StreetFilms
Streetsblog LA
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
How to Properly Cross Rail Tracks on your Bike
Unfortunately, it's something I've seen even the most experienced
cyclist do: wipe out while crossing a set of train tracks. As many of
you know, you need to maneuver your bike's angle of approach so that
you hit the rails as perpendicular as possible. But even knowing that,
some demon riders don't slow enough to sashay properly, and heck: poor
newbies have no idea how the road's mathematics work until it's too
late!
February 12, 2010
Streetfilms: Making a Better Market Steet in San Francisco
For decades, planners and transportation specialists have debated how
San Francisco's most important street could be re-visioned to make it
work better for transit, pedestrians, cyclists, shoppers, and those
living on or near it. Now, as the Better Market Street Project moves
forward with trial traffic diversions, the Art in Storefronts project, music and programming in public spaces, greening along sidewalks, and pedestrian safety improvements,
San Francisco's political class is intent on revitalizing the street
for the long haul. Though the concrete vision for what Market Street
will eventually look like is some ways off, there is more effort now
than in many years to improve the public realm and ensure the street
lives up to its great potential.
December 18, 2009
Copenhagen’s Climate-Friendly, Bike-Friendly Streets
Tens of thousands of people from nearly every nation on earth have
descended on Copenhagen this month for the UN climate summit. As the
delegates try to piece together a framework for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, they're also absorbing lessons from one of the world's
leading cities in sustainable transportation. In Copenhagen, fully 37
percent of commute trips are made by bike, and mode share among city
residents alone is even higher.
December 14, 2009
Streetfilms A.U.T.O. Lobbyist Visits Car-Free Times Square
She’s back! The woman you love to hate (and hate not to love) Veronica Moss, a Washington, D.C. lobbyist for – ahem! – the Automobile User Trade Organization (A.U.T.O.) In this “chapter”, she’s getting her first gander ever at the new pedestrian-friendly Times Square and she invited Streetfilms along to record her virgin journey. Naturally … Continued
November 18, 2009
Streetfilms: Shocker from New York. 200 Miles of New Bike Infrastructure Leads to More Biking
This year the New York City Department of Transportation measured a 26 percent jump in commuter cycling. Coming on the heels of 2008's unprecedented 35 percent growth, that puts the total two-year increase at a whopping 66 percent.
November 10, 2009
Streetfilm: Earl Blumenauer Visits New York
"The tide is turning," Transportation Alternatives Paul White exclaims towards the end of this most recent Streetfilm, "In fact, it's already turned."
November 3, 2009
More Inspiration for Those Commenting on the Bike Plan
Bike lanes: In some cities people are literally dying to have them and
some people go so far as to mark their own. Here in New York City, it
feels like every time I get on my bike there is a new bike lane -
sometimes on the left, sometimes buffered, and sometimes completely
separated from automobile traffic. To understand these lanes, I had
the opportunity to go for a ride with the NYC DOT bicycle boys. They
explained the classes of bike lanes and showed off some of these
inventive facilities. You can use Ride the City to find a safe bike route in New York City and watch this video to see what lanes are used on your route.
October 23, 2009
Streetfilms: NYC Bike Lanes 101
Bike lanes: In some cities people are so desperate for them they'll go so far as to mark their own. (Editor's note: We know.) Here in New York City, it
feels like every time I get on my bike there is a new bike lane --
sometimes on the left, sometimes buffered, and sometimes completely
separated from automobile traffic.
October 19, 2009
Watch This Video: Livable Streets Visionaries Gather in NYC
With all the remarkable recent livable streets improvements in New York, it's no surprise the tenth annual Walk21
Conference chose the Big Aplle. Visitors and attendees
salivated over new pedestrian infrastructure and public spaces,
including tours of the recently opened High Line and a special visit to the soon-to-be-restored High Bridge.
Featuring a plethora of speakers, design charrettes and walking
workshops, the three-day event drew experts from the UK, Austria,
Japan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Italy, and Australia, among other places.
October 15, 2009