Vision Zero NYC: Ending the Body Count


[Baltimore Spokes: Note the "blame the victim" sign.]
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More than 250 New Yorkers are killed in automobile-related crashes every year, and it’s not unusual for City officials to tout these historically low numbers as evidence that they are doing their jobs well, as if exchanging 250 lives is a reasonable trade for mobility. Only in transportation is this somehow acceptable. This past spring, two construction cranes toppled over in separate incidents, killing six people and injuring several others. This prompted the Department of Buildings to declare war on falling cranes. Clearly, objects crashing down on city streets are a serious hazard to people, legitimizing such a hard stance. Automobiles moving at high speeds are the horizontal counterparts of falling cranes and building debris.

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Humane Metropolis Baltimore


A free public workshop sponsored by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Organized by the Ecological Cities Project in collaboration with the Parks & People Foundation

June 11, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Maryland Historical Society
201 W. Monument St.
Baltimore, MD 21201

Today, 80 percent of Americans live in cities and suburbs and more than half the world's population is now classified as "urban." Older cities and their suburbs like Baltimore City and County are experiencing many challenges - affordable housing, jobs, mobility, education, public health, physical fitness, floods, and ecological destruction - not to mention the current economic and foreclosure crisis.

"Humane Metropolis" is a new perspective on people, nature, and cities developed by the Ecological Cities Project in collaboration with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. The 2006 book The Humane Metropolis: People and Nature in the 21st-Century City highlights new initiatives for various cities to become more:

Green: Protect and restore urban biodiversity and ecological services

Healthy: Promote outdoor exercise and fitness, reduce respiratory threats

Safe: Reduce crime rates; lower risk of fire, floods, and other hazards

Efficient: Employ a better use of water, energy, materials (e.g., green building, light rail)

Equitable: Embrace environmental and social justice, affordable housing, access to jobs

Neighborly: Foster pride of place and sense of community

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“Time & Place” Sundial Sculpture Closing Picnic


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Saturday, May 23 2-5 pm
Winans Meadow-Leakin Park
4500 Franklintown Road 21229

For three seasons, “Time & Place” has been marking time and people’s thoughts along the Gwynns Falls Trail. I sincerely hope you and friends can visit this site-specific work before it disappears at end of this month. We will be hosting a closing picnic with readings from journals, paper sundial workshop, games and good friends. Picnic is Sat.4/23 2-5 (Herb Festival is 10-2 in upper park) Rain date Sun, 4/24

Photo-documentation of sundial activities and journal entries can be viewed on this Flickr page

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My commute sucks


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Sign the Petition!

See-sawing gas prices, crazy crowded roads, noxious fumes - who would love their commute?

Not us. Join Americans all over the country, in big cities and in small towns, who are making their voices heard in Washington. Tell Congress: "My commute sucks and it's not getting any better. Stop pouring billions into a broken system. Transportation shouldn't be an expensive, dirty burden. Fix it, clean it, make it work!"

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Capturing the Value of Transit


[Baltimore Spokes: What's wrong with this picture? Where's the congestion, air pollution? This can't be a vibrant city ... or can it?] image
A recent Denver Post story noted property values had increased 4 percent along the Southeast light rail line – the Post called it “the money train” – while declining by 7.5 percent regionwide. Portland’s Pearl District has seen property values increase more than 1,000 percent along its streetcar line since 2001, while Tampa has seen increases of up to 400 percent. Another recent study found property values along the light rail system in Dallas increased 50 percent from 2005 to 2007, noting that existing and planned development near stations would bring in an additional $127 million in tax revenues a year.

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BIG BOOST FOR CYCLING, WALKING IN NJDOT PLAN


[Baltimore Spoke: It would be nice if MD even had such a report, even nicer if they could say they had an increase and say they were concerned about the recent surges in pedestrian fatalities. ]

-> According to an article in the May 8th Mobilizing the Region E-Mail, "While New Jersey DOT's planned FY2010 Capital Program devotes more money towards road widening projects than in the past, it also provides almost 50% more funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects than last year's capital program did. These types of projects now represent about 2% of the total highway program, up from 1.5% last year.

"This is obviously tremendous news for New Jersey's cycling community, and especially timely given recent surges in bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities. NJDOT deserves credit for making bicycling and walking a funding priority. About 12% of all trips in the state were on foot or bicycle in 2001, according to the Federal Highway Administration..."

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Childhood Obesity Action Strategies Toolkit


From the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

Highlights:
Active Transportation
What the research shows: There is a significant body of evidence linking transportation, planning and community design to increased physical activity.

Land Use for Active Living
What the research shows: Evidence suggests that youth get more regular physical activity when they have opportunities to walk or ride a bicycle from home to nearby schools, parks and businesses.

Quality Physical Activity In and Near Schools
What the research shows: Evidence suggests that students who spend more time in physical education or other school-based physical activity can improve their fitness levels and their scores on standardized academic achievement tests.

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BICYCLE MASTER PLANS WEBINAR SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 17th


-> Bicycle Master Plans will be the topic of a one-hour webinar scheduled for June 17th, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A growing number of cities across the U.S. are creating Bicycle Master Plans, or BMPs. These are plans for developing bicycle infrastructure in a city, with emphasis on promoting bicycling as a viable transportation option and fostering a safe environment for bicycling.

Join presenter Peter Lagerwey, who will lead webinar participants step-by-step through the process of creating a successful bicycle master plan. Peter has served for 25 years in the City of Seattle's bicycle and pedestrian program. He managed the development of Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan, oversaw construction of more than 150 miles of bikeways throughout the City, and published numerous reports, studies, design manuals, and professional articles. In September, Lagerwey will open a Seattle office for the Toole Design Group. Webinar participants will be given a copy of a guide, "Creating a Road Map for Producing and Implementing A Bicycle Master Plan," authored by Lagerwey and being published by the NCBW's Active Living Resource Center.

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Back to the Beginning Bike Clinic (B2BBC)


Next date May 16 in Druid Hill Park Disk Golf Course and free loner bikes are available if you RSVP

The first bicycle (1818) the bicycle rider's feet were in contact with the ground and over time the bicycle evolved to be the most energy efficient forms of locomotion (not to mention the most fun!) So for those who are having trouble with these newfangled bicycles are invited to join us and Baltimore City Rec and Parks for a beginners bike clinic were we mimic the Draisine (pictured) by lowering the seat and (temporarily) removing the pedals and practice mastering these magnificent machines on some gentle grassy slopes of Druid Hill Park.

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This clinic is by appointment only and only for adults, so please contact us and let us know about your availability and if you need a bike and helmet. twowheelparkrider"at"yahoo.com

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