February 2, 2013

Study finds people who walk or bike to work enjoy their commute most

Photo courtesy of StreetsBlog

Highlights 

Where some see only skyrocketing taxes, Governor Patrick claims to see opportunity Boston Globe

Adrian Walker-- Deval Patrick was in the the midst of the inaugural hoopla in Washington for his friend President Obama when he paused long enough to call me, looking to chat about the remainder of his term, which already promises drama on Beacon Hill.

The governor, in his State of the Commonwealth speech last week, launched a campaign for an income tax hike that he said would lay the groundwork for a well-educated work force in Massachusetts.

He also proposed cutting the sales tax while devoting the revenue it derives to a variety of needed transportation-related projects. He wants other tax changes as well, including a 1 percentage point increase in the income tax, a doubling of personal exemptions, and an end to many itemized deductions. He argues that the changes would make the tax code simpler and fairer.

Patrick’s supporters cheered him for taking on the transportation funding morass, and said he was moving to cement his legacy. Skeptics noted that he was advocating perhaps the largest tax increase in state history, and predicted a quick death for much of the plan.

Medford residents file suit over Green Line Extension Boston Globe

Jarret Bencks-- Medford residents Bill Wood and Carolyn Rosen have sued the state Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration, asserting that the environmental and social impacts of the Green Line Extension project were not studied closely enough.

“There were people who wanted to see this happen, and instead of putting the environmental issues in front, they put it behind,” Wood said Monday.

In a 41-page lawsuit filed in US District Court in Boston,  Wood and Rosen, who live in West Medford, argue that the government did not sufficiently study the environmental ­impact of moving commuter rail tracks closer to homes in order to make room for a light rail bed along the extension.

Capital Bikeshare: How Paul DeMaio, Gabe Klein, Adrian Fenty and other DC leaders launched the best bike-sharking program in the United States. Slate

Tom Vanderbilt-- If you had been handed, a decade ago, a map of the U.S. and asked to predict where the novel idea of bike sharing—then limited to a few small-scale projects in a handful of European cities, might first find its firmest footing, you probably would have laid your money on a progressive hub like Portland or Seattle or the regional poles of walkable urbanism, New York or San Francisco—all of which were scoring higher, those days, in surveys likeBicycling magazine’s list of most bikeable cities. But today, the nation’s largest, most successful bike-share program—in terms of size, ridership, and financial viability—is in Washington, D.C. How did D.C. accomplish this unlikely task?

Bike rider causing trouble US News

Melissa Palmer-- An LAPD officer's conduct is being investigated after a YouTube video of him ticketing a bicyclist who told him he was blocking the bike path went viral. The cyclist's ticket has since been canceled.

In the 10-minute clip, a cyclist turns on his helmet camera and records the interaction on the Venice Beach bike path, which drew a handful of onlookers who protested that the cyclist had done nothing wrong and that the officer needed to address serious crime in Venice.

The bicyclist, who identifies himself at 34-year-old Chris Jackson of Venice, posted the video after Thanksgiving weekend, when he was ticketed for speeding after telling a motorcycle officer he was blocking the popular bike-only path.

Study: People Who Bike or Walk to Work Enjoy Their Commutes the Most StreetsBlog

Angie Schmitt-- This news will surprise no one who has discovered the joy that is setting off to work on two wheels, but new research out of Portland State University found that people who bike to work enjoy their commutes the most. People who walk to work are close behind on the commute satisfaction scale.

"Streets"

  • Pressure on to fix Mass. transit and highways Globe
  • Police: Serious traffic accidents down in 2012, making Somerville safer Wicked Local
  • Shared space applied to high-volume intersection Better Cities
  • The Amazing Bollards of the Boston Fed Amateur Planner
  • GUNS, TAXES, TRANSPORTATION, AND THE MEANING OF LIFE: Why Government Is A Precondition for Livability LivableStreets
  • Can We Finally Declare Peace in the 'War on Cars'? Atlantic Cities
  • NON-MOTORIZED HIGHWAYS: A Regional Green Routes System To Connect Municipal Bike Networks, Sidewalks, and Parks LivableStreets
  • Letter: Transportation Directly Impacts Public Health Charlestown Patch
  • U. S. Federal Safe Routes to School Program Reduces Child Injuries by More Than 40 Percent in New York City Science Daily
  • Food truck trend goes into overdrive in Greater Boston Boston.com
  • Mapping the Almost-Real City Atlantic Cities
  • Boston's Food Truck Program Still on A Roll South End Patch
  • Food truck vendors ready for 2013 season with site lottery Boston.com
  • MBTA to unveil digital advertising screens at Harvard Square Metro
  • What does speed have to do with vibrant communities? MAPC
  • Muddy River work will muddy traffic woes in Fenway area Boston Herald
  • New Mass. Ave. Corridor Project Public Hearing Set for Feb. 26 Arlington Patch

Walking

  • Quincy police report on pedestrian accidents has some surprises Patriot Ledger
  • Boston is a walking city? Universal Hub
  • Worcester State University Pedestrian Fee BostInno
  • Fenway-Kenmore Answers: How Can I Get a Crosswalk On My Street? Fenway/Kenmore Patch
  • Study: People Who Bike or Walk to Work Enjoy Their Commutes the Most StreetsBlog

Bicycling

  • More protected lanes for bicyclists pop up in cities USA Today
  • Brighton Ave to get "Priority" Treatment Boston Bikes
  • State Transportation Funding Plan Is Big On Biking Mass Bike
  • Bike sharing systems push to reach underrepresented groups Greater Greater Washington
  • Bike rider causing trouble US News
  • Somerville Massachusetts: Cycletracks and Making Parking Work Parking Reform
  • The Best Cold-Weather Fix for the T: Hubway Boston Magazine
  • Hub Bicycle Web Log: Your Bike is Cold Hub Bicycle
  • Bicycle Accommodations: When The Left Hand Doesn't Know What The Right Hand Is Doing Isolate Cyclist
  • Iowa Research Data suggests bike lanes reduce crashes by 60% Science Direct
  • Planet Southie hears plan for cycle track along West and East Broadway Boston.com
  • MassBike Gets To Work With The New Legislature MassBike
  • Biking and Business part 2 Biking in Heels
  • You Don't Have to Be Superhuman to Commute by Bicycle Atlantic Cities
  • What's the carbon footprint of ... cycling a mile? Guardian News

Transit

  • Top Reasons People Stop Using Public Transit Governing.com
  • T restores Green Line runs, but more cuts loom JP Gazette
  • Editorial: The T won't fix itself JP Gazette
  • Summarizing Input on the Green Line Will Brownsberger
  • Green Line to get real-time tracking in 2015 Walking Bostonian
  • MBTA riders give higher marks to the T after countdown clocks installed, researchers find Boston.com
  • Frozen service: Boston commuters endure icy cold due to Green Line shut down Metro
  • Green Line service halted as Boston firefighters search for source of smoke at Arlington station Boston Globe
  • Wheels on the Bus: Mass Transit The Phoenix
  • Quick fixes for MBTA buses: Cut out redundant stops Boston Globe
  • This 1950s Traffic Film Is An Ode To Buses Jalopnik
  • Stephanie Pollack on Broadside NECN
  • Quick fixes for MBTA buses: Let buses trip green lights Boston Globe
  • All Aboard!- Journey to the New South Station MA Transport Blog
  • Blog: Left out in the cold T4MA
  • MBTA officials report 2.3 percent ridership increase in 2012 Metro

Cars/Parking

Transportation financing/Government

  • Patrick's Transportation Funding Plan
    • Patrick Presents Ambitious Transportation Plan With Green Line Implications Somerville Patch
    • Mass. Transportation Plan Admirable, Funding Plan Abominable Planetizen
    • Will Deval Patrick’s ambitious transportation plan work? NECN
    • New details show that Patrick’s plan would raise taxes for 50 percent Boston Globe
    • MBTA to run late-night weekend service under Patrick transportation proposal Boston Globe
    • Where some see only skyrocketing taxes, Governor Patrick claims to see opportunity Boston Globe
    • Broadside: Mass. Gov.'s transportation plan NECN
  • MassDOT 21st Century Plan: Regional Investments MA Transport Blog
  • Somerville aldermen to form Davis Square hotel advisory group Wicked Local
  • Secretary Davey: The Time to Act Decisively is Now MA Transport Blog
  • Spilka files bill to end Pike tolls MetroWest Daily News
  • For MBTA, canceling troubled contract with Hyundai Rotem should be last resort Boston Globe
  • McGee happy to be talking transportation on Beacon Hill Wicked Local
  • Governor Patrick Highlights South Coast Rail Commitment MA Transport Blog
  • Medford Green Line X Suit
    • Medford residents file suit over Green Line Extension Boston Globe
    • Medford Residents File Complaint on Green Line Extension Somerville Patch
    • Medford residents file suit over Green Line Extension Boston.com
  • AASHTO Executive Director Commends USDOT Sec. LaHood for His Tenure Thomas Net
  • Snagging tax-saving transportation benefits - Employers can set aside more pre-tax dollars for commuters Market Watch
  • Ideas to Get the MBTA Out of the Red WGBH
  • Westborough: Secretary Davey Highlights Governor's Plan MA Transport Blog

Parks

Development projects

  • Builders get to the (North) Point Boston Herald
  • BRA approves 278-unit apartment project by Synergy Investments, BMW dealership on Morrissey Boulevard Boston Globe
  • Criminally Ugly -- proposed redevelopment of East Cambridge courthouse doesn’t fix what’s wrong with the building Boston Globe
    • Amid backlash, Sullivan Courthouse developer meets with Cambridge community Wicked Local
  • Plans for towers at Christian Science Plaza detailed Boston Globe
    • Adjusting Boston’s High Spine -- Redevelopment of Christian Science Plaza needs to be replicated Boston Globe
  • East Boston’s Portside at Pier One project under way Boston Herald
  • Kendall developer expands into Central Square, Cambridge Wicked Local
  • Filene’s leasing deal, restart of project nearing Boston Globe
  • Demolition complete to make way for Fenway Triangle complex Boston.com
  • Downtown Looking Up Boston Magazine

Land Use/Planning

  • State questions Shea Circle plan JP Gazette
  • MEPA Casey decision comes today JP Gazette
    • Casey Arborway 'Can Continue As Planned' JP Patch
  • Back to the future: building homes for people, not cars Walking Bostonian
  • Residents review downtown Theatre District master plan Telegram
  • Planners Make Changes to Beacon Street Reconstruction Design Somerville Patch
  • Feb. 6 Casey Meeting Postponed JP Patch

Out-of-state

  • MN
    • The Safety-in-Numbers Effect Surfaces in Minneapolis Bike Crash Data Streetsblog
  • FL
  • DC
    • Capital Bikeshare: How Paul DeMaio, Gabe Klein, Adrian Fenty and other DC leaders launched the best bike-sharking program in the United States. Slate
    • Metro proposes $26 billion overhaul Washington Post
    • Metro's stuffed full at Rosslyn. What can be done? Greater Greater Washington
  • NY
    • Lost City of New York: New Sleek DOT Signs Help Pedestrians Find Their Way Observer
    • Will Loss of Parking Perk Get Community Board Chairs Out of Their Cars? StreetsBlog
    • Green Lane Project in New York: City to City Solutions StreetFilms
    • New York ranks high in share of road spending covered by gas taxes, tolls Syracuse.com
  • CA
    • Key source of Bay Area traffic headaches revealed by top researchers Mercury News
    • Mayor Ed Lee talks of tearing down end of I-280 SF Gate
    • How Open Streets transformed LA LA Times
    • L.A. becoming more bike friendly, thanks partly to the mayor's elbow LA Times
  • PA
    • How Light Helped Remake Downtown Philadelphia Planetizen
    • Pittsburgh Seeks to Expand Riverfront Access to the Public NY Times
    • Pennsylvania Governor proposes a change to fuel taxes to help close the gas tax gap T4America
  • VA
    • Smart Growth Collides With Transit Planning In Alexandria WAMU
  • OK
    • Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett: We Have to Build This City For People DC StreetsBlog
  • GA

National trends

International news

  • Physicians Call for More Bike Lanes, More Quickly Torontoist
  • Beijing Gets Aggressive on Cutting Smog, But It May Not Matter The Atlantic Cities
  • China's Love Affair With Cars Chokes Air in Cities ABC News
  • Going beyond the numbers in the battle for bike lanes The Globe and Mail