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#2634 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:13 am
Subject: The Future started in Copenhagen on Friday, 18 Dec 2009 - The Role of World Streets in 2010 		fekbritton
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The Future started in  Copenhagen on Friday, 18 Dec 2009 - The Role of World Streets in 2010

COP15 has given us ample reason to reflect not only on the climate/ governance and the climate/transport links – the latter which we have taken as a pillar of transport policy for some years now – but also on our own contribution here at World Streets to the process that now must be engaged, and for which every capable pair of hands is needed.

World Streets Year-end 2009 Special Edition:

In this Special Edition of World Streets, you will find first and for the moment most important, an announcement informing you about our switching for the interim from daily publication, while at the same time working on a major outreach for funding and other support so that we shall be able to continue in 2010. In addition, you will find here some first entries concerning our intentions in selected key issue areas for the year ahead.


Contents of Special Edition:
I. World Streets in transition
II. Mission for 2010

1. China
2. Africa
3. Share transport
4. The Year of the Woman in Transportation
5. Language editions
6. Sustainable transport linking
7. Collaborative workshops and events
8. Major themes for 2010

            

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 

 


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#2633 From: Charles Bremner
Date: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:56 am
Subject: Electric cars for Paris ?!? 		fekbritton
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Source

 

 

Electric cars for Paris

Autolib_2

As a daily user of the excellent Vélib self-service bicycles of Paris, I find it hard to be optimistic over the latest transport revolution from Mayor Bertrand Delanoe: self-service electric cars. 

Instant car rental already operates in many cities, including Paris. The novelty of Delanoe's scheme is its very ambitious scale and the use of all-electric vehicles. A week ago, Delanoe opened the "Autolib" project to tender from potential operators. Renault, Peugeot and Daimler are possible suppliers of the 3,000 vehicles, along with new specialised green vehicle firms.

If it works, in about 18 months time, Parisians and residents of near suburbs will be able to pick up an electric car with a card swipe at 1,000 stations day and night and drop it off at any any of them. This will cost about 15 euros a month plus four or five euros per half hour of rental.

Delanoe said that the eyes of the world would be on his pioneering venture but he acknowledged that it faced many unknowns. Like the Vélib bikes, the Autolib is meant to cut pollution.

Delanoe, an enthusiastic promoter of alternative transport, estimates that the availability of low-cost vehicles will encourage Parisians to give up car ownership, saving some 22,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

"This is a world first... We are starting a little revolution,"  Delanoe said earlier this month when he announced specifications for potential operators. "We have to change. We have to invent another way of moving around. It is a new concept for communal life."

The scheme is backed by conservative suburban councils as well as by Delanoe's Socialist party, but it is opposed by the Greens who are his allies in the capital's council. Even green vehicles will increase congestion, they say.  "Encouraging the public to use any type of car instead of taking bicycles or public transport is a mistake," said Denis Baupin, a Green Deputy Mayor.

Delanoe replies that cars are necessary even in a city with good public transport. An additional reason, compared with London or New York, is the abysmal taxi service in Paris. Taxi drivers have been been opposing Delanoe's attempts to increase their numbers and of course they are opposed to the Autolib. 

The city is drawing on its experience with its bicycles. The 21,000 Velibs have improved life for many Parisians and tourists, but since 2007, the scheme has cost far more than expected because of theft and vandalism.  Eight thousand have been stolen so far and 18,000 damaged. To help pay for the losses, the city last month renegotiated its contract with JC Decaux, the company that runs the bike system.

There will be elaborate security on the cars and users will have to give a substantial credit card deposit, but Delanoe and the suburban mayors are counting on civic spirit as they wean residents away from cars.  Drivers will be expected to leave vehicles clean and plug them in for recharging. They will have a short range of about 100 miles and they will be be clearly identified. This is supposed to discourage mistreatment and theft. But I fear that abuse will be substantial. You only have to see the way that people  inflict mindless damage on the bikes. These cost 600 euros each while electric cars will run to thousands.

The pricing is designed to encourage short trips, such as shopping, collecting children or taking the famiy to places poorly served by public transport. Users can check for nearest available vehicles and parking slots on their mobile telephones or internet.

According to a city study, Paris-based cars spend 95 percent of their time parked. Only 40 percent of owners use their cars daily. Owners are estimated to spend an average 450 euros a month on their wheels.

Delanoe says the new Autolib managing agency has been flooded with initial applications. One group includes Avis, the SNCF railway and the RATP, the Paris transport authority. Let's hope it works. 

Posted by Charles Bremner on December 20, 2009 at 03:29 PM in

 


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#2632 From: Dave Brook
Date: Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:56 am
Subject: Carsharing blog in Germany: Key figures of the Parisian car-sharing "revolution" 		fekbritton
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Thanks to Dave Brook for the heads-u and the meticulous translation from the German original.

Sonntag, 20. Sunday 20 Dezember 2009 December 2009

Eckdaten der Pariser Carsharing-"Revolution" Main features of the Parisian car-sharing "revolution"

Die Ankündigung für Paris ein Carsharing auszuschreiben, dass mit dem äußerst erfolgreichen Velib-Angebotes vergleichbar ist, hat vor allem die Phantasien der großen Konzerne beflügelt. The announcement for Paris to tender for one car-sharing that is comparable to the highly successful Velib's range, has fired the imaginations of mainly large corporations.

Kurz zum Velib-Angebot: In Paris werden aktuell 20.000 Fahrräder an knapp 1.500 Stationen angeboten. Shortly Velib to offer: In Paris, currently at almost 1,500 stations, 20,000 bicycles will be offered. In der ersten halben Stunde ist die Nutzung kostenlos. In the first half hour of use is free. Die Rückgabe kann prinzipiell an jeder Station erfolgen. The return can in principle be made at each station. Jeder kann damit weitgehend kostenlos und flächendeckend in Paris mit dem Fahrrad unterwegs sein. Everyone can thus largely free of coverage and be in Paris on a bicycle on the road. Das ist wirklich eine Verkehrsrevolution. This is truly a marketing revolution. Das Angebot wird auch sehr gut angenommen: Ein Fahrrad ist durchschnittlich mehr als 10mal pro Tag unterwegs. The offer is also very well accepted: A bicycle is an average of more than 10 times per day on the road.

Und dies soll 2010/2011 auf das Carsharing übertragen werden. And this shall be transferred to the 2010/2011 sharing business. Die Größenordnung von 3.000 Fahrzeugen spricht vor allem die großen Konzerne an und hat die Vorstellungen der großen Konzerne beflügelt. The magnitude of 3,000 vehicles, primarily addressing the major corporations and has encouraged the idea of big corporations. Die Starts aller großen Konzerne in den letzten Jahren (Sixt, Hertz und Daimler/Car2go) stehen in relativ direktem Zusammenhang mit dieser Ausschreibung. The launches of all major corporations in recent years (Sixt, Hertz and Daimler/Car2go) are in fairly direct connection with this tender. Auch die Aktivitäten von Zipcar in Europa zielen auf die Ausschreibung in Paris. The activities of Zipcar in Europe aimed at the invitation of Paris.

Nun wurden die zentralen Kennzahlen bekannt gegeben: Es sollen 3.000 Elektro-Fahrzeuge an 1.000 Stationen angeboten werden. Now, the central figures have been announced: It will be available 3000 electric vehicles to 1000 stations. 300 Stationen sollen außerhalb des Stadtgebietes liegen. 300 stations are located outside the city boundaries. One way zwischen den Stationen soll möglich sein. One way between the stations should be possible. Auch die Preise sind grob umrissen: Die Nutzung ist mit einer Monatspauschale von 15-20 EUR verbunden, die Nutzung selbst kostet 5 EUR pro halbe Stunde. And the prices are roughly outlined: The use is associated with a monthly flat rate of 15-20 EUR, the use itself costs $ 5 per half hour. Die Ausschreibungsfrist endet Februar 2010, Auswahl bis Ende 2010, Start des Angebotes September 2011. The tender period will end in February 2010, selection by end of 2010, start of the offer of September 2011.

Sollten diese Eckdaten so bestehen bleiben, ist fraglich, ob in Paris eine Carsharing-Revolution stattfindet. If these remain key data exist, it is questionable whether held in Paris, a car-sharing revolution. Vor allem das Preisniveau (was wegen der Elektro-Fahrzeugen aus finanziellen Gründen vermutlich absolut nötig ist) ist vor dem Hintergrund des heutigen Carsharing sehr hoch. Above all, what the price level (due to the electric vehicles for financial reasons is probably absolutely necessary) is against the backdrop of today's car-sharing is very high. Dass man in Paris 50 oder 100 Tausend Teilnehmer findet, die bereit sind jeden Monat 15 EUR und mehr nur für das Recht die Fahrzeuge zu nutzen, ist ein positiv formuliert ambitioniertes Ziel. That one in Paris in 50 or 100 thousand participants is to be prepared every month and $ 15 just for the right to use the vehicles, is an ambitious goal in positive terms. Auch die Nutzungskosten liegen mit 5 EUR (für Kontinental-Europa) sehr hoch. Even with the use of cost is $ 5 (for continental Europe) is very high. Die Preise könnten aus dem Prjekt also auch ohne weiteres einen Flop machen. The prices could also make the Prjekt So without further a flop.

Der Zwang Elektro-Fahrzeuge anzubieten, verengt den Anbieterkreis stark auf die Automobil-Hersteller. The compulsion to offer electric vehicles, greatly narrowed the circle of suppliers to the automotive manufacturers. 3.000 Elektro-Fahrzeuge kann niemand 2011 am Markt "einfach" kaufen, da nur Vorserienmodelle verfügbar sein werden. 3000 Electric Vehicles 2011, no one can buy at the market "simply" because only pre-production models will be available. Kurzum: Es wird immer ein Automobilhersteller (zentraler) Teil des Konsortiums sein. In short, there will always be a car manufacturer (central) part of the consortium. Außerdem vervielfachen die Elektrofahrzeuge die Investitionskosten. In addition, electric vehicles, the investment multiplied. Während man mit konventionellen, umweltgerechten Fahrzeuge mit 25-30 Millionen auskommen könnte, braucht man so minimal 100, vermutlich aber 150 Millionen. While one could make do with conventional, environmentally friendly vehicles with 25-30 million, so one needs at least 100, but probably 150 million. Und dies als Risikokapital, wenn man die Preisvorgaben im Hinterkopf hat. And this as a risk when you have the price set in mind.

Obwohl die Carsharing-Branche aktuell weltweit etwa 20.000 Fahrzeuge bewegt, wird die Carsharing-Branche bei der Ausschreibung der 3.000 Fahrzeuge in Paris nicht wirklich eine Rolle spielen können. Although the car sharing industry currently moves about 20,000 cars worldwide is the carsharing industry in the tender for the 3,000 vehicles in Paris, can not really play a role. Vielleicht wird ja auch irgendjemand aus der Branche für ein paar Millionen gekauft, um das Know how an Bord zu haben. Perhaps, indeed anyone purchased from the business for a few million to know how on board to have.

Eine klassische Form von Industriepolitik, die uU das Carsharing gar nicht weiter bringt. A classical form of industrial policy, which may not continue to bring car-sharing.

Eingestellt von Harald Zielstorff um 18:05 Added by Harald Zielstorff at 18:05

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Original German text:

Das ist wirklich eine Verkehrsrevolution.

Contribute a better translation

 


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#2631 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:25 pm
Subject: World Streets Editorial: Aprčs Copenhagen. Now what? 		fekbritton
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From www.WorldStreets.org 20 Dec. 2009

 

Five times since late evening of the fatal Friday 18th in Copenhagen, I have attempted to get out a strong editorial on this important subject, sustainable transport included, but thus far I have yet to crack my task. Be patient and in the meantime remember what kind old Henry Ford once so famously wrote: "Of all the kinds of work I known, thinking is the hardest. And that's I guess why people do so little of it".

But should you be at all curious to follow my tortured path, during all of which I was trying hard to find a way to be at once both lucid and useful, if you click here you will find my first late Friday night attempt. If I may, there are a few thoughts in there that still may be worth a minute of your time. However upon careful inspection I decided to back away from it because it is too verbose, muddy, too roughly reasoned and still incomplete.

But above all I have had to put each of my painful tries aside one by one thus far because they were too openly, one might even say arrogantly critical, and not sufficiently positive. At this point we need to lay off the criticism and carping, that's the past, and now get put our heads and hearts together to see what needs to be gleaned from all this terrible experience (the word is not too harsh) for the future. Which is after all ours to grasp.

Stay tuned.

 

The editor



http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kbTo-M_pSuw/Sy30Z3lQfkI/AAAAAAAACJc/41hQJBSe1yQ/s400/ws-newsstand.jpg

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

+331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


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#2630 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:47 am
Subject: From Canada with menace 		fekbritton
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Climate Change is Coming to Town

(To the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town)

You better watch out, you better not drive.
You better ride bikes I'm telling you why.
Climate change is coming to town.

We're making it hot, we're raising the seas.
Gonna feel life at a hundred degrees.
Climate change is coming to town.

If people keep on driving.
The poles will soon be lakes.
The air will stink like petrol fumes.
Ride your bike for goodness sake.

We're making a list, we're checking it twice.
We're gonna find out who drives and who bikes!
Climate change is coming to town.

 

-               Kind thanks to brigitte@... for passing this on


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#2629 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:44 am
Subject: [World Streets] Cheer up! On your way back from Copenhagen, swing through Bologna 		fekbritton
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Cheer up! On your way back from Copenhagen, swing through Bologna

Okay. COP15 has been pretty discouraging thus far. But this is no time to give up. To the contrary let's start this next phase by energetically expanding our horizons, finding more common ground with people, cities and groups around the world who wish to act. Here as one example of something you can see every day in your own city. The great neglected overarching transportation mode that is the alpha and omega for every trip we take, is getting a close look in an exhibit in Bologna starting tomorrow. .

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


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#2628 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:31 pm
Subject: [World Streets] You, me, technology, pattern breaks and unleashing the power of the market: Think Copenhagen Wheel 		fekbritton
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You, me, technology, pattern breaks and unleashing the power of the market:

Think Copenhagen Wheel

World Streets rarely gives in to "technical fix" solutions to our dual challenges of wrecking the planet and our cities by staying stuck in hopelessly outmoded 20th century patterns and actions - because we know for sure that the answer lies not in the deus ex machine of technology but above all within ourselves. But hold on for a minute - let's have a look and give some thought to . . . the Copenhagen Wheel (nice name!).

Anything that works.

            

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


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#2627 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:50 am
Subject: World Carfree News #74 - December 2009 		fekbritton
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WORLD CARFREE NEWS >>>
____________________________________

Edition 74   December 2009

Contents:

QUOTATION OF THE MONTH

WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Support the Carfree Cause - Please Donate to WCN
- Towards Carfree Cities IX, York, UK (June 28-July 2, 2010)
- Carbusters #40 is out!
- Happy Holidays and Carfree 2010 to come!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Carfree Times of November 2009 is Online
- Public Spaces, How they Humanize Cities

IN THE NEWS

- Bank Warning on Scrappage Scheme
- Kilometre Charge for All Motorists in the Netherlands
- Plan to Take One Billion Car Journeys Off the Road in the UK
- Carfree New York?
- Thailand s Program to Develop High-Speed Trains
- Take your Bike in the Train in Philippines
- Metro Fare Rise in Dehli, India
- Metro Rail Planned in Major Indian Cities
- Unexpected Effects of the Stimulus for Bus Makers in India
- Rail Developments in Qatar and Bahrain
- Bike-Sharing Program in Toyama, Japan
- It s Footpaths, Not Highways that Make a Difference

REPORTS

- Oil Production Likely to Peak Before 2020
- Changing the Way we Share our Streets
- Biofuels Reports: Separating the Good from the Bad and the Ugly
- Automobility and Freedom: Conflicts and Resolutions
- Non-Drivers Pay for American Roads

MEDIA & NETWORKING

- Guide for Ciclovia
- Wind Bike Turbine by William Kamkwamba
- PORTAL (Promotion Of Results in Transport Research and Learning)
- Project for Public Space
- Video of Separate Cycle Paths
- Copenhagen s Green Bicycle Lanes

CURIOS

- Carfree Island
- Beauty and the Bike
- Car Culture
- Car Loft the new Way to Live

SUPPORT WORLD CARFREE NETWORK

__________________________________

QUOTATION OF THE MONTH >>
____________________________________

  The single biggest difference between the infrastructure of an advanced nation
and a backward nation is its footpaths, not its highways,  Enrique Penalosa,
former Mayor of the Colombian capital Bogota ___________________________________

WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
____________________________________

- Support the Carfree Cause - Please Donate to WCN World Carfree Network depends
on the financial support of people around the world who care for the carfree
cause and value our work. Warm thanks for those of you who have responded to our
call for help. The ongoing year has not been easy for us. The global economic
recession has hit the WCN hard making it very difficult for us to keep our
projects running. Yet at the same time the need for alternatives to our society
s car dependence is greater than ever. If you have it in you to support the
carfree cause and the WCN projects, now is the time. Your contribution will make
a real difference assisting us in promoting socially and environmentally sound
future!
http://www.worldcarfree.net/support/index.php

- Towards Carfree Cities IX, York, UK (June 28-July 2, 2010) Thanks to all of
you who sent in TCC conference proposals - these will be considered later this
week and the TCC team will contact you all before Christmas. Early bird
conference registration - http://www.worldcarfree.net/conference/regform.php -
is still available until the end of January, after which fees increase by around
30%. So book now to guarantee your place at the best price!
http://www.worldcarfree.net/conference/


-  Carbusters #40 is out!
Brace yourselves for an update of all the rocking action from World Carfree Day
2009, as well as a number of other treats including: a special on public
transportation, passenger rights, and free public transportation, along with
something pleasing to the eye... a collage of metro maps from around the world.
If you re not yet subscribing to Carbusters, please visit
http://tinyurl.com/ycuq3pf and check out the action online at
http://www.carbusters.org/ and http://www.facebook.com/carbusters

- Happy Holidays and Carfree 2010 to come!
After a colorful year of 2009 the carfree headquarters in Prague will take a two
weeks break to charge our batteries for the upcoming one. The past year has been
a blast - Many thanks for sharing it with us and caring of our joint carfree
cause! We look forward to starting the brave 2010 with you. Until then, Happy
Holidays!
____________________________________

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
____________________________________

- Carfree Times of November 2009 is Online Again many interesting features
including: China's passenger rail system, French carbon tax, dangers of traffic
noise and the rise of CO2 emissions.
http://www.carfree.com/cft/i056.html

- Public Spaces, How they Humanize Cities The last book from Health Bridge is
available online for free. "This book fills an obvious void in the international
literature on public spaces by dealing with the situation of people in the many
poor cities of this world. A book like this has been seriously needed for years
and here it is concise and clear in its language, excellently illustrated,
well-researched and with moving examples and extracts from interviews with the
people most affected. It is a book with much warmth and compassion for people.
An excellent book." Jan Gehl http://tiny.cc/rdWeP
____________________________________

IN THE NEWS >>
____________________________________

- Bank Warning on Scrappage Scheme
The European Central Bank has expressed doubt about the economic value of car 
scrappage  schemes. It says such schemes have been of limited benefit and may 
undermine overall income and employment prospects in the longer term .
http://tiny.cc/DMlOB

- Kilometre Charge for All Motorists in the Netherlands The Netherlands is set
to become the first country in Europe to replace road tax with a kilometre
charge for all motorists, over 10 years since the idea was first put forward. If
the legislation is passed by parliament, motorists will start paying tax on
every kilometre they drive, which the government hopes will reduce traffic jams
and pollution.
http://tiny.cc/hNFYo

- Plan to Take One Billion Car Journeys Off the Road in the UK Britain s biggest
bus and coach operators have joined forces to respond to the challenge of
climate change by developing an action plan aimed at taking one billion car
journeys off UK roads. The Greener Journeys campaign is recommending a raft of
policy initiatives to encourage modal shift that would deliver 50% more savings
in transport CO2 emissions than currently planned under existing Government
policies.
http://tiny.cc/XQBTT

- Carfree New York?
In a move that is likely to have a dramatic ripple affect on thinking on Urban
Renewal across the globe- New York City is closing down some of its major roads
to cars.
http://tiny.cc/We5Ue
In addition to this, a new bike access law took effect in the city in early
December, stipulating that buildings with freight elevators must allow employees
to use those elevators to take their bikes upstairs.
http://tiny.cc/wPMlT

- Thailand s Program to Develop High-Speed Trains Thailand's Council of Economic
Ministers has approved a $3.36bn (THB112bn) plan to build four high-speed train
routes in the country.
http://tiny.cc/FZ3QY

- Take your Bike in the Train in Philippines The Philippines' Light Rail
Authority has launched a new green initiative that asks drivers to ride foldable
bikes to reach railway stations, take trains and bike off towards their
destinations.
  http://tiny.cc/QFnBE

- Metro Fare Rise in Delhi, India
Unhappy and helpless - that's how the commuters felt after Delhi Metro announced
hike in its fares Wednesday. As the hike came just a week after the state-run
city bus service increased fares, a number of people said it was a double whammy
and will hit them hard.
http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a92372.html

- Metro Rail Planned in Major Indian Cities Union Urban Development Minister S
Jaipal Reddy on Saturday said that the Centre has an ambitious plan to build
Metro Rail in all the major cities in India, which have a population of two
million people.
http://tiny.cc/ab7z4

- Unexpected Effects of the Stimulus for Bus Makers in India Most of the 63
cities have asked for low-floor buses, as they are good-looking and high-tech,
irrespective of whether they are suitable for local roads. The stimulus measure
envisaged the purchase of standard conventional buses. As a result, bus
suppliers are now developing capacity for low-floor buses. So it won t be
possible for them to supply the buses before March 31, 2010.
http://tiny.cc/zz04A

- Rail Developments in Qatar and Bahrain German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has
signed a 17bn euro ($25bn;  15bn) contract to build rail and underground lines
in Qatar and Bahrain.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8372966.stm

- Bike-Sharing Program in Toyama, Japan
Toyama is the first Japanese city to adopt this new type of individual public
transport. This project is subsidized by the city and by the Japanese Ministry
of the Environment and will be implemented by JCDecaux.
http://tiny.cc/yL0GN

- It s Footpaths, Not Highways that Make a Difference An article presenting the
point of view of Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia, about
transportation in cities. In his years as Bogota Mayor, Mr. Penalosa widened
footpaths, reduced the number of cars on the roads in peak hours, created a
world-class bus rapid transit system, reclaimed waterfronts for the public, and
in a move that nearly got him impeached   banned cars from parking on pavements.
http://tiny.cc/h22sU
____________________________________

REPORTS >>
____________________________________

- Oil Production Likely to Peak Before 2020 A new study (from UK Energy Research
Centre) on existing supplies of conventional oil says it is likely to peak
before 2030 and may well peak before 2020. The Global Oil Depletion Report
published last month reviews more than 500 studies, analyses industry databases
and compares global supply forecasts.
http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/support/Global%20Oil%20Depletion

- Changing the Way we Share our Streets Here is a report from Portsmouth, UK,
Britain's first city where speed is limited at 30km/h. This initial report on
the results of reducing the speed limit on most streets to 30km/h shows
significant reductions in accidents and casualties.
http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/portsmouth.htm

- Biofuels Reports: Separating the Good from the Bad and the Ugly The worst
biofuels can emit 2000% more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, while the best
can genuinely cut down on emissions. Those are two conclusions of a new United
Nations report, one of several papers published in the last month that reaffirm
that only certain biofuels can be environmentally beneficial   and only then if
produced in certain ways.
http://tiny.cc/S4oSt

- Automobility and Freedom: Conflicts and Resolutions Very interesting articles
destroying the myth presenting cars are as object of freedom.
http://www.planetizen.com/node/41688

- Non-Drivers Pay for American Roads
Analyzing Federal Highway Administration data dating back to 1957, the dawn of
the Interstate system, Subsidyscope researchers found that non-users of the
highway system contributed $70 billion for nationwide road construction and
maintenance in 2007. In 1982, by contrast, highway contributions from non-users
totaled just $35 billion (in 2007 dollars).
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010807.html
____________________________________

MEDIA & NETWORKING  >>
____________________________________

- Guide for Ciclovia
In this webpage you will find the content of the  Ciclov a Recreativa
Implementation and Advocacy Manual.  This consists of a basic teaching guide
that covers the steps and procedures essential to the planning and
implementation of a Ciclov a Recreativa, multimedia tools and an annex of
documents.
http://cicloviarecreativa.uniandes.edu.co/english/index.html

- Wind Bike Turbine by William Kamkwamba To power his family's home, young
William Kamkwamba built an electricity-producing windmill from spare parts and
scrap, including old bicycle frame.
http://tiny.cc/zjqjN

- PORTAL (Promotion Of Results in Transport Research and Learning) PORTAL is a
three-year project co-financed by the European Commission, which aims to
accelerate the take up of EU research results in the field of local and regional
transport through the development of new education and training courses and
teaching materials.
http://tiny.cc/z0Szk

- Project for Public Space
PPS is a valuable resource about urban planning where you can find great
examples about how roads can become prime public spaces.
http://tiny.cc/rRBZm

- Video of Separate Cycle Paths
This video is showing cycle routes completely separated from motor traffic. You
can see this video on the worth-following blog of David Hembrow  A view from the
cycle path .
http://tiny.cc/H6Chm

- Copenhagen s Green Bicycle Lanes
Here is a nice video about the bicycle culture in Copenhagen.
http://tiny.cc/N2pZO
____________________________________

CURIOS >>
____________________________________

- Carfree Island
Have you heard of a city without cars, well Mackinac Island Michigan has an
ordinance no motor vehicles, so people use horse and carriages and bikes to get
around? Here is a link to their chamber of commerce.
http://www.mackinacisland.org/index.html

- Beauty and the Bike
This is an 8-minute version of our 55-minute documentary Beauty and the Bike.
The film follows two groups of young women from Darlington and Bremen. Between
them, they discover what makes - and stops - teenage girls from cycling. The
answer? "It's the Infrastructure, stupid!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M88sF-rvul0

- Car Culture
There is often no need to change anything to car advertisements to make them
appear absurd and stupid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeKtylqoh0s

- Car Loft the new Way to Live
Bring your car at home. No comment.
http://tiny.cc/7RfG8
____________________________________

SUPPORT WORLD CARFREE NETWORK >>
____________________________________

Our joint carfree vision is only as strong as the people who support us. By
donating to WCN you'll strengthen the voice of the movement that's committed to
defending our right to a sound, sustainable future. For donating and joining as
a member, please visit: http://www.worldcarfree.net/support/ Your support will
make a huge difference.
__________________________________

Bulletin #74 by Marko Thull

World Carfree News - Monthly Newsletter
WORLD CARFREE NETWORK
http://www.worldcarfree.net/bulletin
bulletin@...

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#2626 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:12 pm
Subject: US Report Shows How Safe Routes to School Initiatives Protect Children 		fekbritton
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US Report Shows How Safe Routes to School Initiatives Protect Children Walking and Bicycling

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership in the United States has just released a new report showing how Safe Routes to School programs can be harnessed to keep children safe from traffic dangers while walking and bicycling to school. The report explores the approaches five different communities used to create safer environments for children walking and bicycling. The lessons are universal.

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 

 


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2625 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:49 pm
Subject: Copenhagen's Climate-Friendly, Bike-Friendly Streets: Elizabe... 		fekbritton
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Copenhagen’s Climate-Friendly, Bike-Friendly Streets: Elizabeth Press of StreetFilms strikes again

Now for a bit of good news from that is for the rest of this week the sustainable development capital of our gasping planet, Copenhagen. And there she goes again, the redoubtable Elizabeth Press of StreetFilms who follows Mikael Colville-Andersen, bicycle advocate and filmmaker around while he gives us a guided tour of the cycling scene -- and in the process helps us understand why we can do it too. And why we should. Thanks Michael. Thanks again Liz - you are once again our eyes on the street.

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2624 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:35 pm
Subject: significant overhaul of New Mobility Agenda/ Partnerships website 		fekbritton
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[This message is machine translated into French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish below]

 

Paris, Monday, 14 December, 2009

 

We have in these last days made a significant overhaul of the New Mobility Agenda/ Partnerships website at www.newmobility.org. You may wish to check it out. And of course your comments and suggestions as always very welcome.

 

Sincerely,

 

Eric Britton

 

PS. And oh yes, keep your eye on World Streets, our planet's only sustainable transportation daily. Read it. You'll see; it's good for your mental health.

 

 

             Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

    8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe   

          +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 

 

Français:

Paris, lundi 14 Décembre, 2009

Nous avons dans ces derniers jours a fait une révision importante de l'agenda de la mobilité de nouveaux partenariats site Web ŕ l'www.newmobility.org. Vous mai tiens ŕ le vérifier. Et bien sűr vos commentaires et suggestions comme toujours les bienvenus.

Cordialement,

Eric Britton

PS. Et oh oui, garder les yeux sur World Streets, seul moyen de transport durable de notre plančte tous les jours. Lisez-le. Vous allez voir, c'est bon pour votre santé mentale. En français, ŕ - http://tinyurl.com/ws-francais

 

 

Espańol:
De París, Lunes, 14 de diciembre 2009

Tenemos en estos últimos días hizo una revisión significativa del Programa de Movilidad de nuevas asociaciones en el sitio web de www.newmobility.org. Es posible que desee comprobarlo. Y, por supuesto, sus comentarios y sugerencias, como siempre muy bienvenida.

Atentamente,

Eric Britton

PS. Y, oh sí, mantén tus ojos en World Streets, el transporte sostenible de nuestro planeta sólo día. Léalo. Verás, es bueno para su salud mental. - En espańol en http://tinyurl.com/ws-espanol

 

 

Italiano:
Parigi, Lunedi 14 Dicembre 2009

Abbiamo in questi ultimi giorni fa una revisione significativa della nuova mobilitŕ Agenda / partenariati sito www.newmobility.org. Si potrebbe desiderare di check it out. E, naturalmente, i vostri commenti e suggerimenti come sempre ben accetto.

Cordiali saluti,

Eric Britton

PS. E oh sě, tenere d'occhio per le Nuova Mobilitá, solo il nostro pianeta di trasporto sostenibile quotidiana. Read it. Vedrai, č bene per la vostra salute mentale. – In italiano  a http://nuovamobilita.org

 

 

 

Portuguęs:
Paris, segunda-feira 14 de dezembro de 2009

Temos nestes últimos dias fez uma revisăo significativa da mobilidade Nova Agenda / Parcerias website em www.newmobility.org. Vocę pode querer verificá-la. E, claro, suas sugestőes e comentários como sempre muito bem-vindos.

Atenciosamente,

Eric Britton

PS. E oh, sim, manter o olho no World Streets,, transporte apenas do nosso planeta sustentável diariamente. Leia. Vocę vai ver, é bom para sua saúde mental.  Em Portuguęs, neste - http://tinyurl.com/ws-portugues


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2623 From: <s.medina@...>
Date: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:05 pm
Subject: Wanted: Bilingual English-French Scientific Assistant for European Public Health Project 		fekbritton
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Dear friends,

 

I'm writing because we are looking for a scientific assistant for the Aphekom project to replace the current one, who will be moving to a permanent position in a month or so.  And I thought there could be an opportunity for someone bilingual you know.
 
Based on the brief description in the attached file, should you know anyone who might be interested, we would appreciate your forwarding the information to them.
 
Many thanks for your help 
  
Best,
Sylvia

 

Sylvia Medina, MD, PhD

Coordinator of European and International Activities

Coordinator of the Apheis and Aphekom Projects on Air Pollution and Health in Europe 

Department of Environmental Health

French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS)

12 rue du Val d'Osne

94415 Saint Maurice, cedex France

Tel: 00 33 (0) 1 41 79 67 56

Fax: 00 33 (0) 1 41 79 67 68

email: s.medina@...

 


1 of 1 File(s)


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#2622 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:53 pm
Subject: Copenhagen Bike Share System, international design competition. 		fekbritton
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Paris, Friday, 11 December, 2009

From: Michael Koucky [mailto:michael.koucky@...]
Sent: Friday, 11 December, 2009 15:38
To: Michael Koucky
Subject: Press release: Copenhagen Bike Share System, international design competition.

 

Press release, December 11, 2009                          For immediate release

 

A New Bike Share System for Copenhagen: First price in the international Design Competition awarded to the team of LOTS Design, Koucky & Partners and Green Idea Factory

 

LOTS Design (Gothenburg), Koucky & Partners (Gothenburg) and Green Idea Factory (Berlin) teamed up to design an innovative bike sharing system for the City of Copenhagen. The team’s entry, called OPENbike, was yesterday awarded a first price at the city’s international design competition with 127 entries.

The City of Copenhagen, one of the world leading cycling cities, aims at establishing a new bike share system and has therefore initiated an open international design competition.

The winning entry, called OPENbike, puts the user in the centre and proposes a system that is easy to use, flexible and fully scalable. The design goal has been to create a system that seamlessly integrates with public transport and becomes a natural part of Copenhagen’s existing bicycle culture. The system proposes a smart card system and positioning solutions integrated in each bicycle to create a fully floating bike share system. OPENbike does therefore not need special stands and bicycles can easily be repositioned to adapt the system to the cities changing needs.

See www.cphbikeshare.com for information on the Design Competition and on the winning entries. High resolution pictures for publication can be downloaded at: http://lotsdesign.se/page107351.html

For more information, feel free to contact LOTS, Koucky & Partners or Green Idea Factory. See below for details.

Koucky & Partners AB is an environmental consultancy specialised in sustainable mobility and urban transport strategies. Koucky & Partners AB is based in Gothenburg, Sweden. 
Web: www.koucky.se  Contact: Michael Koucky, michael.koucky@...

LOTS is a design agency, specialised in translating brand values and business strategies into priorities and design expressions. LOTS is based in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

Web: www.lotsdesign.se  Contact: Irene Steward Claesson, Irene@...

Green Idea Factory is a sustainablility consultancy, mainly focusing on urban- and transportation issues. Green Idea Factory is based in Berlin, Germany. 

Web: www.greenidea.eu  Contact: Todd Edelman, edelman@...

 

 


2 of 2 File(s)


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#2621 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:16 pm
Subject: Bad news from Liverpool (Carshare Club pulling out.) 		fekbritton
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[Let me mention that in our looming project on Share-Transport, we will be
giving real attention to these issues. You can follow progress at
www.ShareTransport.org . Eric Britton]

Thanks to Brian Kusler for the heads-up.


http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/12/11/car-club
-to-pull-out-of-liverpool-over-vandalism-100252-25367317/

Car club to pull out of Liverpool over vandalism
Dec 11 2009 by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo

A COMPANY running a Liverpool car sharing scheme pulled out of the city
after its vehicles were repeatedly vandalised.

City Car Club, which bought up former provider Whizzgo, operated eight cars
for city centre residents, said the repair bill for the Liverpool vehicles
was greater than for all 26 running in Manchester.

The company also said problems with its designated spaces being taken by
other motorists leading to pool car users being ticketed for leaving the
cars elsewhere had also been a factor.

The news of the withdrawal means at the end of its Year of the Environment
Liverpool is the only major city without a car share scheme.

Despite extending the service while the council sought a new provider, City
Car Club decided not to re-tender for the scheme, and as of Friday its
300-plus members were left without vehicles to use.

While town hall bosses insisted the council had been supportive of the
scheme, opposition figures said the news was a "slap in the face" for
residents who had taken the advice to give up their own cars to help cut
congestion.

They also criticised the council for failing to provide spaces which were
not in secluded spots where vandalism was more likely and said there were
concerns the council had not clamped down on people who stole spaces.

Keith Kelly, of City Car Club, said: "A car club operates successfully if
the spaces are reserved for its members, so the next member knows where the
car is. This all depends on enforcement being done properly. Members were
coming back and finding bays had been blocked. We then had to phone the next
member and sometimes a penalty charge notice would be issued."

He added: "Another factor has been we've had a lot of vandalism in
Liverpool."

Central ward Cllr Nick Small said: "The council should have looked at
providing spaces in much safer parts of the city, like the Victoria Halls
car park where councillors and officers park. If it's good enough for them,
it's good enough for residents."

A council spokesman said: "We had discussions with them to find more
suitable sites, and we did enforce where people who were not members were
parking in their bays."

He said the council was looking to have a new provider in place by the new
year.

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2620 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:50 am
Subject: [World Streets] After COP15: Climate Instruments in the Transport Sector <br/... 		fekbritton
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After COP15: Climate Instruments in the Transport Sector

SLoCaT   Partnership team looks beyond Copenhagen

You will see in these pages some definitely contradictory views about the desirably of bringing matters of sustainable transport reforms onto center stage in Copenhagen. Here is a first report issued today in draft form for comment by one group who are actively pursuing the transport/climate link. The authors invite your comments.

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 

 

 


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#2619 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:00 am
Subject: [World Streets] COP15: Radio France interviews World Streets Editor 		fekbritton
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COP15: Radio France interviews World Streets Editor

As part of the massive media effort underway in France in support of the Copenhagen initiative, yesterday the editor of World Streets was invited by Ann-Cécile Bras of Radio France International to share his views and reactions to the COP15 process and what might come next. His principal theme: "The problem is not the problem. The problem is the "solution'."

* Below you have access to a podcast of the interview (in French), along with his talking points shared in advance with the interviewer.

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2618 From: <estheranaya@...>
Date: Wed Dec 9, 2009 7:02 am
Subject: vandalism of velibs 		fekbritton
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On Behalf Of Esther Anaya

 

 

Dear all,

 

I've been reading Paul's post and its comments and some articles and news I have to say this is a very complex problem (vandalism) and there is not only one solution, or even, there is not only one cause, or one important cause and some more. I mean that I don't believe that the majority of vandalism of velibs are made by people from the suburbs, i think there is a myriad of factors: i can talk about the case of barcelona, where the increase of vandalism has developed at the same time as a decrease of the quality of the system and a of the rotation (uses per day per bicycle). Please take a look at this recent news where the authorities finally talk about real (or more close to real) figures:

 

we HAVE vandalism in Barcelona, a 55%. we have suburbs in Barcelona, I happen to live in one of them. I dont vandalise Bicing, I study it.

 

well, this behaviour (the vandalism), as I was saying, has a lot of causes and it's a complex situation that has to be studied in every case. How? I can only say: watching. Living the streets. For example, I think that the decrease of the quality of the service has made that people respect less the system in Barcelona, I see them treating the bicycles badly. there are people who react like that when it's the fifth time you get a bike with something to fix (a puncture, a brake, the saddle, the gear...) and you are about to have an accident because of that (it can happen, i've experienced it. i revise the bicycle everytime, but sometimes i don't detect it or i forget to look that particular thing). other people just stop using it (the rotation I mentioned before). it seems that we planners have to be a bit psychologists too, that makes it even more interesting!

 

So Paul and the commentators and reviewers, thank you for your contributions and for sharing your observations, i think that this is the way to approach these problems and it's fantastic to have platforms to do it :)

 

Best,

 

Esther


 

2009/11/2 Paul DeMaio <paul@...>

 

All,

 

I've composed a response to The New York Times article about Velib' and posted it on The Bike-sharing Blog. Social unrest, as the article briefly discussed, is the key issue that will dictate the program's acceptance.

 

Paul DeMaio

MetroBike, LLC

Washington, DC

New comment on There they go again, burying poor old  Vélib.

Posted by: "Eric Britton" eric.britton@...   fekbritton

Sun Nov 1, 2009 10:22 am (PST)



Todd,

You are asking fair questions. Quickly now if I may:

1. Yes, those photos were taken about 09:00 in the morning on a Saturday
of a holiday week-end (a few minutes after I read the NYT piece and was
driven to action). There was little traffic and indeed the city is somewhat
asleep for the entire week-end. That's normal for Paris on such (rare) days.

2. Two things about the up/down bike split on that day. First, the score
is a bit off from most (but not all) of my experience. When one checks into
a larger stand (25 to 50 bikes) on a normal day, there will almost always be
a couple that are down: problems with chains, flat tires . . normal wear and
tire by bikes that are being used from 5 to 12 times a day by people who are
not always so careful with them, most often out of sheer inexperience or
carelessness. I have on a few occasions found only a few bike cadavers, but
really on a few time after more than two ears of daily use. (It helps to do
your homework before you move if you have a tight schedule(see below).

3. Second, there were fewer bikes overall on those stands that morning.
That was probably a function of the normal un-distribution of bikes that
takes place on a Saturday, with lots of bikes clustering instead next to the
main rail and regional rail stations. That's part of life with Velib.

4. Now one of the biggest problems that Velib or any other PBS has to
confront – bigger than the sort of sheer vandalism and theft that the NYT
was months after the fact pushing as an Einstein discovery – is to find ways
to ensure that both available bikes and open parking slots are available
system-wide. This is a real technical and organizational challenge, and if
you are interested enough check into our World City Bike collaborative at
www.worldcitybike.org and you will see more on that. The ideal situation is
the all the stands are half full (though a more standard ratio is 1.7
parking slots per bike).

5. If you want to be sure of getting a bike, and then a parking slot for
sure, you will do well to go first to something like
http://www.parisavelo.net/ which offers a current update on the state of
play of 1218 station. For a review of the key stats on available bikes,
Parking slots available try <http://www.parisavelo.net/stats.php>
http://www.parisavelo.net/stats.php. You can also do it all by iPhone. (Did
someone mention that this is the 21st century?)

As to the "positives" of the Times story, there are some, sure, but that's
not what the reports were selling to us gullible country folks. The fact is
that the overall tone, their real "story", is derisive, sarcastic and
condescending (and of course ill informed) – and that does not help,
Moreover, the points of correct information are available to anyone who can
combine a bit of Google with a good bit of common sense. That's not news. My
suggestion is that the reporters give the Times their money back.

As to WHY the bikes are vandalized and/or stolen, get us some funding and we
will do a terrific job on that. We know the tough suburbs hands-on, where
others just refer to them as an abstraction. You gotta get out on the
street. Sure there is something going on, but ain't that just the normal
state of play. After all when you have twenty thousand defenseless bicycles
out there it's clear that anyone with a grievance is going to give them a
good beating.

The bottom line is that Velib works. It's a great human project, and that
JCDecaux – like 'em or loath 'em – are doing a good job at keeping it up and
running. Maintenance is all. VERY VERY challenging and only real whizzes can
make it work. I score JCD performance with keeping the system running as 7
on a scale of 10. (Which by the way is where I score World Streets.)

We need more sharing, in transport and in many corners of or daily lives.
Sharing is the path to sustainability, social justice and a planet that
deserves far better than what we are giving it. Owning stuff is so
old-fashioned. (Give me 30 sec's at http://www.vimeo.com/6856553 or, better
yet, come to www.kaohsiung.newmobility.org and brainstorm sharing with us
next September)

Eric Britton, Paris


From Todd Edelman, Sat 31-Oct-09 18:52


Eric, you show that 20-25% of bikes on a few stands on a Saturday morning
are not ready. How early is it? Maybe around 9.30 or 10 by the looks of the
shadows and your latitude... or earlier: There is no traffic in evidence.

I am no math whiz, but it seems easy to see how a 20-25% at any one time can
equal 80% over the whole time.

You present this partly to contrast the one - just one specific example NYT
gives in the most recent story - of a woman who has trouble during the week.

The huge cost they give per bike is probably totally erroneous, but in terms
of positives the article has many.

So, s'il vous plait, give us some insights on these people who are
apparently destroying the bikes, and their back story - and figures. Let us
know if there is something Velib' can do to help them, if any of their anger
is related to a huge advertising multi-national being the owner... the bikes
are not "free" after all: Most people pay for them in higher prices on
consumer products, because it is well known a significant portion of the
sales price is due to advertising costs. But only some of these people
benefit directly, the ones fortunate enough to live inside the city.


Toronto Prepares for Public Bicycling

Posted by: "Christopher Sumpton" Christopher Sumpton   fekbritton

Mon Nov 2, 2009 3:47 am (PST)



Thanks to Christopher Sumpton, co-producer of
<http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2009/pedalpower/> Pedal Power, -
http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2009/pedalpower/- for the heads-up.

Driving
<http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/2009/10/20/driving-the-lane-toronto-pre
pares-for-public-bicycling/> the Lane: Toronto Prepares for Public
Bicycling

October 20th, 2009 by Emily Testa
<http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/author/etesta/> in The Haulout
<http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/category/thehaulout/> | 4
<http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/2009/10/20/driving-the-lane-toronto-pre
pares-for-public-bicycling/#comments> Comments » Source:
http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/2009/10/20/driving-the-lane-toronto-prep
ares-for-public-bicycling/

What do Jack Layton and David Byrne have in common? Sure, Layton’s Twitter
account tells us he <http://twitter.com/jacklayton/status/4863364833> ’ll be
busking on the Danforth this Saturday, but at press time, the range of his
musical talent remains untested. No, it’s a shared interest in the future of
cycling that unites the current NDP leader and former Talking Head, who will
participate in an October 24 panel discussion
<http://www.readings.org/?q=ifoa/cities_bicycles_and_the_future_of_getting_a
round> at the International Festival of Authors. Along with Toronto
Cyclists <http://bikeunion.to/> Union executive director Yvonne Bambrick
and urban designer Ken Greenberg, Layton and Byrne will discuss the
potential of urban planning — specifically, bike lanes — to improve the
political climate of cycling in Toronto and around the world.

Walk a block in Toronto’s downtown core on any weekday afternoon, and you’ll
see the strain of cyclist-motorist relations from the belly of the beast.
Drivers roll their eyes and drum their fingers, and many cyclists ignore red
lights and stop signs as traffic allows. At its worst, the drama plays out
with fatal consequences, as it did in late August, when a downtown road
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTQ69STzhf0> altercation involving former
Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, who was driving a convertible car,
caused the death of bicycle courier Darcy Allan Sheppard. Toronto cyclists
rallied for bike lanes in the wake of the incident, insisting that separate
roadways guarantee safer transit, especially in regions where traffic is
busiest. Drivers and business owners, however, have been less willing to
accept bike lanes as the solution, citing slow commutes and limited street
parking, respectively, as evidence that city roadways have already been
compromised enough. So with cyclists getting killed and drivers getting
angry, what’s a judicious citizen to believe? Can’t we all just get along?

If recent history is any indication, the answer is no. And there’s more
trouble coming: the newest version of the Toronto Public Works and
Infrastructure Committee’s official Bike Plan
<http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikeplan/> — a strategic proposal with a
mission to introduce cyclist-friendly policies and programs — details
measures to advance bike culture in six major areas. First up? Launching a
public bicycle system by spring 2010.

Toronto’s updated plan, modeled after Montreal’s two-year old BIXI
<http://montreal.bixi.com/home/home-bixi> and the 20,000–strong Vélib
<http://www.en.velib.paris.fr/> “shared bicycle” program in Paris, proposes
a start-up service area bounded by High Park in the west, Broadview Avenue
in the east, Bloor Street in the north and Lake Ontario to the south. The
projected system — roughly 300 rental stations with an initial capacity of
1,000 bicycles, to be increased to 10,000 over the next decade — will
inevitably place a greater number of commuters on some of the city’s busiest
roads. As a public transportation venture, a bicycle system presents a
unique safety imperative. But are bike lanes the solution? Beyond their
formidable logistic and financial considerations, would separate lanes ease
the competing interests of cyclists and motorists?

I call city councillor Adrian Heaps, chair of the Toronto Cycling Advisory
Committee. Beyond novelty users at the program’s inception, he expects that
a public bicycle system will appeal to three distinct categories of riders:
those who typically use taxis to travel short distances, those who currently
use car-share services for shopping trips, and, in non-winter months,
tourists. Ultimately, the councillor says, the TCAC’s goal is to reduce car
traffic in the downtown core, not to convert drivers outright. Ideally,
cyclists and drivers would learn to share without incident. Heaps, though,
is skeptical about the partitioning of bike lanes on existing roads as an
easy remedy. “Putting a bucket of paint on the road doesn’t make a safer
bike corridor,” he says. “It comes down to mutual respect.”

Still curious, I contact Christopher Sumpton, co-producer of
<http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2009/pedalpower/> Pedal Power, a
documentary recently commissioned by the CBC to examine the shifting tides
of bike culture around the world. What would happen, I ask, if 10,000 public
bicycles descended upon Toronto tomorrow? “I think it would work very well,”
he answers. “Toronto is a city of cyclists.” Sumpton makes repeated
references to cities like Paris, where the Vélib program generated 120,000
trips a day in its first year of operation. He says the “dramatic immediate
effect” of a public bicycle system will be a societal awareness of cycling,
a “push to the process of mental change that bikes are a serious part of the
transit system.” Moreover, he says, more bicycles and less cars in the
downtown core will improve the quality of street life; Torontonians will
experience “more human interaction, with people able to stop at shops and
cafés instead of going by in a bus or car.”

Still, Sumpton says any higher-order change to the city’s transportation
system requires the support and acceptance of most its citizens, not just
those who cycle. “That’s where it gets messy right now,” he allows. “When
you unleash a greater number of cyclists on the roads, you have to have some
sort of provision for them.” In the shadow of the Sheppard-Bryant affair,
and with the debut of Toronto’s public bicycle system on the horizon,
Sumpton believes the bike lane debate is a study in prevarication. “Sure, a
public bike system really ups the ante for safe cycling. Ultimately, that
means providing bike lanes. But bike lanes are shorthand for a lot of
things: rational traffic systems, advanced stop lines. A lot of imagination
has to be brought to bear,” he says.

Next, I call Richard Poplak, who has written
<http://www.torontolife.com/features/igor-terrible/> about bike culture for
Toronto Life magazine and is currently at work on a graphic novel about
bicycle hoarder Igor Kenk, the “Fagin of Queen Street.” As an authority on
sharing the roadway, Poplak’s credentials certainly pass muster — he
estimates that between commuting and training as a UCI
<http://www.uci.ch/Templates/UCI/UCI5/layout.asp?MenuID=MTYxNw&LangId=1>
–licensed racer, he spends twenty-five hours every week on a bicycle. Poplak
is doubtful that the riders who use Toronto’s new public system will amount
to a meaningful increase in the number of regular bike commuters, or a
meaningful decrease in the number of cars downtown. In the meantime, he
calls for improved road infrastructure (“so that bicycles can safely
traverse the streets without having to dodge lake-sized potholes”) and a
large-scale safety campaign targeting cyclists and drivers alike. I ask
whether Toronto’s public bicycle system should underwrite an expanded
network of bike lanes, and can almost hear him shaking his head from the
other end of the telephone line. “What bike lanes don’t do is enshrine
cycling as a right,” he says. “What they do do, is enshrine the primacy of
the car.” Like Heaps, Poplak believes cyclists should simply obey the rules
of the road: no more rolling through red lights as they see fit. As well,
motorists should recognize cyclists’ right to share their roadways.
“Cyclists have the right to be everywhere except the 401 [highway] and the
Don Valley Parkway. End of story,” he says. “We have rules — all we need to
do is enforce them.”

Whether enforcing the rules will neutralize the discord remains to be seen.
What is certain, though, is that no one, whether they travel by car or by
bicycle, has the prerogative to ignore where and how their fellow commuters
take to the road. Just before he signed off, filmmaker Christopher Sumpton
put it to me this way: “It’s like the weather. Everyone has to deal with
transportation.” Poplak was more frank in the last email he sent me: “No
matter how much you may loathe cyclists, you’d have to agree that something
has to be done, and pretty fucking quickly. Painting white lines on the road
and/or handing out bikes isn’t the solution. Making sure we all understand
the rules of the game, however, is.”


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2617 From: Simon Norton <S.Norton@...>
Date: Tue Dec 8, 2009 9:12 pm
Subject: land for roads 		simonphillip...
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Simon Bishop says that Delhi has among the highest proportion of land under
roads, 21%. Is this really among the highest ?

I have seen figures, probably long out of date, ranging from 7% for Tokyo to
60% for Los Angeles, though I think the latter also includes car parking. This
makes Delhi almost exactly mid range (out by a factor of about 3 in each case).

  Simon Norton

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#2616 From: "Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory" <edelman@...>
Date: Tue Dec 8, 2009 3:15 am
Subject: [Fwd: Holiday Greetings from the Straphangers Campaign] 		traintowards...
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Holiday Greetings from the Straphangers Campaign
Date: 7 Dec 2009 22:06:04 -0500
From: Straphangers.Org <webmaster@...>
Reply-To: Straphangers.Org <webmaster@...>
To: edelman@...


www.straphangers.org straphangers.org

 

December 2009

Dear Rider:

Next year, the Straphangers Campaign will be 30 years old! With help from riders like you, for decades we've been a feisty and independent voice for the millions who use subways and buses.

I write to briefly highlight our work this year and our plans to meet next year's challenges and opportunities — and to ask for your financial support.

In 2009, the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign worked hard to win better transit in New York City. Among our victories:

  • The Straphangers Campaign successfully fought to beat back an MTA proposal to raise the base fare fifty cents and the 30-day Unlimited Ride MetroCard by $22, along with the worst service cuts proposed in a generation. We limited the base fare to $2.25 and the 30-day Unlimited Ride MetroCard to $89 while staving off cuts to five subway lines and scores of bus routes.
  • After nearly thirty years of advocacy by the Straphangers Campaign for managing the subways on a line-by-line basis, New York City Transit now has "line general managers" in charge of each of its subway lines. The Campaign is very hopeful that this will result in better service and more sensitivity to customers. New York City Transit has begun the process of publishing more line-by-line statistics, as the Straphangers Campaign has done for more than a quarter century.

In 2010, the Straphangers Campaign will fight hard to win:
  • adequate funding for the transit system's essential full five-year transit repair program, which will buy new subway cars and buses, fix up deteriorated subway stations and upgrade transit infrastructure, from signals to tracks to power; and
  • faster and more reliable bus service through "Bus Rapid Transit" improvements around New York City. (To learn more about BRT, go to: www.straphangers.org/brt/)

Our reports, advocacy, coalition building, media savvy and rider organizing have been providing critical leadership. Help us make the case as loudly as we can for our subway and buses. Please support the Straphangers Campaign by making a tax-deductible contribution today. Thank you.


Sincerely,
Gene Russianoff Signature
Gene Russianoff
Senior Attorney
NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign

To make your contribution, click here.

 

This e-mail has been sent by NYPIRG (9 Murray St Fl 3, New York NY 10007) because you are subscribed to the Straphangers.Org Network List. Unsubscribe or modify your bulletin options


-- --------------------------------------------
Todd Edelman
Green Idea Factory
Urbanstr. 45
D-10967 Berlin
Germany
Skype: toddedelman
Mobile: ++49 0162 814 4081
edelman@...
www.greenidea.eu
www.flickr.com/photos/edelman
CAR* is over. If you want it.
"Fort mit der Privatautostadt und was Neues hingebaut!" - B. Brecht (with slight modification)
* "Car" is a sub-category of automobile, i.e. one used inappropriately, opportunistically or without creativity

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#2615 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Mon Dec 7, 2009 10:31 am
Subject: Not for COP15: Two ideas we can safely set aside on Day 1 		fekbritton
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Not for COP15: Two ideas we can safely set aside on Day 1

Not 1. Cap-and-Trade. Not 2. Carbon Offsets.

It's not quite transport per se, but it is climate, and yes, climate is (also) transport. So take eight minutes to view this very nice video presentation of why Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Offsets are way off target if climate protection is the game. "The Story of Cap Trade."
(Don't be fooled by the casual tone. There is real analysis behind this little presentation.)


--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions on New Mobility Forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

           +331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2614 From: On Behalf Of Simon Bishop
Date: Mon Dec 7, 2009 7:39 am
Subject: Delhiites urged to use public transport during 2010 Games 		fekbritton
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On Behalf Of Simon Bishop


On the issue of the Delhi Police asking people to use 'the Metro and public
transport' during the Games, can someone ask how people can get to bus stops
and Metro stations from their homes and workplaces?

The rapid increase in flyover construction in Delhi (50 in place, 35 more
planned) has added to the inaccessibility of the city by rendering huge
sections of road un-crossable by pedestrians.  Delhi already has amongst the
highest amount of land under roads in the world (21%).

The newspapers here, run by car drivers, are getting very excited about
signal free movement, clamoring for higher speed limits on urban motorways,
foot over bridges (FOBs) and wanting to rid the city of cycle and
auto-rickshaws that slow down traffic, discourage car use, and act as a road
safety device.

To add to this, Delhi has about 700 part-time working signals.  I ride a
cycle to work in the morning and evening and have done my own survey of a
traffic light that is not working 7 days out of 10.  A city of approximately
the geographical size of Delhi, London, has 6,000 working signals.  Can the
Delhi police provide, or commit to provide, safe, accessible crossings for
pedestrians and cyclists along routes that they wish to use BEFORE they
seriously ask people to take public transport?

If the traffic police are worried about a backlash from the motorists'
lobby, highlight that the best way to confront congestion (for the benefit
of motorists too) is to discourage unnecessary travel, get more people
walking, cycling or using public transport.  Delhi's efforts to build its
way out of congestion are making car trips more necessary by the day.

To: Hasire Usiru <hasiruusiru@yahoogroups.com>

*Delhiites urged to use public transport during 2010 Games*


New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Given the high security and traffic diversions
would effect traffic during next year?s Commonwealth Games (CWG), Delhi
Police Monday said it would appeal to the people to use Metro and public
transport during Games. Traders and offices would be asked to shutter their
workplaces on the Games? closing day.

?When there will be an exclusive lane for Games vehicles, naturally the
traffic ongestion would increase. We would urge people to use public means
of transport that time,? Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal told
reporters here.

The police Monday made an off-camera presentation explaining the security
and traffic plan for the Games.

?By the time the Games start, two more Metro routes will also start. We
would encourage the people to use the Metro,? he said, adding that a
publicity campaign on this would be carried out before the Games.

The police commissioner said that such an event is a pride for the nation
but no plan can work without public support.

The police have already written to traders? associations and corporate
offices to either reschedule their weekly holidays or close their
enterprises on the closing day of the CWG.

?CWG closing ceremony would take place on Oct 14, which is Thursday. We
expect a heavy rush on that day. We have suggested to many offices,
including PSUs, to take their weekly off on Thursday instead of Saturday for
that week,? Dadwal said.

The police have also asked trader associations to close their shops on that
day and do business on another day.

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#2613 From: "John Thackara" <john@...>,
Date: Sun Dec 6, 2009 9:57 am
Subject: Doors of Perception: December 2009 - Letter from Sri Lanka: can fashion be ethical and green? 		fekbritton
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Doors of Perception Report

By John Thackara

 

 

Letter from Sri Lanka: can fashion be ethical and green?

December 2009

 

This free monthly newsletter starts conversations on issues to do

with design for resilience, and announces Doors of Perception events.

Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://www.doorsofperception.com/mailinglist/

Back issues: http://www.doorsofperception.com/mailinglist/archives.php

 

**** **** **** **** ****

 

THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS

Learning from King Parakramabahu - - Can fashion be ethical and green? - - Lean

manufacturing is not light - - The true cost of cotton - - Fair Trade only for

the big? - - Forward to price fixing and a guild economy - - De-growth in the

Palace of the Popes - - From Farmville to Transitionville - - Edible City the

movie - - Five books to give this season - Core 77's online gift guide

 

**** **** **** **** ****

 

LEARNING FROM KING PARAKRAMABAHU

During his reign as King of Sri Lanka from 1153-1186, Parakramabahu asserted

that "not even a little water that comes from the rain must flow into the ocean

without being made useful to man". He went on to construct or restore 165 dams,

3,910 canals, 163 major reservoirs and 2376 minor tanks - all in a reign of 33

years. Parakramabahu started a tradition whereby every Sri Lankan king would

build dams; the island now contains more than a thousand; no country in the

world contains so much man-made irrigation per square km. True, many of the

eighty largest ones, built by foreign contractors using international

development finance, would today be frowned on. But the most intense - and

indeed sophisticated - fiddling by man with nature took place 1,000 years ago.

 

CAN FASHION BE ETHICAL AND GREEN?

More than a million people (out of population of 20 million) work in Sri Lanka's

fashion industries, so it's critical to the country's economy. Companies there

face pressure from two sides. Powerful foreign buyers impose ever tighter time

and cost constraints. There are also other fashion producing countries, from

Turkey to Bangladesh, to whom the big global buyers can and do switch production

at a moment's notice, if it will add a bit more to their margins. Squeezed like

this, it's impressive that Sri Lanka has resolved to compete on the basis that

it's productiuon is ethical and sustainable, not just cheap. The question, how

to develop in this direction? was posed to last International Symposium on

Ethical Fashion. My contribution was this talk on Fashion in a Green Economy:

http://tiny.cc/7m0jN

http://www.doorsofperception.com/archives/2009/12/king_raindrop.php

 

LEAN MANUFACTURING IS NOT LIGHT

Monsoon buys a new collection every month. H+M has a display team that changes

its ground floor displays every day; this innovation makes it possible for

office workers to browse during their lunch hour, be confronted by new products

every time, and often leave with a new garment. One delegate described this

iteration of fast fashion as "two wash, two wear". It's hardly surprising that

in the lifetime of the average British consumer, he or she will throw away an

average of twelve thousand pounds worth of fashion purchases without evening

opening the bag. The perpetual acceleration of product innovation is enabled by

so-called "lean manufacturing". As practised by the thousands of (mostly women)

workers in Sri Lankan factories, the lean system may be lean, but it is not

light. Production workers are enabled by enlightened managements to organise

production to a degree. But each factory must operate within design parameters,

and price points, that are dictated by big foreign companies on behalf of

spoiled consumers on the other side of the world. The transport intensity of

lean production is also extreme; it is economically viable for the global brands

only because they don't pay the true environmental costs of of things like

aviation fuel, which is tax free.

 

WHITE GOLD: THE TRUE COST OF COTTON

Sri Lanka's ambition to be ethical and sustainable is also constrained by its

reliance on raw materials from other countries. As the Environmental Justice

Foundation has reported, over two thirds of the world's cotton is grown in

developing countries and the former Soviet Union. "Valued at over $32 billion

every year, global cotton production should be improving lives. But this "white

gold" too often brings misery", they report. Uzbekistan, for example, is the

second largest exporter of cotton in the world, selling over 800,000 tonnes of

cotton every year. But while the former Soviet Republic is at the forefront of

global cotton production, its human rights and environmental record lags far

behind the rest of the world. "Forced child labour, human rights violations,

excessive pesticide use, the draining of an ocean and severe poverty are all

rife in cotton production in Uzbekistan".

http://tiny.cc/KEUr1

http://www.ejfoundation.org/page142.html

 

FAIRTRADE - ONLY FOR THE THE BIG?

Fair Trade answers some of the misgivings felt by consumers in the North - but

it, too, favour bigger producers over smaller ones. The average $2,000

certification fee is the small part; most firms expect to pay external

consultants $12-18,00 to help them prepare for certification - a bit like

driving lessons. These sums are far beyond the means of most microbusinesses.

The stress on small suppliers is so severe that hundreds of them go out business

every year. The loss of human and industrial capital is therefore severe and

ongoing. A thought occurs: would it be feasible to introduce the peer review

processes that assure the quality of so much free software into the fashion

ecology?

 

FORWARD TO A GUILD ECONOMY?

Kumar Merchandari, a founder of Garments Without Guilt, told us he was proud

that Sri lanka had progressed from being a "nation of tailors" to become a

provider of optimised solutions to global labels. I told Kumar that I prefer the

idea of a nation of tailors, but recognised that more would need to be done to

connect northern consumers with Sri Lankan tailors on an equitable basis. Once

disintermediated communications were in place, I can imagine sellers and buyers

negotiating fixed prices. Right now , Sri Lankan apparel producers are forbidden

by anti-trust law from fixing prices. But it was not always so. As John Michael

Greer writes in his blog this month, the medieval guild had the legal

responsibility under feudal municipal laws to establish minimum standards for

the quality of goods, to regulate working hours and conditions, and to control

prices. The economic theory of the time held that there was a "just price" for

any good or service. That idea merits a revisit.

http://tiny.cc/qbQd6

http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-relocalization-worked.html

http://www.garmentswithoutguilt.com/

 

SEE-THROUGH CLOTHING

A key to equitable exchange in clothing will be transparency during all

exchanges in the fashion ecology. The technical platforms for radical

transparency exist, and a number of sites (such as Etsy and ThingLink) already

connect people who make things, such as crafters, with their customers. The

clothing company MADE-BY (based in Copenhagen) is promoting sustainable clothing

manufacture using track-and-trace communications. The company enables you to

find out who made your T-shirt or skirt, and who picked, spun and wove the cotton.

http://www.fairtracing.org/2008/11/made-by-tracktrace/

 

] OTHER STORIES

 

AFTER GDP: De-GROWTH?

Is culture something that's produced to be sold, or a description of the ways

people live? It's an old question, but last month's Forum d'Avignon, at the

Palace of the Popes, put a new spin on it: could the culture industries lead the

way out of economic crisis? The Forum came to life with an apostatic riff by

Lawrence Lessig on the subject of Remix culture. Along with open source, the

free software movement, and so on, Remix is a powerful challenge to the 'read

only' or permission-based culture of mainstream media and culture. Read more at:

http://www.doorsofperception.com/archives/2009/11/avignon.php

http://tiny.cc/jX2HI

http://www.les-cercles.fr/economie/economie-societe/politique-economique/1334-l-apres-pib-mesures-ou-esthetiques

 

FROM FARMVILLE TO TRANSITIONVILLE

If I were a PsyOps specialist at Monsanto, I'd have invented FarmVille. More

than 62 million people have signed up to play the Facebook game since it made

its debut in June, with 22 million logging on at least once a day. It's quickly

become the most popular application in the history of Facebook. FarmVille

players outnumber actual farmers in the United States by more than 60 to 1 -

and it would be hard to imagine a better way to distract people from

re-localising food in real-life. "The whole concept of 'I'm sick of this modern,

urban lifestyle, I wish I could just grow plants and vegetables and watch them

grow,' there is something very therapeutic about that," said Philip Tan,

director of the Singapore-M.I.T. Gambit Game Lab. Sad but true. Read more at:

http://tiny.cc/ikfhW

http://www.doorsofperception.com/archives/2009/11/farmville.php

 

EDIBLE CITY: HELP MAKE THE MOVIE

Edible City is a forthcoming documentary from East Bay Pictures about "folks

who are digging their hands into the dirt, fighting for sustainability and social

justice by doing something truly revolutionary: growing a local food system".

The East Bay Pictures team needs to raise $5,000 to finish the film by March.

http://tiny.cc/ikfhW

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andrewhasse/edible-city-faces-of-the-food-revolution

 

] SEASONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS

 

JUST ENOUGH: LESSONS IN LIVING GREEN FROM TRADITIONAL JAPAN,

Stories and sketches, depictions of vanished ways of life, told from the point

of view of a contemporary observer. It tells how people lived in Japan some 200

years ago during the late Edo period, when traditional technology and culture

were at the peak of development, just before the country opened itself to the

West and joined the ranks of the industrialized nations. Only a few centuries

earlier, the country had been on the brink of disaster, its environment pushed

to the edge through overly aggressive use of natural resources. "Just Enough" is

about a mentality that once pervaded Japanese society and can serve as a beacon

for our own efforts to achieve sustainability today.

http://tiny.cc/vVbeo

http://www.justenoughjapan.com

 

THE NEW ECONOMICS

"What are we to do about an economic system that destroys the biosphere for

economic reasons? What would a politics based on wellbeing be like?" David Boyle

and Andrew Simms propose a new approach that turns our assumptions about wealth

and poverty upside down: Real wealth, they explain, can be measured by increased

well-being and environmental sustainability rather than just having and

consuming more things.

http://tiny.cc/VgcMa

http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=74731

 

ANIMATE EARTH: SCIENCE, INTIUTION AND GAIA

An interpretation of Gaia and some of its connections and systems. The book

explains that the planet is a vast living interconnected system, not the dead,

mechanical object that many 19th and 20th Century philosophers and scientists in

the West have based their ideas upon. Stephan Harding writes beautifully about

the science arising from systems theory. The book finally Gaiad me.

http://tiny.cc/gtrZO

http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/staff/stephan-harding

 

LOCAL FOOD

Some 50 million Americans were too poor to guarantee being able to put food on

the table in 2008; that number is a good deal higher this year. This new book by

Transition Towns founder Rob Hopkins, and Tamzin Pinkerton, explores a huge

range of local food initiatives for rebuilding a diverse, resilient local food

network - including community gardens, farmers' markets, Community Supported

Agriculture schemes and projects in schools - and includes all the information

you will need to get ideas off the ground. In today's culture of supermarkets

and food miles, an explosion of activity at community level is urgently needed.

This book is the ideal place to start.

http://tiny.cc/oLGEq

http://transitionculture.org/shop/local-food-how-to-make-it-happen-in-your-community/

 

FORBIDDEN PLACES

I like Sally Hammond's description of this as "a coffee table book without the

pretty pictures". Forbidden Places - An unusual exploration of a forgotten

heritage is the result of 10 years of work during which Sylvain Margaine

travelled the world in search of abandoned and forgotten places - from the 1936

Berlin Olympic village to some terrific ex-nuclear facilities. I'm confident

that readers of this newsletter will be triggered to seek out these places,

stage events in them, or even go and live in them. It's a fantastic catalogue

of opportunities for architectural re-use.

http://www.forbidden-places.net/

 

GIVE FOR FREE

This free monthly newsletter starts conversations on issues to do

with design for resilience, and announces Doors of Perception events.

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And while you're at it, why not send a free subscription to your friends and colleagues?

 


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#2612 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Fri Dec 4, 2009 3:55 pm
Subject: COP15: Getting transport into the climate agenda - Why get in the middle of a cat fight when you don't have to. 		fekbritton
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COP15: Getting transport into the climate agenda - Why get in the middle of a cat fight when you don't have to.

Lee Shipper has challenged the thought expressed in today's feature article concerning the importance of finding ways to bring the sustainable transport agenda into higher much relief in the COP15 climate negotiations just about to get underway. His point -- maybe a better idea not to do this at all -- is one that we would like to invite comment on here.



--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

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Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

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#2611 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Fri Dec 4, 2009 10:20 am
Subject: COP15: Getting transport into the climate agenda 		fekbritton
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COP15: Getting transport into the climate agenda

The Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport - SLoCaT - was established to provide opportunities for coordination and cooperation among organizations working on sustainable, low carbon transport. The goal of the Partnership is to get transport into the heart of the COP15 agenda. World Streets and the New Mobility Agenda are proud to support this most timely initiative.

Transport in developing countries is the one of the largest, and fastest growing, source of GHG emissions. At the same time transport is largely missing in climate change mitigation policies and actions worldwide. This is linked to an overall lack of sustainability expressed by poor urban planning, increased motorization, increased air pollution and noise, growing congestion and decreasing road safety.

--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions via New Mobility Agenda forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

+331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


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#2610 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Thu Dec 3, 2009 12:32 pm
Subject: [World Streets] Up Against the Clock : World Transport Policy and Practice on COP15 		fekbritton
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[World Streets] Up Against the Clock : World Transport Policy and Practice on COP15

The latest edition of our favorite sustainable transport journal, World Transport Policy and Practice, was published today and Volume 15. Number 3 is now available for immediate downloading from journal.newmobility.org. Bikes, school travel, traffic systems and good planning systems all get a good run in this latest issue, but it is the editor's strong words on the run-up to Copenhagen you will want to read first.

Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice, Vol. 15, No. 3


--> Full text of this article appears in today’s World Streets at http://WorldStreets.org/ 

--> Discussions via New Mobility Agenda forum at www.newmobility.org  (Post to NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com)

 

 

Read World Streets Today at http://www.worldstreets.org/

New Mobility Partnerships  – http://www.newmobility.org

8/10 rue Joseph Bara,     75006 Paris,  France, Europe

+331 4326 1323  eric.britton(at)newmobility.org   Skype: newmobility

 


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#2609 From: "Steven" <stevemtravelling@...>
Date: Thu Dec 3, 2009 12:07 pm
Subject: Carfree UK - AGM and New Network of Carfree Associations 		stevemtravel...
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We would like to invite you to Carfree UK's AGM to be held at to be held on
Sunday December 20th at 1.30 pm at the University of the West of England,
Bristol.  (more sustainable than Christmas shopping, and a lot more
interesting!) More details are on: http://www.carfree.org.uk/index.php?pid=047.

This will be an exciting year for carfree initiatives in this country, and we
would really like your input to this.  The World Carfree Cities Conference is
coming to the UK (York) for the first time in June.  A subcommittee of Carfree
UK is organising the conference, and we are planning to use it as a springboard
to roll out a network of city-based associations to campaign for traffic-free
neighbourhoods, following the first of these, started recently in London. This
is the main subject for discussion at the AGM.

Can you help us?

The AGM will be followed by an early evening meal/drink at a waterside pub near
Bristol Temple Meads station.  Please let us know if you are planning to come.

Best Regards

Steve Melia
Coordinator

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#2608 From: "Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory" <edelman@...>
Date: Thu Dec 3, 2009 12:37 am
Subject: TransForm e-news: December 2, 2009 		traintowards...
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TransForm e-news: December 2, 2009
Your monthly pass to better public transportation and more wonderful, walkable communities.

TransForm e-news: December 2, 2009
Your monthly pass to better public transportation and more wonderful, walkable communities.

TransForm just released a new report with the ultimate savings opportunity.

 
Our analysis shows that Californians would spend $31 billion less per year if everyone was able to live in walkable places with good public transportation.  Plus we'd dramatically reduce emissions from transportation!

 
The report, which is full of great case studies, is already making waves in Sacramento. 

 
Download the report, pass it on, and support TransForm in bringing this message to leaders across the state in 2010.

 

Then read on:

Tell Congress to take a stand for pedestrian safety

TransForm and other allies in California helped release Dangerous by Design, a report that compares metro areas across the country in terms of pedestrian safety.  The report, written by Transportation For America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, generated 500 news hits nationwide and got the Obama Administration's attention.  But many in Congress have yet to take a stand on the issue.  Click here to urge your Congressperson to support the Complete Streets Act of 2009 and make road safety a national priority!

 

New certification program rewards developments with less parking and more walkability

 

TransForm just awarded its first-ever GreenTRIP certification to a new development in San Jose called The Ohlone.  That's because The Ohlone development will keep the number of new parking spaces as low as possible and offer incentives for new tenants to drive less.  Learn about The Ohlone and how GreenTRIP certification will spur development with less traffic and emissions.

 

Show support for a new climate change program December 9 and 16

 

The Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission, responding to hundreds of emails and calls from TransForm supporters, is now proposing an additional $28 million for their new Transportation Climate Action Campaign program.  This is huge, as they will be reducing funding from freeway ramp meters by a similar amount in order to make this happen! 

 

The new program, conceived by TransForm, will fight climate change by getting more people to walk, bike, and take public transportation.  It will also tackle key obstacles to creating more walkable communities, like excessive parking requirements.  Learn more and come out December 9 and December 16 when MTC will vote on the Transportation Climate Action Campaign.

 

Federal investigation of BART will look at the Oakland Airport Connector project

 

TransForm has been seriously questioning BART's proposed Oakland Airport Connector because of efficiency and environmental justice issues.  Now, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is going to investigate the project! 

 

The FTA is reviewing all of BART's projects to ensure they comply with Title VI of the 1964 federal Civil Rights Act, which prohibits recipients of federal funding from discriminating in their programs and activities.  This investigation is in part a response to a legal complaint by Public Advocates that TransForm participated in stating that BART has not done the required studies to determine if there are adverse impacts of the project on the East Oakland community.  Read about the investigation or listen to a KALW piece on the Connector.

 

Give a needed boost to Bus Rapid Transit on December 9

 

Bus Rapid Transit, with its dedicated lanes, state-of-the-art buses, and other key features, is an affordable way to make bus service much faster and more reliable.   Several Bus Rapid Transit routes are now in the works in the East Bay, but strong support is needed for these to come to life quickly.  Let's make Bus Rapid Transit happen – and soon.  Come to the next Berkeley Planning Commission meeting on December 9 or send an email now in support of Bus Rapid Transit.

 

How sweet it is to be loved by you 

 

Most of our membership levels now include a gift of dark chocolate.  Why?  Because your support is extra sweet in that you give the kind of flexible funds we need to be able to lobby in Sacramento, start innovative programs like GreenTRIP, and be nimble when important battles like the Oakland Airport Connector project come up.  Give some love to TransForm this holiday season and know you're making your community and commute better – plus get a sweet chocolate treat.

 

Federal leaders speak out for smart growth at major conference

 

At this fall's national transit-oriented development conference, Rail-volution, several TransForm staff were thrilled to hear high-level federal officials say that they want what we want: comprehensive transportation and land use planning that creates neighborhoods with affordable housing, jobs, shops, services, and public transportation.  Even more thrilling is that this thinking is partly inspired by the work of the Great Communities Collaborative (a partnership coordinated by TransForm)!  Read more about what happened at Rail-volution.

 

Take a survey on your daily destinations

 

CarFree City USA, a nonprofit that works to promote car-free development, is conducting an online survey of people’s most frequent everyday destinations.  This data will help them rate existing neighborhoods for “car-free living feasibility” and design successful new car-free places.  Feel like sharing?  The anonymous survey takes just 5 minutes.

 

Get in the holiday spirit at three fun events

 

Experience Velo Wonderland at the East Bay Bicycle Coalition's December 4 party.  Get festive at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's annual Winterfest on December 6.  Or think regionally and party locally at Bay Localize's holiday party on December 17. 

 

Marta Lindsey, Communications and Development Director

TransForm

(Formerly TALC, the Transportation and Land Use Coalition)

436 14th Street, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94612

510.740.3150x321

www.TransFormCA.org

http://www.facebook.com/TransFormCA

http://twitter.com/TransForm_Alert 

-- --------------------------------------------
Todd Edelman
Green Idea Factory
Urbanstr. 45
D-10967 Berlin
Germany
Skype: toddedelman
Mobile: ++49 0162 814 4081
edelman@...
www.greenidea.eu
www.flickr.com/photos/edelman
CAR* is over. If you want it.
"Fort mit der Privatautostadt und was Neues hingebaut!" - B. Brecht (with slight modification)
* "Car" is a sub-category of automobile, i.e. one used inappropriately, opportunistically or without creativity

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#2607 From: "Eric Britton" <eric.britton@...>
Date: Tue Dec 1, 2009 6:37 pm
Subject: The Not Sustainable Transport Library (A final resting place for those really bad ideas) 		fekbritton
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The Not Sustainable Transport Library (A final resting place for those really bad ideas)

 

We have just today created a new forum under the New Mobility Agenda. It is called The Not Sustainable Transport Library, and the idea is to create a nice warm place in which we can stack articles and related on what we think are very poor transportation/environment proposals – often technology rich, and rarely cheep – that present themselves as great ideas for our cities and the planet.

 

It describes itself in these words:

 

The Not Sustainable Transport Library: Here we shall attempt to provide, by way of what we hope will be telling examples, information on and leads to transport related projects, proposals and technologies that are very often presented (hyped) by those who stand to gain from their implementations as advancing the sustainability agenda -- but which in our view are at best very low in the priories for public sector support and certainly not candidates for finance with hard-earned taxpayer money. There can be no doubt in all that you see here that there is a very definite set of values and priorities behind these selections. They are moreover consistent. The basics behind these selections you will finally amply spelled out in the pages of World Streets (http://www.WorldStreets.org) and of the New Mobility Agenda (http://www.newmobility.org). Beyond that a brief trip to our four page/four minute summary (http://tinyurl.com/ws-sum ) should help fill out the basic background on all this.

 

You most probably really don't want to take your time with most of what will show up here since they are selected exactly because they are so far beside the point. But if you wish to have a look ,the address is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNotSustainableTransportLibrary/ .

 

And should you wish to comment, you can always post your message to: TheNotSustainableTransportLibrary@yahoogroups.com

 

Otherwise, to subscribe: TheNotSustainableTransportLibrary-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. And to unsubscribe: TheNotSustainableTransportLibrary-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

 

Over at World Streets we have a left menu item entitled "Latest World Streets News Leads", and in addition to the ten serious source, you will find the bad idea graveyard there, with a quick line on the latest to enter those fiery gates.

 

Eric Britton


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#2606 From: <anabravo@...>
Date: Tue Dec 1, 2009 5:45 am
Subject: Mobility and Health: case study videos 		fekbritton
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From: anabravo@... [mailto:anabravo@...]
Sent: Monday, 30 November, 2009 23:32
To: Gatnet - Gender and Transport Community of Practice


Dear colleagues:

The IFRTD Networked Research Programme on Mobility and Health
gathered important evidence about the 'mismatches' of the transport
and health sectors in bringing health services to the poor.  There
were 24 case studies, seven of them from Latin America.

This year we went back to the Cenepa -one of the Peru case studies.
Three days travel from Lima by plane, road and river -one way- to
capture the Awajun faces and voices in videos and share their
mobility and health problems with the world. We hope that those who
take decisions and make policies listen to them and do what is within
their hands to change the lives of the Awajun and Wampis indigenous
population for the better.  We invite you to visit:

http://www.youtube.com/MensajesAmazonicos

If you are a member of Facebook, we invite you to become a fan of:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mensajes-delAmazonas-Messages-from-the-
Amazonas/165090116085?v=wall&ref=ts

There is also some information on IFRTD web site at:

http://ifrtd.gn.apc.org/MensajesDelAmazonas/

Please visit these sites, make comments and share the links with
friends and colleagues that you think could make a difference to the
lives
of our indigenous brothers and sisters Awajun and Wampis.

Best regards,

Ana

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#2605 From: Jarrett Walker [mailto:jarrett@...]
Date: Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:05 am
Subject: Carsharing in Australia - A pretty good overview 		fekbritton
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From: Jarrett Walker [mailto:jarrett@...]
Sent: Monday, 30 November, 2009 08:17

 

Eric.  I'm not inside the carsharing world enough to comment, but it's becoming visible in Sydney, starting to reach critical mass. 

The other day I got a letter from the City of Sydney asking how I felt about having a designated carsharing parking space on my street, about 100m from my house.  Interestingly, the space they chose was just about the worst one imaginable, from a late-night crime risk standpoint.  I can imagine the checklist they were working with:  We can't put it next to anybody's house, because they'll complain about all the coming and going.  We can't put it next to a business, because they need their on-street parking for customers.  Basically, we can't put it where anyone would see it.

So they proposed putting it where nobody will see it: against a blank back wall of a shopping centre, across the street from a car wash that's closed at night.  And a place where nobody will see it is, by definition, a great place to get mugged.

It's work in progress, and attitudes don't change overnight.

Cheers, Jarrett Walker, Sydney

www.humantransit.org

 


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