News and media articles
New bike commuters hit the classroom, then the road
The rush of new cyclists, created by high gas prices, is driving up demand for bike safety classes. Read more >
Columbus, OH passes complete streets resolution
COLUMBUS, OH - City of Columbus Council member Mary Ellen O'Shaughnessy was successful in passing a resolution in support of Complete Streets.
The resolution was approved unanimously by the city council and signed by mayor Michael Coleman in Columbus, Ohio on July 29. Read more >
Americans Fatter in 37 States
Millions of Americans are watching our countrymen compete in the Olympics. But fewer and fewer of us bear any resemblance to those lean, fit figures.
- Number of states in which adult obesity rates went up: 37
- Number of states in which adult obesity rates went down: 0
In Minnesota parents need to live more like their children who are displaying a low rate of obesity compared to the national average:
Obesity Rankings for Minnesota
- Adult: Rank, 30 -- 24.8% of adults obese
- Child: Rank, 47(tied with Idaho) -- 10.1% of children obese Read more >
University of Minnesota closes pedestrian walkway
More bridge problems plague Minneapolis, as the University of Minnesota announced this weekend that the Washington Avenue bridge may be unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. Bike and ped paths along the outside of the bridge have been closed until further notice, posing big problems for biking and walking students as they return to class this week.
[Email from University VP Kathleen OBrien follows...] Read more >
AARP Complete Streets Poll
AARP Poll: Fighting Gas Prices, Nearly A Third of Americans Age 50+ Hang Up Their Keys To Walk But Find Streets Inhospitable, Public Transportation Inaccessible Read more >
Ciclovia spreading across US cities
They danced the tango in Portland, Ore., they're doing the samba in New York, and by the end of this month, they'll be dancing in the streets of San Francisco. It's urban planning with a Latin twist, a simple idea imported from South America for transforming the cityscape. Temporary street closures, or ciclovias, are sweeping across the US, as cities take a new look at alternative uses for their streets. Read more >
MLB Players finding transportation alternatives in Baltimore
Fans are accustomed to the players' lot being filled with expensive rides - sports cars, HUVs, private jets. But you should check out the clubhouse sometime, or the weight room. There are enough bikes parked there to hold the Tour de France. Read more >
Smart Trips sends out free walking kits in Saint Paul
A friend of mine just received a free "smart trips" walking kit from the bike / walk advocacy group Saint Paul Smart Trips. The bag includes a pedometer, some beautiful maps of the Summit - University neighborhood, a coupon book, a reusable bag, and some other things I wasn't able to examine more closely.
It's a great idea, and the kind of thing that may help get more people out and enjoying the fine sidewalks of Saint Paul this summer.
[Smart Trips press release, and photo of the kit, after the jump] Read more >
Saint Paul, Edina join first group of "Carbon Disclosure" cities
Saint Paul and Edina are on the list of the first 21 cities joining the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a UK group seeking to help cities limit their carbon footprints, according to this Yahoo news piece.
The two cities will start measuring and reporting their emissions, to keep track of them on at a local and global level, and to help chart ways of lessening their impact. Transportation emissions and urban design choices figure to be a big part of reducing each city's greenhouse gas footprint.
[Article below the jump] Read more >
Do Electric Bikes Promise to Bring Bicycling to the Masses?
Here's a good review of the electric assist Gazelle bicycle from the Netherlands. Could bikes like this bring bicycles to a whole new groups of people? In other words, would my mother ride this bike? - You still need to pedal but the battery helps. The electric bike is all the rage on Dutch cycle paths this summer, and enthusiasts have nothing but praise for it. "This invention deserves a Nobel prize." Read more >
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