Here’s the news that caught our eye this week:
– In last week’s round of federal investment in high speed rail corridors, the Pacific Northwest has been assigned nearly $600 million. Portland will use $8 million to fix Union Station’s leaky roof, and Washington State will use the rest for track installation and repair.
– Use of hand held cell phones while driving has been illegal in Oregon for a month. And has this made any difference in public safety? Unlikely, say the experts, since hands-free devices are just as dangerous.
– How does one humble citizen, or group, or organization get their voice heard at the state DOT? Here’s an excellent primer.
– A new study has found links between foreclosure risk and car dependence, measured by neighborhood vehicle ownership levels.
– A U.S. planning firm has released its street design manual for Abu Dhabi—which it hopes to set a new standard in design for “multi-modal” cities.
– The old gray lady herself weighs in on electric bicycles.
– In California, the traffic control department has issued various rulings that pertain to bicycle traffic.
– The Washington State legislature is currently considering a complete streets bill.
– In North Carolina, a ring of lawyers has been convicted of altering court records to let alleged DUI offenders off the hook.
– In West Virginia, the auto dealers association has made a public statement supporting the coal industry.
– In the outer-east reaches of Portland, a lone voice in the wilderness calls for help—or at least for other bike commuting families to show themselves.
– In South Africa, says this essay, cultural attitudes can be a major deterrent to bicycling—particularly for women.
– Scotland is considering legislation that would automatically place fault on the person driving in any bike-car collision.
– In the U.K., a carfree vacation resort has experienced a wave of bicycle thefts.
– Caspar the commuting cat has hopped on his final bus. Read a touching tribute here.