tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50204509220716815062024-02-06T22:27:07.746-08:00Street HeatDamien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-75426271920754733052022-02-17T10:25:00.003-08:002022-02-17T10:25:42.640-08:00Open Letter to CD 11 Candidates, RE: Healthy Streets L.A.<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello!</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d684950b-7fff-07b8-535c-758186bc71d7"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My name is Damien Newton, I’m a reporter with Streetsblog and a Mar Vista resident working to make our streets safe for all road users. I’m gathering signatures for the Healthy Streets L.A. Ballot Initiative. The website for the initiative is still under construction, but can be found here : https://www.healthystreetsla.com/</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m reaching out to all the CD 11 candidates to see if they would be willing to sign the petition (I’ll come to you) and let me take a picture for social media to highlight your support. It would be great to have as many candidates sign the petition to get the measure on the ballot as possible.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what is Healthy Streets L.A.? </span><a href="https://la.streetsblog.org/2022/02/08/new-ballot-initiative-underway-to-get-l-a-to-implement-its-mobility-plan/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Streetsblog explains</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 13pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 13pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Based on similar mandates in </span><a href="https://usa.streetsblog.org/2019/04/09/cambridge-becomes-first-u-s-city-to-make-protected-bike-lanes-mandatory/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0077ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cambridge</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Providence, and Seattle, Healthy Streets L.A. would require the city to implement its own approved Mobility Plan whenever the city repaves or otherwise works on a street. </span><a href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/05/01/meet-a-mayor-who-figured-out-how-to-neutralize-anti-bike-lane-nimbys/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0077ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cambridge Mayor Marc McGovern credited his city’s ordinance with taking ambiguity off the table</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, so people know that bike lanes are being implemented, and the conversation shifts to how to do them most effectively.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 13pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://la.streetsblog.org/2015/08/11/l-a-city-council-approves-new-mobility-plan-vision-zero/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0077ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">L.A. City approved its Mobility Plan 2035 back in 2015</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The plan designated extensive networks of transit-priority bus lane streets, pedestrian-priority areas, and protected bikeways. The plan also ratified </span><a href="https://la.streetsblog.org/2019/12/03/safe-streets-advocates-stage-die-in-to-protest-garcetti-and-city-council-lack-of-vision-zero-progress/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0077ee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vision Zero</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as L.A. City policy – committing the city to end traffic deaths.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are interested in signing the petition and publicly supporting it, please let me know and I’ll come to you to get your signature (and take a picture). I can be reached via email at </span><a href="mailto:damien@streetsblog.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">damien@streetsblog.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All the Best,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Damien Newton</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-27530767569020334562021-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:002021-10-28T11:28:01.355-07:00Testimony on LA City Council File 21-1222 before 11/2 Transportation Committee Meeting<p>Thank you for the opportunity to write today. I am a Slow Streets Volunteer for "Mar Vista Slow Streets" representing St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. I am writing the following testimony as an individual.</p><p>I urge you to support this motion and to encourage the Department of Transportation to quickly respond with steps forward for Slow Streets Communities and communities wishing to become Slow Streets communities.</p><p>During the Stay at Home Order and through until today, the Slow Streets program has been a good program in Mar Vista. With a minimal investment from the city, and countless volunteer hours from residents, Slow Streets signs were put up and maintained. In addition to creating safe places for people of all ages to recreate, it created confidence among community members to take advantage of the space to get creative with unofficial community events including weekly "Lite Brite Bike Rides", a "Socially Distanced Halloween" Map and bicycle themed fundraisers for the local school.</p><p>However, ever since LADOT reorganized the Slow Streets program so that it now falls on the district offices for next steps, the program has pretty much vanished city-wide. In Mar Vista, we decided earlier to scale back the program a little, leaving us with extra signs we can deploy for events such as the upcoming Halloween weekend and our volunteers remain engaged. However, we are told that the city is no longer moving on "permanent slow streets" as promised in late 2020, no longer fulfilling sign replacement requests, no longer taking requests from Slow Streets communities to expand or modify their program and no longer taking applications for new Slow Streets programs.</p><p>I write this testimony from two POV's. One one hand, of course I want the permanent Slow Streets for our neighborhood. Portions of Mar Vista that have the program don't have sidewalks or marked street crossings. Other parts have trafficked (both motorized and non-motorized) areas between Richland Avenue School and St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. Bringing the permanent Slow Street promised to fulfillment could mean great things.</p><p>As a former editor of Streetsblog LA, I want every community to experience the success that we had in Mar Vista. Anything the city can do to bring back this low-cost, extremely popular program to improve safety and increase access to our public spaces is much appreciated.</p>Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-47274816624290575792010-05-18T07:06:00.001-07:002010-05-18T07:06:27.030-07:00Marcy Winograd's full statement on 30/10As a congressional candidate, I advocate transitioning from a permanent war economy to a new Green economy that fast-tracks mass transit projects like the 30/10 initiative to accelerate construction of 12 key Metro expansion projects. When I campaign, people often tell me that one of their greatest concerns in Los Angeles is the traffic. 'Please,' they beg, 'do something about the gridlock. I can't take it anymore.' When LA County voters approved Measure R, a half-cent sales tax increase to fund critical transportation projects, they, too, said they couldn't take it anymore. Rather than wait 30 years to expand our Metro transit system, we need to speed up this initiative with a federal loan guarantee that will create new jobs and provide much-needed relief. <br /><br />Certainly, California pays its fair share of taxes, with virtually half of our tax money subsidizing perpetual war policies championed by my opponent, Jane Harman. For every million dollars she voted to invest in the Iraq invasion or the Afghanistan occupation, we could have doubled the number of jobs had we invested the same money in mass transit.<br /><br />In Congress, I will fight for federal dollars, low-interest bonds, to construct 30/10 transit projects that will help us get where we really need to go - sustainability. We need light rail, affordable buses, and safe bike lanes to get us out of our cars and into a new frame of mind.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-39508392811830757192010-04-06T12:13:00.000-07:002010-04-06T12:14:04.715-07:00Full 30 in 10 answer from Dana GabbardFor what it is worth, my worry isn't Metro's competence. I wonder whether there is an ability to marshal the physical forces and materials to do the work. Construction projects of this magnitude can only be undertake by a handful of supersized companies and there are projects in other parts of the world (like the NY 2nd avenue subway extension) that may be gobbling up that capacity. There are structural limitations on massive infrastructure projects that may be a difficult hurdle to do the work in 10 years even if the funding stream to do so is in place. Do we have supplies of aggregate and other materials in this state that we would need for the subway etc., or can transport be arranged?Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-51478026247945908982010-04-06T12:12:00.002-07:002010-04-06T12:13:14.367-07:00Full 30 in 10 answer from Jerard Wright(responding to Alpern):<br /><br />No, that battle needs to be figured out or at the very least have a preliminary plan of attack at this early stage or the very least have options on the table to make that possible because one of the pieces that will make a difference in securing an infrastructure bank loan are where's the money to operate the service? This is no different then securing a business loan, they need to know where your revenue is coming from and if you can afford to operate at the levels that are needed.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-56231760533437792432010-04-06T12:12:00.001-07:002010-04-06T12:12:33.074-07:00Full 30 in 10 answer from Ken AlpernIn the big picture, the Orange Line, the Silver Line, the Expo Line, the Eastside and Foothill Gold Lines have and appear to be moving along nicely. Same with the Crenshaw Line and the Downtown Connector and the Wilshire Subway.<br /> <br />Do I take issue with Metro on key points at times? Of course, but overall I think that David Mieger and Renee Berlin and Jody Litvak and Roderick Diaz and Alan Patashnick and the bunch are doing a great job. I think that the Foothill Gold and Expo Authorities are carrying their own from their end of things, and I think we've replaced one great CEO with another great CEO.<br /> <br />A much greater and real threat is state underfunding of transit operations...but at this time the folks at Metro are doing a pretty good job with the tools they've been given. While I don't believe they can be all finished in ten years, I do think that the planning and consensus will be well-completed and construction more limited by the availability of workers and raw materials than any limitations associated with Metro itself.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-90112002563456813962010-04-06T12:11:00.001-07:002010-04-06T12:11:59.942-07:00Full 30 in 10 answer from Kymberleigh RichardsGoing on your presumption, that money is essentially no object, I'm going to also presume that the unions can deliver on the warm bodies needed for construction (they certainly have made enough noise at Metro Board meetings about that). So I believe the following projects are possible by 2020 (with the rationales):<br /><br />Crenshaw/LAX: LPA is the target for year's end. That makes EIR/EIS possible by 2012, and Eastside Gold Line took about eight years to build, including underground.<br />Expo Phase II: Expo Authority is now in shovel-ready mode and there are no underground grade separations to complicate matters. This would probably be the second Measure R project -- Foothill Gold Line being the first -- to go into revenue service.<br /><br />Eastside Gold Line II: EIR/EIS will be released this summer, but it depends on which of the two final alignments Metro chooses to build first (as you know, Antonovich already had the Board approve a motion that whichever isn't the chosen alignment be put on the list for future LRTPs) as to whether or not this can make the deadline. It all depends on how much grade separation is in the LPA.<br /><br />Green Line to LAX: While Metro is only in "early planning stages" on this, a lot of work was done when the Green Line was originally built and that created a database that can be drawn on for the engineering. That, plus the relatively short length, means that even if the EIR/EIS doesn't happen until 2015 or 2016 it could be operational by decade's end.<br /><br />Regional Connector: With the EIR/EIS coming this summer, this could begin construction sometime in 2011. Yes, it's probably all going to be underground, and that means tunnel boring and station box construction, so it'll be a tight squeeze to finish by 2020, but it's within the realm of probability.<br /><br />I-405 Corridor: I expect a Metro Express bus service between Van Nuys and Westwood shortly after the northbound carpool lanes are finished (in fact, Jerard Wright and I are the catalysts on our respective governance councils for this to happen). I don't expect rail in this decade, though; at best, I expect it to be built concurrently with the last phase of the Purple Line, opening at the same time as Wilshire/Westwood Station. But I'm including it here because you could consider the express bus to be a first step toward that Measure R project, and that's very likely in the next couple of years.<br /><br />Green Line South Bay Extension: A long shot, since only the preliminary environmental studies are being done, but if it ends up largely at-grade, it might be doable by 2020.<br /><br />Westside Subway: EIR/EIS is scheduled for this September, and tunneling could begin within a year after that. It took seven years for Union Station to MacArthur Park to be completed, and Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/Fairfax is only slightly longer with fewer complications, so I'll say that segment is conceivable by the end of the decade.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-23770610580577314132010-04-06T12:10:00.001-07:002010-04-06T12:10:56.294-07:00Full 30 in 10 answer from Bart ReedBut "30/10" is the act to get funding to build current projects such as the Downtown Regional Connector, the Subway towards the Sea, the Crenshaw, Green, Foothill Gold, Eastside Gold and Expo Light Rail Lines that would be spread in building over 30 years and to compact them into just 10.<br /> <br />In reality, all these projects are staggered in delivery. And Expo and Foothill Gold are under construction by different construction authorities. Metro is currently building the Orange Line extension, with the next project in queue being the Crenshaw Line. Crenshaw is very much line the Eastside Gold Line, which Metro built on-time, safely and on-budget.<br /> <br />The big, complex Connector and Subway won't break ground for about 4 years. The same folks that did the Eastside Gold Line can handle these two projects. The other projects such as the Green Line to LAX and to the Southbay will start after that.<br /> <br />As far as contracting and technical experience, there are plenty of teams out there that have built projects in LA and around the country and they have the experience to complete these projects on-time and within budget.<br /> <br />What Stephen forgets is that the problems with projects such as the subway in the 1990's happened because of political mistakes and machinations and lack of corporate construction experience. At this time with projects built under the current two management teams (Snoble and Leahy), it is unlikely to repeat some of those mistakes from the 90's, as most have learned their lessons.<br /> <br />The current management have met targets and budgets and there is no reason to expect anything different.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-77015181623153082872010-01-23T12:38:00.001-08:002010-01-25T16:10:19.813-08:00One last thanks to LA Weekly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqS8SWZGJF2iTmbRyoFik1Pt0VSEqghY-l_9TWciMPLNMZZRsaE9lILUubf2AvD0ryqVATDON_M5CbAjZWk8x-Qc14irAHfpyMvEWOgyZ5nTblwR_S7M3L5laptJC6C0va2XZYd8MPx4/s1600-h/1+22+10+sh+image.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqS8SWZGJF2iTmbRyoFik1Pt0VSEqghY-l_9TWciMPLNMZZRsaE9lILUubf2AvD0ryqVATDON_M5CbAjZWk8x-Qc14irAHfpyMvEWOgyZ5nTblwR_S7M3L5laptJC6C0va2XZYd8MPx4/s400/1+22+10+sh+image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430038215468528866" border="0" /></a>Last Thursday I got a chance to go out and party with many of the best bloggers, twitterers and social media folks in Los Angeles at LA Weekly's "LA Web Awards 2009" party and reception at Bardot.<br /><br />While I was personally honored to receive "Best Activist Website" on behalf of LA Streetsblog, I was just as happy to have a chance to get out of the house and party sin bebito.<br /><br />That's right, for the first time in half a year, Marybeth and myself were able to get out of the house and hang out without Samuel. As much as I adore the little one, it was great to get out with my wife and party.<br /><br />And does LA Weekly ever know how to throw a party. Bardot is excellent. An open bar is a treat (even if I was limited to Shirley Temples). And the other award winners were great folks to meet and chat with. A special shout out to Zach at LAist who introduced us to half the restaurant and "Caroline on Crack" who I believe is the only person to walk off with two awards.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-72878893979658045612009-11-12T10:19:00.001-08:002009-11-12T10:20:10.556-08:00Take a Survey for the Urban Bike ProjectI got this email from my friend Alexis. The survey only takes a couple of minutes, and it will help move the ball forward on sustainability.<br /><br />I am hoping you wouldn't mind helping me distribute a survey I have created to support my graduate thesis. The survey is to collect data on the experience and knowledge of cyclists in the City of Los Angeles.<br /><br />The survey will also support a "white paper" that will be released in February on behalf of the Los Angeles Sustainability Collaborative (www.lasustainability.org). The Los Angeles Sustainability Collaborative is a non-profit organization that funds graduate research on environmental issues in an effort to promote sustainable development in Southern California and bridge the gap between local urban issues and local academic research.<br /><br />The data from the survey will help create and support policy recommendations to improve bicycling in Los Angeles. My goal is understand the barriers that are faced, common issues or experiences, and safety knowledge. Along with the obvious need for better infrastructure I am hoping this survey will help support the need for wide spread education of both cyclists and motorists.<br /><br />I appreciate your help in getting the survey out to your readers.<br /><br />Here is the link - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xkqYXo3tCaEZBkdMSHOWTw_3d_3d<br /><br />also here's a code version to drop into your website if that's better - <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xkqYXo3tCaEZBkdMSHOWTw_3d_3d">Click Here to take survey</a><br /><br />Thanks for you help!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Alexis LantzDamien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-11707670974459940982009-08-26T16:36:00.000-07:002009-08-26T16:38:56.262-07:00In L.A. Dogs Wouldn't Ride the Metro...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUthTBp0phesxHyhDh52gnvP_iNLMXNN6hZSUqLByeZe_SgRf4FW2reuaOSu-lEuMiPGcskymFcf6dIB240lR07r1vyirYhyphenhyphenxjI1RicLjDe2dp9sukbSnJW3YYfqJVqFhr-OpmPXyB9c/s1600-h/streetheat+car+pool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUthTBp0phesxHyhDh52gnvP_iNLMXNN6hZSUqLByeZe_SgRf4FW2reuaOSu-lEuMiPGcskymFcf6dIB240lR07r1vyirYhyphenhyphenxjI1RicLjDe2dp9sukbSnJW3YYfqJVqFhr-OpmPXyB9c/s400/streetheat+car+pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374420582435920498" border="0" /></a>So my brother sent a note to his friends about my<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/08/25/cartoon-tuesday-stray-dogs-taking-moscow-metro/"> article about dogs using the Metro in Moscow</a> with the tagline that in L.A. they would have to learn to ride the 405. The response is above.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-89530612288645435212009-08-17T16:57:00.000-07:002009-08-17T17:14:41.577-07:00Stephen Colbert's News of the Week: LA Streetsblog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgKssCPRrm4HVxkyNySavh2af93j5yuhNkeXO17fNaCs62hnpRRAQJjwLiS5qSVZ_aFrUUokjHKQrPt8eatFcmRUNv4E0lI0ieKvcD_kXB_0SMG7yub-BHZKDKBLn_aRQOZuO_4si2-s/s1600-h/colbert+streetsblog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgKssCPRrm4HVxkyNySavh2af93j5yuhNkeXO17fNaCs62hnpRRAQJjwLiS5qSVZ_aFrUUokjHKQrPt8eatFcmRUNv4E0lI0ieKvcD_kXB_0SMG7yub-BHZKDKBLn_aRQOZuO_4si2-s/s400/colbert+streetsblog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371087767546584770" border="0" /></a>I knew getting archived in the news.google feed was going to be worth something.<br /><br />Anyone that reads <a href="http://colbertnation.com/">Colbert Nation</a> for the "State of the Nation" (i.e. to what Stephen is reading about himself) will see that the top news item from last week is an LA Streetsblog story: "<a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/08/12/stephen-colberts-tips-for-drivers-and-cyclists/">Stephen Colbert's Tips for Drivers and Cyclists</a>." Since I know Stephen appreciates a shout-back as much as a shout-out; thanks for reading Colbert Report staff!<br /><br />If you're ever in L.A., I'll treat for lunch at Buddha's Belly.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-62391399565464609952009-08-02T17:58:00.000-07:002009-08-02T19:02:48.382-07:00All hail the Flying Pigeon, the Orange 20 of the Eastside<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3782618297_e7864be4c9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3782618297_e7864be4c9.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday my wife and I headed over to the <a href="http://flyingpigeon-la.com/">Flying Pigeon Bike Shop</a> an 3174 North Figueroa Street (two doors down from the Bike Oven) to picket out the cargo bike that will be the primary form of transportation for me and Samuel in a couple of months. The shop's owner, Josef Bray-Ali is no stranger to anyone that knows me well whether it be as the guy with the baby in the bike co-op Streetfilm or as the firebrand poster ubrayj02 at Streetsblog. What we discovered in the past two days is that he's also a heck of a bike shop owner.<br /><br />When we arrived, I had already decided I wanted the Flying Pigeon's bucket bike, aka the Bakfiet Light as we were referring to it, but Josef insisted on walking me through all the steps. His "sales pitch" included offering me a ride on his bigger, sturdier, and heavier Dutch Bakfiet, a bike that he doesn't sell, and walking us through a series of Extra-Cycles. However, despite his best efforts to get us to buy from someone else, we held firm and got ourselves our Flying Pigeon Bucketbike (which Marybeth and I have already named Bessie). <br /><br />Un-happy with the state of the bikes in the shop, Josef decided that before he would let me pedal away he had to give us new tires, a tuneup, straighten the rims, and do all sorts of little adjustments. I should also note that in the time we were in the shop yesterday and today Josef was fixing rims, selling tires and even the I Bike LA shirts.<br /><br />After the bike was ready to go today, he put me in touch with a stenciler and had me out on the street. Let me tell you, riding a bucket bike brings to unique experiences versus riding on Gunpowder. First, people stop and stare at you. I had a couple of kids that recognized the Charlie Brown shirts from a group ride and rode next to me asking questions for awhile and one of the "purple shirts" downtown chatted me up.<br /><br />Second, it's a lot like riding a tank. The route I took from Flying Pigeon to my house was 11.2 miles, but I felt like I had finnished one of the longer loops on the River Ride. I've got a lot of riding to do in the next couple months to build up my leg muscles to get ready for the kiddie taxi routine I'm planning in 2010...Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-20183645190029935982009-05-16T15:54:00.000-07:002009-05-16T16:10:17.692-07:00How I'm voting for Transportation on May 19<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.laapsa.org/images/vahedi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 310px;" src="http://www.laapsa.org/images/vahedi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tru09.com/editorfiles/image/trutanich-parade-home.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 350px;" src="http://www.tru09.com/editorfiles/image/trutanich-parade-home.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.foodsafety.gov/%7Efsg/f01pupno.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 362px;" src="http://www.foodsafety.gov/%7Efsg/f01pupno.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5th District Council Race: David Vahedi</span><br /><br />I've got nothing against Paul Koretz. In fact, there's only three of thirteen current Council Members I'd vote for ahead of him (Rosendahl, Garcetti and Reyes). He has a solid environmental record and has experience as a road cyclist himself. He's for Expo, against Pico-Olympic. All-in-all, he's a solid candidate for transportation.<br /><br />That being said, I'm voting for Vahedi.<br /><br />David Vahedi has a record of bike advocacy second to few in this city period. As a lawyer in Prokop vs. City of Los Angeles, he knows how maddeningly inconsistent the city's bike policies can be and has experience fighting for us. He's also good on transit and Pico-Olympic so there's little not to like. Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll take Greuel's spot on the T Committee if he wins.<br /><br />If not, Koretz will be solid. He's not the transformational choice, so Vahedi gets my vote but either way we'll be in better hands on 7/1 than we are now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">City Attorney: Carmen Trutanich</span><br /><br />While <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/04/20/city-attorney-candidate-survey-jack-weiss/">Weiss was impressive in his Streetsblog questionnaire</a>, he's been sufficiently unimpressive as a Councilman on transportation issues that I'll vote Tru for this one. I honestly don't know much about Trutanich that I haven't heard on television commercials. However, this is a case where I'm going with the Devil I Don't Know.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">State Ballot Propositions: No</span><br /><br />If these props would help save the stolen transit subsidy, I would vote for them. If Schwarzenegger wouldn't have announced a further transit raid this week, I might have voted for them. However, the state has screwed up my top issue so much I ain't voting for them to get squat until they find a way to fix it. Sorry public employees, but they didn't leave me any choice.<br /><br />I'm even voting "no" on the pay hike hold, because it's such a pandering of a move that, well, screw them.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-876353586335201832009-03-19T12:38:00.000-07:002009-03-19T12:41:50.041-07:00Damien and Joe's Internet ClassAs just about everyone that still reads this blog knows, I teach a class occasionally with Joe Linton teaching people how to use free Internet tools to better promote their business and organize large and small groups of people towards a common purpose. I just wanted to take a chance to thank this week's batch of students:<br /><br />Anita Bizzell<br />Brian Frobrisher<br />Joe Wes<br />Babz Rowe<br />Julia Stein<br />Eleanor Osgood.<br /><br />See you all next Tuesday!Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-78489769319141761672009-02-26T09:43:00.000-08:002009-02-26T10:18:59.966-08:00How I'm Voting for Transportation on March 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKblJMxRVPl8lfrLMtbs83k7Ns5qfw-GHI-Fux5GAOH2H8Wpwao_oWfAgdAQA-T0Ai45ir0x6UD2shHIH8isDejPiqmZfoQWTLd9mHOmcAYesu5hxNfXaZZfbmBmowrPTthBkF7KXJz5o/s1600-h/streetheat+rubin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 54px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKblJMxRVPl8lfrLMtbs83k7Ns5qfw-GHI-Fux5GAOH2H8Wpwao_oWfAgdAQA-T0Ai45ir0x6UD2shHIH8isDejPiqmZfoQWTLd9mHOmcAYesu5hxNfXaZZfbmBmowrPTthBkF7KXJz5o/s320/streetheat+rubin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307165296632810722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wendygreuel.com/files/issues.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.wendygreuel.com/files/issues.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wcnp.org/article_images/701.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 181px;" src="http://wcnp.org/article_images/701.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mayor: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.craigx4mayor.org/Goals.html#traffic">Craig X Rubin</a><br /><br />Ok, everyone get your laughs that I'm going for the legalizing medical marijuana guy. Ok, are you done? Let's move on.<br /><br />When it comes to a transportation platform, Rubin has the best one and for that reason he gets my vote. First, half the candidates fail the simple test of supporting the Subway to the Sea leaving us with just a handfull left: Villaraigosa, Craig X Rubin, Phil Jennerjahn, and Carlos Alvarez.<br /><br />I couldn't find Alvarez's website. So we can cross him off the list. Villaraigosa has a poor record when it comes to cyclists both as Metro Board Chair and Mayor so we can cross him as well.<br /><br />That leaves me with Jennerjahn and Rubin. <a href="http://www.craigx4mayor.org/Goals.html#traffic">A quick look at their plans</a> reveals a superior one for Rubin who actually has a transportation plan. I think some of it won't pass muster, but because he mentions bike lanes he gets my vote. That's right, the transportation platforms of the candidates are so bad, that just mentioning building bike lanes gets a nod from me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Comptroller: <a href="http://www.wendygreuel.com/issues/publictransit">Wendy Greuel</a></span><br /><br />I've had a couple conversations with Greuel over the past year about several transportation issues and always found her to be knowledgable and interested. Personally, I think she's a little to into speeding up traffic and increasing car capacity; but she's also shown a good grasp of bike issues and transit issues. Heck, she even has a <a href="http://www.wendygreuel.com/issues/publictransit">whole page devoted to transit issues</a> on her campaign website.<br /><br />Where I am most hopeful is that she would build on her record of supporting car-sharing and Current Comptroller Laura Chick's reporting on the city's take-home car program to bring us a new way of provifing vehicles to city staff. At Streetsblog I've talked a lot about the "<a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/02/23/city-inches-towards-bringing-back-car-sharing/">Philadelphia model</a>" of car-sharing where the government drastically cuts its take-home vehicle program and replaces it by supporting a car sharing program.<br /><br />If we want real car-share back in L.A., this is probably the only way we're going to see it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">City Council 5th District: <a href="http://robertforcitycouncil.com/issues.html">Robert Schwartz</a></span><br /><br />I like some of Schwartz's more creative ideas and some of the breath of knowledge he's shown on particular issues. For example, take this from his issues page:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Recent news that school districts are cutting back on bus service for students creates a host of new problems but also presents opportunities. Too many of our local schools can only be safely reached by school bus or car. We need to change this by improving intersections, bike routes, and sidewalks so that students do not need a motorized vehicle to get to class.</span><br /><br />I think I would vote for any candidate that is willing to publicly state you don't need an engine to get to school.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-64628986683148334052009-02-05T10:56:00.000-08:002009-02-05T10:57:27.910-08:00Internet Skills Class - taught by Joe Linton and Damien Newton<div class="content browse"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra, Extra...</span><br /><p>Upcoming Classes - All classes 7pm to 9pm:<br /><strong>Wednesdays February 18th and 25th 2009</strong><br /><strong>Tuedays March 17th and 24th 2009</strong><br /><strong>Additional Classes TBA</strong></p><p>Classes take place at the Bresee Foundation: 184 Bimini Place, LA CA 90004 (one block east of Vermont Avenue at 2nd Street.)</p><p>$35 for early bird payment (up to one week before the class), and $40 late registration (space permitting.) We’re planning to set up a place where you can charge this on your credit card, but it’s not set up yet. For now, email us (linton.joe [at] gmail [dot] com) to check class status and arrange for payment.</p><p><strong>THE BASICS:</strong></p><p>Are you looking to promote and grow your cause, non-profit or business? Do you know there’s a lot more to the internet, but don’t know how to get started? If so, then we can help.</p><p>The course will cover easy-to-use internet tools that are free and can help your organization. The course will cover easy-to-use internet tools that are free to use and can help your organization. The only thing you need is an internet connection; no computer programming, special programs nor special hardware required. Tools help you reach constituents, promote events, and get your message out. Improve your web presence without breaking your bank. Subjects covered include: bookmarking, social networking, blogging and blog readers, email lists, alerts, photo/video/document sharing and wikis. Each subject will be explained and demonstrated, then attendees will engage in hands-on activities.</p><p><strong>PREREQUISITES:</strong></p><p>Prerequisites for the class include proficiency with:<br /></p><pre> - email (any web-browser-accessible)<br />- web browser (firefox or explorer,) and<br />- basic internet searching (Google, Yahoo, etc.)Prior to the class, we will survey students to understand which subjects to emphasize. Course materials include handouts with listing of websites and basic instructions and recommendations.</pre><p><strong>WHO YOUR INSTRUCTORS ARE:</strong></p><p>Joe Linton is an artist and activist, living at Los Angeles Eco-Village in Koreatown, Los Angeles. He wrote and illustrated Down by the Los Angeles River: Friends of the Los Angeles River’s Official Guide, published by Wilderness Press in 2005. He blogs at www.lacreekfreak.wordpress.com </p><p>Damien Newton is the writer/editor of Los Angeles Streetsblog, la.streetsblog.org, and lives in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District. He’s an experienced activist, fighting to defend fish and crosswalks. He holds degrees in political science from Johns Hopkins and communications from American University.</p><p><strong>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:</strong></p><p><em>What topics does the course cover?</em><br />Here’s a list of what we cover. We’ll survey folks signed up for the class to understand what to emphasize and what not to. We’ll cover where to find these, how to use them, and how they can serve your organization.<br /></p><pre> - Cloud Computing<br />- Social Bookmarking: examples - Delicious, Google Bookmarks<br />- Social Networking: examples - Facebook, Myspace, Linked-In, Twitter<br />- Meeting Scheduling: examples - Meeting Wizard<br />- Blogging: examples - Wordpress, Blogger/Blogspot, Typepad<br />- Blog RSS Readers: examples - Google Reader, Bloglines<br />- Alerts: examples - Google Alerts<br />- Message boards: examples - Proboards<br />- Email listserves: examples - Googlegroups, Yahoogroups<br />- Photo Sharing: examples - Flickr, Google, Photobucket, Picasa<br />- Video Sharing: examples - YouTube, Vimeo<br />- Document Sharing: examples - GoogleDocs<br />- Calendaring: examples - Google Calendar<br />- Wikis: examples - Wet Paint<br />- Task Lists: examples - Remember the Milk, Tiddlywikis</pre><p><em>Who should attend the class?</em><br />Anyone interested in increasing their web presence by using easy free tools. Materials are appropriate for activists, environmentalists, non-profits, arts organizations, small businesses, churches, and others. The course is especially good for folks who would be potentially interested in blogging, but need some guidance on getting going.</p><p><em>Do I need high-tech hardware or expensive software for this?</em><br />No - all the material covered is available using a web browser (explorer, firefox.) No special hardware or software needed.</p><p>Questions about the class? - email linton.joe [at] gmail [dot] com </p></div>Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-40494861172363927732009-01-21T14:01:00.000-08:002009-01-21T14:10:20.395-08:00Success!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75QrYRMZkGDRK3h1iN0RgaqZF5HXrxwg2k2Bn3LNvbj4ufHZGTEqGbCPmMHiGZhKJSfP2m6tVf57GumctFulaXtQH3AJXYb7G1xf2nAWxj1XUCuwo1aq2S7bfYtgzoipAIzXG8ojggnU/s1600-h/streetheat+bear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75QrYRMZkGDRK3h1iN0RgaqZF5HXrxwg2k2Bn3LNvbj4ufHZGTEqGbCPmMHiGZhKJSfP2m6tVf57GumctFulaXtQH3AJXYb7G1xf2nAWxj1XUCuwo1aq2S7bfYtgzoipAIzXG8ojggnU/s400/streetheat+bear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293872684963462002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ok folks, I've trained my cat to ride in a bike basket. Today was our first trip that had a destination (i.e. wasn't just biking up and down the street) and it went well. Even ran into a dog or to and it didn't spook good' old Bear. I wasn't able to get a good picture of him in the bike, but here he is earlier today helping me write a Streetsblog story on sidewalk conditions.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-34785067599584254052008-12-03T11:49:00.000-08:002008-12-03T11:58:04.010-08:00Bear in a Box,: Day 1Since Street Heat didn't make the cut to be a <a href="http://streetsblog.net">Streetsblog.net</a> blog, I thought I would take a couple of days to chronicle my efforts to make my cat bike friendly. For my birthday, my in-laws got me a beautiful "Buddy Carrier" to be attached to the front of a bike for purposes of transporting a small pet. After careful consultation with my sister-in-law and the Internet, today began bear's bike riding training.<br /><br />After building the carrier, wrestling Bear into his harness, and attaching the harness to the carrier, I let him chill out for a little bit to get used to it. It's a little smaller than I thought, but he fits just fine. Because he adjusted so well, I decided we should go for a walk.<br /><br />Here's what I found out:<br /><br />1) His natural curiosity outweighed his dislike for the harness and being in a box<br />2) He's scared of cars while they're driving.<br /><br />Tomorrow we'll try walking closer to Beverly and maybe even on Beverly to see if he can adjust to the car noises. Maybe by early next week we'll be able to take him for walks attached to the bicycle...Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-17367373951090272662008-11-13T13:43:00.001-08:002008-11-13T13:46:17.679-08:00O for Week 1I get that change is in the air and I'm supposed to be excited and all, but with the news that Obama isn't looking at changing Bush's executive orders in relation to spying/Keeping Us Safe from Terrorists, but is looking to bailout the car industry; well I'm feeling a little bit like everything old is new again.<br /><br />Streetsblog has some stories on <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/11/13/urbama-admin-prez-elect-%E2%80%98the-real-deal%E2%80%99-says-metro-policy-guru/">Obama as urbanist</a> that inspire some hope, but right now I'm not feeling that "Yes We Can" Spirit.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-13444984271094160572008-10-22T12:24:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:46:55.439-07:00How I'm Voting for Transportation on November 4th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.yesonmeasurerla.com/images/demo_header3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.yesonmeasurerla.com/images/demo_header3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://la.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10_20/10_21_08_foam_finger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://la.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10_20/10_21_08_foam_finger.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/12_24/obama___child_on_bike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/12_24/obama___child_on_bike.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">President: Barack Obama</span><br /><br />He's not just a bike rider, he also understands the needs of urban areas and is a believer in transit. There's no comparison between Obama and "Drill, Baby, Drill."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Congress: Henry Waxman</span><br /><br />Thanks for helping lift the ban on the "Subway to the Sea" tunneling, but that's not enough to get a picture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Measure R: Yes</span><br /><br />OK, here's the deal. I don't like Measure R. There's a ton of problems with the Measure, and that the "pro" Measure R people have decided to promote it as a congestion relieving road tax completely galls me. And, it completely sucks that the Metro Board fumbled on putting money aside for bicycle and pedestrian projects.<br /><br />Add to that the best argument in favor of this proposal that the Pro folks can put forward is that there will be no new transit projects for 30 years if it fails; well that's the worst kind of fear politics. Either give us what you want or you're fucked. Thanks for the awesome discourse, Your Honor.<br /><br />We really need this legislation. Our transit system isn't what it could/should be. I know that if this fails they'll come forward with a new funding plan of some sort but here's the thing....the next plan is going to suck more than this one. Over the course of two months, the deal makers on the Metro Board managed to slash the Local Return funds, the only chance of seeing any small part of this sales tax get spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects, so they could build a tunnel to double capacity on the 710. Awesome.<br /><br />Imagine what they would do if they had years instead of months to vote for the proposal.<br /><br />My advice? There's a lot of good things funded by Measure R. It's not perfect, heck it's not even great. But it is better than what we got, and if you want to wait for a great proposal it isn't going to happen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prop 1A: Yes</span><br /><br />A no-brainer. Yes on high speed rail.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-66313741309321276552008-10-18T20:01:00.000-07:002008-10-18T20:07:42.711-07:00Streets QuizLast night I biked to a Measure R rally, then continued my ride to Santa Monica to get drinks with the family. I saw a lot of weird things on the road, but only three of the following...anyone want to take a guess which of the following were not witnessed on the road?<br /><br />1) A Caltrans truck waiting for a green light completely in the crosswalk in the left lane at the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica forcing literally dozens of pedestrians out of the crosswalk.<br /><br />2) Two buses at the Measure R rally nearly colliding while trying to honk their approval at the sign waivers.<br /><br />3) Two Metro Rapid buses running the same route between 10 feet and 100 yards away literally passing each other so that one didn't fill up more than the other. At rush hour.<br /><br />4) A member of Santa Monica's finest merrily texting away at a red light. Missing the signal turning green, he has to hustle but gets caught at the next red light anyway. Never stops holding his phone at eye level.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-36498018800073731482008-10-16T21:09:00.000-07:002008-10-16T21:12:31.481-07:00Happy Birthday Street Heat!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2917730204_24c430f87b_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2917730204_24c430f87b_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Birthday to ME!Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-82136066116669751402008-10-14T11:04:00.000-07:002008-10-14T11:59:48.948-07:00Some Guest Posts Over at StreetsblogI've gotten some great guest posts over the past couple of weeks, and I wanted to highlight them for folks who read this blog but (for whatever reason) not Streetsblog.<br /><br />Ingrid Peterson: <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/10/13/la%E2%80%99s-sunday-streets-a-simple-switch-by-ingrid-peterson/">LA's Sunday Streets: A Simple Switch</a><br /><br />Dana Gabbard: <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/10/10/dana-gabbar-more-reasons-to-vote-for-measure-r/">More Reasons to Vote for Measure R</a><br /><br />Erin Steva: <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/calpirg-wants-your-help-to-pass-high-speed-rail/">CALPIRG Wants Your Help to Pass High Speed Rail</a><br /><br />They're all great. Enjoy.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020450922071681506.post-74446275660268290862008-09-29T15:31:00.000-07:002008-09-29T15:43:57.317-07:00Pasadena Likes Bikes! LAPD? Not So Much.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2889457777_b78b5ba59d.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2889457777_b78b5ba59d.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />First the good news. The City of Pasadena likes bikes. In fact, they like them so much that they actually closed the inner loop around the Rose Bowl to traffic last Thursday so that cyclists and pedestrians could use the road in peace. <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/09/26/victory-at-the-rose-bowl-car-free-event-a-hit-with-community/">I was there, and it sort of rocked</a>. One of the people taking advantage of this cool pilot program is seen above. And to the City of Pasadena, I have two words: More, please.<br /><br />Meanwhile the City of Los Angeles continued it's war on common sense as it continues to enforce an <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/09/23/damien-gets-his-bikes-licensed/">obscure law requiring that bicycles are registered</a>. In response, a <a href="http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/09/29/ridazz-get-registered/">group of Midnight Ridazz</a> went down to the Central District to sign their bikes up. Sadly, they didn't trust Josef's cake which had a rough trip.<br /><br />So, here's the problems with the law:<br /><br /><ol><li>Most cyclists don't know it exists.</li><li>LAPD is enforcing a $50 fine, even though state law caps the fins at $10.</li><li>Only two police stations hand out licenses, and one of them only two days a week.</li><li>Not every station is enforcing the law, leading to charges that the LAPD is targetting poorer riders and Midnight Ridazz.</li></ol>In short, this seems like one of those nuisance laws that police come up with because they can't do what they really want to. Let's hope someone from up above takes care of this one.Damien Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00675336302224403432noreply@blogger.com2