Look Ma! No traffic signs.
Guys,
Here is an interesting case in Montgomery where they removed all traffic signs and created utter chaos, but it made vehicular traffic safer. http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/01/29/shared-space-comes-to-montgomery-alabama/
Here is an interesting case in Montgomery where they removed all traffic signs and created utter chaos, but it made vehicular traffic safer. http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/01/29/shared-space-comes-to-montgomery-alabama/
UP Blog 1.5
You may have noticed a few things being moved around the blog. I've tried to enhance visibility and organization on the right hand side by condensing certain sections and moving them around to a more logical order. Here's what's new:
1st Right side box
1st Right side box
- Includes all items relevant to current UCLA UP students
- Calendar updated to be more prominently visible, now includes daily shared calendar information maintained by the UCLA Urban Planning staff - should be really helpful I hope
- Now contains all links to other blogs
- UCLA Graduate Students Association events feed added
A world map of Accessibility
Here is a fascinating map showing accessibility around the world. http://gem.jrc.ec.europa.eu/gam/index.htm
LA Urban Planning
I just wanted to pass along a view articles that offer insights into LA planning. The first is about mayoral candidates and their views on the Subway to the Sea. There ignorance is terrifying. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayorqa-subway20-2009feb20,0,916484.story
The second is about 5th district city council candidates viewpoints on the Expo Line Extension to Santa Monica. Again, the ignorance is scary. One guy will only vote for it if there are large parking lots around the stations in Santa Monica. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-expo-candidates20-2009feb20,0,5946651.story
The last article shows how BIDs improve safety by citing the example of a downtown LA BID. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bids-crime20-2009feb20,0,7985026.story
Stop being selfish drivers!
Removing Roads and Traffic Lights Speeds Urban Travelhttp://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=removing-roads-and-traffic-lights
one last post from UCTC
Here's a video from Prof. Jay Farrell during a presentation on aided navigation. The car's speed is being manually operated by the driver but the steering is automatic. You can see it do a lane change in the video.
It's Over
We're on the way back to LA. Five planners carpooling in a hybrid, a good way to end a transportation conference. Thanks for tuning in.
The final presentation
We're awaiting dinner and a lecture on safer and smoother traffic by Prof. Mohan Trivedi.
It's been a LONG day, but an open bar and free dinner fits nicely for students, should be a good presentation.
This Afternoon
After lunch there was a viewing of 30 student posters. One study demonstrated how difficult it can be to hear hybrid cars from the pedestrian perspective. Once ambient noises are introduced (buses, construction, etc.) the distance from which people can hear hybrids approaching is cut in half. This has significant implications for the elderly and blind populations.
Lunch! And a talk on biomass fuel.
There's a lot of complicated slides that seem to bring credibility to the presentation. Also, words like cellulose, yields, revolutionize, and enzymatic hydrolysis make me think this guy knows what he's talking about.
Prof. Matthew Barth - Director of CE-CERT
CE-CERT is currently focused on measuring air pollution. They measure pollution from multiple engines under normal driving conditions, including bio diesel fuel. Guess what? It pollutes just as much as regular diesel.
The program has pollution chambers where they can simulate the natural environment, complete with a 200kw light (simulates the sun) and a dozen 18" subwoofers (circulates the air). They start with clean air in the chambers and then pump in vehicle exhaust to measure air quality. It's a $4 million complex and is one of the most advanced pollution chambers in the world.
A project they're working on now is an in car GPS unit that uses real time info to get you from point A to B based on energy consumption and emissions, not shortest time. Forty percent of the time the shortest/quickest route doesn't equal the lowest emissions. A system like this could be used by fleet companies to conserve carbon emissions (read carbon trading).
UCTC Update - CalTrans Bullet Points
-Cal Trans gives $40 million a year to transportation research.
-District 8 has seen a large increase in vehicle miles traveled in the last year.
-The 60/91 interchange in Riverside is complete, at a cost of $300 million.
-The 210 extension will cost $81 million.
-HOT lanes are on the way in Orange County. Two different sites, $1.5 billion each.
-HOT lanes in San Bernardino County as well. They are currently 5-10 years away.
-HOT lanes also proposed on the 110 and 10.
-Quote from Cal Trans, "HOT lanes are the future!"
-Most of this money will come from the Federal stimulus package of the Obama administration.
DARPA Vehicle
LIVE from the UC Transportation Conference!
The first wave of UCLA students has arrived at the conference. We've taken a behind-the-scenes tour of the CE-CERT facilities and heard a presentation on soon to be released ESRI products. Pictures to follow soon...
Floating Utopias on the Cheap
Open Source Urban Planning
http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/01/mark-gorton-ceo.html
Mark Gorton, creator of the Lime Wire file sharing software is now using his talents to improve urban transportation design. Using an open source software program he’s created along with data gathered from the collective population, Gorton aims to make urban transportation safer, more efficient and sustainable.
Mark Gorton, creator of the Lime Wire file sharing software is now using his talents to improve urban transportation design. Using an open source software program he’s created along with data gathered from the collective population, Gorton aims to make urban transportation safer, more efficient and sustainable.
Oslo rolls out biomethane-powered busses
This is part of Norway's carbon neutral goal by 2050.
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