09.10.08
Posted in Advocacy
by Margherita at 9:21 am
Sustainable neighborhoods — ‘bobo’ ghettos or future cities? (09/10/2008)
Special to ClimateWire
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The sustainable neighborhoods Europe has been creating over the past 20 years are yielding positive results, including lower greenhouse gas emissions. Yet these communities are few in number and are quite small compared to conventional neighborhoods.
The very concept of “environmentally friendly neighborhoods,” or “eco-neighborhoods,” still draws widely divergent reactions from Europeans. Some consider them dream communities, laboratories for future cities. Others see ghettos for affluent people who yearn for an alternative lifestyle.
These and other findings arose from an international conference entitled “Planning Sustainable Neighborhoods: From Idea to Implementation,” which was held last week at the University of Lausanne. The conference’s speakers agreed that European urban planning has reached a historic watershed: After long promoting growth in all its forms, cities are now setting their sights on better quality of life.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
09.09.08
Posted in Events
by Mark Dieterich at 4:03 pm
| September 10, 2008 |
| 10:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Wednesday is the ride with Jack Madden of the Hub: “Crossing Providence by Bicycle”. This ride is a tour of routes for crossing through downtown Providence North to South and East to West, featuring landmarks. The ride will take about two hours.
Where: The Hub Bike shop, 181 Brook Street, Providence
When: 10:00 a.m.
Who: The Hub bike Shop (401) 383-9934 or jack@thehubprovidencecom.
The event is free.
Permalink
09.04.08
Posted in Advocacy, Tales from the Trenches
by Mark Dieterich at 1:38 pm
By now, most everyone is aware the school is back in session and you’ve likely seen many articles in local papers reminding people of this fact. Most of these articles, as they should be, will be targeted at reminding motorists to slow down, obey the school zones, and be patient with the school buses. In the same manner, cyclists should also be more diligent. Aside from being mindful in school zones and groups of kids waiting at the edge of the road for a bus. It’s this last group I really want to focus on.
As I pass many groups of kids in the morning, I’m reminded of one afternoon when I joined a fellow cyclists to pick up his daughter from childcare. As he was inside getting his daughter ready, I waited by the bikes standing next to the fence for the playground. Before I knew it, I had a small group of kids congregated around me, peppering me with questions about biking and telling me their own bicycle stories. It really made me wonder what happens to our enthusiasm for bicycles as we get older and I began pondering what we could do to help kids keep their interest in cycling.
So what can we do? Well, I would propose that we all make an effort to interact with this groups of kids waiting for the bus. Just a friendly wave or a hello as you pass might be enough to make them stop and think, why am I waiting for this bus when I could be riding my bike to school. The motorists sure aren’t going to slow down enough to greet these kids, so why don’t we cyclists step up to the plate and help make these kids know they are important as well.
I had a great interaction this morning. As I approached one particular group of kids, I could see them pumping their arms trying to get the passing cars and trucks to honk their horns. None of the passing autos were obliging them, so when I rolled up and as I passed them I rang my bell a few times. As I pedaled away, I heard a chorus of enthusiasm and laughter, what a way to start my day! Who do you think got the “cool” points for today, the cars or the cyclist?
Permalink
09.03.08
Posted in Tales from the Trenches
by Mark Dieterich at 8:58 am
It seems even the Henderson Bridge is more crowded these days and this morning was no exception. As I pedaled across the bridge, cars were backed up well onto the bridge. It felt so great to go flying by them all as they sat in traffic waiting their turn.
As I road past the cars, it occurred to me that I apply a very simple rule… I’ll pass a car on the shoulder if I can leave as much empty space as I would like them to leave for me as they pass, about three feet. As I approached Patterson St, where the road narrows, I stopped passing cars and waited my turn to make a quick jog onto Patterson. My thinking here is based on one of my fundamental principles, treat the cars with the same respect that I would like them to have for me. Believe it or not, it’s quite possible to startle a driver by whizzing by them really close, just as cyclists can become startled when cars pass to close. Startling a driver does little to promote bicycle rights, more than likely it just puts a bad taste in another driver’s mouth.
I’m sure there are plenty of alternate opinions about this very topic, feel free to share them, just be nice 
Permalink
09.02.08
Posted in Advocacy
by Margherita at 11:32 am
In 2000, Gary Coffrin thought he heard opportunity knock. A major electric utility, American Electric Power, was scrapping a multimillion-dollar effort to sell electric-powered vehicles as the future of transportation. Sitting on the clearance rack: fleets of electric bicycles, sleek two-wheelers sporting battery packs.Coffrin, who had worked in the bike industry for decades, bought several hundred at liquidation prices and started a Silicon Valley company, Electric Wheels International, to deal them to retailers. He signed a deal with a major Taiwanese bike builder, hoping the electric bike’s time had arrived.
But when the tech bubble burst, Coffrin’s venture came crashing down. His funders’ equities lost 40 percent of their value in just 12 months. Meanwhile, EWI had an entire warehouse of bikes with batteries charging around the clock to preserve their quality. To cut their losses, EWI’s backers pulled the plug.
Read the rest of this entry »
Permalink
08.28.08
Posted in Events
by Mark Dieterich at 9:18 am
Our next monthly advocacy meeting will be held on September 4th @ 6pm. Starting with this meeting, we will congregate at the offices of Red Five Sports Group (269 South Main Street). This new location will provide us with more room to accomodate a growing group. I’d like to thank the Hub for their generousity in hosting us for almost a year now!
On the agenda for this meeting:
- An update on the Henderson Bridge work
- A review of the changes that have been proposed to the bicycle section of the RI Drivers Manual
- A discussion of the Amtrak bike parking issue
- A discussion about the new city bike route signage system - does it function? If not, how can we help the city improve it?
There will be time at the end to raise any additional issues you might have. Hope to see you there!
Permalink
Posted in Advocacy
by Mark Dieterich at 9:06 am
I haven’t yet had a chance to read through the entire report myself, but I thought I would post some links now for everyone to enjoy and I’d post my comments later when I’ve had a chance to complete my read of it.
National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior
This report presents findings from the National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and administered by The Gallup Organization. The goals of the survey were to ascertain the scope and magnitude of bicycle and pedestrian activity and the public’s behavior and attitudes regarding bicycling and walking.
- Volume I: Summary Report (DOT HS 810 971)
Provides a top line summary of key data results regarding the behaviors and attitudes on various topics related to walking and bicycling including reported frequency of walking and bicycling during the summer months, trip purpose and characteristics, perceptions of safety, safety practices, facilities available and community design.
- Volume II: Findings Report (DOT HS 810 972)
Presents a detailed analysis on these topics.
- Volume III: Methods Report (DOT HS 810 973)
Describes the methods used to conduct the interviews and analyze the data. It also contains a copy of the most recent questionnaire.
Permalink
08.27.08
Posted in Events
by Mark Dieterich at 9:24 pm
| October 14, 2008 |
| 12:30 am | to | 5:00 pm |
Our neighbors to the North have once again surpassed us. They are holding a bicycle and pedestrian conference in mid-October:
Moving Together 2008. Bicycling and walking are becoming increasingly visible and important across the country as well as across the Commonwealth. Our invited keynote speaker, Gabe Rousseau, Ph.D, National Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager for the Federal Highway Administration, will provide his timely perspective on current initiatives and trends. Based in Washington DC, Rousseau draws upon his extensive experience with the Federal government as well as work with the States. Moving Together’s workshops and exhibits feature up-to-date information that help you to improve bicycling and walking conditions locally, regionally and statewide.
The $40 conference registration fee includes a continental breakfast, refreshments, lunch, and conference materials. For registration information contact: Baystate Roads Program, tel: (413) 545-2604, or register on-line. Please note that registration is limited, so register early to secure your place.
Sue Barker suggests we might want to consider joining together for a group ride to the event, any takers?
Permalink
08.26.08
Posted in Advocacy
by Mark Dieterich at 8:59 pm
Just weeks before Frank’s Ride is due to roll out, we get word that the driver responsible for another senseless death will not be facing criminal charges. According to the Projo article:
A Westerly woman who struck and killed a University of Rhode Island student in Narragansett this past April has been cited for speeding and failing to stay in her travel lane, but she will not face criminal charges, investigators said today.
Gayle Cherenzia, of 1 Bayview Drive, Westerly, was traveling more than 50 mph in a zone posted for 30 just moments before she struck Mary Ellen Claire Offer, a 19-year-old art major from Woodcliff Lake, N.J.
Cherenzia, 53, had also veered into the breakdown lane where Offer and her 20-year-old URI roommate, Holly Maganzini, were walking.
But the infractions do not rise to the standard needed for criminal charges — “reckless disregard” or “heedless indifference” for the safety of others, and that means there will be no charges, said Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.
So what does it take to warrant criminal charges? Is anyone reading this a lawyer who can point to a vehicular homicide that was actually prosecuted in RI? As with Frank’s death, there is no talk of a license suspension. However, you can rest better at night knowing that:
Offer and Maganzini had parked at the Overlook Professional Plaza on Boston Neck Road and were walking back to their car from a party when the accident occurred. Little said the town is looking at possible charges against the host or hosts of the party, which held was at 763 Boston Neck Road, according to Healey and Det. Lt. William McGovern.
What???? They don’t bring charges against the motorist who killed someone, yet they are looking to bring charges against the host of the party? There is no mention of underage drinking on the part of the URI students, so why in the World would they bring charges against the party hosts? From what they said, the URI students were walking along the road in a responsible manner. Even if, and it’s a big if, they consumed some alcohol, it seemed to have no affect on their judgment and behavior.
Perhaps it’s time to go back to school and get a law degree. Obviously, the DA’s office in RI could use some more help so they can actually prosecute some of these cases.
Permalink
08.23.08
Posted in Tales from the Trenches
by Mark Dieterich at 9:44 pm
I was just about home last night, when I passed a car parked on the sidewalk just down the street. For whatever reason, I decided to actual try and do something about it this time. So I called the non-emergency police number and told the dispatcher that they could score an easy ticket, as there was a car parked on the sidewalk. While he didn’t say it, I could sense from the dispatchers voice that he thought I was wasting their time.
I figured nothing would come of this call, so I sat down with the family to enjoy dinner. Part way through the meal, I was shocked when I saw out the window that a police cruiser was actually driving down the street; I really didn’t figure they would even bother. I was even more shocked when the officer just drove by and did nothing! I saw at least a half dozen people need to detour off the sidewalk because of this car, a few of them opting to take the blind leap onto the road and potential oncoming traffic.
Just another sign that the car does truly rule in America.
Permalink