Sustainable Transportation

Back to the Future in a 98-Year-Old Electric Car

Submitted by Charles Frost on Mon, 10/15/2007 - 19:17.

 

Jamie Rector for The New York Times

Jay Leno behind the steering tiller of his 1909 Baker Electric.

By DEXTER FORD

URBAN TURBINES - WHY NOT RIDE THE WIND NOW?

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Mon, 09/17/2007 - 10:00.

JOINT POST BY MILLER (TEXT) AND BUSTER (PHOTO) 
The photo above is a copy of a paper flyer from the RTA bus tour at August 07 Ingenuity Fest. Someone decided that photographing the new bus - which cost $860,000.00 each - in front of the Cleveland Science Center wind turbine would look dynamic. So, let's actually DO IT as Susan suggests below.

Cycling safety and Traffic Laws

Submitted by Kevin Cronin on Wed, 08/29/2007 - 14:04.

So what is the proper decision for police and prosecutors evaluating a collision between the operator of a bicycle and a motor vehicle? What, if any, is the criminal conduct? Well,of course, that depends on the circumstances of the accident, but if the cyclist is lawfully in the road, the answers could be many.

PORT AUTHORITY DEV PLAN PUB HEARING

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Tue, 08/28/2007 - 13:06.
08/29/2007 - 17:00
08/29/2007 - 18:00
Etc/GMT-4

The Cleveland Port Authority has a new boss and a new plan

Location

Cuyahoga Community College
2415 Woodland Ave Room 229 Unified Technologies Center
Cleveland, OH
United States

HIGH TECH TRACKING IN CHINA / BIKE FREIGHTERS IN CLEVELAND?

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Sun, 08/26/2007 - 19:32.

Asleep on the job....                  photo courtesy Tim Littler                            Xian,  China

Daniel and His Electric Car

Submitted by Charles Frost on Mon, 08/20/2007 - 11:07.

Daniel turned five years old the other day. He was very happy about being five, because he was big now and no one could treat him like a baby. Daniel's daddy came in his room to wish him a happy birthday and said, "How would you like to come with me to look for a new car? Our family needs a new car, and since you are five years old now, I would like your help in deciding what to buy."

Daniel was very excited. He had never gone car shopping and he knew this would be a real adventure!

 

Is Medical Mart Merging With the Urban Design District Concept?

Submitted by Kevin Cronin on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 20:18.

I grew up and lived in Cleveland and, other than school, stayed here until I moved away for about ten years. Since coming back home, one distressing thing I've noted is that decision-makers, at all levels, closely guard information, almost as if a Captain who would rather go down with the ship, than loosen up and perhaps not go down at all.  The Medical Mart non-debate has all those strange dynamics.  Is it possible, I wonder, if a true, public-private partnership on a Medical Mart/Convention Center/Urban Design District might actually make sense after all?

I Want My PHEV (Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle)

Submitted by Charles Frost on Fri, 08/03/2007 - 18:23.

Will Electric Utilities Be the Fueling Stations of the Future?
Source: NPPA Bulletin
[Jul 29, 2007]

SYNOPSIS: Reprinted from the June 2007 Bulletin of the Northwest Public Power Association.

 

Amsterdam Bicycles

Submitted by Charles Frost on Wed, 06/06/2007 - 06:46.

(82 pictures of bicycles taken during 73 minutes on 9/12/06 in Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Background & Explanation: I stopped in Amsterdam, Netherlands on my way back from a 2006 europe motorcycle trip. During a 73 minute period on 9/12/06 at one corner of Nieuw Markt (a nice open square in Amsterdam), I took the following 82 pictures of bicycles.  Why?  Because sitting there I noticed how remarkably different the whole Amsterdam bicycle scene was from my home, and at the same time certain very clear "Amsterdam Bicycle Trends" appeared I thought might be interesting to point out.   I am from the San Francisco area, California, USA.

07.05.27 Header of the Day: Edwin at the Inner Circle

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sun, 05/27/2007 - 01:53.

Edwin at Inner Circle Restaurant

Located in the heart of the historic Hough Bakeries Complex is the Inner Circle, a weekend club and reception facility operated for the past 7 years by the Hot Sauce Williams family. Starting shortly, operation of the Inner Circle will expand to extended hours every day, featuring a cybercafe, meeting space, computer terminals, free wifi, independent film, the Linux Cafe, art, culture, and great food, coffee, and even wine tastings, via a broader partnership of friends. This pan is from the deck and patio area, and features Guyanese chef and reggae performer and DJ Edwin, who will help operate the Inner Circle, shown with Hot Sauce Williams founder LeMaud Williams, as well.

07.05.23 Header of the Day: Worse than WiFi-less

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 05/24/2007 - 00:23.

I had the annoyance of going to Beechwod Place Mall today for a meeting. What an astounding celebration of sweatshop labor and wasted resources. This pan is the first floor corner by some silly place called Nordstom, where not only does the coffee shop not provide wifi but the barista doesn't know what wifi means.

Join ClevelandBikes Bike to Work Rides, Including Wednesday LIVESTRONG Day for the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Submitted by Kevin Cronin on Mon, 05/14/2007 - 22:04.

Join the nonprofit organization ClevelandBikes on its annual “Bike to Work” rides, now bigger than ever! ClevelandBikes hosts commuting rides downtown, led by experienced ride leaders, every day during National Bike to Work Week, May 14-18, with rides continuing on the final Friday of every month, May through September. ClevelandBikes also supports a major health initiative, with a “Bike to Work”ride for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (www.livestrong.org) and “LIVESTRONG” day on Wednesday May 16. National “Bike to Work” Week is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org), which offers bicycle advocacy and support programs for more than 125 years. Here's the summer “Bike to Work” ride schedule:

ALL ABOARD! REALNEO visits Moscow....

Submitted by Serendipity on Tue, 05/08/2007 - 18:48.
 


On April 27th amidst billowing clouds of smoke and steam the first luxurious, fully on-suite train, named the Golden Eagle was introduced to a large crowd of journalists, Russian citizens and foreign guests, including HRH Prince Michael of Kent (center lower left) and HRH Princess Michael of Kent.  It was a grand event and caused quite a commotion in Kasansky Station, which is located in Moscow , Russia .  The train is run by a company called GW Travel.  President and Founder of GW Travel, Mr.

New Front-End for RTA Route Scheduling!!

Submitted by johnmcgovern on Tue, 05/01/2007 - 15:26.

A Case student has created a new front-end for RTA's Scheduling interface.  I, for one, think it is a vast improvement over RTA's site.  While I am most impressed by this user-friendly application of technology, I am also intrigued by the Django technology used to create this web app.

University Circle Blog on Joe Stanley and "Design for people, not institutions"

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 17:46.

Joe Stanley

 It is very nice to see my favorite real urban planner Joe Stanley featured on Lee Batdorff's very informative University Circle Blog - and thanks to Joe for mentioning us here at realneo! We set up and host his http://neomainstreet.com site, which is one of the best uses of Drupal in this region, and presents excellent work by a talented planner and designer. Joe is working on all the community development projects I'm involved with, including overall East Cleveland planning and the Star Intergenerational Neighborhood planning and The Intergenerational School, along with other work Joe does independently.

Cycling and Climate Change Debate

Submitted by Kevin Cronin on Mon, 04/09/2007 - 12:12.

I went to a very good talk about climate change and the "Inconvenient Truth" at the Natural History Museum last week.  The dialogue was led by local businessman/ environmentalist Jeff Friedman. It occurs to me that cycling can be a stronger part of climate change discussion.  

Introducing the Velomobile

Submitted by johnmcgovern on Wed, 04/04/2007 - 10:56.

Go-One velomobile

The bi/tricycle of the future, an enclosed recumbent known as a velomobile, has arrived in the USA in form of a space-age looking pod with trunk space as well as hybrid-electric technology that provides electric assist for steep hills and charges from your pedaling motion. The velomobile pictured is the GO-One . Velomobiles enables year round cycling, though it would seem smooth surfaces are preferred.  While  there are certainly advantages  to  a traditional  upright bicycle, there are  also numerous disadvantages.  However,  lets bask in this revolutionary transportation technology and we can discuss the downsides later....

Federal Transportation Cuts Looming - Contact Governor to Protect Bike and Pedestrian Projects

Submitted by Kevin Cronin on Wed, 03/28/2007 - 23:45.

I need to raise an important point of federal budget minutia and ask that you email the Governor to protect riding and pedestrian infrastructure in NE Ohio.

The President wants to save some money so he has rescinded (or canceled) spending for transportation enhancement programs.  Because federal transportation money was already distributed to the states years ago, he can't cancel it directly, so he tells the Governors to decide where to cut.  Transportation Enhancement money is important to NE Ohio. In fact, of all states receiving transportation enhancement money, Ohio trails only California, Texas and Florida. But if Ohio receives a lot of money, we are also being asked to generate a lot of the rescission money – nearly $139 million.

TOD update from Richard McDougald Enty, Planning Team Leader, Programming & Planning Department, GCRTA

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 03/28/2007 - 17:02.

I received an informative email this afternoon from Richard McDougald Enty, Planning Team Leader, Programming & Planning Department, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, about some of their Transit Oriented Development initiatives and vision. It is very exciting to see this as an active subject for discussion and planning here. I am a strong supporter of Transit Oriented Development and consider it the core foundation on which we should rebuild the City of Cleveland and surrounding suburbs.  Here is the vision from RTA:

Organic Juice Sails Ahead ;-)

Submitted by Zebra Mussel on Tue, 03/20/2007 - 18:53.

A snippet from Palm Beach Post on organic juice sales.   Though I consume it in tandem with organic milk, organic juice availability just has not kept pace.   Looks like they finally are waking up in the Orange belt.  Tropica (worlds largest juice guru) only got into the game this Feb.   See how behind the ball the big boys can be.   Looks like it wont be much longer now.  I wonder what is next? 

"Citizen Hauser" at Cleveland Film Festival

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sat, 03/03/2007 - 13:11.
03/18/2007 - 14:00
03/18/2007 - 16:00
Etc/GMT-5

   How many people in NEO could have an uplifting, inspiring and positive documentary film made about them - how many people in NEO would come out looking all good... great? "Citizen" Ed Hauser is surely unique to Northeast Ohio, having stood up to many other "citizens", including NEO community and government "leadership", in a 9-year fight for what Ed felt was best for all in the community. The documentary "Citizen Hauser", about Ed's battle, which officially led to victory on March 02, 2007, has aired on public television in Northeast Ohio - an outstanding work by Blue Hole Productions - will be featured with other short films at the Cleveland Film Festival, as posted below.

Let's make this a victory party!

Location

Tower City Center Theater
230 West Huron Road
Cleveland, OH
United States

SPRAWL ANTIDOTE - TRANSIT ORIENTED DESIGN AT LEVIN COLLEGE, CSU

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Sat, 02/24/2007 - 00:35.
   

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority on Thursday, February 22, 2007 sponsored a free presentation and discussion at the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs at CSU.  This presentation is another accomplishment in the Levin College’s public engagement efforts.  While Case used to benefit from the PR of such fora at  the Weatherhead Regional Economics Institute (REI), the termination of the REI programs by Case has CSU now benefiting from the hundreds of citizens attending the Levin College presentations. 

Moving Forward with a Plan to Improve Cleveland’s Innerbelt!

Submitted by Ed Hauser on Mon, 01/22/2007 - 03:50.
02/01/2007 - 16:30
Etc/GMT-6

Your opinions and feedback are important! Attend this Public Open House to Learn About the Next Steps for the Cleveland Innerbelt Plan. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) invites you to attend a Public Open House to review the Recommended Preferred Alternative. ODOT officials and their consultants will be available to answer questions.

Location

Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation
2187 West 14th Street Tremont area
Cleveland, OH
United States

Cleveland Innerbelt Bridge - Ohio's 2 Billion Dollar Boondoggle

Submitted by Ed Hauser on Sun, 01/21/2007 - 17:58.

Ohio Department of Transportation - Cleveland Innerbelt Project Presentation

Cleveland City Planning Commission Meeting - January 19, 2007

Prepared as a Public Service by: Ed Hauser

11125 Lake Avenue #402 - Cleveland, Ohio 44102

Ohio's Citizens and Taxpayers Deserve a Valid Engineering and Economic Impact Study

In November 2005, ODOT stated that its "Preferred Alternative" was the Northern Bridge Alignment. However, ODOT never publicly stated the true cost of this alternative by failing to include the cost to replace the existing Innerbelt Bridge with a new eastbound bridge in 21 years. As a public service, I have done the arithmetic for them. The cost to replace the existing bridge in 21 years was about $1.5 billion, with a total cost of $2 billion for ODOT's "Preferred Alternative." These are the most accurate and only calculations until ODOT's engineers submit their calculations.