Everyone, All the Time, All Right Here!

Take a gander at this photo of a new light rail station in Minneapolis, slated to open later this year.

While I can't say I have an opinion one way or another about the design what really caught my eye were the illustrations of the happy city dwellers, all of them eagerly going about their business on a sunny Minneapolis day. Using 17 sprites they've managed to illustrate almost every possible type of urbanite a reasonably sized city could expect to contain (see if you can find them all!):

• The philharmonic orchestra members
• the old college chums, on their way to a cafe to reminisce about their sorority
• The well dressed but still young urban black male
• the overweight geek, pointing out transportation technology tidbits to the
• disinterested companion to his right who'd rather be home right now
• urban college student, complete with backpack
• Father with baby (no stroller? does he intend to carry that kid through downtown!?)
• businessman in suit, looking for the *next* train

Also, do they think these trains will come often enough to warrant the complete LACK of seating at this station? Will the employees at the posh retail shop at this light rail stop let commuters wait in the lobby of their store on inclement days (only with a $100 purchase of a Chanel perfume!) And one last observation anyone who lives in a snowy clime can appreciate: Is that little wavy thing supposed to be adequate protection from harsh Minnesotean winters?