City Councilman Tom Beiker held a public forum at The Hub yesterday — first in a series of planned public discussions. The main topic was bicycling and helping make Springfield a bicycle-friendly community. I was unable to attend the meeting. The News-Leader published an article today. It’s difficult to tell how much talk there was [...]
Last year I reported here, based on a conversation at a STAR Team meeting, that the city was uninterested in painting more bicycle lanes. With the creation of new lanes on Division and Benton and the discussion at night’s STAR Team meeting, it has became clear to me that painting more bicycle lanes is in [...]
Park Central Square is finished. Here are the results. You’ll see that it has become a more pedestrian-friendly place. Technorati Tags: Springfield Missouri, Urban and Regional Planning, urban design, urban development, Urban Planning
This is what happens when you hang out in coffee shops jawboning with cronies. One of the virtues of an urban area — especially a densely-populated downtown core — is that creative people bump into one another and start talking (or old farts start jawboning — take your pick). And that talking leads to ideas. And [...]
Just in time for the First Friday Art Walk, the Square is open again. Here’s an iPhone image from a few minutes ago. Technorati Tags: cycling, urban design, urban development, Urban Planning
The following is an e-mail issued by Butler, Rosenbury & Partners today about the renovations to Park Central Square: Construction crews are finishing work on Park Central Square in downtown Springfield 20 days ahead of schedule. This is the culmination of a four-year effort to improve Springfield’s Public Square. History Originally positioned as the city center in 1838, [...]
The Holy Grail of bicycle advocacy is numbers of kiesters in saddles on two wheels on the road. Some advocates are willing to do almost anything to increase participation — including putting novices in danger. There’s a “but”: It appears rather clear that the more people who ride bicycles in a given area the safer [...]
A poll by the National Association of Realtors earlier this spring showed that Americans’ attitudes about where to live may be changing. A few (cherry-picked) highlights: Americans are three times more likely to say that the quality of life in their communities has gotten worse (35%) rather than better (12%) in the last three years. [...]
OK, actually a reason that’s not talked about enough… So, what can bicycling do for us and our towns and cities? The usual reasons to ride a bicycle include: health, wealth, relieve traffic congestion, and (add two or three things you think of most). Kasey Klimes, wrting for This Big City, says the following is [...]
Just returned from my trip to Ecuador (more on the Quito traffic situation soon), and the first thing I did this morning was head downtown for my usual routine. The one big change: The new bicycle corral appeared in my absence. From left to right is Rick Scarlet, James Radke, and yours truly. This corral [...]
Here are three pictures I took today. The cause of real transportation alternatives for all keeps moving forward in Springfield. Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle infrastructure, cycling, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning
Except that it’s not. Bicycling is really quite safe. But our culture has accepted a mythology of danger and fear. It is this mythology that I believe convinces Americans they need special facilities to ride their bicycles safely. I have stated many times on Carbon Trace that I admire the Dutch system. That system, as [...]
This article in USA Today set me to thinking. I could live in one of these communities. I would be especially interested if it were situated in Springfield’s urban core close to downtown. So, any Carbon Trace readers think this idea has possibilities? UPDATE: Join the local Pocket Neighborhood group on Facebook. Technorati Tags: bicycle [...]
The Springfield News-Leader published an article about The Link today. For more, check out my coverage. And you can always watch this video: Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle infrastructure, bicycle politics, cycling, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning
Last year I mentioned The Link — a proposed north-south route slated for bicycle/pedestrian/transit improvements for the purpose of, among other things, better connecting the urban greenways. The city planning department would like for you to ride/walk the route and give feedback. Just click here. You’ll find a nice .pdf map of the route, Yesterday, I rode the [...]
