The Planetizen News Brief

• Artist: Planetizen
• Title: Planetizen Podcast - 2007-08-16 - The Planetizen News Brief
• Album: Planetizen Podcast
• Year: 2007
• Length: 4:10 minutes (3.87 MB)
• Format: Stereo 22kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

The Planetizen News Brief is a weekly rundown of some of the most interesting and important news and issues of the past week.

The Planetizen News Brief airs every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City", which is broadcast in cities across the U.S. Learn more about Smart City and listen to archived shows.

Like What You're Hearing? Have Something To Say?

Let us know how we're doing. If you have any comments about the Planetizen Podcast, send your questions, comments, or suggestions to editor@planetizen.com

Full Transcript

In an effort to sway a vote in the U.S House of Representatives against a Democrat-sponsored energy conservation bill, a Republican congressman from North Carolina ridiculed a proposal to encourage bicycle use as a "19th century solution". According to Streetsblog, Congressman Patrick McHenry of the 10th District of North Carolina is quoted in the Congressional Record admonishing the House Democrats before last week’s vote. McHenry sharply criticized their plan to create a federal tax break of $20 per month for bike commuters, claiming that the idea of telling the American people that riding bikes is the solution to our current energy crisis is ridiculous. Despite McHenry’s vocal opposition, the Democrats’ bill passed. Aside from the tax break for commuting cyclists, the bill also includes provisions to improve the efficiency of another 19th century invention: the automobile.

And while the politicians in Washington continue to fight across the aisle, residents in Oregon are battling over another divide. Homeowners and hunters have been squabbling lately in Portland over the city’s urban growth boundary. The Oregonian reports that homeowners are upset over the upcoming four-month duck-hunting season that subjects them and their families to the frequent sounds of shotgun blasts. The hunters argue that they are hunting on the other side of the urban growth boundary, and are therefore in the right. Furthermore, they say, if the homeowner’s didn’t want to be so close to the rural lifestyle on the other side of the boundary, they shouldn’t have moved to the edge. This clash of lifestyles is sure to continue, but the debate highlights the larger issue in Portland of accommodating the area’s rapid growth while protecting the region’s remaining rural spaces.

And finally, in yet another dispute, residents in Toronto are fuming over what they see as discriminatory urban design. The Toronto Star reports that many of the sidewalks in the city are sloped, serving as ramps for cars to get off the street and up into the driveway. And though this does make the ride easier for cars, it makes walking a little difficult. A citizens group has elicited the support of a local city councilman to address the auto-oriented offense, which they argue is potentially dangerous to the elderly and disabled. And as the city gets ready to develop its pedestrian policy later this year, they hope that the city’s unwalkable sidewalks will finally be corrected. After all, they say, if they weren’t meant to be walked on, they wouldn’t be called sidewalks.

Stories discussed in this week's Planetizen News Brief

Congressman Ridicules Bikes as '19th Century' Technology

Lifestyles Clash At Urban Growth Boundary

Sloping Sidewalks Pester Pedestrians