Climate legislation; more TriMet service cuts; SF gets new bike lanes again; removing highways; bikes on bridges; time travel on 5th Ave; carfree Fridays; road rage; bikewashing.
There has been a lot of good news in transportation in the past week. Here are some of the highlights:
– The US House has passed a new, big climate bill that will allow states to choose to spend a significant chunk of their carbon emissions allowances on green transportation, reports Streetsblog from Capital Hill.
– In Oregon we now have a new law creating a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Task Force that will look particularly at transportation and land use strategies.
– In Portland, TriMet has proposed more service cuts, and reducing fareless square to include rail only.
– After three years in limbo, San Francisco’s bike plan has been approved. New bike infrastructure will be built in the city for the first time since a lawsuit halted all new projects until the plan’s climate impact could be studied.
– The Hartford Courant, Connecticut’s major newspaper, wants the state to completely remove a major freeway that cuts through the middle of the capital city rather than making the investment in maintaining it. (via Streetsblog)
– Given skyrocketing bike traffic, the lanes on the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver, BC will be restriped for a trial period, replacing one of the six auto lanes with a bicycle lane, and devoting the opposing sidewalk to bicycles — people on foot will be diverted to the other side of the bridge.
– Latest in road rage travesties, from NYC, in the “you have to read it to believe it” category: “DA files charges against cyclist attacked by SUV driver in 9th Avenue bike lane.”
– Portland area US Rep Earl Blumenauer holds forth in the Huffington Post about transportation being a key element to battling climate change. And US Sen Chuck Schumer from New York sings the praises of bicycling in the same pages.
– In Seattle, you can get a free bike in exchange for a pledge to reduce your driving.
– Pittsburgh’s bike advocates are the latest to initiate a Carfree Fridays campaign (LA’s program has been in place for several months).
– In the UK, the town of Colchester is embroiled in an ongoing debate on the merits of making its central, historic downtown street carfree.
– The New York Times takes us back in time to 1909, when 5th Avenue (recently made carfree) was widened to increases space for cars.
– “Bikewashing” takes off as a cultural phenomenon, as major brands increasingly use bicycles in guerrilla style marketing campaigns.
– Local blog Portlandize sings the praises of carrying things by bike.