Know Your Blog [Walk Around Portland Edition]

Know Your Blog rolls on for yet another week, and the key word here being roll, as today we're talking about how you get around Portland.

Today's Know Your Blog: Walk Around Portland

Corey Templeton is a very busy guy, but that probably puts him in the same company as a lot of people who have shown up (and will show up) in Know Your Blog. Aside from holding down a day job, he's a photographer and runs the Portland Maine Daily Photo blog. That's how I first came across Corey, discovering his photos that capture everyday life, as well as the past, in Portland. In late May he launched a new blog, Walk Around Portland, that looks at trying to get by in the city without a car. But the blog looks at larger transportation issues, streets that need fixing, alternative transportation and people living the "car-free lifestyle."

How did Walk Around Portland come to be?

Walk Around Portland was born as a creative outlet, and both the topic and name came naturally. I had wanted to start a blog with more than photography for a while and writing about the car-free lifestyle is something that I can get excited about and enjoy sharing with other people.

What’s your background?

I've been into photography for about 5 years and I owe my limited journalistic and writing abilities from being involved with my high school’s newspaper a few years ago. I am still an amateur at writing for an audience, photography, and blogging so I am learning as I go!

What do you think makes Portland a good city for a “car-free” lifestyle?

Portland, especially the area on the peninsula, is compact and easy to navigate without a car. Living car-free is a personal choice, and geography plays a big part. For a city its size, we have a very good transit system and a lot of people who are interested in building strong communities and living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

 
Do you practice what you preach? How do you get around the city?

I have been car-free for about a year and a half. For the most part I am able to rely on my feet, my bicycle, and the bus. I have access to a car occasionally and avoid using it as much as possible. There are challenges to this lifestyle in the mostly rural state of Maine, and I try to share both the rewarding and challenging aspects in my posts.

Do you see Walk Around Portland as a resource or a call to action on transportation issues?

There is certainly room for both of those, but it is mostly a resource at this point. As it gains more readers and more people are aware of it, I think it could be a great platform for inspiring people to take action at a local level. Several people in positions of influence, such as city councilor David Marshall (whom I recently interviewed), have taken note of the site so it could be used as a podium for change in the future if the right people are reading.

 
What do you do to get the word out about the blog?

I am always looking for networking opportunities with other local sites and look forward to trying out some guest posts and content-sharing  in future. A lot of my traffic currently comes from links on my photography blog and through word of mouth.

 
What’s type of research is necessary to producing the blog?

The amount of research varies greatly depending on the type of post. Thankfully, there are a lot of great resources in the Internet that I cite often. For example, I plan on writing some posts about the elaborate streetcar system Portland once had. That will require some hands-on research at the Maine Historical Society’s research library and perhaps some interviews. Other posts, such a recent one about fixing the pedestrian experience at the exit-6 interchange on Forest Avenue, require little research since they are mostly based on my experiences and opinions.

How much time do you devote to the site?

I would say a few hours at the most. I don't have a set schedule for posting so it varies based on how thorough a post is and how much free time I have  in a week.

 
What’s your interest in Portland’s history? It seems to play a part on Walk Around Portland and Portland Daily Photo.

I have always had an interest in both urban environments and history in general. I am a Portland native and both of those interests and my geographical location inspire me to learn as much about my city's past as I can. As it relates to my blog, Portland has been a thriving city since long before the automobile so there are a lot of car-free historical topics I look forward to exploring. There are a lot of lessons that can be learned from the past and there was a time when people in America lived happy and healthy lives without automobiles. I would love to see that part of the past repeat itself.

 
Do you think we are reaching the point where a lot of people are talking or writing about transportation in the Portland area?

Between relatively high gas prices, larger economic concerns, and concern for the environment I think more people than ever before are interested in transportation issues in the city. From redesigning Franklin Arterial to lobbying against the construction of additional lanes on I-295 through the city, it is great to see people from all different backgrounds share a common vision of a better Portland. 

 
What do you hope for the future of Walk Around Portland?

Walk Around Portland is a young blog, so I envision it growing and changing over time to better serve its audience. Most importantly, I hope that the blog inspires people to explore the car-free lifestyle and that my faithful readers enjoy it.