our transit system is refreshed physically, we want to do our part to ensure that people know about and can make best use of this amazing new investment. We also want to help make sure that these systems run smoothly. Transit operations don't attract the headlines of a ribbon-cutting, but once the dignitaries have left and the trains are running, a safe and trouble-free system is what actually keeps travelers happy.

Thanks to a grant from Just Transit SF, and in partnership with TransForm, we're developing and deploying an incentive system that will help people find better transportation options in and around San Francisco. This system will be baked into travel apps that SF residents and visitors use every day, making it easier for all of us to get to where we want to go, as quickly and comfortably as possible.

How might this work? Well, consider what happens when there’s a breakdown on a Muni line. Even if this information gets sent over social media, it’s usually unclear what alternatives are available. Even when the alternatives are clear, we’re creatures of habit. We’ll stick to the N-Judah through thick and thin. But what if, along with that notice of a breakdown, we got another, more helpful message? A message that said: “Hey, there’s a problem on this route. How about trying the 7 bus to get you down to Market St? Here’s a free ride on that very bus, redeemable through your favorite smartphone app, to make it a no-brainer.”

This is our vision of a more fluid, adaptive, flexible and all-around better transportation system. In this system, people are encouraged to take alternative services and routes when there is pressure at certain points and times in the system. This looks great to a transportation planner, no doubt, but we think it’ll also make for a more pleasant and less stressful experience for Muni riders.

We also believe that this new system can help the San Francisco transportation system become more accessible and equitable. With that in mind, TransForm and RideScout will be focusing on helping riders from disadvantaged communities make better use of Muni by delivering discounted and free tickets on key routes and at key times.

We’re grateful for the vision and hard work of those in San Francisco and beyond who are bringing new investments to our transportation network. TransForm and RideScout are excited to do our part to improve the efficiency, experience, and equity of San Francisco transportation. Look for the roll out of this program soon, and let us know what you think.

Beaudry Kock is VP, Enterprise Product at RideScout.

There's a lot of exciting trends from this year's CES that are rapidly changing the way we live.

I was impressed at CES2016 to see so many technology companies realize that they have a role that goes far beyond selling their products or making the next Angry Birds. It really is about improving our lives by making them safer, more productive, etc... It provided a great start for 2016.

#ces #technology

Joseph Kopser, co-founder and CEO of RideScout, discusses the mobility limitations that affect healthcare, after-school programs and economic opportunities for low-income residents.

Over the holiday break, a wrote a piece that appeared in American City and County. It speaks to the point that I have discussed for a long time now, that we must see mobility as for than just ground transportation. It is the stitching that binds together the fabric of our community. Without a well designed mobility ecosystem, we are limiting opportunities for many of those among us.

Regarding TNCs, Austin City Council should find a solution that best serves the community

(On 15 Dec, I joined several leaders in the Austin community to urge the City Council to work with the TNCs to find the best solution for our community)

An Open Letter to Austin City Council

The beauty of living in Austin, TX isn’t a secret anymore. The population of our region is exploding with between 100 and 160 people moving to our city every day for the professional opportunities and quality of life that make ATX so special.

As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Austin faces a number of wide-ranging challenges, but transportation concerns consistently top the list. Our roads are swollen with traffic and more and more of our time is spent in gridlock. Austin has adopted an “all of the above” approach to address transportation challenges, including expanding transportation options to ease congestion, providing safe rides and removing cars from an overwhelmed ground transportation infrastructure. Among those options are Transportation Networking Companies (TNCs) such as Lyft and Uber.

In November of 2014, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance hailed nationally as a model for regulating TNCs. The ordinance paved the way for TNCs to innovate and introduce exciting new programs in Austin while tackling issues that have proven difficult for local government to effectively address, including a drunk driving epidemic, creating economic opportunity as our cost of living increases, improving the “last mile” challenge we often hear about and a desperate need for more transportation options.

We are troubled by claims that our City Council’s vision for TNCs and the sharing economy have taken a disturbing turn, threatening to impose unnecessary costs and regulatory burdens on hugely popular services that Austinites want and need to succeed.

The current discussed approach would impose duplicative onboarding requirements for TNC drivers, although City Council has been repeatedly informed that such requirements would cause them to cease operations entirely in Austin. At the same time, the City Council is considering imposing operating fees on TNCs that are higher than those in any other city in the country –– fees that will be passed on to consumers in desperate need of safe rides home and alternatives to driving their own cars on our gridlocked roads. We suggest that the City of Austin endorse regulations that would not require TNCs to leave Austin. We are all interested in public safety but not regulation that would require TNCs to leave. Further, we suggest that the city work with the TNCs to determine a fee structure that covers the City’s administrative costs and is equitable with fees imposed by other cities.

The City Council has a critical choice to make: maintain a model ordinance that creates flexible jobs for Austinites looking to make ends meet, provides more transportation options, fights congestion and drunk driving; or impose onerous operating requirements on TNCs that could very well force Lyft and Uber to leave Austin, as happened in San Antonio when faced with similar mandates. The City of San Antonio realized the error of its ways and quickly brought these transportation providers back after only a few months.

As Austin continues to grow as a city, we respectfully urge the City Council to maintain a robust, equitable and welcoming posture for economic development and transformative technologies that can make our city more livable, navigable, economically viable and safe.

Respectfully,

Joseph Kopser, CEO, RideScout

Dan Graham, Founder, CEO of BuildASign.com

Dewitt Peart, President/CEO, Downtown Austin Alliance

Jessica Sager, President, Young Women’s Alliance

Sara Levine, Executive Director, ATX Safer Streets

Jennifer Houlihan, Executive Director, Austin Music People

Andrea Rado, Hamilton Founding Member, EngageATX

Joshua Baer, Founder/Executive Director, Capital Factory

Ward Tisdale, President, Real Estate Council of Austin

Tyson Tuttle, CEO, Silicon Labs

Pete Winstead, Founding Shareholder, Winstead PC

Jason Rhode, CEO, Cirrus Logic

Caroline Joiner, Executive Director, TechNet (Texas)

Richard Garriott, CEO, Portalarium

There's lots of support for the principle of congestion charging but many progressives are ambivalent because of concerns about the equity of the policy. That view needs a rethink

”It’s bizarre that we have a flat charging structure for trains and electricity with concessions for eligible users, yet many oppose charging motorists for the use of road space on the same basis.”-- Alan Davies

I am convinced that the free flow of people will lead to a better free flow of ideas. Much like Thomas Friedman said in “The Lexus and the Olive Tree” Travel and exposure fights ignorance and stereotypes.

If transportation officials embrace a new approach backed by science, safe and effective mobility no longer need conflict with the multidimensional role of streets as public spaces and with people’s varied modes of travel.

A great article that challenges our assumptions using actual data to make better decisions about planning. Ultimately, it should be about safety-- not just through put.

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