As soon as I realized that Partnership for Smarter Growth was going to host an educational workshop out in Midlothian, I knew that the drive would be both educational and demoralizing.

Although the workshop was a success, I couldn't help but think about the irony of having a conservation and smart growth workshop on a golf course ... one of the most inefficient uses of green space and water. On top of the obvious irony, I gradually realized that the location of the golf course was going to force me to travel through every type of city structure in Richmond. As I will soon learn at the PSG Bus Tour, principles of smart growth are best taught from a car (the symbol par excellence of suburban transit) rather than in a dark room. The next few posts are going to present a series of personal photos that I took while driving from the Independence Golf Club (pictured above) in Midlothian to the PSG office in downtown Richmond ... I'll add a little commentary along the way.