James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
A group of planning students as part of a summer program sponsored by EDAW designed a "Central Park" for Los Angeles. They proposed capping the 101. Their model was on display the same time as the Rojas model, creating a dueling vision for a new Downtown.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
A group of planning students as part of a summer program sponsored by EDAW designed a "Central Park" for Los Angeles. They proposed capping the 101. Their model was on display the same time as the Rojas model, creating a dueling vision for a new Downtown.
A group of planning students as part of a summer program sponsored by EDAW designed a "Central Park" for Los Angeles. They proposed capping the 101. Their model was on display the same time as the Rojas model, creating a dueling vision for a new Downtown.
James Rojas led a group to create a model of the downtown that transportation reformers dream of. There are no cars, a system of greenways, more parks, and a lightrail system to get people where they need to go with Park and Rides surrounding the core. Here is a view of the competed model.
The city opened up 7 miles of roadways to people (and closed them to cars) for three half-Saturdays this August. Lily and I had a wonderful time relaxing and meandering the city on our bikes!
The city opened up 7 miles of roadways to people (and closed them to cars) for three half-Saturdays this August. Lily and I had a wonderful time relaxing and meandering the city on our bikes!
The city opened up 7 miles of roadways to people (and closed them to cars) for three half-Saturdays this August. Lily and I had a wonderful time relaxing and meandering the city on our bikes!
This newly-installed bike rack designed by David Byrne is so lovely that the fellow locked to the signpost apparently didn't recognize it as a bike rack.
High gas prices drove someone on Marmion Way in Highland Park to sell their stuff to fill up their truck. Strangely, a bicycle is in plain sight, they live less than a mile from the Metro's Gold Line, and their house is on a 24-hour bus corridor. Could there be a solution to this person's transportation woes? I rode by with my daughter in our bakfiets, on my way to the farmer's market in Highland Park.
In L.A., the police sometimes like to stake out crosswalks to catch pedestrians leaving the curb to cross after the "green man" has been replaced with the flashing hand. This old man started at the beginning of the green light, and didn't make it halfway across the intersection, before the light started to change from green, to yellow, to red. This was taken with the Boyle Heights Sears behind me, looking across Olympic Blvd. at this old man's retirement home. The truck started turning before the poor old guy made it across. Clearly, our priorities (moving cars vs. safety, quality of life, and access to businesses) are a bit out of whack.
When gasoline scraped the bottom of $5/gallon, one of my neighbors in North East L.A. turned their house upside down to make a little bit of extra change to pay for gas.
Gov. David Paterson presented the State Legislature with an interesting choice when he laid out $1 billion in proposed spending cuts last week. One of the easier cuts to make -- politically -- is $200 million in pork projects.
No surprises here. The Assembly has introduced bills that would enact a property tax circuit breaker and would raise income taxes for people who make more than $1 million a year. A circuit breaker holds down property taxes for households earning below a certain income. Assembly Democrats supported both measures during their regular session in the spring.
The chutzpah of the Setauket Fire District, whose commissioners are trying to build a new administrative building even after a similar plan was rejected by voters in March, provides another opportunity to beat the drum about special district election reform.
Green Spaces and SPN: Blogging Sustainability Pt.3
Green Spaces hosted Blogging Sustainability in Partnership with the Sustainable Practice Network on June 26th, 2008. Over 60 people showed up to hear the take from leaders in blogging, take a rooftop tour and have some organic wine provided by the Greene Grape in Fort Green Brooklyn.
Jill Fehrenbacher, Editor, Inhabitat.com
Jill Fehrenbacher edits Inhabitat www.inhabitat.com, and is a freelance designer and student at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. She created Inhabitat in the Spring of 2005 as a way to catalog her endless search for new ways to improve the world through forward-thinking, high-tech, and environmentally conscious design. Educated at Brown University, where she received a B.A. in Art Semiotics, and Central St. Martins, where she received an M.A. in Design Studies, she currently resides in New York City, which so far has been good for her obsession with rooftop gardens and vegan junk food restaurants.
Ken Rother, President/COO of Treehugger
Ken, President and COO, is responsible for bringing the vision and strategy of TreeHugger to life. Ken has been involved in the Internet since the early 90's when he co-founded Mountain Lake Software in Toronto Canada. Mountain Lake helped some of Canada's largest financial institutions take their first steps onto the WWW. Ken has held various roles including VP of operations responsible for all deliverables of their internet consulting division and later as divisional CIO introduced process altering technology to their globalization business. His interest in the environment dates back to his first summer job leading low impact canoe trips in northern Quebec.
Aaron Naparstek, Editor-in-chief Streetsblog.org
Aaron Naparstek works for the Open Planning Project where he is editor-in-chief of StreetsBlog.org. Aaron is a journalist, author and community organizer working on urban environmental issues in NYC. He is the author of Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage, a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the unique brand of motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Naparstek lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons. He is a founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and an organizer of the Grand Army Plaza Coalition.
Green Spaces and SPN: Blogging Sustainability Pt.2
Green Spaces hosted Blogging Sustainability in Partnership with the Sustainable Practice Network on June 26th, 2008. Over 60 people showed up to hear the take from leaders in blogging, take a rooftop tour and have some organic wine provided by the Greene Grape in Fort Green Brooklyn.
Jill Fehrenbacher, Editor, Inhabitat.com
Jill Fehrenbacher edits Inhabitat www.inhabitat.com, and is a freelance designer and student at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. She created Inhabitat in the Spring of 2005 as a way to catalog her endless search for new ways to improve the world through forward-thinking, high-tech, and environmentally conscious design. Educated at Brown University, where she received a B.A. in Art Semiotics, and Central St. Martins, where she received an M.A. in Design Studies, she currently resides in New York City, which so far has been good for her obsession with rooftop gardens and vegan junk food restaurants.
Ken Rother, President/COO of Treehugger
Ken, President and COO, is responsible for bringing the vision and strategy of TreeHugger to life. Ken has been involved in the Internet since the early 90's when he co-founded Mountain Lake Software in Toronto Canada. Mountain Lake helped some of Canada's largest financial institutions take their first steps onto the WWW. Ken has held various roles including VP of operations responsible for all deliverables of their internet consulting division and later as divisional CIO introduced process altering technology to their globalization business. His interest in the environment dates back to his first summer job leading low impact canoe trips in northern Quebec.
Aaron Naparstek, Editor-in-chief Streetsblog.org
Aaron Naparstek works for the Open Planning Project where he is editor-in-chief of StreetsBlog.org. Aaron is a journalist, author and community organizer working on urban environmental issues in NYC. He is the author of Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage, a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the unique brand of motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Naparstek lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons. He is a founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and an organizer of the Grand Army Plaza Coalition.
Green Spaces and SPN: Blogging Sustainability Pt.1
Green Spaces hosted Blogging Sustainability in Partnership with the Sustainable Practice Network on June 26th, 2008. Over 60 people showed up to hear the take from leaders in blogging, take a rooftop tour and have some organic wine provided by the Greene Grape in Fort Green Brooklyn.
Jill Fehrenbacher, Editor, Inhabitat.com
Jill Fehrenbacher edits Inhabitat www.inhabitat.com, and is a freelance designer and student at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. She created Inhabitat in the Spring of 2005 as a way to catalog her endless search for new ways to improve the world through forward-thinking, high-tech, and environmentally conscious design. Educated at Brown University, where she received a B.A. in Art Semiotics, and Central St. Martins, where she received an M.A. in Design Studies, she currently resides in New York City, which so far has been good for her obsession with rooftop gardens and vegan junk food restaurants.
Ken Rother, President/COO of Treehugger
Ken, President and COO, is responsible for bringing the vision and strategy of TreeHugger to life. Ken has been involved in the Internet since the early 90's when he co-founded Mountain Lake Software in Toronto Canada. Mountain Lake helped some of Canada's largest financial institutions take their first steps onto the WWW. Ken has held various roles including VP of operations responsible for all deliverables of their internet consulting division and later as divisional CIO introduced process altering technology to their globalization business. His interest in the environment dates back to his first summer job leading low impact canoe trips in northern Quebec.
Aaron Naparstek, Editor-in-chief Streetsblog.org
Aaron Naparstek works for the Open Planning Project where he is editor-in-chief of StreetsBlog.org. Aaron is a journalist, author and community organizer working on urban environmental issues in NYC. He is the author of Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage, a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the unique brand of motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Naparstek lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons. He is a founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and an organizer of the Grand Army Plaza Coalition.
7 miles of NYC streets, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, is closed to traffic and freed for use by everyday New Yorkers and visitors. We loved it!
This clip is in front of the south façade of Grand Central, which is usually only accessible to cars. Everyone was so thrilled to be able to take in the iconic view and see the Vanderbilt statue up close for the first time!
7 miles of NYC streets, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, is closed to traffic and freed for use by everyday New Yorkers and visitors. We loved it!
This is a stretch through Astor Place and south down Lafayette St. Listen for Kate Mikuliak from Councilmember Rosie Mendez's office saying hi to me as she rode past in the first 0:15! Everyone was out in the streets!
Here's a 3 minute short video of the Aug 9th "Summer Streets" in NYC which closed 7 miles of roads to cars and opened them to pedestrians and bikes etc
Blogging Sustainability
Moderator: Bonnie Hulkower, Treehugge
Panelists:
Jill Fehrenbacher, Editor-in-chief Inhabitat.com
Ken Rother, President/COO Treehugger
Aaron Naparstek, Editor-in-chief Streetsblog.org
Date & Time:
Thursday June 26, 2008, 6-8pm
Location: Green Spaces
33 Flatbush Ave (corner Flatbush & Livingston)
Brooklyn
Mass Transit - take B, Q, and R to Dekalb Ave, or the 4, 5 to Nevins Street, or A, C to Hoyt Shermerhorn St.
Please RSVP events@sustainabilitypractice.net
For more information, or to join SPN, visit www.sustainabilitypractice.net
Blogging has become an influential form of information gathering, particularly in the green world. New media forums, websites, and blogs have played a major role in furthering the message of sustainability. In doing so, they have helped move sustainability to the mainstream, often covering issues before the traditional media gets to them. Websites vary from magazine offshoots to personal advice to the musings of corporate executives. What these websites often share is an informal and interactive readership.
On these websites writers are often more easily criticized and held accountable, and commentators evoke a wide range of perspectives. Yet, fact-checking is not mandatory, and people may seek out like-minded "communities of interest" and echo chambers, which can foster a narrower perspective.
How do today's citizens inform themselves? What are the effects of the shift away from one-to-many media formats?
This panel will examine how websites such as www.streetsblog.com, www.Inhabitat.com, www.Treehugger.com, and others further the message of sustainability. Panelists will discuss how new media can reach out to untapped audiences, and how to spread the message further.
Bios:
Jill Fehrenbacher, Editor-in-chief, Inhabitat.com
Jill Fehrenbacher edits Inhabitat and is a freelance designer and student at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. She created Inhabitat in the Spring of 2005 as a way to catalog her endless search for new ways to improve the world through forward-thinking, high-tech, and environmentally conscious design. Educated at Brown University, where she received a B.A. in Art Semiotics, and Central St. Martins, where she received an M.A. in Design Studies, she currently resides in New York City, which so far has been good for her obsession with rooftop gardens and vegan junk food restaurants.
Ken Rother, President/COO of Treehugger
Ken, President and COO, is responsible for bringing the vision and strategy of TreeHugger to life. Ken has been involved in the Internet since the early 90's when he co-founded Mountain Lake Software in Toronto Canada. Mountain Lake helped some of Canada's largest financial institutions take their first steps onto the WWW. Ken has held various roles including VP of operations responsible for all deliverables of their internet consulting division and later as divisional CIO introduced process altering technology to their globalization business. His interest in the environment dates back to his first summer job leading low impact canoe trips in northern Quebec.
Aaron Naparstek, Editor-in-chief Streetsblog.org
Aaron Naparstek works for the Open Planning Project where he is editor-in-chief of StreetsBlog.org. Aaron is a journalist, author and community organizer working on urban environmental issues in NYC. He is the author of Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage, a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the unique brand of motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Naparstek lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons. He is a founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and an organizer of the Grand Army Plaza Coalition.
The Sustainability Practice Network (SPN) is a NYC-based forum and list server for professionals, academics and students working with corporate responsibility and sustainability issues to build a community based on learning, discussion, information and idea exchange. SPN supports the growth of sustainability practice and bridges disciplines to advance sustainable development by drawing on the knowledge and expertise of its members.
Green Spaces Green Spaces is a hub for leading green entrepreneurs, providing networking programs, infrastructure and a community to launch their business.
This message was sent from Jennie Nevin to feinberg@design21sdn.com. It was sent from: Green Spaces, 33 Flatbush Ave Floor 5, Brooklyn, NY 11217. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.
Green Wheels NEC members noticed sidewalks were overgrown in Arcata, California, making it difficult to walk. So they headed out to do something about it...
More at www.green-wheels.org
Volunteers are Chris Rall, Chad Johnson, Sara Dykman, Aaron Antrim and Adam Jamin
Radar gun session demonstrates routine speeding by motor vehicles on 65th St. Transverse in New York's Central Park during morning rush hour. the speed limit here is 30 MPH, and the traffic sign the back of which is visible on the left reads: CAUTION-SLOW-LANE NARROWS TO 11'0."
An account and discussion of the fatal crash that occurred here in December 2006 is found here:
http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/08/22/central-park-66th-street-transverse-is-unsafe/
Pictures and excerpts from the police investigation of the fatal accident are found here:
http://flickr.com/photos/11992136@N08/sets/72157601595007852/
New York Department of Transportation and Police Department have been advised of this dangerous condition. Will steps be taken remove the hazard presented by the routine speeding next to this hazardous pinch point before another bicyclists is injured or killed?
The traffic trying to exit the Central Park Loop this morning at 7th Avenue and 59th Street was backed up nearly to 72nd Street. There was no apparent reason for this other than congestion. Perhaps those who formerly used the CP Loop between 7 and 8 am and have under the new schedule simply shifted their trip to later, causing this congestion. It shouldn't take folks too much longer to figure out that they must simply stop driving through the park (or at all), rather than clinging to old habits. The best way to get the message across to these people is to eliminate cars from Central Park entirely.
here are the two previous installments in this series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxBv2Hx52rM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaD0fgKfFo4
South Shore Motorists Allow Pedestrians To Take Over Roadway
A common sight on Long Island's south shore--recreational walkers ignore the grassy shoulder and walk instead in a single lane roadway. This is illegal but the pedestrians in these parts do it routinely. The motorists make sure to pass at a safe distance and speed. Why do so many of these same motorists, when in NYC, fail to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and otherwise play "chicken" with pedestrians?
Here on Long Island's south shore, the motorists seem to understand the need to keep a safe distance from bicyclists and pass them only when it is safe to do so--even if it slows them down temporarily. Why do so many of these same motorists, when they return to NYC, routinely endanger bicyclists by pushing them to the margins of the roadway and passing at unsafe distances and speeds?
The nine-year old bicyclist shown in the previous clip explains why a westbound bike lane on East 91st Street would be good for bicyclists, children, and others who use this street, despite the objections of some.
Part I: Bikes, Pedestrians Co-Exist on E. 91st Street
Here are some bicyclists climbing the hill up East 91st Street (NYC) on the car-free block between Second and Third Avenues on Saturday afternoon, August 4, at 2:05 pm. Some local residents have opposed the routing of a bike lane along this block because they think it will disrupt children, seniors, and others who use this space. This clip demonstrates that this view is wrong. The middle part of the street is not heavily used, even on this sunny Saturday afternoon. The bicyclists proceed so slowly uphill that they are not a danger or disruption to any one. Even the apparent delivery bicyclist who rides downhill does so slowly and cautiously, without interfering with the wheelchair users or others in this space. Directing an uphill bicycle route along this block would be great for people seeking to bicycle between or among Yorkville, Carnegie Hill, Central Park or the East Side Greenway, and would not detract from the character of the block, which as you can see already accomodates bicycle traffic. Next clip shows an interview with one of the bicyclists (the other two bicyclists just happened to be there).
Inaugural 1-Hour Rollback of Car Traffic In Central Park
We held a small celebration on the first day of the new restriction on auto traffic in Central Park. Cars are now excluded from West Drive on weekdays until 8 am, rather than 7 am. It was great to see so many people out enjoying the park Loop. However this group of cyclists was being chased at 7:12 am by two cars.
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