I Bike Minneapolis (and St. Paul)

On a hot summer day in my hometown, I began a 30 mile bike adventure through the twin cities. I was having some difficulties with my mom’s bike. The seat was constantly pushing me off and the right front brake pad was rubbing the tire. I knew this would be okay for a short while, but not for the entire adventure ahead. I rode to a friend’s house in uptown just a few miles away and dropped the bike there. From her house, it was just a short walk to the nearest bike share station.

Ryan Bradley Runs... err Walks the City

Writer and editor of the World Policy Journal, Ryan Bradley, has recently walked more than 70 miles through Los Angeles and has started writing a miniseries on his journey. His writing is more than a journal of his experience, instead he take his uses his personal experiences to expose larger transportation problems and then takes an in depth look at those issues. Some of the issues include development patterns, transit use, race, and sidewalk maintenance. Each part of the series is a good individual read so you can read one part or the whole series. Click here to read the story.

Sustainability Poster Session, Thurs. June 3rd

Wrap up: Last week's Ped Symposium + Bike Roundtable (as promised)

Originally published on my work blog, Be A Green Commuter

A family walks around Ackerman Turnaround during Commencement 2008. Source: Dsopfe/Flickr.

 



 















(Last week), I got to attend Metro's Pedestrian Symposium and afternoon Bicycle Roundtable. After the jump, I'll provide a brief summary and two take-aways that are relevant for UCLA commuters.

NEW Times Square

Peds: 1, Cars: 0

This clip just makes me happy :)

Five Best Walking Streets in L.A.

From the KCRW 5ive Things Series...

5 Best Walking Streets by Kevin Roderick

Los Angeles grew up as a driving city, and I’m as guilty as anybody of using my car for recreation and convenience more than necessity. Yet, I enjoy savoring a city’s sights and smells and personality on foot when I’m traveling — and lately I’m enamored of just parking my wheels where the mood strikes me and exploring L.A. from the sidewalk. Some of my favorite strips are obvious, some more of an acquired taste.
1 – Wilshire Boulevard.
OK, this may be too obvious. But America’s most quintessentially Automobile Age boulevard is appreciated in a whole new way while out and walking. I especially like the mile or so from Lafayette Park to Western. You stroll past dozens of storefronts that have seen decades of L.A. history, plus you can peer through the windows of the sublime former Bullock’s Wilshire department store.
2 – West Third Street.
Los Angeles feels like a walking city along the strip between Farmers Market and Beverly Center. A dozen places offer an inviting spot to grab coffee or a leisurely lunch, though the recently shuttered The Cook’s Library is definitely missed.
3 – Sunset Junction.
Sunset Strip has excitement and the curve through Pacific Palisades can feel homey, but there’s only one section of Sunset Boulevard that feels like an authentic urban community.
4 – Mission Street.
You can even take the Gold Line to this charming corner of South Pasadena and discover cafes, antiques and an outpost of a family store from the French Basque country.
5 – Abbot Kinney.
Sure, this is Venice’s most gentrified avenue, but there are still plenty of studios and surprises to encounter. The culinary options just keep getting better.

Without a Car in the World

For the fourth and final installment of Almost Utopia, the gallery at 18th Street Arts Center will be dedicated to an unprecedented investigation of 100 Car-Less Angelinos and it will tell their stories of living in Los Angeles.

Public Discussions are as follows (please stay posted to our website for any changes in scheduling and/or change with public speakers:

November 6, 9:30PM
Ride-ARC Ride on Santa Monica Car and Pedestrian Culture with Alex Amerri

November 11, 7:OOPM
“Walking in LA” Panel/Discussion with:
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Professor, UCLA Department of Urban Planning; author of Sidewalks: Conflict and Negotiation Over Public Space
Herbert Medina, Professor, Loyola Marymount University Department of Mathematics
Nigel Raab, Assistant Professor, Loyola Marymount University Department of History
DJ Waldie, author of Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir, Real City:Downtown Los Angeles Inside/Out and Where We are Now: Notes from Los Angeles, Public Information Officer for the City of Lakewood
Damon Willick, Assistant Professor, Department of Art and Art History, Loyola Marymount University

November 14, 2pm
“Transportation and the Future of Los Angeles”
Jessica Meaney, Transportation Planner, Southern California Association of Governments
Browne Molyneux, Journalist and Blogger, Shame Train LA
Claude Willey, Artist, Urbanist and Educator, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, California State University, Northridge
Others to be confirmed

November 14 3:30pm
“How to Live in Los Angeles Without a Car”
Chris Balish, Journalist and Author, How to Live Well Without Owning a Car
Paula Hess, Magazine Editor and Single Mom
Siel, Writer and Blogger, LA Green Girl

December 2 7:30pm
Kristina Wong Comedy Slideshow about Riding the Bus