September 1, 2011

Orlando pedestrian
A pedestrian crossing Semoran Blvd in Orlando, Florida
(Photo courtesy of New York Times)


Highlights

  • Massport OK's City's and Neighborhood's Vision for Connector (East Boston Times, Boston Globe)
    By  John Lynds -- It’s a piece of land that was taken in the 1960s as part of Logan Airport’s expansion but now it will be given back. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Board voted last Thursday to approve the community and city’s request to use a small stretch of Massport owned property that use to be part of the famed Wood Island Park in order to connect the Bremen Street Park with a greenway path that will extend to Constitution Beach. The Massport Board’s voted is historic and significant as it marks the first time land taken in 1960s by eminent domain has been given back to East Boston.
  • Could Hubway be too popular? (Boston Metro)
    By Michael Naughton -- The city’s bicycle sharing program has taken off in its first few weeks and has exceeded some expectations. However that popularity has left some users without a ride. Metro observed three Hubway stations void of bicycles for hours during various days in the past week. From about 9 a.m. until about noon Wednesday, for example, the North Station, Faneuil Hall, Hanover Street and Staniford Street locations had a total of one bike between them.
  • Somerville to press state on Green Line delay (Boston Globe, Somerville News, Somerville Patch)
    By Danielle Dreilinger -- Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone has been meeting with the Conservation Law Foundation to explore legal options against the state regarding the delay of the Green Line extension, city spokeswoman Jaclyn Rossetti confirmed. The state has announced its intention to push back the opening of the extension from 2014 to the end of the decade. "We're not taking it laying down," Rossetti said. "We're going to continue to hold their feet to the fire."
  • Judge Rejects Groups' Efforts to Remove Bike Lane (New York Times)
    By Michael M. Grynbaum -- A judge on Tuesday dismissed an effort by Brooklyn residents to remove a hotly contested bicycle lane installed by the city on Prospect Park West, in one of the most closely watched controversies over a signature policy of the Bloomberg administration. The decision represented a significant victory for the city and its transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, whose campaign to create streets more oriented to pedestrians and bicyclists has divided New Yorkers and prompted a fierce political debate.
  • The end of the road for motormania? (NewScientist)
    Something unexpected is happening to our car-crazy culture. What are the forces driving us out of motoring?
    By Fred Pearce -- IS THE west falling out of love with the car? For environmentalists it seems an impossible dream, but it is happening. While baby boomers and those with young families may stick with four wheels, a combination of our ageing societies and a new zeitgeist among the young seems to be breaking our 20th-century car addiction. Somewhere along the road, we reached "peak car" and are now cruising down the other side.
  • But we have driveways (A view from the cycle path)
    One of the many excuses used by people who oppose protected cycling infrastructure is the 'but we have driveways' excuse. There are people who believe that cycling infrastructure, especially a separate protected cycle path, does not go together well with driveways. But of course the two can be combined: as long as the design of both the cycle path and the driveways are well done and follow strict rules.

"Streets"

Walking

Bicycling

Transit

Cars/Parking

Transportation financing/Government

Parks

Development projects

Land Use/Planning

  • New report calls on Brookline to protect open space (Brookline TAB)

Out-of-state

  • New York City --
  • How those red public bicycles are changing D.C. (Washington Post)
  • D.C. bike-sharing program crippled by own success (Washington Times)
  • On Wide Roads, Running for Dear Life (New York Times)
  • City study: Chicago pedestrians in crosswalks are in cross hairs (Chicago Tribune)
  • Crowds continue lining up for a ride on light rail (Virginian-Pilot)
  • Big Win for Pedestrian Safety: San Francisco Lowers School Zone Speed Limits (ABW)
  • City vision for downtown: better parks, urban rail, cheaper housing (Austin Statesman)
  • Planners eye downtown Indianapolis streetcar route (Business Week)
  • SFTMA Tries New Bike Lane Treatments to Keep Cyclists Clear of Door Zone (Streetsblog SF)

National trends

International news

  • 19th century cyclists paved the way for modern motorists' roads (Guardian)
  • What makes Cambridge a model cycling city? (Guardian)
  • But we have driveways (A view from the cycle path)
  • Copenhagen: A city of SUV cyclists (CNET)
  • Traffic Fines to Fund Biking Programs in Brazil (The City Fix)
  • Cycling worth 3bn a year to UK economy, says LSE study (Guardian)
  • Experiments with flexible parking in Copenhagen (Cycling Embassy of Denmark)
  • Despite Toronto, Montreal gridlock, commuters reluctant to use transit (Globe and Mail)
  • China invests $199 billion for urban rail through 2015: report (Chicago Tribune)
  • Sold-Out Beijing Trains Show Riders Unfazed (Bloomberg)
  • UK Man Mounts Traffic War Using Pedestrian Crosswalk Button (And Wins. Sort Of.) (TreeHugger)
  • Lose Your License and You're Screwed (Copenhagenize)
  • Melbourne edges out Vancouver to top liveable city list (BBC)