Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the library’s blog.
Drivers, want more space on the roads? Push for bike lanes (The Globe and Mail)
It seems counter intuitive: give up a precious road lane for bikes, transit or pedestrians and driving gets easier? Conventional car-centered transportation planning says that more lanes for cars means less traffic and congestion – but history tells us this is a fallacy. Toronto’s Globe and Mail proposes that they key to easing congestion for those who have no choice to drive is to offer alternatives to those who do – even if it means taking some space away from cars. The logic? Cars require the most space per person, while alternatives can move a lot more people in a lot less space.
Should a ‘Walker’s Paradise’ Save Plenty of Room for Parking? (The New York Times)
This story focuses on Denver, but it hits close to home as L.A. continues to build more transit oriented development (TOD). In Denver, the city is making efforts to become more walkable, bikeable and transit oriented – in other words, more urban – but its TOD’s feature an inordinate amount of parking for such a mission. One 41-story condo in the middle of downtown Denver actually devotes its first eight floors solely to parking. The article explores this disconnect.
Before Hurricane Irene hits, New York planning to shut down transportation system (NY Daily News)
Earlier this week New Yorkers felt the effects of an earthquake and now they face the possibility of being struck by a hurricane. New York City officials are preparing for Hurricane Irene’s impact and planning on a complete shutdown of the city’s expansive transit system. It will take no less than 8 hours to shut down the system and move transit equipment away from flooding areas. To our friends on the east coast: stay safe!
