Issue #45 / April 2010
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Director of LivableStreets Alliance Jackie Douglas will join bicycle enthusiast, musician and author of Bicycle Diaries David Byrne, Director of Boston Bikes Nicole Freedman and Associate Director of the SENSEable City Lab Assaf Biderman in a panel discussion exploring the plasticity and potential of cycling within future urban transportation landscapes.
A cycle track is a bicycle facility that separates bicycles from automobile and pedestrian traffic. It combines the user experience of a separated path with the on-street infrastructure of a conventional bicycle lane. Danish research has shown that cycle tracks can increase bicycle ridership 18 to 20 percent, compared with the 5 to 7 percent increase found resulting from bicycle lanes.
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Ride 4 Bob Zeeb to benefit LivableStreets
Celebrate the life and spirit of Robert Zeeb, 1938-2009 Sunday, June 20, 9:30 am
@ Auburndale Park in Newton, MA (start and finish) 25 - 30 mile loop, with shorter excursions possible
Bob Zeeb was regularly cycling 50 miles a day and hoped to make a cross-country trip the summer of 2011. He died November 10, 2009, as the result of a bicycle accident due to a missing electrical utility vault access plate.
Bob was a retired educational administrator for the Newton Schools, a coordinator of adult education for the First Unitarian Society of Newton, an avid environmentalist, social justice activist, gardener, and cyclist. He was a resident of Newtonville with his wife, Holly, for the past 45 years. Bob and Holly Zeeb enjoyed many cycling trips together: in Crete, in the Finger Lakes regions of New York State, in the Boulder area of Colorado, and in Maine. Bob and their two sons, Peter, of Arlington and Noel, of Cambridge, cycled in the Loire Valley in France together in 2008 in celebration of his 70th birthday.
"Because he was so passionate about cycling, we think he would be especially pleased that this bike ride will benefit Livable Streets," say his two sons, Peter and Noel, who are organizing the ride.
Register for the ride here >>>
If you do not ride, please consider making a donation in memory of Bob Zeeb at www.ride4bobzeeb.org.
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Beyond the Motor City - June movie screening
Free and open to the public. Suggested $5-10 donation.
 Beyond the Motor Cityis a new PBS documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker Aaron Woolf (King Corn). The movie
examines how Detroit, a grim symbol of America's diminishing status in the world, may come to represent the future of transportation and progress in this country. The film explores Detroit's historic investments in infrastructure-from early 19th-century canals to the urban freeways that gave The Motor City its name and made America's transportation system the envy of the world.
But it also reveals that over the last 30 years, much of the world has left Detroit-and America-behind, choosing faster, cleaner, more modern transportation.
In a journey that takes us into the neighborhoods of Detroit and then beyond to Spain, California, and our nation's capital, Beyond the Motor City urges us to ask how a symbol of America's urban decay might transform itself into a model of urban revitalization. Can we finally push America's transit system into the 21st century?
Come watch, and afterwards participate in a discussion on the future of transportation in America.
Sponsored by LivableStreets Alliance. For more info, click here >>>
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Announcements _____________________________________________________________
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Bicycling Safety Summit .jpg)
On Wednesday Mayor Menino hosted a Bicycling Safety Summit to gather area bicyclists and high-ranking officials from Massachusetts Deptartmen of Transportation, Boston Transportation Deptartment, Boston EMS, MBTA, Boston Bikes, and Deptartment of Public Health to discuss ways of improving safety for everyone who uses Boston's roadways. Steve Miller, LivableStreets board member and founder of Hub on Wheels Bicycle Ride, moderated the event.
Cyclists from Boston and surrounding cities offered comments, critiques, and challenges to the officials.
LivableStreets provided attendees with a Citizen Information Handout with ideas of how to create safer streets.
Improving conditions for bicycling, walking, and transit is a must. LivableStreets is committed to helping make Boston's roadways "complete streets" that are accessible, safe, and welcoming for all users.
Once rated the worst bicycling city, the City of Boston was just ranked #26 Best Bicycle City by Bicycling Magazine. With your support, LivableStreets advocates for safer streets, hosts the annual Boston Bikes report, succesfully advocated for Commonwealth Avenue to be a complete street for all users, and more. Make Boston an even better bicycling city tomorrow by becoming a LivableStreets member today and get involved!
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Become a LivableStreets Ambassador
 Do you like to talk about bicycling, walking, and public transit? Want a free LivableStreets orange T-shirt? Are you interested in finding out where people want to see improvements on their streets and in their neighborhoods? Become a LivableStreets Ambassador this summer! Volunteer for a day, or two, or three, this summer at local fairs/festivals/conferences/events, and during campaign outreach days. Upcoming events include: Wake Up the Earth Festival in JP, Bike Friday at Government Center, and more!
For more information, e-mail volunteers@livablestreets.info
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Transportation Factoids
Some interesting transportation facts and figures from national polls and studies:
For more interesting facts and stats, check out T4America's Future of Public Transportation National Poll here >>> |
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The joy of cycling; the frustration of not getting through
Musings on transportation, health, and livable communities
by Steve Miller, LivableStreets Alliance board member "The sun is shining; the snow is gone; the rain has stopped. It's time for a long ride that reminds me of how much I enjoy bicycling - and gives me a chance to ponder some of the bike-car relationships that we have to negotiate on the road. Of course, cycling isn't just fun, it also reduces traffic congestion, keeps us healthy, avoids polluting energy imports, and makes our communities more livable ..."
Blog can be accessed at http://blog.livablestreets.info |
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_____________________________________________________________ Thank you to our Sponsors:
 and Supporters: Harpoon Brewery, Taza Chocolate, Regina Villa Associates
Special thanks to our new sponsor Back Bay Bicycles!
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Sincerely,
Jacqueline Douglas
LivableStreets Alliance
E: jackie@livablestreets.info P: 617.621.1746
W: www.livablestreets.info
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