Month: June 2011

Parks have a profound effect on the communities around them. View the interaction between our open spaces and the urban environment from a fresh perspective. Internationally-renowned landscape architect James Corner will draw from his experiences exploring the intersection between urbanism and landscape design to discuss the importance of parks to urban settings.

Amir Sedadi had a rough run as Interim General Manager of the LADOT.  Between near revolts in Venice over the city's homeless policy and the San Fernando Valley over a plan to try and stop drivers from killing people on Wilbur Avenue, the long time civil servant seemed to always be on the hot seat.  Add in the mini scandals involving parking meter cops appearing in porn films and the "Gold Card" scandal, and he probably isn't going to miss being in the top seat.

Last week, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) briefed reporters on the points of consensus reached by the four leaders of the Environment and Public Works Committee with regard to the transportation bill. In answer to a question by Streetsblog, she said that guaranteed federal funding for bike and pedestrian programs would be in the bill. She made it clear that bicycling and walking were important modes of transportation that deserve “good attention” in the bill.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa just announced (although Streetsblog had it first earlier today) the appointment of long-time transportation aide Jaime De La Vega as his nominee for General Manager of the Department of Transportation.  De La Vega first appeared at City Hall as a member of then-Mayor Richard Riordan's transportation team over a decade ago.  He has been the head of Villaraigosa's transportation team since the beginning and is credited for advancing Measure R, the 30/10 and America Fast Forward initiatives, and saving the bike/ped set aside from the city's Measure R funds when some City Councilmen wanted to remove it.

Members of Congress of all stripes are trying to show that they’re concerned and responsive to the financial strain caused by high gas prices. Some are recommending more oil drilling. Some want to end subsidies to oil companies. Today, members of the Congressional Livable Communities Task Force suggested that providing more diverse transportation options to more people might help.

More headlines from Streetsblog Capitol Hill

This Sunday marks the 11th Annual Los Angeles River Ride, the mega-fundraiser for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition that starts and ends at Griffith Park.  Pending your leg power, you can turn around anywhere between the Park and Long Beach.  Pre-registration is over, but you can sign up at the Autry Center in Griffith Park.  Car parking is limited, so if you're not going to bike to the ride, consider car-pooling or parking off-site.  There are six rides to choose from ranging from a kid's ride all the way up to a century.

Anyone who claims that bike-sharing is a European-style transportation innovation has clearly never set foot in Hangzhou, China. The 50,000-bike system in this southern China city of almost 7 million people (about 1.5 million people fewer than New York City) blows all other bike-shares off the map. As Bradley Schroeder of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy said, "I don't think there is anywhere you can stand in Hangzhou for more than a minute or two where you wouldn't have a Hangzhou Public Bike go past you."