From today’s Energy and Environment Daily (03/19/2009) Josh Voorhees, E&E reporter Creating “livable communities” by linking transportation planning with housing development is a top priority of the Obama administration, two of the president’s Cabinet members told lawmakers yesterday. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan told House appropriators of their… read more
Advocacy
CLEAN-TEA on the horizon?
From today’s ClimateWire MASS TRANSIT: Carrying more riders and getting less money, urban systems seek help (03/18/2009) Saqib Rahim, E&E reporter In two weeks, the van will stop coming. And at that point, Bren Pathenos doesn’t know how her son will get to work. Her son, 30-year-old William Jenkins, has cerebral palsy, a brain condition… read more
LaHood, lawmakers hype mass transit and sustainability
From Today’s Environment and Energy Daily (03/13/2009) Josh Voorhees, E&E reporter Increasing mass transit options around the country is a priority as the nation moves toward more sustainable transportation and land use, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told lawmakers yesterday. “To me, it is clear that our transportation system and the development it enables must be… read more
Oberstar says bike projects will be part of next authorization bill
From Energy & Environment Daily(03/12/2009) Phil Taylor, E&E reporter Cycling advocates and their allies in Congress are fighting to ensure that provisions for biking projects will be included in the next federal transportation authorization bill. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), a longtime supporter of bicyclists, has pledged to carve out provisions in the bill to provide… read more
Bicyclists press for stimulus cash, reauthorization projects
Our guys at the bike summit! Good job! From today’s Energy & Environment Daily: Phil Taylor, E&E reporter Hundreds of bicycling advocates at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., are lobbying lawmakers to support projects they say will help the environment, create jobs and improve public health. “We have an opportunity that is unparalleled,”… read more
Pawtucket I-95 bridge design revealed
The Providence Business News posted a recent article on the redesign plans for the Pawtucket I-95 bridge that’s caused so much trouble as of late. One paragraph in particular caught my attention: To avoid a “dark and dreary” atmosphere such as that pedestrians encounter beneath the existing bridge, he noted, the task force spent a… read more
… and it’s gone
RIDOT published their list of projects to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This list includes the following bike related projects: Westminster St. Streetscape from I-95 Service Road No. 7 to Olneyville Square/Manton Ave./Plainfield St. (1.3 miles), which includes sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, street trees and street lighting. (Providence) Repair sidewalks on… read more
Part 2 on Copenhagen Transit Policies
CITIES: Bicycle-friendly Copenhagen strives to outdo itself (02/18/2009) COPENHAGEN — While the U.S. Congress debated whether to include less than $1 billion in funding for Amtrak in the stimulus package, the Danish parliament has put all its economic stimulus eggs in one basket: transportation. The small Nordic country of 5.4 million people will spend 94… read more
Conquering the city for walkers and bikers
1. CITIES: Danish architect ‘reconquers’ urban areas for bikers and hikers (02/17/2009) Robin Bravender, E&E reporter Danish architect Jan Gehl has a simple solution for improving public health, cleaning cities’ air and battling climate change: Redesign cities to accommodate people, not cars. And while his approach may be simple, it is one that has been… read more
biking under the influence
Arrest in Warwick for biking under the influence. First thought: the real crime here is that his bike is a “Roadmaster.” 😉 More importantly: it’s good that bicyclists in Warwick are treated as vehicle operators, with the responsibilities thereof. I do wonder, though, if the City of Warwick respects the rights as well. Any Warwick… read more
Cycling Enters the Electronic Age With a New Gear-Shifting System
The New York Time February 14, 2009 By IAN AUSTEN The bicycle, one of the world’s most resolutely human-powered machines, will join the long list of devices that have switched from the manual to the electronic when a new gear system makes its debut this weekend at the Tour of California. Although the battery-powered derailleur… read more
What is He Thinking?
The economy is in the toilet, people are loosing their jobs and for better or worse, a greater number of people are going to be forced to start using public transportation, walking, or riding a bicycle to get around. In these tough times: Senator DeMint (R-SC) has offered an amendment to SPECIFICALLY prohibit funding for… read more