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Today's Urban Design Observation: Leapfrogging Baggage Train Transportation Method

By Rain Noe - January 30, 2018

in Urbanism

This is one of the homeless gentlemen that resides in my neighborhood.

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All of his life's belongings are loaded onto three carts he's acquired.

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I've had ample opportunity to observe this man, who migrates around daily but always travels back to the same scaffolding to sleep under. He is headed that way now. But the three carts he has are too wide/heavy to pull all at the same time. So what he does is leapfrog. He lashes two carts together and pulls them as a single unit (A) for about half a block, then returns to the single cart (B), pulls it past the first two carts about half a block, and so on.

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I'm dying to get an up-close look at the two lashed carts, which I only catch glimpses of when he passes me closely; he has his things bundled and arranged very neatly. He has a folding table and a grid-like store display on there, a piece of plywood, and a wire shelf, all of which he uses to construct a makeshift shelter. He's also got bungie cords and durable blue plastic bags that contain what I think is clothing.

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These photos are all shot long because, as most of you know I am sensitive about sticking a camera in people's faces. People routinely and wordlessly snap photos of me and my (admittedly photogenic) dogs, without asking and even blocking our path, when I am walking them and I find it unconscionably rude.

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Jose Sanchez

6 years ago

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Hi Rain,

I'm not sure how invasive this would be, but maybe approach with something hot to eat and the gentleman maybe open to sharing his experience and how he travels with his train. It seems like an interesting ID/UX research project hidden in there somewhere.

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Juan Cano

6 years ago

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Do you think he's using 2 hand trucks laid on their backs? It looks like those nice aluminum hand carts, the ones with extra wheels. Like these: http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/material-handling/hand-trucks-dollies/hand-trucks-convertible/sr-aluminum-2-in-1-hand-truck-rubber-wheels-987053

I think is respectful you are doing this from a distance.

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- Rain Noe
  
  Juan Cano
  
  6 years ago
  
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  I believe those are indeed the type of carts he's using. There is a nearby store that sells them (corner of Greene/Canal) but they are pretty darn expensive from what I remember, so I'm not sure how a homeless gent was able to acquire these
  
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  - Juan Cano
    
    Rain Noe
    
    6 years ago
    
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    Either the five finger discount, or as you well know, amazing what people throw away.
    
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