treatments / technologies

Cyclopath Geowiki Demonstration

Matthew Lang — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:37:55 -0600

A new wiki-based online bicycle route mapping tool that promises to make it more convenient to plan your next bike trip in the seven county metro area! - Read a brief overview in an earlier post >

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on 35W

Antonio Rosell — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:07:32 -0600

Key decisions about the future of Bus Rapid Transit on I-35W will be made within the next 6 months (to mid 2009) based on the recent federal Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) awarded to Minneapolis. Studies exploring the potential for high quality - high speed transit along 35W are included. Read more >

Streetfilms: Bike-Thru Window Banking - Boulder, Colorado

Matthew Lang — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:51:59 -0600

This brief video from our friends at Streetfilms shows a bicycle-only drive-thru lane at a bank in Boulder, CO.

I often bicycle up to the drive-thru lane at my local credit union, but it is not the funnest experience siting in a queue of idling motor vehicles. The bike-only lane would make the experience much more pleasant.

City of Saint Paul adds temporary curb extension at site of killed bicyclist

Matthew Lang — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:38:50 -0600

The City of Saint Paul recently installed a temporary curb extension at the intersection where Virginia Heuer Bowar was struck and killed while bicycling on Summit Avenue on September 27th, 2008. We also learned of information regarding the investigation into this collision that resulted in the death of a St. Paul cyclist. Read more >

Time lapse video: Pedestrian scramble

Antonio Rosell — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:43:49 -0600

Via Streetsblog and Spacing Toronto:

Spacing teamed up with the highly-regarded photoblogger Sam Javanrouh to create a fun time-lapse of the new Yonge-Dundas pedestrian scramble (see below). We’ve written a handful of posts on it over the last few days ...

This is from the launch day of the City of Toronto's first pedestrian scramble intersection (also known as "Barnes Dance") at Yonge and Dundas near downtown.

CA Voters Pass High-Speed Rail Measure

Natalie Collins — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:24:28 -0600

The California Secretary of State reports that Proposition 1A: Safe, Reliable High-Speed Train Bond Act has passed with 52.2% of votes in favor. The measure allows California to issue $9.95 billion in bonds to begin construction of an inter-city 220 mph rail system linking the major population centers between Sacramento and San Diego.

On cycletracks for Hennepin

Antonio Rosell — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:35:38 -0600

In an earlier post, contributor Lisa Bender presented a potential cycletrack configuration for Hennepin Avenue; this post provides a brief overview of this facility type. Read more >

LPI - Leading Pedestrian Interval

Matthew Lang — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:22:19 -0500

Leading Pedestrian Intervals (or LPIs) are a traffic signalization strategy that assigns pedestrians an exclusive 3 to 5 second signal (in some cases much longer) to begin crossing the street before cars get a green light. Consequently, they are also known by their sassier nickname, Pedestrian Head Start. But in my view the best variation on what LPI stands for comes from Christine Berthet of the Hells Kitchen Neighborhood Association who proposes: "Life Preserving Interval". That's what it is.

Innovative Bicycle Signal, Portland OR

Matthew Lang — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:16:50 -0500

Portland's Office of Transportation (PDOT) goes the extra mile to accommodate cyclists. Rex Burkholder, the Metro Counsellor and founder of the the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), explains how to operate this bike signal placed at an intersection that is potentially hazardous to cyclists. The light gives riders a dedicated signal which maximizes safety and allows the convenience of having to wait through only one signal pattern.

Streetfilms: A Conversation With Janette Sadik-Khan, NYC DOT Commissioner

Matthew Lang — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:17:56 -0500

Since taking over as New York City's Commissioner of the Department of Transportation in mid-2007, Janette Sadik-Khan has taken on the challenge of making NYC streets more bike & pedestrian friendly while emphasizing livable streets and re-orienting them to accommodate all modes. She and her staff have done it quickly with innovative concepts, thinking outside the box and drawing on successful street designs from around the world to come up with a NYC model that is already changing the way the city feels.