New Haven Journal: How about a Roundabout and Trees, instead of a Highway?

Interesting articles on New Haven's proposals to tear up a highway that runs through the city center.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/rte_34/


http://newurbannetwork.com/article/rescuing-botched-expressway-removal-15096

Which freeways could we remove from Newark?

DIY Kit for the Urban Interventionist

An excerpt from the well known design blog, Places Observer, at http://places.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=24308, talks about tactics to reclaim cities for people:

Our current recession is inspiring its own strategies and tactics: It's increasingly a catch-all for a host of urban interventions. This is a trend that I like to describe with a mouthful of a title: Provisional, Opportunistic, Ubiquitous, and Odd Tactics in Guerilla and DIY Practice and Urbanism. With this verbaciousness, I hope to capture the tactical multiplicity and inventive thinking that have cropped up in the vacuum of more conventional commissions. These days vacant lots offer sites for urban farming, mini-golf, and dumpster pools. Trash recycles into a speculative housing prototype (see the Tiny Pallet House). Whether it’s The Living’s Amphibious Architecture or Mark Shepard's Serendipitor, the built environment speaks through mobile devices. Retail spaces hit by the recession are fodder for reinvention, as the art organization No Longer Empty transforms unleased storefronts into temporary galleries. Even the street itself is reclaimed. REBAR’s annual initiative, Park(ing) Day, urges global participants to use a pranksters wit to turn parking spaces into pocket parks, one quarter at a time.

Why the Verrazano Narrows Bridge (VNB) Needs Access for Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Having better bike lane access from NJ to Brooklyn, via the VNB, would no doubt benefit bicycling in Newark. This from an insightful Streetsblog comment by StevenF:

The Verrazano Narrows Bridge has never been finished: the bridge was designed for two bicycle/pedestrian paths. But Robert Moses took the paths out in last year of construction, 1963, because he was worried about the negative impact of suicides on his TBTA bond ratings. Moses thought that removing the paths would prevent suicides. So instead of people quietly walking up, thinking about it, and walking down, they drive up, during rush hour, dump the car, block traffic, and then jump. One poor guy got up there in a taxi.

Having no path didn’t stop suicides, it just stops cyclists, joggers, walkers and tourists from enjoying the world class view of New York harbor. It stops the 10 percent of VNB traffic that travels only 8 miles door to door from the option of traveling by bicycle. The VNB is less than 2 miles long, 10,000 feet street to street, and is a 10-15 bike ride. The 8 mile trip is 30-50 minutes – well within current driving times when the SI Expressway is backed up.

The path can be installed in the empty space waiting for it – the space under the cables outboard of the roadway, and won’t take any of the 12 roadway lanes away. Costs, documented by a City Planning engineering study, would be about $35 million for the two paths, complete.

For a quick and dirty and cheap path, install a steel Jersey Barrier to block off one lower level lane and create a two way bike/ped path. A couple million dollars and we can be riding the VNB.

December Updates on National Transportation Policy

See http://www.bikehartford.com/2010/12/federal-transportation-policy-updates.html for a list of new reports and policy updates from Transportation for America.

"Cramming bikes onto serene paths is like putting a superhighway through a schoolyard."

http://www.grist.org/article/2010-11-07-we-need-real-bike-paths-for-real-bike-transportaiton

Excerpt:

The original concept is that of the linear park -- a destination in the city or suburbs where locals of all ages can go get fresh air and exercise in a natural setting. Mellow recreation was the idea. The bicycle has always been part of this mix. But MUPs aren't always simply about recreation. The use of these paths as transportation corridors, rather than parks, is being pushed increasingly at a local level, and even promoted by the feds, including in a recent interview with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on this site.

But there's a disconnect between the speedy reality of bicycle transportation and the slow, recreational uses these trails are designed for. Multi-use paths are only required to be eight feet wide. That's fine for a stroll in the park, but when you factor in two lanes for bikes as well as joggers, skaters, and roving families, it's alarmingly narrow.

Interesting Bicycle-Related News this Week!

Compiled by Colin Bennett. These are some great links on the state of bicycling!

Bike Education Program Triples Cycling Rates in Schools
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/bike-education-program-triples_cycling.php

Will Electric Bikes Get People Out of Cars?
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/electric-bikes-getting-people-out-of-cars.php

Charlie's FreeWheels Builds Self-Esteem Through Building Bikes
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/charlies-freewheels.php

11 most bicycle friendly cities in the world
http://www.virgin-vacations.com/11-most-bike-friendly-cities.aspx

UK Teen Driver Tries to Kill Cyclist, Who Turns Out to be a Police Officer. Oops.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/teen-driver-road-rage-attacks-cyclist-police-officer.php

Crunching the Numbers ($$$) on Bike Commuting
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/bike-commuting-how-much-money-saved.php

Google Maps Finally Adds Bike Routes
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/google-maps-for-bikes

Why Do Republicans Hate Bicycles So Much?
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/why-do-republicans-hate-bikes.php

Kiwi Biker Wins Right to Bicycle Naked
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/kiwi-biker-right-to-bicycle-naked.php

The Future of Cargo on Bikes (and the Present, Too!)
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/the-future-of-cargo-bikes.php

New Urban Streets: Interesting website on city building

http://newurbanstreets.com/

Sign the Pledge for Better Transportation

From T4America:

Transportation helps make America a land of opportunity: All Americans should be able to get to their job or a grocery store without breaking the bank or enduring long, brutal commutes. Everyone should have access to a variety of transportation options and the air should be clean and the streets safe, no matter where they live.

But millions of poor people and people of color live in communities where quality transportation options are unaffordable, unreliable, or just totally nonexistent. But it doesn't have to be this way. That's why, along with PolicyLink, we're launching the new Transportation for America Equity Caucus today, already more than 65 organizations strong.

Join us - sign the pledge for affordable, clean and safe transportation options for all.

Sign the pledge today.

Hit and Run in Newark Kills 4 Year Old Child

Tweets from Cory Booker:

We had a hit & run tonight on Columbia Ave & S.O. Ave. a 4yr old child was killed. Vehicle involved: blue or black late model Mercedes Benz.

Incident occurred around 8:30PM. Anyone with information please call our anonymous tip line at 877 695 8477. Our prayers are with the family.

Newark switches on red-light cameras: Safe Streets for Newark!

By Sharon Adarlo/The Star-Ledger

December 16, 2009, 6:00AM

Sharon Adarlo/The Star-Ledger

A newly installed red-light camera (seen here in as black box with a white flashlight) at a Newark intersection. The cameras go live today.

NEWARK -- Starting today, motorists could get a ticket for running a red light in this city, even if there isn’t a police officer nearby.

With the help of recently installed cameras, drivers will get a $85 fine in the mail if they run red lights at Broad and Market streets or Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard, two of the city’s busiest intersections, said city officials Tuesday at Military Park, from which there’s a clear view of the black box-shaped cameras. During a trial period that started on Nov. 16, about 3,000 drivers have been issued warning letters instead.

"This is an initiative that will make a safer city," said Mayor Cory Booker, who called it the first red light camera system in the state. "We will no longer tolerate a high number of vehicular and pedestrian accidents."

Civic Engagement in Society Hill

Interesting article from Philly. When will Newark start using this tool?

http://www.weeklypress.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1638&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2392&hn=weeklypress&he=.com

Instead of relying on 311 to report potholes, graffiti or faded crosswalks, what if one could report then track them on a website devoted to that purpose?

As residents who attended the Society Hill Civic Association meeting last Wednesday, November 18th learned, neighborhood issues can be followed through the site See, Click, Fix.

"It links residents, the media and government officials to local," explained Mark Abraham, from the New Haven Independent who reports on issue posted to the See, Click, Fix site. Besides those listed above, such problems could also include prostitution or drug sales.

"It’s also a tool that let’s residents have ideas about a way a neighborhood could be redesigned," said Abraham, adding, "or in the case of neighborhoods like Society Hill, with its planters and well-maintained trees, these could be referred to as See, Click, Love."

Currently used in New York City and Boston, the community ultimately wins. Unlike calling into services such as 311, dozens of people will see what the problem is right away, Abraham explained adding that "they’ll become encouraged when they see that the problem was fixed and the government official who fixed it looks accountable."

There’s even an iphone component, continued Abraham that allows one to report problems by taking pictures. The application also gives them the option to post comments on the issues as well as view comments from others.

Know anyone into bicycle and pedestrian advocacy on Twitter?

Interesting Tweet here. Suggest a few!

Urbandata: Please RT @urbandata/urban-bike-advocacy Need to #follow more urban bike advocates! Can't get enough! #bikenyc @bcgp

Toddler in Stroller Run over on Halloween

http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/9476

In Carson City, Nevada. Sad story. Please be careful out there!