Single-family detached homes typically epitomize sprawl, while 4 or 5 story apartment buildings now seem to be the utopian ideal for livable neighborhoods. But some of the most livable and walkable neighborhoods I know are largely comprised of single family homes.
Bicycling
How 'Level of Service' Measurements Ruin Cities
"Level of service" is a ranking used by transportation engineers to assess the performance of roads. Streetsblog argues that LOS distorts the development of mobility infrastructure by prioritizing cars over people.
StreetsBlog-SF
Blumenauer Sees Brighter Future As Bike Momentum Builds
"All of a sudden it's hot", says long-time bike advocate and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, who's hoping the country will ride this momentum towards a more sustainable pattern of development.
The New York Times
Best Cities for Bicycles
Bicycling Magazine has ranked U.S. cities in terms of air quality, bike infrastructure, and the number of other bikes on the road.
Austin 360
Cycle-Friendly Cities
Urban Velo Magazine updates readers on new methods for making cities cycle-friendly, and provides a brief history of cycles in cities.
Urban Velo 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
If You Stripe It, They Will Come
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 09:59
The most recent bicycle counts from two of America's most progressive cities, New York City and Portland, have been made public. The results are impressive as much as they are instructive.
More and Better Parking Needed for Philadelphia's Cyclists
As cycling increases in Philadelphia, more bike parking is needed. But the common upside-down U-shaped rack won't provide enough for the city, according to this piece from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Traffic Lanes Turned Pedestrian Plazas
Public plazas have been cropping up along Broadway and Madison Square in New York, occupying spaces that were once traffic lanes.
USA Today
House Hunting on Two Wheels
Real estate agents at Pedal to Properties, a Colorado-based company, gives house tours by bike.
Rocky Mountain News
Seniors Facing High Gas Prices Find Giving Up Their Cars Tough
AARP finds that 29% of older Americans polled say they are now walking as a way to avoid high gas prices, but 40% say the sidewalks in their area are inadequate.
Market Watch - Also Associated Press story
Baseball Stars Commute By Bike
At last count, the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse includes six regular bike commuters including up-and-coming pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.
The Baltimore Sun
Peds and Bikes Clash on Popular Path, Traffic Cops Imminent
Its pathway system increasingly congested with users, the city of Calgary has announced it is going to start ticketing speeding or reckless cyclists.
The Globe and Mail
Boston Moving Towards Bicycle Friendliness
After years of being ranked one of the worst bicycling cities in America, the City of Boston is moving forward with bicycle infrastructure development as a means to cutting congestion and pollution.
The Boston Globe
Rebel Without a Car
Want to be a rebel, a real counter-culturalist? This commentary says it's easy: ride a bike.
Globe Gazette
Great Allegheny Passage Brings Unexpected Revitalization
Hiking and cycling traffic on the Great Allegheny Passageway has brought jobs and prosperity to small towns along the route.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The 11-Person Party Bike Car
A public art piece/commentary on alternative transportation, the Pedal Cloud is a Volkswagen chassis with seats for 10 pedalers and one driver.
Pedal Cloud
Bike Language: the Wave, the Yell and the Nod
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 14:52
City cycling can be hectic. Let's be realistic: most American cities are not meant for cyclists. It would be great if they were, but for now, our city forms are primarily designed for the movement of cars. Because cities are made for cars, it's understandable that car drivers tend to disregard the fact that somebody might be riding a bike out there. (Interchange blogger Mike Lydon recently wrote an excellent piece about planning for bicycle networks.) Until our urban forms and public policies encourage the use of roads by a variety of transportation types, the burden is on cyclists to assert their role in the transit jungle. Communication is key to achieving this goal. Safe cycling (and safe transportation in general) relies heavily on communication. Safe cyclists speak bike language -- a rudimentary system made up of three main components: the wave, the yell and the nod.
Minneapolis Residents Take to Their Bikes
The Minneapolis area is already 2nd in the nation for the percentage of commuters who bike to work. With gas prices soaring, the number of bicyclists has soared. One route over the Mississippi River has seen a doubling of bikes from last year.
Star Tribune
Employers Going Beyond Requirements for Commute Alternatives
Employers in the Seattle area are outpacing City Hall in providing incentives to employees not to drive to work in single occupancy cars. A state law even requires companies with 100 or more commuters to provide alternative commuting plans.
The Seattle Times
