Month: November 2011
Streetsblog LA
Senate Bill May Weaken Smaller Metros, Empower State DOTs
In Indiana, the state DOT wants to build a 142-mile extension of Interstate 69, but the Bloomington metropolitan planning organization won’t allow it – the group had written the road out of its three-year transportation plan and members are standing firm, refusing to write it back in. The MPO in Charlottesville, Virginia, similarly, long fought the construction of a $245 million, six-mile bypass the state plans to build to accommodate freight traffic.
November 14, 2011
LACBC: Send County Bike Plan Back to the Drawing Board
Late last year, a team of advocates descended on City Hall to urge the City's Planning Commission to reject the most recent draft of the city's bike plan for a variety of issues, ranging from equity to the vague nature of the goals and timeline for implementation. The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is hoping for a re-run as the L.A. County Bike Plan heads to the County Planning Commission with many of the same issues needing resolution that the city's plan had last year at this time.
November 14, 2011
The Week in Livable Streets Events
There's a good amount of wonk stuff on the calendar this weekend, but it closes with a Bike Party in Santa Monica. Of course, I guess every week closes with a Bike Party. Pay special attention to the events on Wednesday.
November 14, 2011
What’s Wrong With Telling Cyclists to Ride on the Bike Path?
With all due respect to my vehicular-cyclist friends, I’m a big fan of separate facilities for bikes. They keep bicyclists safer and encourage more people to ride, and I know I make a lot fewer risky moves when I’m riding in a lane built for my two wheels and not a two-ton, 200-horsepower steel box.
November 14, 2011
In Massachusetts, Driving Drunk, Getting Caught, Walking Away Scot Free
When it comes to driving sins, awareness is rising about the dangers of texting. Not to be forgotten is the old classic, drunk driving, which is still the number one driving-related killer. Nearly one-third of motor vehicle fatalities involve alcohol. In 2009, that added up to about 11,000 deaths.
November 14, 2011
Today’s Headlines
Featured Headline: I’ve been digging the story of the DIY Cyclists in Mexico City creating 5 km (3.2 miles) of designated bikeways. Streetsblog.net covered the story on Friday and I’ve gotten a handful of emails directing me to the original story. Unlike L.A.’s DIY road improvers, the team in Mexico City accomplished their urban faclift … Continued
November 14, 2011
LA County Planning Commission Hears Draft Bike Plan
Less than a month ago the LA County Department of Public Works released the “final” draft of the LA County Bike Plan , which focuses on the unincorporated communities in LA County. This coming Wednesday, November 16th the LA County Bike Plan will head to the Planning Commission. This is the first update to the County’s existing … Continued
November 13, 2011
Mini-Roundabout Presentation to Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council Meeting
A proposed mini-roundabout for the intersection of 4th Street and New Hampshire will be presented to the Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council. LADOT proproses the roundabout to make 4th Street a “Bicycle Friendly Street” as designated in the City of LA Bike Plan. This is consistent with LACBC’s 4th Street Neighborhood Greenway campaign which includes support for traffic-calming projects on 4th … Continued
November 13, 2011
Santa Monica Bike Center Opening
When: Saturday, November 19th; 10 AM – 2 PM Where: Colorado Community Room – 5th and Colorado, Santa Monica Santa Monica is getting a new bike plan and bike center! Be there for the event that introduces both. Activities begin at 10 AM with coffee and pastries, and later at 11 AM, there will be a presentation … Continued
November 13, 2011