September 5, 2014

Collision
Boston Drivers Rank Among Nation's Worst

(Image courtesy of Boston.com)

Boston Drivers Ranked Among Riskiest in the Country Even Though It’s Probably Not Our Fault Boston.com

A new study from Allstate Insurance seems to reaffirm Boston’s reputation for being home to some of the nation’s worst drivers. They ranked us as the second-riskiest drivers in the country based on average years between crashes, with Boston drivers smashing up their vehicles roughly every 4.4 years.

Boston City Council Bans Haystack Parking app BostInno

On Wednesday afternoon the Boston City Council voted in favor of an ordinance that essentially bans the parking app Haystack. The ordinance, filed by Councilor Frank Baker at the end of July, prohibits the selling, leasing or reserving of public ways in Boston which Mayor Walsh's administration contends Haystack does.

Compromise on curb ramps elusive in Beacon Hill Globe

The idea of installing brightly colored curb ramps didn’t go over well in the Back Bay, Bay Village, South End, and Beacon Hill when city officials presented plans to help disabled pedestrians navigate the streets. But when the city offered a more pleasing alternative — brownish-orange color — everyone got on board. Everyone, that is, except the Beacon Hill Civic Association. It has gone to court, claiming the ramps would hinder the neighborhood’s “unique and irreplaceable historic nature.”

Getting rid of Level of Service... LA StreetsBlog

Ding, dong…LOS is dead.At least as far as the state of California is concerned. Level of Service (LOS) has been the standard by which the state measures the transportation impacts of major developments and changes to roads. Level of Service is basically a measurement of how many cars can be pushed through an intersection in a given time. If a project reduced a road’s Level of Service it was considered bad — no matter how many other benefits the project might create.

China Tells Citizens to Bike, Walk, and Snitch in the 'United Struggle' to Breathe Easier CityLab

To fight its stubborn pollution problem, China is asking its citizens to walk or bike instead of driving, to use less air conditioning, and limit the use of outdoor barbecues—and to turn in neighbors who waste electricity or pollute the environment.

"Streets"

  • Motorists’ needs should not be driving force in plan for Commonwealth Ave. Globe
  • Investing in Sustainable Communities MA Transpo Blog
  • Tactical Urbanism + East Broadway = active spaces Somerville by Design
  • Get illuminated on new LED streetlights: Decisions we make now will last decades Cambridge Day
  • What If? Traffic Analysis of Central Broadway Somerville by Design
  • Comm. Ave. redesign lacks forward thinking, adequate protections for cyclists Globe
  • Experience a New Perspective of Boston with the 10th Annual Hub On Wheels BostInno
  • Comm Ave: from auto mile to people mile Transit Matters
  • Complete Streets Funding Announced T4MA
  • With new bridge in place, Morton St. is back in play DOT News
  • A plan to broker peace between drivers and cyclists Globe
  • Somerville's Streets Are Going Green Boston Magazine
  • Strike Up The Bands @ Somerstreets returns to Holland Street Somerville Times
  • Boston: I-90 Construction Update MA Transpo Blog
  • Boston Comm Ave Reconstruction Plans Phase 2 BostInno

Bicycling

  • City shuts down bike park near Jamaica Pond Globe
  • The Most Dangerous Biking Spots in Boston BDC Wire
  • 10 Ways Boston Can Beat Portland As America’s Most Bike Friendly City WBUR
  • Journey Around Copenhagen's Latest Bicycle Innovations! StreetFilms
  • Rocky road for bicycles in Bowdoin-Geneva Globe
  • While Infrequent, Thefts Still Occur Inside the MBTA's Secure Bike Cages Boston Magazine
  • Boston Cyclists Union Members Want a 'Bike Kitchen' Boston Magazine
  • LETTER: Cambridge should consider raised bikeway on Fawcett Street Wicked Local
  • 'Bike Index' Is Helping Bust Bike Thieves From Behind a Computer Screen Boston Magazine
  • 'New Shop' Wants to Bring the E-Bike Boom to Boston Boston Magazine
  • Scenes of Mindless Bike Enforcement From Operation Safe Cycle StreetsBlog

Parks

  • Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Lawn on D Public Park BostInno
  • Final Phase of Brewer Fountain Plaza Restoration Gets Underway Beacon Hill Times
  • Photos from the Lawn on D Opening Boston Magazine
  • Long-awaited skate park picks up momentum Globe

Walking

  • BHCA Retains Legal Counsel to Help Fight Sidewalk Ramps Beacon Hill Times
  • Beacon Hill To Handicapped: See You In Court Boston.com
  • Compromise on curb ramps elusive in Beacon Hill Globe
  • Did The Press Slide Into Stereotypes In Beacon Hill Ramp Coverage? WGBH
  • Pedestrian Struck by Driver on Memorial Drive During Morning Commute Boston Magazine
  • The goal is to bring injuries, deaths on our roads to zero  Globe

Transit

  • Delays persist for US high-speed rail Globe
  • Youth action spurs MBTA and MassDOT to develop Youth Pass pilot ace-ej
  • Report: T-Riders Save $13K Per Year BostInno
  • Dudley Square to Play Host to 8 Public Art Installations BostInno
  • Green Line Update Teases Improvements Enabled by Tracking Technology Transit Matters
  • Real-Time Tracking Coming to the MBTA's Green Line Boston Magazine
  • For elderly passengers, newly required MBTA interviews prove challenging Globe
  • MBTA Janitors Won't Lose Their Jobs Sept. 1 Boston Magazine
  • 7 Charts That Show How Good Mass Transit Can Make a City More Affordable CityLab
  • Bridj Needs Your Help Deciding Which South Boston Route to Launch BostInno
  • Commuter-rail rider sues T, parking-lot operator over fines he says he doesn't owe Universal Hub

Cars/Parking

  • Doubling cost of evening parking hours again, city cites success of Central Square Cambridge Day
  • Marty Walsh Remarks on Uber: "I Support It" BostInno
  • Amid push for cash-free tolling, conscientious objectors stand strong Globe
  • MassDOT awards $130M electronic toll collection system contract to Raytheon BizJournals
  • Time for hub to park ego Herald
  • Q&A with Braden Golub, Founder & CEO of Mobile Parking Solution SPO BostInno
  • Hyde Sq. speed hump to return JP Gazette
  • Uber Announces 'Permanent' uberX Price Cut BostInno
  • Some Boston pedestrian accidents aren’t reported to the state Globe
  • Boston City Council Bans Haystack Parking app BostInno
  • ParkWise North End City of Boston Parking App BostInno
  • Where trucks crash on Storrow and Memorial drives Globe
  • Al Jazeera holds debate on Boston parking spaces Universal Hub
  • Surprising No One, Massachusetts Cities Have the Riskiest Drivers Boston Magazine
  • Boston Drivers Ranked Among Riskiest in the Country Even Though It’s Probably Not Our Fault Boston.com
  • Parking spot bookers keep busy with students Globe

Transportation Finance/Government

  • Mayor must lead in promoting transportation alternatives Globe
  • Wynn Everett Transportation Plan Is Well-thought out; Will Improve Traffic Flow Everett Independent
  • Time to turn up the heat on new administration DOT Rider Blog
  • Candidate Transportation and Smart Growth Questionnaires T4MA
  • MassDOT Infra-Space Program Seeks Ideas MA Transpo Blog
  • BRA chief pledges transparency JP Gazette
  • State Police say debris fell from bridge, damaging vehicle on I-495 Globe
  • Governor Patrick Announces Knowledge Corridor Line Purchase MA Transpo Blog
  • MAKING COMPETE STREET OPERATIONAL: MassDOT Actives Active Streets Certification (and Grant) Program LivableStreets
  • City of Cambridge Mayor Maher Statement on Bridj BostInno

Development projects

  • Somerville: McGrath Highway Gilman Street Bridge Update MA Transpo Blog
  • Owner of Brighton Center bar wants to replace it with an apartment building Universal Hub
  • Pru overcame early failure; can Government Center be next? Globe
  • Jackson Square Development Gets Funding JP Gazette
  • New law gives boost to Mass. Eye and Ear Commonwealth Magazine
  • Schell Bridge replacement gets one step closer Recorder

Land Use/Planning

Out-of-state

  • DC
    • Courtland Milloy Went On A Bike Ride DCist
  • CA
    • Getting rid of Level of Service... LA StreetsBlog
    • Penned in by Freeways, L.A. Mountain Lions Are Becoming Isolated—and Aggressive CityLab
    • eHighway system coming to ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles Daily News
  • OH
    • Put Cleveland bicycle expressway where streetcars once rolled down wide streets, planners say Cleveland.com
    • Cincinnati Launching a 35-Station Bike-Share System Next Month StreetsBlog
  • IL
    • Street hierarchy planning sense … from Chicago Amateur Planner
    • Walk To Transit Targets 20 CTA Stations For Quick Safety Fixes StreetsBlog
  • OR
    • After over 16 years, Portland gets a sidewalk to its bus and train station Rights of Way
    • Portland Tackled Disabled Parking Placard Abuse, and It¹s Working StreetsBlog
    • Why Portland Is Building a Multi-Modal Bridge That Bans Cars CityLab
  • TX
    • In Dallas, You Can Get a Sustainability Grant to Widen a Road StreetsBlog
    • TX: DFW International Airport and DART Launch Light Rail Service Connecting DFW to Dallas Mass Transit Mag
  • NB
    • Hundreds Protest After Omaha Mayor Scraps City's Only Bike/Ped Planner StreetsBlog
  • CO
    • Once-Dilapidated City Train Stations Enjoying A Renaissance NPR
  • NY
    • NYC Subways Get 468 More Helpful Neighborhood Maps Business Week
    • Manhattan Needs a Great Network of Car-free Streets StreetFilms
  • NJ
    • Christie, Commuters Tangle Over NJ Transit Delays, City Access CBS
  • PA
    • The Story of the ShurSave Bike Racks Bike PGH

National trends

  • Uber Could Finally Make Smartphone Carpools Work Business Week
  • How Outdated Parking Laws Price Families Out of the City CityLab
  • Are unused parking lots costing cities money? AlJazeera
  • Results Are Mixed for Cities That Bundle Rail and Freeway Funding NextCity
  • With bike lanes, fewer riders on sidewalk, study says Washington Post
  • Study: People in Low-Income Areas More Likely to Be Killed While Walking StreetsBlog
  • Cities Want Young Families to Play and Stay WSJ
  • Blame Cities for the Apps That Let You Sell Your Parking Space Business Week
  • Looking Behind the Common Sense Elements of City Life Huffington Post
  • Uber Launches UberPool to Make Black Car-Pooling Possible BostInno
  • The Truth About Obama’s High-Speed Rail Program Time.com
  • Americans Have Taken 23 Million Bike Share Rides and No One Has Died Gizmodo
  • Fight Between Lyft and Uber Gets Nasty With Accusations of Sabotage BostInno
  • Uber Fires Back at Lyft Over Sabotage Accusations BostInno
  • Transit Projects Shouldn't Take Longer to Finish in 2014 Than They Did in 1925 CityLab
  • Pragmatism. When campaigners and planners should use it. View from the Cycle Path
  • Ingenious Signs Ensure You Always Get A Seat On The Train Fast Co Design
  • Americans' Changing Relationship With Cars Diane Rhem Show
  • A Psychological Speed Limit NY Times
  • Streetcars and urban renewal: Rolling blunder Economist
  • Pedestrians Dying at Disproportionate Rates in America's Poorer Neighborhoods Governing
  • Taking the Bypass on Transportation Funding Governing
  • The Cities That Spend The Most On Bike Lanes Later Reap The Most Reward Fast Co Exist
  • New Commercial Real Estate Cycle -- Landlords Peddle Proximity To Bike-Share Kiosks Banker and Tradesman
  • Remembering Doug Wright, the man who helped tear down highways in San Francisco and Portland ArchPaper
  • Which Mode of Travel Provides the Happiest Commute? CityLab
  • Emmys: Meet the Nominee Biking an Hour and a Half to the Red Carpet Hollywood Reporter
  • The Suburbs Are in Fact Associated With Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease CityLab
  • Vision Zero: Making pedestrian safety a public priority Better Cities
  • Twelve steps to cut pedestrian deaths Better Cities
  • When Car-Loving Cities Start to Embrace Light Rail NextCity
  • We Asked 5 Cities: When Are You Getting Late-Night Subway Service? NextCity
  • Jimmy Kimmel takes the subway to Emmy Awards in downtown L.A. LA Times
  • Parking Behavior May Reflect Economic Drive NPR
  • Why General Motors wants to put 19,000 tech employees on bicycles LA Times
  • Charting the Essential Link Between Walkability and Transit StreetsBlog
  • Friday Fun: Can personal rapid transit replace 90% of cars on the road? CityFix

International news

  • How protected bike lanes helped Denmark win its war on inequality People for Bikes
  • In Singapore, Senior Citizens Can Now Stop Traffic CityLab
  • The Green Waves of Copenhagen Copenhagenize
  • Every City Needs Hong Kong's Brilliant Baggage-Check System CityLab
  • China Tells Citizens to Bike, Walk, and Snitch in the 'United Struggle' to Breathe Easier CityLab
  • After Cyclists Protest, Toronto Will Protect Downtown Bike Lanes StreetsBlog
  • Mexico City's New Mobility Law Shifts Focus Towards People, Not Cars Sustainable Cities Collective
  • Removing Center Lines Reduced Speeding on London Streets StreetsBlog
  • Why haven't China's cities learned from America's mistakes? Guardian