Bike Traffic.

This is cute. Well, cute if you can imagine there ever being Bike Traffic in the USA.

Cleveland: Most Sustainable City in Ohio.

Cleveland won for the most sustainable city in Ohio. Of the 50 named cities, it was a full 14 spots ahead of Columbus, the only other city in Ohio earning a rank. Portland, no surprise, was first; Minneapolis, also no surprise, was seventh. Cleveland ranked 16th, and Columbus 30th.

I usually think of Cleveland's skyline as rather uninspired, especially considering how many offices are empty downtown. However, the photo they caught was rather becoming.



I've always enjoyed visiting Cleveland, but I just could never live there. However, for a weekend trip it's a wonderful trip. Its rich history, fun city layout, beautiful location along the Lake and fantastic local restaurants all contribute for a great getaway from Columbus.

Green Maps.

I'm buried in schoolwork, but I found a nifty website and decided to share. It's called Green Maps, and essentially it's a site that has maps for green-living all over the world. There seem to be hundreds of cities/counties represented, so it's actually pretty broad. I checked into Milwaukee and Madison, and I was pretty surprised at the amount of information! Check your city out and see how many 'green' establishments you didn't know about.

Columbus' isn't working for some reason; maybe they have a new URL? Anyone know about this?

A New "Tragedy of the Commons".

The tale I hear from almost all of my City & Regional Planning professors goes something like this.

Back in the day, cities used to have wide open commons with plenty of grass so you could bring your sheep for a brief stay and not worry about them while away from your farm. However, because of this free resource, it was in each sheep herder's self-interest to crowd the common with as many sheep as possible, since it was a free resource. With the commons overrun by sheep, the once beautiful meadows would eventually reach destruction. The moral of the story is that because of the self-interest of a few, the majority would have to suffer the loss.

In Paris, a new tragedy of the commons has been found: The tragedy of Bike Sharing.

A popular bicycle rental scheme in Paris that has transformed travel in the city has run into problems just 18 months after its successful launch.

Over half the original fleet of 15,000 specially made bicycles have disappeared, presumed stolen.

They have been used 42 million times since their introduction but vandalism and theft are taking their toll.

The company which runs the scheme, JCDecaux, says it can no longer afford to operate the city-wide network.

Championed by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, the bikes were part of an attempt to "green" the capital.

Parisians took to them enthusiastically. But the bikes have suffered more than anticipated, company officials have said.

Hung from lamp posts, dumped in the River Seine, torched and broken into pieces, maintaining the network is proving expensive. Some have turned up in eastern Europe and Africa, according to press reports.

Since the scheme's launch, nearly all the original bicycles have been replaced at a cost of 400 euros ($519) each.

The Velib bikes - the name is a contraction of velo (cycle) and liberte (freedom) - have also fallen victim to a craze known as "velib extreme".

Various videos have appeared on YouTube showing riders taking the bikes down the steps in Montmartre, into metro stations and being tested on BMX courses.

Remi Pheulpin, JCDecaux's director general, says the current contract is unsustainable. "It's simple. All the receipts go to the city. All the expenses are ours," he said.

The costs, he said, were "so high that a private business cannot handle it alone, especially as it's a problem of public order. If we want the velib set-up to keep going, we'll have to change the business model," he told Le Parisien newspaper.

As much as I love the bike sharing program, I'm surprised no one thought this aspect of the program through. Why not require a credit card in order to rent the bike in the first place? If it is not returned within a long amount of time--say, a month--your credit card is charged for the amount of the bike? Maybe it's not a perfect suggestion, but it certainly beats how the program is running now.

Bike Sharing Program in The US.

Remember when I lamented that bike sharing programs could never come to America? Well, I was wrong. And take a guess where it's coming...?

The mayor of Minneapolis is looking to join [European] cities' ranks and embrace [Minneapolis'] rising status as a bike-commuting town by dropping 1,000 bicycles into Downtown, Uptown and the University of Minnesota campus next spring.

Industry experts say technological advances have paved the way to make bike-sharing programs a reality. In Minneapolis, bikes would be secured in solar-powered docks, and bikes would be unlocked by a subscriber's key card.

The bikes Minneapolis would use were designed by Stationnement de Montréal, which, oddly enough, is Montreal's parking authority. The agency manages Montreal's paid on-street parking and public parking lots, and the company designed a bike-sharing program inspired by European programs already in place. Time magazine ranked Montreal's "Bixi" bike one of the 50 best inventions of 2008, and Montreal's program will also roll out next spring.

The Minneapolis bikes would have covered chains and gears internal to the hubs, so it's less easy for bikers to damage the three-speed mechanics. The broad frame is designed to be easy to clean and it has a large adjustable seat, a basket and a unisex design. Electric generation powered by movement of the front wheel would automatically light up rear lights on the bike.

Riders could take out the bikes for a half-hour at no extra charge. Annual subscriptions would cost $50–$75. The bike program is designed for quick one-way trips that are about one to three miles. Riders could check online to make sure bikes are available at the nearest dock, and when they arrive at their destinations, 1,500 more dock points than bikes should ensure there is space for bike returns. (In Barcelona, trucks redistribute bikes throughout the day to ensure adequate supplies.) Stations would be positioned about 400–500 meters apart so people theoretically wouldn't walk too far to reach their destinations.

The cost to install 1,000 bikes at 75 docks is estimated to be $3 million, and city officials have applied for a series of grants to pay startup costs. The City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation, the organization that runs the annual Loppet skiing event around the Minneapolis lakes, developed a nonprofit model that Minneapolis could use for its bike-sharing program.

Exact locations for bike docks aren't yet determined, but they would be movable. Consultants on the project say that will make our bike-sharing system a lot less expensive than the one in Paris, which has bike stations permanently entrenched in the ground. Minneapolis' bike stations would be removed during the winter.

I don't think I've ever been so happy to have been wrong.

America's Best Cities for Cyclists.

I've previously commented on this site that I hate city lists. It just seems like certain magazines throw together a trite method to rank cities for unquantifiable things mainly just to get site traffic to click on their ads. (See: Forbes Magazine). However, Bicycle Monthly has announced their annual "best cities for bikers", and I think something like this is a bit more exciting than say, "best city to not have to wait too long in line for a sandwich". Instead of simply ranking cities by number of doctors offices, this article reviews national policy and how it affects bikers.

Columbus was ranked as the best future cities for bikers. The biking community is growing here, and our green mayor, Michael Coleman, is certainly working to expand bike and pedestrian transportation. Especially considering projects like The Scioto Mile, things are looking good for Columbus. Ever since I have lived here I have noticed more and more bikers on the road, as well as improvements along our bike paths. With everything being so close together, I think Columbus is one of the best cities in America to live/walk/bike in.

Minneapolis was ranked as the second highest percentage of people who commute to work by bike and a runner-up for most improved. (Portland, Oregon took the number one spot with 3.5% of their work force commuting by bike.) Minneapolis has an incredible system called The Greenway, which is set up like a highway for bikes. Although I haven't spent much time on it, my friend Lindsey has and she swears by it.

The cities named the best for bikers were Portland, Seattle, Chicago, San Franisco and Boulder. Among the most improved were Boston, New York and Washington D.C.. Across the board there has never been a better time to be a biker!

Efficiency.

Well that's one way to take a big load.

Brad Pitt on Transportation.

Brad Pitt will be narrating a PBS episode of "e2", a series devoted to educating its viewers on ways to improve our world and our environment. The topic? Transportation. It will debut online on November 24th.

Here's a quick preview.



Bike sharing seems like a fantastic idea, but here in the US? Please. Americans complain about having to pay a gas tax, I can't imagine the whining that would ensue if they'd have to--gasp!--pay for someone not to drive. It yet again reminds me of how far ahead the rest of the world is compared to us in The United States (...sigh...)

Also, for more great videos from e2 about sustainability, click here.

Pimp My Ride.

Bike Rant.

I bike about 50 miles a week and I'll be the first to say I don't always obey every law. Just like drivers who break the speed limit, there are some bike laws that I simply can't always follow. For example, some stop signs really just means "slow". I'm so sorry, but I will not come to a complete stop while I'm biking through campus at 1 in the morning. It literally is a pain in the ass.

However, the flagrant stupidity I saw the other day was absolutely appalling. It was 10:30 at night and a biker was going the wrong way on a busy one-way street, with no front or rear lights, wearing all dark clothes, no helmet...and she was text messaging. It's one thing to ignore a rule, but it's another thing to actively ask to be killed. Text messaging on a bike? While going the wrong way on a one-way? While biking with no front or rear lights? While wearing all dark?

Missy, if you're reading this--you are an idiot!

Grandma on a Bike

This is just so cute!

Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | More Video Clips

Change is Coming to Minneapolis!

Everytime I visit Minneapolis, I screw up and drive the wrong way on the famous theatre strip, Hennepin Avenue. It's a downright shame that I am both a Logistics and City Planning student yet I still can't drive, but give me a break--Hennepin is confusing! It's two ways by the Walker Center, it's two ways by the River...why does it only go one way for a brief stint downtown? To make it even more convoluted, it's legal for buses and bikes to drive both ways, but not cars.

The second to last time I was there a cop pulled me and said, "You must have passed a million signs saying you can't drive this way!" I remember responding, "I'm sorry, I'm not from around here." The cop then asked, "Well, where you're from, do they teach you how to read?"

He was kind enough to not give me a ticket, but even after that I've mistakenly hopped on Hennepin thinking it was ok. But there's good news! Starting next year, Hennepin Avenue will be going both ways!

By this time next year, Hennepin and 1st avenues will be morphing into two-way streets. What those streets will look like is far from settled, however.

Different layouts under consideration could have bike lanes running down the center of the road, running next to buses near the curb, or sharing left-turn space with vehicles at each intersection. Instead of two bike lanes on Hennepin, one of them could run on 1st Avenue. The streets may or may not include left-turn lanes, and some layouts could create situations where cars are backed up for blocks. Drivers aren’t getting much sympathy in the current plans — they will undoubtedly travel through Downtown at a slower pace on Hennepin and 1st. City officials say that’s welcome news for area businesses because slower traffic will boost their visibility.

One major focus for the project is the bicyclists that have adopted Hennepin Avenue as a cycling highway — 500–1,000 cyclists travel down Hennepin in a single day, and bike traffic in the city has increased at least 30 percent in the past year alone.

[snip]

City planners have already ruled out many layout options for Hennepin and 1st, largely because of the streets’ limited space. The curbs will remain intact in order to conserve the sidewalk space and keep the project on track for completion by early 2010. Here are the remaining options on the table for Hennepin and 1st. To send in feedback, visit [this site here].

Well, score! Next time I mistakenly drive down Hennepin Avenue, at least it will be legal!

Hulk MASH!

It may be a bike rack, but all I can think to say is...HULK MASH!



Too bad this is in Colorado. Shouldn't it be somewhere in The Midwest?

Two Things I Love.

Biking. And Philadelphia. (Heck, I gotta love it, 'tis the city of brotherly love!). Plus they booed Sarah Palin, so immediately we're like BFFs.

If you haven't visited, Philly is such a fantastic city, with the busyness of New York, the restaurant scene of Washington and yet the price tag of Baltimore. I spent a weekend there a year ago and it still remains one of my favorite vacations!

To top it off, they've got optimistic news amidst rising concerns: Planners are working on the egregious problems that have surfaced recently with the increase in bike traffic--bike parking.

Philadelphia's parking shortage is approaching critical proportions. You see people circling the streets of Center City in an anxious quest for an available space. It's unexpectedly hard to park at institutions such as La Salle University and the Art Museum's Perelman Building. But you really know things have reached a dire state when you have to go blocks to find a pole or parking meter that doesn't already have someone's bicycle hitched to it.

Yes, this time Philadelphia's parking crisis involves vehicles of the two-wheeled variety. While the drumbeat during the Street administration was for more parking garages in Center City, the cry now is for more and better bike racks everywhere. That's progress.

The problem starts when the bikers stop. There just aren't enough bike racks on Philadelphia's heavily used, narrow sidewalks for everyone. Desperate bikers will lock to anything that won't move, like Rittenhouse Square's elegant wrought-iron fence or the railing around SEPTA's 16th Street concourse entrance. The tangle of metal is not pretty.

The Nutter administration hopes to improve the situation somewhat in the next few months. It just ordered 1,500 racks and expects to begin installation in November. The new upside-down "U" racks will bring the sidewalk total to 2,600, distributed through the entire city. It's a far cry from the 10,000 the Bicycle Coalition says are needed.

Luckily this isn't a problem in Columbus, mainly because our downtown is a sea of parking lots. I've seen monthly parking permits for $30 (compare to daily prices of that on Manhattan), and most lots around $5 a day. I really can't imagine Columbus transforming into a biking city anytime in the near future: we have no bike lanes, plenty of parking and some of our densest areas are around 10 miles from downtown. In order to reverse this, it would take years and years of effort. Not that it's not worth it, it's just not foreseeable.

A Storm Be a Brewin'!

Note to self: Do not go for a "leisure" bike ride in gusting 70 MPH winds.

Biking Through Columbus.

I wish I could blog from my bike, because I had a lot of thoughts about our fine city today! I went from campus to German Village (and everywhere in between), and to my best recollection this was what popped into my mind along the trail:

• First, there was this new bar opening next to the High Beck! I can't remember the name, but it was something like Bole'. It had the tag line "Ultra Lounge", which is something that usually perks my interest (pending it's casual, relaxed). Should be interesting! :-)
• The Grange Insurance building is coming along real nicely! They had this beautiful (yet incomplete) bridge from the parking lot to the building itself. It reminded me of the skyways in Minneapolis (or our own in the Nationwide Headquarters). Although I doubt it will be a part of the Columbus Skyline (too short, too far away from the square), it's still a nice addition to High Street. And anything that brings more people from the suburbs to the city makes me happy!
• Although still barely even started, the new courthouse downtown has its first pillars up!
• Note to self: Don't bike south on Third! Trying to fight with commuters coming onto/leaving the Highway is never a good idea!
• Whatever it is they're building across from The High Five (an old laundry mat was there) is looking pretty good! They still have a ton more to do, but I'm certainly curious what will end up being there.
• The new Student Union looks GREAT! Too bad it's still well over a year away...
• As a side note, it still irks me that as a student at The Ohio State University, I will never have been able to utilize a main library nor a student union.
  

I think those were all of my thoughts for the bike ride. If you have any info on Bole', the development at Fifth/High or any of the other things I mentioned...comment and let me know! :-)