Month: March 2010
Streetsblog LA
Views from the Summit: Experiencing L.A. from the Streets
Panel 1: A cyclist speeds down a four-lane arterial street in West Los Angeles.
Panel 2: He stops, noticing something he's never noticed before
Panel 3: He walks his bike into a small courtyard of a small church
Panel 4: He peeks in the window
Panel 5: A choir is rehearsing
Panel 6: He sits down on a bench and listens
March 23, 2010
Transit Operating Aid Bill Doesn’t Fly With Major D.C. Transit Group
A burgeoning congressional push
to let urban transit agencies tap federal funds for operating their
systems is not sitting well with the transit industry's largest D.C.
lobbying group, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
March 23, 2010
News from the Summit: Dude, Where’s My Bike Plan?
The StreetSummit workshop update on the Draft Bike Plan was very much a good news and bad news sort of event. On one hand, the newest Draft of the plan looks better than the one released last summer. On the other hand, after listening to Janette Sadik-Khan and Charlie Gandy rallying the troops earlier in the day; it was a stark reminder of just how far we have to go.
March 23, 2010
What We’re Really Saying When We Say “Alternative”
The
word "alternative" is one of the most fraught in the English language.
While it can have some positive connotations, especially for those who
want to be seen as opposing the mainstream (like "alternative
newspapers"), when used by those within the mainstream, it is
usually a not-so-subtle dismissal. If you hear someone talking about
"people who live alternative lifestyles," there's a good chance what
they mean is "those freaks that I have nothing in common with." Today on the Streetsblog Network, member blog M-Bike.org argues against the use of the word "alternative" when referring to non-automobile transportation:
March 23, 2010
Mixed Message: If You Don’t Fill Out Your Census, We Won’t Do More Widenings
Hmm. If I knew that my census form was going to help determine how much sprawl-inducing highway expansion funding my community was going to get, I would have told them there were -4,000,000 in my house.
March 23, 2010
Streetscast: StreetSummit Speakers Inspire, Educate and Rally Livable Streets Advocates
The StreetSummit has come and gone. In order to provide the best coverage that I can, we'll spread out the remaining coverage into three days. Today will focus on the plenary speakers, tomorrow we'll look at the three sessions I attended and Wednesday we'll look at three sessions that I recorded. Any conference that has the audience booing free public parking for automobiles.
March 22, 2010
Senate Health Bill Approved: What it Means for Transportation
After 14 months of drama, deal-making, and declarations of its demise, the health care legislation envisioned by President Obama and congressional Democrats finally cleared its biggest hurdle last night, with the House approving the Senate-passed measure on a 219-212 vote.
March 22, 2010
Getting Romantic About Transit
Today on the Streetsblog Network, we came across a sweet post from one of our favorite network members — Seattle’s Carla Saulter, better known as Bus Chick. She’s celebrating a milestone — seven years of living car-free. And she takes the occasion to share some memories:
March 22, 2010