I might just have to move to Durham NC

[@CityNerd]

You don't need to read the comments -- I already told you Durham is awesome, what more is there to say?? But while you're here, consider supporting the channel by signing up for Nebula! Use my custom link to get 40% off an annual subscription. go.nebula.tv/citynerd Also STILL available: the Lifetime offer! $300 for Nebula as long as both you and Nebula exist, and a full 1/3 of the price goes directly to support this channel. go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=citynerd And! Gift cards -- get the same deals using my code, but gift a membership to someone who needs weekly (ad-free and promo-free) Nerd propaganda! gift.nebula.tv/citynerd

[@KembaWalkerGOAT]

@@crizioclips Lol. It's not 1990 anymore, grandpa.

[@crizioclips]

@@KembaWalkerGOAT tf does that even mean, child

[@cellularautomaton.]

minor correction: the regional "GoTriangle" buses have started charging fares again, probably since you recorded the video (the change was july 1st). local "GoDurham" buses are still fare-free though

[@rhonda7289]

City nerd is the biggest fake on youtube.

[@iamzuckerburger]

LMAOMEOW. CityNerd x Margiela flat brim ball cap please_

[@LiteBulb88]

Thank you for not bringing up the fact that Duke killed a light rail line that Durham had already spent $130 million on.

[@mattywanders]

Shhhh, people might find out Duke killed a proposed (and widely popular) light rail line after the city already spent $130 million on the project.

[@ptknudson80]

Minnesota Public Radio wanted to kill a light rail line in St. Paul, MN. These organizations are terrible

[@Westlander857]

Here in Arizona, both Tucson and Tempe invested in streetcars for their university populations, and they’ve both been massively successful. Not sure what Duke was thinking there.

[@brickitect420]

@@Westlander857 I must remind you the koch brothers own everything from tires to seatbelts to oil/auto companies, it is against their best interest for there to be any kind of transportation competition that isn't cars. Competition is lame! (also I love using the az lightrail/streetcar, they are great esp since the lightrail connects not only to ASU but also the international airport with one of the coolest names you could give an airport.

[@Legority]

it was briefly mentioned at 15:58

[@moloch8473]

I really appreciate how this series shows off all the cool urbanist stuff that's going on all over the country. It's a really strong anti-dooming pill about urbanism and shows there are plenty of genuinely nice places to live outside of major cities. This has definitely put a few cities on my map

[@CityNerd]

I appreciate that! Don't get too comfortable, though, Phoenix is coming in a couple weeks

[@ShowLSWH]

Agreed! As a resident of Dallas-Fort Worth where the only two “solutions” to urban problems considered by governments are 1) buy a lifted truck or SUV and 2) build another overpass it’s pretty easy to be a doomer over here.

[@advisorywarning]

Yup Durham is awesome, much better than Raleigh. I highly recommend Durham as someone who lived there for 8 years. The state politics are frustrating though

[@realAlexChoi]

B-but I was told that America was hopeless, and I should pack my things and leave for the Netherlands..!!!

[@KeyshowJi]

❤❤❤❤

[@zephaniahgreenwell8151]

The famous 11'8" underpass!

[@teacul]

11'8"+8" now!

[@SailingROX4321]

We love our can opener!

[@sethtriggs]

That one might be one just a couple blocks away! But I immediately thought of that!

[@jtsholtod.79]

Yeah that's the Erwin Road bridge. The Can Opener bridge is about a mile away on Gregson Street near the train station.

[@mdhazeldine]

I was gonna say...is that THE 11 foot 8 bridge? It's world famous. haha

[@justintime343]

Durham resident here...the social district thing is relatively new in the last few years but yes, was passed on a statewide basis with control by local jurisdictions. Glad you enjoyed Durham!

[@babybalrog]

yep, raleigh has a big one too

[@JimmyDorff]

Downtown Cary also

[@colbyjd3]

Even small towns are adopting social districts, like Franklinton!

[@terriellis3697]

Wow NC rules on alcohol have evolved. When I lived in Durham 15 years ago, we had to time our Brunches on Sunday because we couldn't order Mimosas before noon!

[@colbyjd3]

@@terriellis3697 They changed that a few years ago! But you still have to go through the ABC Stores to get your liquor, and those stores are still closed on Sundays ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@SamuelSmith91]

The Streets at Southpoint has plans to redevelop a large chunk of its parking into a couple thousand apartments.

[@GoldenChildBH]

Really? Niiiice

[@Legority]

wait really? oh that's awesome

[@SamuelSmith91]

@@Legority Yep, I tried sharing the link but I think those get blocked. Just Google "Streets of Southpoint redevelopment", Durham council has approved a plan that includes 1300 apartments, plus offices, hotel, more retail.

[@SamuelSmith91]

@@Legority Yep, city council approved plans for 1.3k apartments, hotel, offices, more retail.

[@CharlesJosepDelDotto]

For further context, the management company that owns the mall pushed for the redevelopment to ensure the mall's viability, as at least two malls in the Triangle, including the older mall north of downtown Durham, have permanently closed in recent years.

[@PhillipRPeck]

"Tarheel GOAT... Raymond Felton." Well played, sir

[@banksavram]

As a Heels fan that joke made me actually lol

[@benprovan]

Yeah, was surprisingly inside baseball for an out of towner

[@CityNerd]

As a Trailblazers fan I lived through the pain

[@tajames16]

I was so sad to be working during your event with Bike Durham - thank you for visiting!! Love to see my city getting a feature, and for re-inspiring me to enjoy all the great stuff we have here

[@DavidStevensMD]

Thanks for highlighting our little city. Pretty much 100% of the growth in the Geer/Mangum street area (around Fullsteam Brewery) has happened within the past ten years or so. And the majority of that really in the last five years. Durham has about 5,000 new residents every year, so now is the time to build density and establish good urbanism while there is vigorous real estate demand to justify it! Further out from the inner-ring mixed density neighborhoods, things are more hit or miss. Not all neighborhoods have streetlights, sidewalks, & the other basic things that make walking and biking safer. But there is a bond in the next local election for sidewalk improvements. Any other Durham residents watching this video, please vote! Thanks again!

[@megan08gray]

Another local here. True - some of the more thoughtful new neighborhoods have sidewalks and lights. But that's the exception. Biking is not as supported in all of the spaces, but Durham has TONS of parks and those most of the time those have biking trails.. I live in a neighborhood with sidewalks and lights and you will pretty much always find someone out walking, making it a much nicer place to live. Also important to mention, the Triangle area where the companies are located (think Biogen, Novartis, BASF, IBM, Amazon, CREE, etc) has miles and miles of trails and you can find people out walking, biking, etc most of the time.

[@warrenlemay8134]

I went to high school at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham - it was a very fun place to live car-free at the boarding school, with the 9th Street business district just down the road. Going back as an adult in 2019, 5 years after graduation, it was amazing to see how much had changed in such a short period of time.

[@KembaWalkerGOAT]

Isn't it unreal?

[@advisorywarning]

I adore 9th street

[@michaeljeffery7466]

There's a Chase Bank & a Starbucks there now.

[@janmillerstopmotion]

Hi from class of 1983!

[@aidenhall8593]

Hey, I get that durham is located within the Research triangle, but saying research triangle refers to the whole urban triangle made by Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham. These other cities, and the ones inbetween (Cary, Apex etc.), are a fascinating case study of urbanism vs suburbanism, all connected by the fantastic greenway trails you rode on. I think you should come back and make a video on the triangle as a whole, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!

[@pmccall777]

Raleigh, please exit the chat. ;)

[@MOCave7]

😂😂😂😂😂​@@pmccall777

[@chrisfarmer6893]

I know one video can't cover everything. But sadly, like a lot of cities, Durham has the story of a highway that destroyed a prosperous black neighborhood. The old Hayti district was nicknamed Black Wall Street and Highway 147 put an end to that. Durham is also home to NC Central, a historically black university with a lot of great "college town" vibes in the area.

[@stewartdillard7199]

I live about 30min outside of Durham and have for the last 30 years. Durham has really improved over the last 15 years or so, I really enjoy heading there to do dinner and drinks w/ friends. Durham is a foodies delight. However, as a local to the area, the growth and genterfication is pushing many of the locals out. While yes, progress is great, the rising cost of living and influx of those moving into the area are starting to kill the local feel of the town. It's become less NC and more hipster paradise. Hopefully, the city figures out the right balance and doesn't lose it's identity while still encouraging growth.

[@billw2812]

I work in alcohol probation in Durham, and I know too many people who walk in my office and tell me someone they know just got shot. If you live right in the center of downtown ( watch out for those pesky gas main explosions) you don't know what it's really like down Angier Ave.

[@Lawman212]

A very optimistic outlook on Durham! It is hard to get around without a car though. So many new highways were built without any multimodal features at all. I'm glad they dropped the parking requirements for downtown. That will help a lot to increase demand for public transportation. And you figured out how to get the bus to the airport! Amazing. I've been trying to figure out whether that connection actually works or is some kind of vaporware. You really did have the ideal trip. And thanks for mentioning the Koch brothers. Their evildoing pushed back transit in the Triangle by decades.

[@cellularautomaton.]

i haven't really tried by bus, but durham by bike is absolutely possible if you know where the greenways can get you! although, it gets exponentially worse as you get further from downtown since connectivity plummets

[@eighthu]

just 5 minutes north of 9th str and you are already in suburban stroad hell in durham. but i don't blame him for missing that part... the bus system misses that part too 😂

[@knosis]

Durham by bus is not bad. Especially if you live downtown. Too bad it isn't free anymore lol.

[@eighthu]

@@knosis which is why I specified north of 9th, lol.

[@cellularautomaton.]

@@knosis the local godurham buses are still free, it's only the gotriangle ones that have switched back to fares!

[@andrewdiamond2697]

14:40 Yes, the state of North Carolina does have enabling legislation for Social Districts. There are rules involved, which could be seen as classist, to reduce public drinking by those not paying, including requiring your drink be in a cup from one of the establishments in the district, etc.

[@jayDB5]

Similar things in central Ohio, e.g. New Albany, Gahanna, Bexley, Westerville..

[@michaelkerley746]

Yep Raleigh piloted one that has been pretty successful.

[@andyk10013]

Same in Cincinnati and a few surrounding suburbs as well. They’re called “DORA districts.”

[@kurthanushek5520]

And Toledo.

[@ix830]

It's a step in the right direction. Coming back home to NC I'm always surprised at the ban on happy hours, bars that don't open until 5 (or later), and even the low number of gay bars (even in Charlotte and Raleigh).

[@SteamPwerd]

Durham resident here- so glad you enjoyed your visit! Check out Old East Durham next time for a great example of a walkable/bikeable neighborhood with accessible small businesses nearby. Proud to be NC!!

[@robthetraveler1099]

4:26 Just casually slipping in footage of The Can Opener without a word 😆

[@michaelvickers4437]

Also, glimpses of America's favourite purveyor of cheesecake at the lifestyle centre, uncharacteristically offered without comment. 🤔

[@8083-t2h]

It's not even! It's a different bridge less than 1.5 km west. Who would have thought there were two!

[@THE_BATLORD]

the can opener is about a mile southeast of this one. Real can opener fans also remember that they raised the height on that bridge to 12'4

[@williamhenning6686]

No op is right. That’s THE can opener on 9th St

[@stapleremover]

​@@williamhenning6686The Canopener is on Gregson St. just past Brightleaf Square.

[@bikeyclown4669]

It's amazing to me to see how many hundreds of millions of dollars have been allocated, spent, and then disappeared without any sign of an actual light rail train. In the Denver -Boulder area of Colorado, rail lines were voted on, planned for, funded and land was purchased. New light rail lines were built throughout the Denver-Metro area, but no light rail lines were built in the Boulder area. The land is purchased, so they can build the lines, but the money to complete the project pretty much disappeared. It was much needed and anticipated infrastructure too.

[@samtrak1204]

Love your irony and dry sense of humor about Duke killing the light rail line.

[@KembaWalkerGOAT]

You couldn't possibly put into words the transformation Durham has gone through in the last ~15 years. It used to be right there with Fayetteville as the stereotypical bottom-tier NC city, and now it already might be my 2nd favorite. Truly a unique lil city with a fascinating history, much more enjoyable & lively than its larger neighbor a bit further east.

[@cellularautomaton.]

​@@elemenopi55if i had to guess, most people watching this channel would probably say asheville

[@chrisfarmer6893]

I'm from Durham and I remember in the early 2000s that college guides used to list the city of Durham as one of the worst points about Duke University. How the tables have turned! I know one video can't cover everything but I think this missed a big historical point about how Highway 147 destroyed a prosperous black neighborhood, the Hayti district, that was nicknamed Black Wall Street.

[@elle90368]

@@cellularautomaton. I recognize your name, we climbed a tower together a bit over a year ago. I guess it makes sense that I’d see someone I recognize on this video but still. Hope you’re doing well lol

[@cellularautomaton.]

@@elle90368 oh hi lmao. same to you

[@LizFahyScott]

The Cat Distribution System has spoken. You now have three cats.

[@CityNerd]

It's the sorting cat

[@JoshuaFagan]

I really think the "upper South" of North Carolina and Virginia is underrated. There's more urbanism and walkability than a lot of people think, and prices are still quite reasonable compared to other parts of the country.

[@bjdon99]

Home prices in the RDU area are going parabolic. So are Charlotte’s. Virginia’s best urban area (the suburbs of DC) are crazy expensive

[@Charlesaltendorf]

Lived in Raleigh when I was in elemetary and middle school from 97-2003. So amazing to watch how the triangle has exploded since and continues to be a better and better place to live. North Carolina is a top tier state in my opinion. Showing how you keep your past identity and encourage the innovation that keeps your society and economy thriving.

[@Waldzkrieger]

As an NC resident, Durham city worker, and local government nerd, it's super cool to have a whole video about our city!! To answer your question, yes the state legislature passed an act enabling cities to create "social districts" a couple of years ago. I think most major cities have one, including Durham, Raleigh, and Greensboro.

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

I'm 71 years old. In my childhood we used to visit my grandparents just outside Durham and the drive still took us past tarpaper shacks and outhouses. What has been done with this area is amazing.

[@danielgriffin8566]

I’m so glad you were able to focus on the very good bike trails that connect the Raleigh Durham area. There is so many miles of trails in the city that most residents don’t know about because they drive everywhere they need to go.

[@rebeccablasingame2742]

Downtown Durham needs a grocery store! We looked at buying here but opted for the northern ‘burbs instead because it just wasn’t as walkable as we originally thought for a family with little kids. Lots of expensive restaurants and cool places to drink, but if you’re feeding yourself and your family the normal way, you pretty much need a car. A grocery store with a pharmacy and a small hardware store downtown would make it much more feasible for a wider range of families. It’s also very expensive, but hopefully we’ll get more affordable housing soon.

[@TheWizardAnon]

This, this, this! I moved out of downtown after a year living there because the lack of walkable grocery store. It still requires you have a car just to drive to get food.

[@jonathanstensberg]

Family friendliness is a seriously under-discussed problem in the circles. Perhaps not surprising considering most urbanist creators are either single childless men, or else rarely if ever say anything that would suggest otherwise…

[@ccederlo]

Ah dang, yeah, that's a problem. Those items can be easily overlooked with a general review without perhaps some an urban living checklist

[@paulruth8886]

9th street has a Harris Teeter and a Whole Foods. I guess downtown proper could use a grocery store but the west side of DT is very bikeable for almost everything. Walkable if you pick the right place. There is also a Food Lion in Old West and the Ellerbee Creek trail can get you to Costco, Home Depot, and a second Harris Teeter using a tunnel under I85.

[@matthewsalmon2013]

Hope Valley is definitely a good dessert if you're on foot, but there's hardly anywhere between 147 and 85 that's more than a ten minute walk from a grocery. Maybe it's ethnic or maybe Trinity Park (with some of the priciest homes in the city) is another pedestrian food desert.

[@daveshut]

First of all, you make great videos. The high speed rail network makes me cry, but that is the nature of the beast! Second, would you ever consider making a video about the most affordable walkable beach town, most affordable urbanist mountain/ski town, and most urbanist friendly for taking college prerequisite courses? I might as well throw it in there, would you want to do an urbanist guide of best affordable urbanist cities for American expats/immigrants to move to? I know those are sorta of obscure, but the video would help me determine where I might move next! Keep doing what you're doing!

[@CityNerd]

These are all interesting and I'll mark 'em down in my trusty spreadsheet. Thanks so much!

[@kevilharris4379]

As a life long North Carolinian these have been my dream videos! Thanks for coming by and sharing some positive aspects of our state 😊 We've got some complicated stuff going on right now politically, which often bleeds over to our transit projects unfortunately. But I have hope these things will sort out over time.

[@LouisDaPen]

Great video and glad you loved Durham and NC! Transportation is your bailiwick, but Durham has lots to talk about with housing, gentrification, and affordability. History, too! Don't know if you heard about the history of 147/Durham Freeway as an "urban renewal" project, the effect it had on the Hayti (hay-tie) neighborhood. Glad you got to see the Bulls; Wool E. Bull is the real deal when it comes to mascots and the DBAP is great!

[@TannerLovelace]

As a south Durhamite, I'm very glad to see you include locations to the south! So many things about Durham seem to think that the city ends just south of the downtown! I do, however, kind of wish you had mentioned Bean Trader's coffee shop, just to the north of the I-40 bridge, which is a great place to park and run on bike on the trail and then afterward have a coffee or tea. Anyway, thanks for the great video about Durham!

[@cellularautomaton.]

bean traders is literally in a strip mall, not too interesting on an urbanism channel. like, you admitted you drive to it in your own comment

[@rebeccawinter472]

I super appreciate all the time you put into your work Ray. This script really shines. The timing with the video - e.g. @ 10:05 - is perfect. Also, don’t miss the epic cat meow time at the end. We are blessed this week.

[@michaels8909]

Thanks for coming to our city and doing such a great video on it! I'm also really glad you got to meet one of our many friendly street cats at the end. One of my favorite parts of walking around the downtown neighborhoods is interacting with all the friendly cats 🐈

[@jacobschmidt6008]

My undergrad film professor was the assistant to the director on Bull Durham. He would host a screening every year and share stories from the making of the film. It's good to see that ballpark full and the city still embracing the team.

[@KendallKD]

I’m glad to see the old park is still there too! We were extras in the stands for some of the filming, and lived close enough to hear the crowd when there was a home run. Good memories.

[@ZackScriven]

Thanks for highlighting local advocacy groups! I’m a part of one in Salt Lake City supporting the Rio Grande Plan. A plan to put a train box in SLC and grade separate a large rail yard on the west end of the city. And restoring service to the Rio Grande Depot!

[@CzarOfTorture]

Thanks ❤ - a patron

[@CityNerd]

You got it!

[@ncmathsadist]

Durham is a great town stuffed with amazing things. Its sister city, Chapel Hill is worth seeing too.

[@matthewg7228]

I live far south of Durham but I use the Tobacco Trail often and have seen every mile of it. I hope you enjoyed our warm summer and all of the beautiful repurposed buildings downtown as well as the Bulls.

[@kennykenkak]

I just moved to Raleigh a couple weeks ago and so what an exciting and well timed set of videos for me!!

[@mattywanders]

Welcome!

[@KBJ910]

As a local this is a really good video. Durham gets a bad rep but it’s downtown has came a long way over the past 6 years. It has so much life and moving into a more urban life that its neighboring city of Raleigh is missing the life in its downtown. The Sip N Stroll started in Raleigh and many other cities adapted it to bring back more people into the downtowns because 2020 the downtowns took a massive hit in feet traffic. The American Tobacco campus is getting Meta and google just moved in.

[@bjorndalen6]

Thanks!

[@CityNerd]

No problem!

[@BrianF-eg1bt]

Moved to North Durham from Boston 3 years ago. Great place to live, especially some of the quieter areas like up around Latta Rd area. Never any real traffic, and I see horses and cows en route to grocery store. Downtown has great food, a few perfect outdoor eating/ drinking options! They just need a supermarket or 7-11 down there

[@critiqueofthegothgf]

that Raymond Felton fakeout made me spit out my drink

[@CitizenTowel]

I scrolled down for this: best moment of the video!

[@matthewsalmon2013]

Did Jordan dirty 😂😂

[@gavinoneil5514]

The cat has chosen you already. No turning back now!

[@sethtriggs]

The Cat Distribution System is real!

[@TheLiamster]

He is so cute and I wouldn’t want to leave him

[@CityNerd]

I've been selected??? This is how it works?

[@manmasher]

@@CityNerdIndeed it is. Consider it a high compliment - cats don’t like just anyone, you know! 😉

[@TheCriminalViolin]

@@CityNerd You don't adopt cats, cats adopt you.

[@exmenno]

I enjoyed five years in Durham, post-doc’ing at you know where, in the 90’s. Last two years I lived in a passive solar apartment, one of multiple units built by a couple who also built solar homes until the market changed. It was a lovely wooded neighborhood, 15 minute bike ride from work, with Ethiopian take-out nearby. At the time, downtown was still a scary place but redevelopment of the tobacco warehouses was starting. Thanks for the memories.

[@cocommander2]

North Carolina and Durham native here. I grew up in the Bull City and have since returned from an extended period out of the state. This is my third year back and I am glad to see the city center being revitalized. I live a fairly easy bike ride from The Streets at Southpoint. I say this since most of the roads behind the mall do not have bike lanes. When I bike on these roads, I have to keep watch for cars. Most drivers will see you and wait their opportunity to pass. My childhood home is an easy ride to the Tobacco Trail. The Woodcroft, Woodlake, Parkwood, Grandale, and other area neighborhoods have a good network of footpaths and multi-use paths snaking around them. Granted, I do have a car and wished I took my bicycle out more than the car. Where I live now, I can still ride to the Tobacco Trail, but it's easier to bring my bike on the car since the main road has no shoulder and a high speed limit. Fun fact: the "stroad" that is Fayetteville Street from Barbee past MLK Boulevard towards downtown was once a simple two-lane. I'd always get stuck trying to turn left at Barbee because everyone else was. The Tobacco Trail crosses that intersection at one signal, now it's two. Though most try to cut across to reduce crossing time. The Tobacco Trail runs all the way through Cary and terminates west of Apex, linking to the greenway systems of those suburban metros. A light rail system connecting Raleigh, Durham, Cary, RDU Airport, and nearby Chapel Hill is a no-brainer. I'm sad it got torpedoed. I wouldn't have to drive into downtown and park; just leave my car at the nearest park-n-ride and maybe bring my bike. It would also facilitate getting to RTP, Raleigh, and Cary for events. GO Durham once trialed a bus route near the entrance to my neighborhood, though the area is car-centric. The fact no buses run through here anymore testifies to that. Though, I love the network of footpaths that make walking, running, or biking a breeze.

[@quackywhackityphillyb.3005]

11 foot 8 bridge 😮

[@Blaise2S]

Just moved from Durham and can’t wait to be back! Happy this amazing city is getting a moment in the sun. Glad you had a good trip!

[@ewanmck5]

wow, my city on citynerd!

[@DKWhipple]

I've lived in MANY cities from East coast to West and a couple in between. Durham was home 20yrs ago. Maybe the only city I'd move back to. Thanks for giving it props.

[@GarzaB]

The Greenway System in Raleigh-Durham is fantastic!

[@BobSpaziano]

Love downtown Durham, that’s where my office is. Surprised you didn’t cast any shade at NC-147 or The Loop. Durham would be so much more if those roads were erased from the earth.

[@hgman3920]

I live in Winston-Salem but visit Durham frequently because of DPAC, the Durham Performing Arts Center. Even though Greensboro recently built a performing arts center of their own, DPAC remains one of the best performance spaces in the state of North Carolina. It's also located within walking distance of the American Tobacco Campus

[@adamhaynes1695]

You forgot to mention Durham is a proper foodie town. We have several James Beard chef restaurants, #1 rated coffee roasters, #1 rated craft gin, #1 rated foodie town of the Southeast by Southern Living magazine.

[@xlmacro8754]

As a Duke Alum that spent a few years in Durham after graduation in the bullpen area, you were spot on with this assessment of Durham.

[@kirkshanghai]

Ray! So sad I missed the event with you, but I do volunteer work for Bike Durham and I'm so glad they were great hosts for you in our awesome city. We have a lot of work to do, of course, but it makes me really proud that the efforts the city and Bike Durham have done have created a (somewhat..) walkable haven in central NC. My wife moved in with me downtown Durham from Japan and it's been a real relief seeing her able to walk or bike to so many different places safely; she was worried that she would depend heavily on a car, and that's fortunately not the case downtown Durham and it's one of the biggest things I love about Durham, although we're far from perfect. And yes, we have a little too many shops selling mind-altering drugs haha, but you may have passed by Da Kine's, the kava/kratom bar in the West End that's been a good non-alcoholic haven for me. Sorry again I didn't meet you, but I hope to see you working again with the amazing folks at Bike Durham again. Keep up the good fight.

[@jfrechette]

NC does have a huge craft brew industry. Maybe it's tradition stemming from the shiners back in the day! Raleigh hosts NC largest craft beer fest every year called Brewgaloo, put on by Shop Local Raleigh.

[@johnmcmahon5225]

The Sierra Nevada brewery near Ashville is insane. Willy Wonka's beer factory.

[@tjsworld98]

I love Durham so much it is a hidden gem in the south

[@chicagoknitter]

My dad relocated from Winston-Salem to Durham over a decade ago and loves it. We just got back from a recent visit and besides the awful humidity, really enjoyed our time there. We also went to a Durham Bulls game and had a great time!

[@timk7073]

Biking on hills is a lot of fun! A straight, flat bike path gets boring pretty quickly.

[@SHEAdTeeVee]

I love visiting my family in Durham. I always call it suburbs perfected because of the urban amenities so close by.

[@enzomthethwa5861]

I was also surprised by how much i enjoyed Durham when I visited for work years ago. Charming and walkable.

[@edmojoey]

I used to work at that sports bar with the murals (Tobacco Road Sports Cafe). You can literally watch the game from the patio for free as it overhangs the park. Anyway, thanks for the Durham video. It's a cool place.

[@advisorywarning]

Same!!

[@amperscore]

Lived in Winston all my life and am going to NC state in Raleigh in the fall. I would love nothing more in this world than a decent rail line between the triad and triangle because the drive between the two sucks. Learning that it was once a possibility makes me so indescribably upset. There are no words to describe my fury

[@stephenedwardsnyc]

Catch the Piedmont service in Greensboro. It goes straight to NC State campus.

[@TA-eg9oi]

Fun fact Downtown Durham to Downtown Burlington can be faster by Amtrak train than by car! (Although service is very infrequent.)

[@P-fv3mg]

I always find it funny when I see West Coasters "discovering" North Carolina for the first time. The inevitable shattering of the various negative stereotypes about the state (and the wider South) is predicable when people realize the vibrancy and positive energy of the state. Somehow West Coasters in particular still manage to be pretentious about it, though. Glad City Nerd can at least admit his blind spots.

[@manmasher]

It’s still a red state that will no doubt vote GOP again in the autumn,liberal pockets notwithstanding. No thanks!

[@jamalgibson8139]

Look, I'm from the south. The reputation is not unearned. Have you seen the GOP frontrunner in NC gubernatorial elections?

[@edwardtomlinson3384]

I'm happy that most of the good people in N.C. have no negative stereotypes about the PNW.

[@poisonpotato1]

Then they move to NC and constantly complain how its not like home

[@mollyrita9777]

ray, I grew up in Phoenix and I literally cannot wait for your video about it. I've since escaped and now live in a walkable neighborhood in the bay area, but I think about greater Phx's lack of reasonable planning every single day. please tear it to shreds. it will add years to my life

[@ErnestPecounis]

Thank you for your great video. I hope that you will come back for one more video. Maybe cover Raleigh and Chapel Hill. By the way, Raleigh has a "Sip n' Stroll Downtown" social district for sometime now. The North Carolina General Assembly enacted a legislation in 2021, which allows municipalities to create such "social districts" where alcohol can be purchased from a business and taken outdoors.

[@JordanGriffith]

Would love to gage your interest in visiting Columbus, Ohio at some point. We have a growing urbanism community through local strong towns and N4MN groups, and the city is undergoing phase one of a massive rezoning (including a marking minimum removal), a ballot measure to fund bus rapid transit, and a major update to cycling infrastructure across the city.

[@SamCrane]

This is the best day ever. I’m about to move to Durham and have been waiting for this video to drop ever since the piedmont triangle one

[@harolds1559]

Ugh the Fayetteville Barbie intersection.. they just finished that about 2021… our street Belgreen is the “5th” point of that intersection, requires a u turn navigating two disorienting on coming right turn lanes and the tobacco trail. Agree with all you had to say and glad you had an awesome time in the triangle and triad. As healthcare professionals we find Durham county a really great balance between work, life and travel.

[@TannerLovelace]

Yeah, I was also going to say it was recently worked on and as bad as it is, it could be worse. At the very least, when the crosswalk says to walk, all other directions have a red light and a "no turn on right" sign turns on so that there *shouldn't* be any problems with getting hit by a turning car.

[@bethaniejify]

I live in Charlotte now (though I’ve also spent a lot of time on the west coast). The Tobacco Trail is by far my favorite place to ride in NC. I’m the director of CLT Bike Camp, and at the end of our camp season, we do a tour camp, which is generally a multimodal experience, where we ride to a camp location. The Tobacco Trail has been part of this experience for several years. You are highlighting all of my favorite places, here. I live in Charlotte, car free, But it is difficult to get to some of our state’s highlights without 4 wheels.

[@KWMacdonald]

Thanks for the glowing review of my hometown, but someday perhaps you could take on the issue of five-over-one construction. The bland sameness of it contrasts sharply with the distinctive red-brick style of our older buildings, and there's more and more of it all the time. You showed what's left of Liberty Warehouse - a couple of walls, like a fig leaf on another five-over-one apartment block. There was a campaign to save Liberty Warehouse -unsuccessful, obviously.

[@zanderbivens8955]

This may seem random but on the parking reform map I spotted Portsmouth, Ohio. I am so glad to see a town in my region making progress, even though Portsmouth has seen its fair deal of rough times. Other towns in the region like Ashland and Huntington are also making changes in regards to urbanism. Seeing industrial areas transformed such as these in the video makes me hopeful for our region! Also appreciate the UK and Duke mentions haha.

[@brucerudd69]

Yeah, downtown and the ball park are nice. Been there many times but go just a few blocks north and you don’t want to get out of your car at night. Lived here 25 years and only go to Durham if I have to.

[@skylartkitchen]

I lived in Durham for years and it was my favorite city! Such an amazing place.

[@Legority]

Awesome video! Unfortunate you missed what I consider to be the center of downtown Durham: the DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center). Overall, I love visiting Durham, since it's enjoyable and not too far away. for other visits to NC, I'd recommend the rest of the Triangle (Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and the glorified suburb Cary), plus Asheville, Wilmington, and if you're looking for more isolated college towns visit Boone and Greenville.

[@JamesVanD]

Nice! I can't wait to see you in Raleigh

[@danieldougan269]

Hey Ray, if you ever come to Indianapolis, I'll show you around. Plus Carmel, which is worthy of an urbanism video of its own.

[@michaelvickers4437]

Rope in John Green. I'd love to see a Ray D & John G collab tour of Indianapolis!

[@shelby7090]

He said once he wants to cover the cultural trial at some point. Also red line station design is really nice.

[@mattywanders]

Welcome to the Triangle. Durham is cool and oftentimes gets overshadowed by Raleigh. They've got some good stuff going on in the Bull City.

[@stephenshaw7593]

I like Durham a lot more than Raleigh. It's a much more fun city imo. Just more going on

[@advisorywarning]

Durham > Raleigh I’ve been a resident of both and I can say definitely Durham is better in every way imo

[@Madaboutmada]

The Duke Lemer Center is on my bucket list. While I served in Peace Corps Madagascar, I never saw a lemur in the wild. They are doing a lot of good work and should be checked out.

[@abbynardo2101]

I don't know why KZbin served this video up to me, but I live in Raleigh, and let me telling you, Durham is amazing. My mom asked if I'd ever consider moving away from Raleigh, and I said, "Yeah, I'd totally move to Durham." Great people, great food, lots to do, solid vibe. Love it.

[@theajax7752]

Raymond Felton mentioned hahahah LETS GO

[@CicadaAppreciationSociety]

My favorite historic Amtrak in the region is the one in Rocky Mount. A real gem.

[@spartanwka]

I've seen a lot of downtowns across the US have drinking districts/streets. They seem to be growing in popularity during summers especially in areas where streets get pedestrianized for these months.

[@jricoc3475]

Went to college in Raleigh, during the mid '80s and I wish you had gone to the NC Central campus area instead of the that of Duke, which has done all it can to separate itself from the actual city of Durham ...

[@Notsurewhatsgoingon]

Grew up in a small town right outside of Durham. Living in Alaska now, but Durham is a special little place! Love it!

[@woogermon9215]

I don't think I can remember seeing a similar thing anywhere else, but in Tuscaloosa the northernmost two streets of downtown and the riverwalk park they back up to are deemed an 'Entertainment District' with open containers permitted also i LOVE that cat

[@russellzauner]

It was a while ago, but a company I worked for bought a company that was from NC. They couldn't get a single person to reloc to OR, even though they ultimately shut down that site.

[@robcooper9628]

Lived in Durham many years ago -- was nice to see how the city has changed. Indiana also allows alcohol outside in dedicated areas (DORA). Fort Wayne has this too.

[@jfmezei]

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently launched the project to rebuild the S-Line, the original direct railway betweem Richmond and Raleigh and once rebuilt expects to cut passenger train travel time by over an hour and designed to support 175kmh speeds (that is about 110 US miles per hour) with a lot of grade separation in project. The S-Line project driven by NCDOT. They hope this will create more frequent train services in region.

[@Alex_564]

A city visit to the Central Massachusetts city of Holyoke area would be interesting. It's a mix of farmland, college town & good urbanism.

[@adameanglin]

I spent 6 years living in NC, 3 in Durham. If I had to rank the states 1 to 50 to live in, NC would make my top ten. (I'm a Californian.)

[@michaeljeffery7466]

High praise.

[@BottyGuy]

I often bike commute the ATC from downtown Durham into RTP for work, it’s very nice, but it would not be possible without the bike lanes on Cornwallis road. The bike lanes are what allow me to get to work. This was impossible when I lived in Raleigh. A coworker almost died biking from Cary to RTP on a road (Davis Drive) without bike facilities.

[@markarbanasin4]

"Trail isn't completely grade seperated" - literally shows my neighborhood and the crossing I need to use for my jogs. lol. Love to see it (and it's usually not so bad during off hours at least - you know, when the heat isn't so bad either).

[@TissueCat]

It is something at the state level, yes. In September 2021, NC passed a law to allow these new social districts where you can have open containers. I live in Topeka, KS, where our state legislature passed a similar bill in April 2023. Topeka has two of these areas now.

[@exclusivelymatt]

Lived in downtown Durham until last year, right next to the Stadium. While I enjoyed my time there, I did still find it necessary to have a car, mainly for grocery shopping and work. My main complaint of the city really just came down to lack of variety for socializing. There was enough to keep me interested and curious for about a year, but after that it started to lose it's luster. With that said, I do still prefer Durham to Downtown Raleigh or Greensboro.

[@randomchannel-px6ho]

FYI if you think that who you vote for doesn't matter, work is beginning on a high speed rail connection between the reseaech triangle and central virginia thanks to the huge infrasturcture bill. That will absolutely get axed and not funded if you know who wins

[@theadventuresoftherestedtr3518]

My wife and I have watched these two videos and the Charlotte video probably a couple of dozen times since you first posted them. We’re currently considering a move from Denver to Raleigh, but find Durham and Greensboro intriguing as well. I must say, though, we used to live in Greenville, South Carolina…and if you want to experience some of the best emerging urbanism in the south, Greenville has it. I’m sure you’ve been urged to visit it before. Count me as one more nudge. Downtown and Main Street are amazingly walkable. The west end has an energy to it that you’ll not find anywhere, especially during one of the many festivals. The Saturday Morning Market is one of the finest farmers markets I’ve seen anywhere. Bonus points: Fluor Field and the Greenville Drive (High-A Red Sox). The Swamp Rabbit Trail will take you 25+ miles to Furman University and Travelers Rest to the north, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Falls Park, Unity Park, Cleveland Park, all connected by the trail system…it’s just an amazing little city. I’d move back there in a heartbeat if not for the fact that I’ve already lived there and we’re constantly seeking new experiences.

[@hgmvhf]

Kitty cohost #2 is a great addition, steal him.

[@Drewsco]

I love how NC repurposes old structures instead of destroying them. Super cool.