A friend introduced me yesterday to rambunctious bicycling advocate Fred Oswald via a recent article out of Cleveland’s press. Much debate swirls around his not-so-uncommon opinions. Mr. Oswald’s argument can be boiled down to two points: supporting a critical need for much more bicycling education on sharing public roadways with other vehicles, and fighting an industry-borne fallacy that breaking up streets with allocated spaces, such as bike lanes, is good for the biking community. The former is, of course, not contestable. We all agree that safety and training are absolutely critical to developing a strong and healthy bicycling community.
Bike Lanes
Walking the Green Streets of Portland
Matthew Roth of Streetsblog SF takes a tour of Portland's impressive green streets program from landscape architect David Elkin. Stormwater runoff is a major component of the program, as are new bike lane designs.
Streetsblog
Dedicated Non-Motorist Lane on Vancouver Bridge Finds Public Support
Residents in Vancouver are reportedly in favor of keeping a dedicated lane for pedestrians and cyclists on a local bridge. Even some motorists are in support.
The Vancouver Sun
Vetoed State Bike Safety Law Passes in Austin
The Austin City Council has approved a bill that requires motorists to keep a three-foot distance from bicyclists on the road. The same bill was vetoed by Texas Governor Rick Perry four months ago.
The Houston Chronicle
The Planetizen News Brief - 9/17/09
4:15 minutes (3.9 MB)
Towns join forces to fight the recession, Portland opens a new light rail line, and a new study reveals surprising results about bike lane safety -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.
Are Bike Lanes Less Safe?
A new study from the University of Leeds claims that drivers are more careful and leave more room for bikers when there is no bike lane.
WorldChanging
The Planetizen News Brief - 8/13/09
4:20 minutes (3.98 MB)
Miami nixes form-based code, cities warm up to tent cities, and Boston tries to be better to bikers -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.
How Transferable is Holland's Bike Culture?
Cyclists hear a lot about how much better the biking is in Europe. The Brooklyn Paper takes a look at why, and whether or not the lessons of Amsterdam are applicable in the US.
The Brooklyn Paper
Bridge Lane Closed for Cyclists
Vancouver, B.C. is experimenting with closing one lane of the Burrard Bridge to traffic to add a bike lane. Cheryl Chan reports from Day 1 of the lane closure. Was traffic affected?
The Province
Make Your Own Bike Lane
A new device called LightLane attaches to the back of your bike and projects a virtual bike lane behind you.
H2OVisions
Bikes Overtaking Pedestrians in Vancouver
In this video from the City of Vancouver, planners give a tour of the city's system of bike lanes. Bicycling is the fastest growing means of transportation in the city, and cars have actually declined.
GVTV
The Challenge of Balancing Cars and People
Ft. Worth transportation planner Don Koski talks about the challenges and rewards of being a transportation planner in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
New York City Has Added 200 Miles of Bike Lanes
New York City had a 35 percent increase in commuter cycling last year. Much of the increase was attributed to New York City’s Department of Transportation's experimenting with innovative bicycle facilities based on European models.
rabble.ca
Broadway Opening is a Leap Towards Better American Cities
Tue, 03/10/2009 - 04:34
This month's Broadway "opening" proposal is as much a clarion to the new thinking of public street space in America as it is a gift to the people of New York City.
Streetsblog: Advocacy Journalism and the Reconquering of the American City
The Internet is a trove of great ideas about improving cities. Filling blogs and personal websites, the vast majority of ideas out there are little more than that: ideas. New York City's Streetsblog -- now a growing nationwide force -- is transforming the conversation into action.
Israeli Bicyclists Decry Auto-Oriented Planning
Bicycle activists in Tel Aviv call for better infrastructure for bicyclists, skaters and pedestrians. "The central question is: Who is the city for - for the car or for the people?" says one.
Haaretz
Bike Lane Controversy Drags On in Brooklyn
Brooklyn residents have built a makeshift detour sign in an attempt to redirect drivers away from their street. A new bike lane was implemented in the fall that has removed stop signs and, according to residents, made their street unsafe.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Better Streets Called a Top Reason to Love New York
New York Magazine's list of reasons to love New York includes a nod to the city's streets and their recent renovation into pedestrian- and bike-friendly thoroughfares.
New York Magazine
Bicycle Infrastructure = More Bicyclists
New York City has released new bicycle counts that demonstrate a 35% increase from 2007 to 2008. Many believe this dramatic rise has much to do with the city's renewed commitment to alternative transportation.
The New York Times
New Road Signage Directs Motorists To 'Move Over' For Cyclists
A single bike activist, tired of being honked at by motorists as they passed her in a narrow lane, lobbied her small city for a sign directing motorists to "change lanes to pass", and got it. Motorists have since ceased honking and changed lanes.
The Examiner
