The Monday News Roundup

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week:

– Michelle Obama has taken on the issue of childhood obesity, and her task force has called for major transportation reforms, particularly complete streets.

– This meditation on the connection between the BP oil spill and personal driving habits has been making the rounds.

– The Senate climate bill could include $6 billion dollars for transportation, split between the highway trust fund, TIGER grants, and land use planning.

– Transportation has become an issue in Oregon’s gubernatorial race; Republican candidate Allen Alley says the region should stop its process to expand light rail to Milwaukie and focus on the road system and electric cars instead.

– Some musings (and lots of numbers) on the relationship between the bike industry, marketing, advocacy, and ridership. The conclusion: forget infrastructure and focus on rider recruitment.

– In Seattle, the mayor is reaching out to bicycle advocates to help him block a waterfront freeway tunnel project.

– BP, currently struggling to clean up the Gulf of Mexico and their company image, was one of the major forces blocking a Washington State bill that would have taxed oil production to clean up Puget Sound.

– An example from Ahmedabad, India shows that when you build your bus system right, people actually want to ride it.

– New Delhi, India, is also setting new standards with its new, super efficient subway system.

– Japan is looking to export its science fiction mag lev high speed train technology.

– Transportation reform in Mecca has its own special challenges.

– In Beirut, a real estate company and the local bike club have opened what this article calls a bike lane downtown, though it is only open on Sundays and sounds like it might be more like a ciclovia.

– In the Mosel wine growing region of Germany, plans for a mega freeway bridge are creating controversy.

– Cambridge, Massachusetts is building a cycle track, and Boston may soon follow suit.

– A new chart correlating the amount of U.S. driving with gas prices shows how both have been decreasing for the first time.

– In a fascinating little chart of transportation efficiency, including animal as well as human modes, the bicycle comes out looking good.

– Meanwhile, the great bicycle helmet debate continues…

– And finally…you know you never saw this coming…Mormons on fixies.

Photo of author

Elly Blue (Columnist)

Elly Blue has been writing about bicycling and carfree issues for BikePortland.org since 2006. Find her at http://takingthelane.com

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K'Tesh
K'Tesh
14 years ago

Sad news from Chicago. An 86-year-old driver crossed the center line with his minivan and crashed into 3 girls. If found guilty he’ll be fined $75.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/family/faithsmom-20100515,0,6413320.story

Spiffy
Spiffy
14 years ago

that’s quite a sad story but it looks like there’s still room for a lawsuit… everyone should get at least manslaughter for homicide…

q'Tzal
q'Tzal
14 years ago

Rem 86 year old driver:
Punative financial damages are pointless and demeaning; placing a price for which it is excusable to kill someone with a vehicle.
Permanently revoke all driving privledges and tattoo “I killed a person with my vehice” on his forehead. Require that he performs relevent community service, like protecting children in crosswalks, for the rest of his functional life.