Mapes in the New York Times, carfree NYC, climate change and public health, a celebrity bike activist speaks up, BRT in Salem, and a self-balancing unicycle.
This week’s news of bikes, transportation, and livability:
– David Byrne reviews local author Jeff Mapes’ excellent book, Pedaling Revolution, in the Sunday New York Times. The book is destined for the best-seller list. Congrats Jeff!
– Obama has appointed Polly Trottenberg as assistant DOT secretary; Streetsblog quotes a recent speech where she laments that state requests for federal dollars are so heavily weighted towards highway projects, despite the federal government’s commitment to sustainability.
– The dream of a high speed rail line between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC inched forward last week when the mayors of Portland and Vancouver, BC signed an agreement to work together to make it a reality.
– In the meantime, Washington State is requesting $800 million in stimulus funds to significantly expand existing passenger rail service between Portland and Seattle.
– More great photos and thoughts from Streetsblog on the newly carfree Times Square.
– Public health experts are calling on the United States to contribute money to efforts to alleviate the health impacts of climate change — of which the U.S. is the world’s number one driver — on impoverished populations which are disproportionately affected.
– Matthew Modine, movie star and bicycle activist, is the latest to say that “Cars are Like Cigarettes.” And he says it well. (You might also want to revisit our thoughts on the matter from last fall.)
– Bus Rapid Transit is coming to Salem.
– A Vancouver, Washington inventor has created the world’s first SBU — self-balancing unicycle.
– Portland mad scientist and welder Gabe Tiller’s coffin bike is featured at the top of a list of “20 of the freakiest custom bikes on the road.”