Month: February 2010
Streetsblog LA
Still Looking for That Magic Highway
Today on the Streetsblog Network, we're thinking about the reinvention of cars. At his blog The Bellows, Ryan Avent has written a two-part piece about how best to enable innovation in car design. His starting point is a review in The American Prospect of a new book called Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century,
which takes a gung-ho approach to futuristic, nimble, hyperconnected
vehicles that will essentially drive themselves. It's a dream that goes
back generations, and it's still quite robust.
February 17, 2010
Times Backs Gutting of Transit Operations Proposition, Wants Transit Funded by Excise Tax on Gasoline
It's taken me the better part of a day to figure out how best to write about this Sunday's Editorial in the Times concerning the Governor's plan to end the transit subsidy that is part of the gas tax and cut the gas tax. After spending the bulk of the column attacking the "gimmicks" that created the state transit subsidy and painting transit advocates as disingenuous for decrying the raids on the subsidy; the Times ends with a call for more funding for transit projects. Regardless of what one thinks of the Times' coverage of issues, they are the "paper of record" for the second most populous city in America, and largest in the state of California so the influence of its editorial page shouldn't be discounted.
February 16, 2010
Make a Donation to Expand Los Angeles Streetsblog
As Los Angeles Streetsblog inches towards its second birthday on March 3, we have some pretty ambitious plans to expand and improve our coverage so that we can cover more stories, in a more in-depth way, around Los Angeles City and County. Currently, we have one staff person in Los Angeles, me, and I'm part-time to boot. With the exception of the work done in the weeks following Sammy's birth, all of the guest pieces have been donated. My contract, and all of the Los Angeles Streetfilms, have been paid for out of New York because of the very generous support of Mark Gorton.
February 16, 2010
Biking to Work with Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn
From the Livable Streets front lines, Streetfilms' Clarence Eckerson goes for a bike ride with the bike-commuting Mayor of Seattle, Mike McGinn. There's a lot of different lessons that can be drawn from this Streetfilm, but one of the major ones that local politicians can take to heart is the man power provided by a group of passionate cyclists is worth its weight in gold. McGinn was outspent four to one, but road to victory on the strength of his loyal, empowered volunteers. Looks like a little bike-friendliness can go a long way politically. Paging Eric Garcetti...
February 16, 2010
Vicious and Deadly Hit and Run Crash in Compton Caught on Tape
Local news has been buzzing this morning because a deadly hit and run "van v bike" crash was caught on tape in Compton this morning. Ovidio Morales, a father of five, was presumably on his way to work. Morales is separated from his family in Guatemala, whom he was sending money to in hopes they would one day be able to join him.
February 16, 2010
What’s Wrong With America’s Ambivalence About Crumbling Infrastructure?
In today's New York Times, Bob Herbert celebrates the cause of
infrastructure maintenance -- a less exciting proposition for
politicians than cutting the ribbon at new transportation projects, but
in many ways more vital to economic growth.
February 16, 2010
The Week in Livable Streets Events
A late start to the week won't prevent this week from being a major week for cyclists around Los Angeles County. However, the highlight of the week could be the "town hall meeting" being held by Senator Barbara Boxer and Secretary Ray LaHood on the re-authorization of the federal transportation trust fund downtown this Friday. In addition to the normal weekend madness, there are two fun and educational ways to let your hair down.
February 16, 2010
The Economic Potential of Portland’s New Bike Plan
Yesterday on the Streetsblog Network, member blog Portlandize
published a great post summarizing the economic benefits of better
cycling infrastructure. The piece serves as a response to those who
might have their doubts about Portland's ambitious new Bicycle Plan for 2030.
February 16, 2010