GEOGRAPHY Geography is destiny for cab drivers in Bethel, Alaska, home to the most taxicabs per capita in the United States—66 cars serving a population of just over 6,000. (Anchorage Daily News) Zoom into Bethel on our MapMaker Interactive. Watch this terrific, five-minute slice of Alaskan life, and discuss the issues below. Discussion Ideas The small town of Bethel, Alaska, is home to the most … Continue reading Alaska Cabbies Keep Their Cool
GEOGRAPHY Maps and mongrels and metros, oh my! Researchers at an MIT lab have devised a way to determine how well commuters can comprehend a subway map—in a glance. (Fast Company, great article!) Use our resources to better understand public transportation, and how to map it. Discussion Ideas Look through our GeoStory “Public Transportation,” which provides maps for buses, trains, and metros. (Maps are not … Continue reading Building a Better Subway Map
GEOGRAPHY Coffee growers and shippers from developing nations are saving their businesses by improving the quality of their beans and appealing to the elite “specialty coffee” market. (NPR) Trace the geography of coffee by mimicking our Geography of a Pencil activity. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas: The NPR story outlines a supply chain that … Continue reading Specialty Coffee Market Is Full of (Good) Beans
ENVIRONMENT Climate Change Could Mean Bumpier Flights Buckle up—thanks to climate change, airline passengers may be in for a bumpier ride. By 2050, airplanes could see a doubling in instances of turbulence over the North Atlantic Ocean—one of the world’s busiest flight corridors—due to shifts in the jet stream as a result of global warming, according to a new study. Discussion Ideas: This study links … Continue reading Climate Change Could Mean Bumpier Flights
Do you get frustrated on the morning commute? How about at the airport? Both of those questions are ridiculous for this reason: I already know that your answer is a resounding “Yes.”
Everybody gets frustrated at one point or another while commuting in rush hour traffic or getting hassled at the airport. Personally, it is difficult for me to maintain my composure when it takes me 1.5 hours to drive 22 miles. I can ride a bike faster than that!
Is there a better way to get around besides driving a car that is expensive to maintain, pollutes, is noisy, etc? How about better than flying? One solution could be high-speed rail.
