LAPD misses the mark on strategies to improve safety on our streets

Los Angeles Walks: "Has this ever happened to you? You’re waiting to cross a street at a marked intersection downtown. The signal changes to let you know it’s safe to walk and you’re all ready to stroll across the beautiful new continental crosswalk, except there’s a car in your way."

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New Year's Eve #freetransit is a good idea. For the same reasons and more, it should be free all year.

Free Metro Rail and bus service on New Year’s Eve: "“The reason for the free service is to encourage people to take the bus or the train rather than going out on dangerous streets on New Year’s Eve,” said Arthur Leahy, Metro chief executive officer. “We do that as kind of a public safety thing. People can go to a dinner or a party and then take the train home. They don’t have to get on the road. They don’t have to drive.”"

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90% of Americans think their #publictransit is insufficient

Ticket To Ride: Americans Prefer Public Transit: "According to the research from HNTB Corporation, 76 percent of Americans are open to taking public transportation instead of driving, up from 69 percent in 2010.

High gas prices would drive the decision for 41 percent of those who choose public transportation over driving. In fact, 54 percent think getting around on public transportation for a year would save them more money than doing so via a car.

More than 9 in 10, however, believe the nation’s public transportation needs to be improved in some way. Many public transit agencies are exploring various ideas, including the introduction or expansion of bus rapid transit (BRT) facilities."

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Want to reduce health-care costs? Get more #publictransit

Public Transit Improvements Benefit Public Health | KPBS San Diego Public Radio & TV: News, Arts & Culture: "One thing that emerged at Wednesday's North County Transportation Business Summit is that improving public transit is one of the most effective ways to improve public health. Our car culture is dangerous in several ways, not least because it contributes to one of the nation's fastest-growing public health problems: obesity."

Americans choosing mass transit over driving | transportation, study, driving

Victorville Daily Press: "Americans are driving less and using mass transit more than a decade ago, according to a recent study by two national think tanks, and use of public transportation appears to be on the rise in the High Desert."

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[Roaring Fork, Colorado] Bus ridership up 34 percent in September

PostIndependent.com: "For the month as a whole, RFTA hauled 173,403 passengers on the Highway 82 corridor in September this year compared to 129,602 for the same month last year. That’s an increase of 34 percent.

Blankenship noted RFTA offered free rides for the first four days that expanded bus service was available so that probably buoyed ridership to some extent. The real test for the expanded service will be during October and November, which are part of the fall off-season, he said. The September ridership numbers are the latest available."

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Bad #publictransit forces people into cars

PE.com: "Public transportation is supposed to encourage folks to set aside their daily driving, save the environment and conserve fuel. How can you convince somebody to use something that simply does not work? You can’t.
Therefore, the next day will find me behind the wheel of a 400 horsepower, 10-miles-per-gallon vehicle to get to work in. But at least I won’t miss an important date with my wife."

U.S. still headed in the wrong direction, down the highway

Next segment of 5 Freeway widening project will cause delays: "That was the message delivered to residents who live near one of the most challenging segments of the I-5 Widening Project, the Florence Avenue interchange.

“It will get worse before it gets better,” said Santa Fe Springs Mayor Richard Moore, during his opening remarks to about 50 people Monday night as they gathered at the City Hall Town Center to hear about road closures and alternative routes during the massive construction project."

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How get around San Diego on #publictransit -- 8 - Nov - @wegetaroundsd

Elderly Driver Classes: "We Get Around! will travel to San Diego's Old Town. In this first class you'll join other students who are eager to stay active in the community and learn how to navigate San Diego's transportation system. In this first class we'll cover:

How to select and purchase a trolley ticket.
​
How to read a trolley schedule.

Trolley etiquette and safety tips.

In addition, you'll spend the afternoon exploring Old Town without having to think about traffic or finding a parking spot!"

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Las Vegas loses if it ignores mass transit

Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Our community is embarking on a new direction for economic development. It’s time we went in a new direction for public transportation. What kind of community do we want to be? Do we want to stay ahead of trends, or do we constantly want to play catch-up? Do we want to attract a tech-savvy workforce, or do we want our competitors to get them?

Many may ask what it will cost us to build a world-class transit system. I think the better question is this: What will it cost if we don’t?"

Santa Clarita #freetransit for seniors means 17% ridership increase

KHTS Radio: "The City of Santa Clarita has been encouraging seniors to try free, local Santa Clarita Transit services as a way to increase their mobility throughout the community.  The City’s efforts paid off as ridership among seniors increased 17 percent this year. "

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54% of young people say #publictransit is best way to go

The study shows that while car-sharing, bike-sharing, walking and car ownership will all play a part in the multimodal network, public transportation is ranked highest as the best mode to connect to all other modes, according to 54% of millennials polled.

LINK

#Climatechange slams Colorado

https://twitter.com/Kelly7News/status/378502710187655168/photo/1

https://twitter.com/T0nedandFit/status/378343125191639040/photo/1

Heavy rains cause flooding in Colorado; fatalities reported - The Washington Post: "LYONS, Colo. — Heavy rains and scarring from recent wildfires sent walls of water crashing down mountainsides early Thursday in Colorado, cutting off mountain towns and causing the University of Colorado to cancel classes. At least three people are reported dead."

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As Gas Prices Rise, Savings for Public Transit Riders Increase

Transit and Trails: "Washington, D.C. For those dealing with the 30 cent increase in gas prices from last month, taking public transportation instead of driving can be your Silver Linings Playbook.  According to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) February Transit Savings Report, individuals who ride public transportation instead of driving can save, on average, more than $826 this month, and $9,917 annually.  These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle which includes the February 12, 2013 average national gas price ($3.60 per gallon- reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking rate."

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San Diego should not be side-tracked from important progress on #climate and #transportation

Voice of San Diego: "4. Health and Safety: Climate change is expected to impact the San Diego region not just in sea level rise, but in increased incidence of wildfires and droughts. The largest share of pollutant and green-house gas emissions reductions at a local level comes from transportation choices. The modes of public transport in the future will significantly determine our ability to act towards achieving statewide climate change targets through 2035 and beyond. A new climate action plan that aims to aggressively meet these goals needs to be drafted, adopted and implemented. Some examples of prioritizing transit include double-tracking the Coaster, extending the trolley to University City, continuing to subsidize transit for school children and increasing the frequency on the blue line."

Los Angeles #publictransit prevents $billions in congestion costs

Energy Economics Exchange: "“Our estimates imply that the total congestion relief benefit of operating the Los Angeles transit system is between $1.2 billion to $4.1 billion per year, or $1.20 to $4.10 per peak-hour transit passenger mile.”"

Transit San Diego - kids hitchhiking on Twitter shows need for more #publictransit

Transit San Diego: ""30 years ago, 8 in 10 American 18-year-olds had a driver's license. Today, it's 6 in 10."

Maybe functional transit would be safer than Twitter?!"

Proposed Cuts in Pre-Tax Benefits for Mass Transit wrong direction

Smart Card Alliance: "“Developing a legislative plan to review and streamline our current tax code is laudable and to be encouraged. But to reduce the Transit Benefit program will disincentivize the millions of citizens and employees who use public transportation as a means of commuting to and from their place of business,” said Steve Shewmaker, president of Cubic Transportation Systems. “This works against our national interest to be energy independent, promote economic growth, reward wage earners and be pro-environment. Moreover, at a time when gasoline prices are at a record high and the U.S. trade balance so negatively impacted by oil imports, the last thing policy makers should be considering is legislation that discourages the use of public transit. The government should be encouraging our citizens to take advantage of public transportation when and where it is accessible.”"

Walking fans say Bakersfield needs more sidewalks, trees, buses

BakersfieldCalifornian.com: "Advocates of walking joined seniors and members of a Bakersfield summer camp Tuesday to promote pedestrian safety at a Kern Council of Governments meeting, where local officials continue to update their non-motorized transportation wish list for the next quarter-century.

Members of California Walks, a statewide organization dedicated to creating walkable communities, joined representatives of Bakersfield's Greenfield Walking Group, the California Alliance of Retired Americans and students from the Kern Video Voice Camp for a rally outside the meeting."

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40% of new households in Los Angeles in 6 years have no car

And yet, their taxes are used to pay for the hidden costs of the auto. To make it more fair, make the buses free.

Better Institutions: Almost All of Los Angeles' Growth Is in Low-car Households: "Between 2005 and 2011, ninety percent of Los Angeles' growth was in low-car households, defined as households with fewer vehicles than working adults*. You read that right: Los Angeles, low-car. Even more incredibly, of the 20,000 households the city added over this six-year period, over 8,000 of them own zero cars. That's over forty percent."

People are being killed by cars, not trains.

Media Matters for America: " "The real safety issue," he added, is motor vehicles, noting that deaths per passenger mile for motor vehicles are over 40 times larger than for Amtrak, and over 20 times larger than for commuter rail."

Vegetable garden illegal in Los Angeles

Farmscape: "The City of Los Angeles has instructed the homowner to remove this beautiful parkway vegetable garden. We think it should stay. What do you think?"

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Free buses a better idea than forever expanding highways

Opinion: Freeway or free way - Del Mar Times | Del Mar Times: "The proposed widening of Interstate 5 has triggered renewed discussion of how to expand the use of public transportation so as to reduce the need for ever-more freeway lanes.

...Since 2002 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has enjoyed free public transit on all fixed-route bus service and EZ-Rider service for the elderly and disabled.... The buses are fare-free for all area residents and visitors, not only for the 40,000 UNC students, faculty, and staff. Ridership has more than doubled in the nine years since the fare-free policy was adopted."

...If buses and trains were fare-free, many more people would ride them. And traffic, congestion, pollution, and new freeway construction would be reduced.

Flooding in the burn scar, this is the future. Still want cars?

VIDEO: Flash flood brings black water down Waldo burn scar, sweeps away motorists: "A torrential downpour on the Waldo Canyon burn scar before the evening commute Wednesday turned loose a flash flood that swept stunned motorists off the road and closed U.S. Highway 24 for about three hours."

Colorado river already over-used. We still wash cars, water lawns

EcoWatch : "The hearing comes on the heels of a scientific paper published in June in the American Meteorological Society that discussed the wide predictions in variability of flows in the Colorado River basin due to a potential mega-drought. Such a mega-drought has occurred in the past and could last decades and reduce flows in the river by as much as 45 percent according to the paper. The CRBS also indicated that, due to population growth and climate change, demand for water in the Colorado River basin–which currently serves 35 million people–has already outstripped supply with the imbalance increasing dramatically over the next few decades."

Global warming calls for dramatic action. Abolish the private auto.

Transit Riders for Public Transportation: "The urgency and magnitude of the global warming crisis demands a scale of cuts in greenhouse gases that defies the imagination. The United States is one of the world's largest historical greenhouse gas emitter and must reduce its emissions by at 60% immediately on the way to a 90% cut by 2050-based on 1990 levels. With the U.S. emitting 45% of the world's automotive greenhouse gas emissions, can we envision moving towards a 90% reduction in U.S. greenhouse gases by virtually eliminating the auto and replacing it with a nationwide system of public transit?"

Bonin Takes Public Transport to First Day at City Hall - Government - Pacific Palisades, CA Patch

Bonin Takes Public Transport to First Day at City Hall - Government - Pacific Palisades, CA Patch: "Bonin hopped on the 733 bus at the corner of Venice Boulevard and Walgrove Avenue, before hopping on the Expo Line in Culver City. Bonin posted on his Facebook page early Monday morning:

Heading to my first council meeting via mass transit. Picking up the 733 Rapid and then checking out how the Expo Line is doing. LA's transit future is here. Go Metro!"

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Mother nature still talking, we are still not listening. Killer fire in AZ still 100% out of control

ThinkProgress: "As the community grieved the loss of 19 firefighters who died Sunday fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire, the deadly blaze continued to rage out of control. As of 9:30 p.m. Monday, it had grown to 8,400 acres and remained zero percent contained. About 500 firefighters were battling the blaze, with more expected to join Tuesday."

19 firefighters killed battling fast-moving Ariz. wildfire - CBS News

19 firefighters killed battling fast-moving Ariz. wildfire - CBS News: "YARNELL, ARIZ. Gusty, hot winds blew an Arizona blaze out of control Sunday in a forest northwest of Phoenix, overtaking and killing 19 members of an elite fire crew in the deadliest wildfire involving firefighters in the U.S. in decades."

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San Diego: Car-free plaza ready for strolling

UTSanDiego.com: "Balboa Park's Plaza de Panama has a new surface -- and no cars -- in a pedestrian-only experiment completed this week. A city photographer captured this aerial view from a police helicopter. — - City of San Diego"

Free Shuttle Buses to Serve Coronado This Summer - Government - Coronado, CA Patch

Free Shuttle Buses to Serve Coronado This Summer - Government - Coronado, CA Patch: "You may want to hop on the bus this summer in Coronado.

It's free.

At least it will be in July, August and September following a vote by the Coronado City Council Tuesday.

As opposed to one bus making nine hourly round-trips from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., two buses will make 26 round trips a day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m."

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Brazil free public transport movement wins major victories against fare hikes

Activists demonstrate in front of riot police outside the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia June 15, 2013. Protests continued in Brasilia over the government's economic policies and the hosting of major sporting events as Brazil's national soccer team prepared to play Japan in the Confederations Cup opening match. (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino)

latimes.com: "SAO PAULO, Brazil -- A number of cities in Brazil announced reductions in public bus fares Tuesday as authorities grappled with some of the largest street protests in years."

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No money for #freetransit, but taxpayers will have to bailout #autosprawl again.

Photo: LATimes

Climate change is caused by sprawl. Taxpayers have to bail out sprawl over and over. Let's make public transit fare-free, and encourage a different way of life.

SD Unified Approves Free Bus Passes For Low-Income Students | KPBS.org

SD Unified Approves Free Bus Passes For Low-Income Students | KPBS.org: "The decision comes several years after Barrera learned educators at San Diego High were collecting money from staff, parents and anyone else who would give to cover the cost of transit passes for students who couldn't buy their own. Barrera said about 70 percent of students at San Diego High take the trolley or bus to school."

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#Carfree and happy in Los Angeles

Los Angeles magazine: "I’m not Anti-Car. Far from it. When I abandoned my four wheels, it was part of a game. I had noticed how my car sat motionless in one place—my garage, the parking lot at work, the 101—and I wanted to see how long I could get by without driving it at all. Six years later I can confidently say I’m healthier, happier, and wealthier. I estimate that I have $10,000 of “extra” income every year that used to go to car expenses.

I also have more time. Walking, biking, and taking public transit require a lot of planning ahead, but the time shift works to my advantage. I read more books and answer more e-mails. I can effortlessly ride a bike a few miles during the day instead of forcing myself to squeeze in yoga at night. I lost ten pounds in the first year, even though I could swear I was eating more than ever. (It’s a lot tougher to avoid taco trucks when you’re on foot.)"

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Mother nature strikes back against sprawl

The Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, which ravaged the Mountain Shadows subdivision, proved to be one of the most destructive in Colorado history.(RJ Sangosti, Denver Post file)

The Denver Post: "The hotter, drier climate will transform Rocky Mountain forests, unleashing wider wildfires and insect attacks, federal scientists warn in a report for Congress and the White House."

Read more:Feds project climate change will double wildfire risk in forests - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22943189/feds-project-climate-change-will-double-wildfire-risk#ixzz2PV7rU3Ju
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Follow us:@Denverpost on Twitter|Denverpost on Facebook

Public transit saves $billions in congestion costs alone

Going Places : Center for Neighborhood Technology: "One of the strongest arguments in favor of investment in public transit is the role it plays in mitigating traffic congestion. The logic is simple: more train and bus commuters mean fewer car commuters and fewer cars on the road. A recently released working paper from University of California scholar Michael Anderson provides some real data to back this up. In 2003, employees of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority went on strike, shutting down the cities bus and train services."

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Long Beach design group favors pedestrians

City Fabrick » ENGAGEMENT: "Advocate for improvements for pedestrian safety & comfort, working with stakeholders to identify opportunities and challenges in the community.  "

Vibrant San Diego celebrates biking and walking

A few of our #VibrantSD supporting orgs! pic.twitter.com/rZh3pdIR6J

transitsandiego

Free bus means better patient care

Getting patients to where they need to be - latimes.com: "Without Woodard, many patients simply wouldn't show up for appointments. They are chronically ill but live in a world where going to the doctor is not always the top priority. In some ways, the Tennessee native develops a closer relationship with the patients than anyone else at the clinic does. That relationship can translate into results — patients getting the medical care they need."

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Yuma, Arizona plans to expand #freetransit

YRMC employees and volunteers can ride YCAT buses free YCIPTA discusses potential transit sales tax ‘Lean and mean’ Potential funding Transit sales tax Referendum campaigns Issues to overcome, tax, transit, sales - News - YumaSun: "In seeking alternative funding, YCIPTA has established partnerships with Arizona Western College, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, allowing students and employees to ride YCAT for free based on a $5 fee.

This program has been expanded to Aztec High School, Yuma Private Industry Council and SMILE at a $45 per semester rate per student and employee. Yuma Regional Medical Center entered a similar partnership this month."

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New real estate development company, Micropolitan, will to focus on #walkability

Walkability Key Focus of New Management Company - Sustainability - Multifamily Executive Magazine: "Psomas, a Los Angeles-based engineering company, announced the launch of Micropolitan, a new company focused on purchasing and developing apartment buildings with supreme walkability for residents.

The new company, which will also be headquartered in Los Angeles, plans to take on between three and five new projects each year, Micropolitan President Larry Kruger said.

The projects will be in Southern California communities and will include purchases, renovations and ground-up construction to reduce resident’s dependency on auto transportation.
 "

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Biofuel from Algae - not so much. "...the days of a society based around personalized transport powered by liquid hydrocarbon fuels are numbered."

The Achilles' Heel of Algal Biofuels - Peak Phosphate. - An Update.: " It seems quite clear that with food production already stressed, the production of (algal) biofuels will never be accomplished on a scale anywhere close to matching current world petroleum fuel use (> 20 billion barrels/annum)27. Thus, the days of a society based around personalized transport powered by liquid hydrocarbon fuels are numbered. We must reconsider too our methods of farming2, to reduce inputs of fertilisers, pesticides and fuel. Freshwater supplies are also at issue2, in the complex transition to a more localised age that uses its resources much more efficiently."

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Yuma, AZ. No bus fares for hospital employees, volunteers, some patients

On the go, bus, andoh, ycat - News - YumaSun: "YRMC will contribute funding so that its employees and volunteers can ride YCAT free and unrestricted. An YCAT sticker would be attached to the employee or volunteer ID card and would change color each six-month period.

As part of the agreement, YCIPTA will provide 500 YCAT DayPasses for distribution to patients who require transportation from YRMC facilities.

This program will be available to YRMC employees and volunteers effective March 1. The total revenue generated annually would be $30,000, if YRMC extends the agreement beyond Sept. 30.

A new program that premiered last month received high praise by riders. YCIPTA expected three bus loads of passengers for the YCAT Holiday GOAround tours Dec. 21-23, but ended up with nine bus loads that Friday, 11 on Saturday and another nine on Sunday."

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Post Carbon Institute: "Growth is not normal"

California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, Works

About CEQA | CEQA Works: "The California Environmental Quality Act became law in 1970. It is an “environmental bill of rights” for all Californians. CEQA is designed to ensure that people in every California community can understand how land use decisions will impact their communities and health, and can hold public agencies accountable to local and state environmental and land use laws.
The California Environmental Quality Act:

• is the only state law that ensures the public has an opportunity to be informed about and participate in major land use decisions.
• gives communities a voice in shaping development in a way that supports quality of life by encouraging transit, bike, and pedestrian-friendly development.
• provides important public health protections by requiring agencies to explain to the public the air and water pollution that will be caused by major land use projects and to consider feasible measures to reduce these effects.
• ensures that developers pay for the environmental impacts of new construction."

Colorado city bans #fracking

Large Coalition Comes Together to Oppose Fracking in Colorado | Common Dreams: "Earlier this month, Longmont became the first city in Colorado to ban fracking in a historic bipartisan vote, indicating that the tide of public opinion is turning away from fracking as more residents learn of its negative impacts on health, safety, property, air, water and families throughout Colorado."

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