By Frank on September 14, 2008
Since we’ve been having a heated public debate on bicycles in the urban environment, it seems worthwhile linking to this study, showing that the more bicyclists you have on the streets, the safer bicycling becomes for everyone. It’s a “virtuous cycle,” much like London’s congestion pricing: fewer cars on the road leads to better bus service, which leads to fewer cars on the road, etc., etc.
This also reminds me of a recent Ezra Klein post comparing bicycle ridership and accident rates in the US vs. several European countries. The trend is obvious, hardly anyone cycles in the US, and yet our accident rates are astronomical:
This is where government policy can really help. By doing things like dedicating more street real estate to exlusive bicycle right-of-way, we can jolt the virtuous cycle into action.
To be sure, all the policy in the world isn’t going to change the fact that a 65-year-old on a one-speed cruiser can navigate the flat streets of Amsterdam and Copenhagen relatively easily, whereas it takes a fair bit of physical strength and a relatively sophisticated bike to make it up and over, say, Queen Anne Hill. But improvements on the margins can still have a farily substantial impact.
(via Autopia)
Posted in Apple, congestionpricing
By Frank on September 14, 2008
Check out the new Mass Transit Now site. Lots of new stuff up there.
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on September 11, 2008
Speaking of airports, did Crosscut really survey the various airport transportation options without realizing that the 194 bus goes straight there?
Yes, yes they did.
The problem with Crosscut is that, despite its (rumored) low readership numbers, it actually gets read by most of the bigshots who make policy in this town. Which is a problem, and I’m not really sure what to do about it…
Posted in policy
By Frank on September 11, 2008
It’s almost here. What a project:
To create the level plateau on which to build the runway, the port brought in 13 million cubic yards of fill and relocated three million cubic yards of soil already on the site.
To hold that fill in place, the airport construction team created three huge retaining walls, the largest of which is 1,430 feet long and some 130 feet tall.
The gravel and the soil used to create that plateau had to pass forensic inspections to ensure it was clear of contaminants and similar in composition to the rocks and soil already at the site.
“We had to find gravel that originated in the same place in Canada and that was transported here by the glaciers as the gravel that was here on the site,” said King.
The reasoning behind such a requirement is that water that leached through the fill would pick up minute traces of the minerals in the fill, drain into the creeks and confuse or damage native salmon returning to those creeks.
The article also lists some pretty innovative improvements going on at the airport besides the 3rd runway, including a bird detection radar, the rental car terminal, and a new system that will pipe the terminal’s air conditioning to the planes waiting at the gate, so they don’t have to run their engines while they board.
Posted in monorail
By bgtothen on September 11, 2008
Hey everyone. Its been a while since I posted on here. I got back about a week ago now and I’m trying to get back into the groove. I’ll be helping out the Mass Transit Now campaign in the next 8 weeks, which I hope all of you will as well.
Today I attended a little pre-kickoff kickoff to the Mass Transit Now campaign where Larry Phillips gave a very good speech pointing out that when he was 19 the region was in the exact same position as we are now, and it would be irresponsible for us to do the same thing to future generations (thus prompting the photo above). Sooo lets get this thing going!!! Orphanroad seams to have quieted down a bit since I left and we need to get everyone pumped up and excited again.
Over the next few weeks (or months depending on how much time I have) I’ll be posting about some of the amazing things I saw in Europe. I think a lot of it will be about how they solve the same exact problems we have here but differently, and most of the time better. Also I took ton of photos (5000+) so most everything will be accompanied by photos to give you a better idea of what I’m talking about.
Posted in Uncategorized
By Matt the Engineer on September 10, 2008
I consider the amount of well thought out long-term infrastructure a society builds to be a direct measure of its past residents’ humanity. One does not decide to spend tax money on a 20-year subway project to get to work faster. He knows he is spending his hard-earned money to better his city, to change the environment of others that perhaps haven’t been born yet but whom he knows will live easier lives because of his actions.
I appreciate those that built our city’s water supply, the Denny regrade, our system of boulevards and parks, our bus tunnel, our nation’s intercontinental railroad, our power grid, our nuclear power plants, and even our freeway system. These projects could not have been easy or cheap, and those that voted for these plans knew they would not directly benefit for years, if ever.
Lately it feels as if we’re looking for quick solutions. Widening roads to fix traffic problems, “clean coal” to generate power, buses to save fuel. What we really need are large long-term projects: improved power grids, high-speed rail, subways, green power on a massive scale. Modern shallow politics focuses on direct voter benefits to pass laws and win elections. Have we misplaced our humanity?
Posted in clock tower, sierraclub, tickets
By Frank on September 9, 2008
New York’s MTA tries it out on the Bx12:
The route, which goes from 207th Street in Upper Manhattan across the heart of the Bronx along Fordham Road and Pelham Parkway, was revamped in July as part of an experimental program known as Select Bus Service. Riders pay their fare using machines at sidewalk bus stops, which allows them to board more quickly through either the front or the rear door of extra-long articulated buses.
Buses travel in red-painted lanes that are off limits to other vehicles during busy times of day, and additional police officers are deployed to keep the lanes clear. Traffic signals along Fordham Road have been equipped to communicate electronically with the buses, allowing, for example, a green signal to be extended for a few seconds to let a bus through or shortening a red signal’s time.
Another major innovation: Drivers were told not to worry about keeping to a schedule, but to drive off as soon as they picked up passengers. That has eliminated the often frustrating delays at stops while drivers whose buses are early wait to get back on schedule.
This is basically the full BRT monty: off-bus fare collection, dedicated ROW, and signal priority. I do hope Metro is able to salvage at least some of Seattle’s planned BRT routes in the midst of this budget crunch.
Posted in rail transit, taxes
By Frank on September 8, 2008
It sure is interesting, as Dominic Holden notes, that the City of Seattle just hired Ray Gastil to head the city’s Planning Commission Division*. Gastil was formerly the director of New York City’s Manhattan planning office, and just happens to specialize in reclaiming urban waterfronts.
On a totally unrelated note, signs have started going up along Highway 99 down by Starbucks HQ, noting that the viaduct construction will occur between 2009 and 2012.
*oops, sloppy pre-coffee blogging.
Posted in Eastside
By joshkelley on September 8, 2008
Will Metro be upgrading their website soon? I found a few pages on the site looking like this:
Anyone know anything?
Posted in alternative commute, policy
By Frank on September 5, 2008
SeaPort Air claims it’s the first “green” airline, since it buys offsets for the small, fuel-effiicient turbo props it flies between Seattle and Portland.
The original “green” way to get to Portand, Amtrak Cascades, saw July ridership on the Seattle-Portland route increase 26 percent over last year.
SeaPort Air, which operates out of Boeing Field, claims 90 minutes from “downtown to downtown.” Prices start at $99 each way. Amtrak Cascades currently takes about 3.5 hours, with a goal of getting it down to 2.5 sometime in the future.
Posted in marginal service, tacoma
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