Month: February 2011

More headlines at Streetsblog Capitol Hill

As long time Streetsblog readers are well aware, our editorial team believes that language matters.  It's why there's a slew of stories arguing that using the word "accident" as a synonym for "crash" is both incorrect and insidious.  Last week, a reader pointed out to me that Metro, in both press materials and on The Source, continually refer to the I-710 Extension project as the "I-710 Gap Project."

George Skelton, the Los Angeles Times' columnist in the state Capital generally writes about politics and policy in the Governor's office or the legislature.  However, in today's edition he changed courses and went on a full-throated attack against the idea that the people who cause car crashes should repay the city for the cost of sending emergency services to the crash scene.  The vitriol in this column is really something to behold, when you consider that all Sacramento is doing is making the people who cause car crashes pay for the city's response instead of forcing tax payers to pay for someone else's negligence.

The White House hasn’t released its FY2012 budget request yet. What we know so far is that it’s a $3.7 trillion budget that would reduce the deficit from $1.6 trillion projected for 2011 to $1.2 trillion next year. President Obama “trims or terminates” more than 200 federal programs, according to the Washington Post, but has big plans for transportation: his budget envisions a $556 billion transportation bill.

BikeTalk this Saturday featured an extended discussion about the technicalities, challenges, and beauties of a bike share programs. On the show we had Phil Brock, Santa Monica Parks and Rec commissioner, Ryan Rzepecki from with Social Bike, who are developing the intelligent locking system which can operate independently of return stations, Todd Loewenstein, Co-owner of Baiku Bikes, who will roll out a few stations in Manhattan Beach soon. Todd shared a lot of insight into the economics of these systems proposed a system of 12 criteria for a successful system. Also participating was Michael Cahn from Sustainable Streets, who raised some questions about the costs and specific benefits of these systems, and Andrea White from Long Beach Bike Station.

It's Valentine's Week.  Love is in the air, and Metro knows just the way to show how much they care....by holding meetings on massive service cuts to the bus fleet and public meetings to discuss how to fix the 710 "Gap."  Well, at least the week ends nicely.

Highlights from around the Network today: Political posturing jeopardizes transportation progress, love is in the (city) air, and hybrid cars pose a greater risk to pedestrians and cyclists. Here's your Valentine's Day roundup.

More headlines at Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Thanks to the efforts of the bike corral's advocates, including Matt Schodorf (co-owner of the Cafe de Leche, where the corral will be located), City Councilmember Jose Huizar, and the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, the first ever bike corral in Los Angeles will finally be open for public use!