Living #carfree in Des Moines, Iowa. Yes, it can be done.

Zach Boyden-Holmes/Juice 

dmJuice.com: "“I don’t have to worry about bad drivers. I don’t get speeding tickets any more. I don’t have to worry about parking. It’s a stress-free way for me to travel in almost every way,” Hammes said."

'via Blog this'

Chicago sprawl reaps the whirlwind of #climatechange

chicagotribune.com: "Officials in Plainfield and Bolingbrook are applying for state and federal assistance to help pay for damage incurred during last month's storms and floods."

Sprawl causes #climatechange, and then exacerbates it

Des Plaines Blames Neighbors For Flood Problems « CBS Chicago: "The city of Des Plaines is blaming Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights for some of its flooding problems.

Des Plaines officials believe their upstream neighbors – Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights – made the flood worse by closing a gap in a levee."

'via Blog this'

Red states did not get the #teaparty memo to hate #publictransit

MPO Study Says Mass Transit Would Bring 7,000 Jobs | Indy's News Center - 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis - Live. Local. First.: "The study says about half of the jobs would be directly-related construction positions and roughly the other half would be permanent jobs, many of which would be indirectly related. The study also says building and operating the first phase of the plan would pump $3.8 billion into the economy from 2015 to 2025. Ehren Bingaman, executive director of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority says his group continues to promote mass transit legislation that aims to bring the issue and funding to a public referendum in November 2014."

Mother Nature is talking, anyone listening?

pic.twitter.com/HzHrfMzwPV

Carbon emissions disrupt rain cycle

Evanston ranks 10th in country for green commuting

The Daily Northwestern: "“The majority of U.S. commuters drive alone in a car to work, which is the absolute worst way you can get around, as far as reducing your carbon footprint,”
... Evanston commuters take public transportation far more frequently than the average urban American."

LaHood Calls the US "One Big Pothole."

Tri States Public Radio: "LaHood highlighted his connection to the area, having attended Spoon River College, and applauded city and county’s efforts on the new transit center.

He said infrastructure and public transport are keys to economic development."

20,000 gallons of crude oil spill as train derails in Otter Tail Co. | StarTribune.com

20,000 gallons of crude oil spill as train derails in Otter Tail Co. | StarTribune.com: "PARKERS PRAIRIE, Minn. - Authorities say 14 cars of a Canadian Pacific Railroad have derailed in western Minnesota and at least three have spilled or leaked crude oil."

'via Blog this'

U.S. has reached #peakauto

twin city sidewalks: "Since 2005, driving has started to plateau. And back around 2008, the total actually began going down for the first time in anyone's living memory. Part of that is the recession and the rise in oil prices. But when viewed from a per capita perspective, the trend hits you even harder. Growth in yearly driving has been slowing since 1990 and been going down since 2004. "

'via Blog this'

Prosecutor Terry Curry endorses mass transit expansion | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

Prosecutor Terry Curry endorses mass transit expansion | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com: "He also believes transit can deter criminal activity by reducing household expenses, and by providing transportation to community services, jobs and re-entry programs."

'via Blog this'

Critical Transit: Rail in the highway median - not attractive

Critical Transit » Blog Archive » Highway Transit: "Once you reach the platform, you’re still exposed to high health risks from auto emissions, not to mention the discomfort caused by noise and the nauseating feeling of traffic whizzing by within a few meters of where you’re standing. Not a nice place to be waiting, and certainly not a good way to attract riders and promote public transit."

Champaign-Urbana #freetransit info for seniors

For the retirees March 3, 2013 | News-Gazette.com: "Champaign-Urbana: Rides for grocery shopping in Champaign-Urbana city limits and rides for Champaign County residents to medical appointments can be arranged by contacting the Senior Resource Center of Family Service at 352-5100.

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District provides senior citizens with a special card for free bus transportation in Champaign-Urbana and half-price taxi service. Call MTD at 384-8188 for more information."

'via Blog this'

Public Transportation Should Get Dedicated Funding, Advocates Say - DNAinfo.com Chicago

Public Transportation Should Get Dedicated Funding, Advocates Say - DNAinfo.com Chicago: "THE LOOP — Dedicated public transportation funding could dramatically improve the quality of your commute, transit officials and community leaders said Monday.

“There’s dedicated funding for roads, but not transit,” said Erin Evenhouse, 25, who works with Transportation for America."

'via Blog this'

Environmental group backs mass transit - southbendtribune.com

Environmental group backs mass transit - southbendtribune.com: "INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Expanding mass transit in Indiana could help reduce the need for cars and allow for cleaner air, the Hoosier Environmental Council's senior policy director said this week."

'via Blog this'

Project for Public Spaces | Walking is Not a Crime: Questioning the Accident Axiom

Industrial Rd & Millard Ave in Omaha, America’s worst intersection for pedestrians according to Streetsblog / Photo: Google

Project for Public Spaces | Walking is Not a Crime: Questioning the Accident Axiom: "In 2010, the last year the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA) published such figures, a startling 4,280 pedestrians were hit and killed in traffic and 70,000 were injured. For many states, this past year was one of the most deadly in a decade, ending a general decline in pedestrian fatalities. Even still, there is a disturbing cultural willingness to accept these deaths as a necessary evil. The public increasingly blames the victims. The police rarely prosecute, and if they do, the courts are often lenient. In 2012, 136 pedestrians were killed and another 11,621 were injured in New York City alone—and in all that time, only one sober, unacquainted driver was charged."

Lafayette, IN, plans for more buses as demand expect to double

Higher gas prices boost public transit users | WLFI - Greater Lafayette, Indiana: "With the dependency of public transportation expected to increase dramatically over the next couple of decades, CityBus is taking steps to make sure it’s ahead of the game."

'via Blog this'

Cars are literally killing us. We need to try the #carfree diet.

Commuters who ride public transit weigh less than those who drive. - redeyechicago.com: " People who drive to work every day are packing on slightly more weight than their colleagues who use trains, buses and bicycles to get to the office, even if they exercise in their spare time, according to a new study.
"Even if you are efficiently active during leisure time, if you use a car for commuting daily, then that has an impact on weight gain," said lead author Takemi Sugiyama of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia."

'via Blog this'

Free Bus Ride With Topeka Library Card February 4th Through 9th

Free Bus Ride With Topeka Library Card February 4th Through 9th: "The big announcement is if you have a Topeka Public Library card, you can ride the bus for free from February 4-9.

They are encouraging everyone throughout the city of Topeka to come out. Plus, there will be a special item on the bus."

'via Blog this'

Railroad coal spill, oil is next.

Train heading to S.D. derails in N.D. | The Argus Leader | argusleader.com: "A train carrying coal from Wyoming to eastern South Dakota derailed Saturday night near Hettinger, N.D., spilling 13 carloads onto the ground."

'via Blog this'

Can Transit Reverse Indianapolis’ Center-City Slide? | Streetsblog.net

Can Transit Reverse Indianapolis’ Center-City Slide? | Streetsblog.net: "At the Indiana statehouse today, a committee is discussing a transit plan that could revolutionize Indianapolis. The proposal would drastically expand transit investment, and add a rapid transit element, in an attempt to make this relatively auto-centric city a more authentically urban place."

'via Blog this'

Paying More for Less: What’s Behind the CTA Cuts and Fare Hikes? | Occupied Chicago Tribune

Paying More for Less: What’s Behind the CTA Cuts and Fare Hikes? | Occupied Chicago Tribune: "We know that the Mayor would like to divide and conquer transit users and CTA workers, just like he tried to do during the CTU strike when he attempted to pit students and parents against the teachers. But the fact remains that when transit services get cut, CTA workers and riders both lose. When our transit infrastructure goes unrepaired, life is harder for riders as well as workers."

Car-Centric Big Cities More Violent Because Of Gasoline Lead - CleanTechnica

Car-Centric Big Cities More Violent Because Of Gasoline Lead - CleanTechnica: "Concrete jungles have been plagued with violent crime much more so than small towns, with few concrete answers as to why. In a recent Mother Jones article, Kevin Drum outlines why exposure to gasoline lead has driven violence in major cities."

'via Blog this'

Fortified by Global Warming, Deadly Fungus Poisons Corn Crops, Causes Cancer - Yahoo! News

Fortified by Global Warming, Deadly Fungus Poisons Corn Crops, Causes Cancer - Yahoo! News: "“We have a big aflatoxin problem,” says Charles Woloshuk, a botanist and plant pathologist at Purdue University. “There are loads of corn coming to the [grain] elevators that have been rejected.”"

'via Blog this'

Expect railroad oil spills soon

Safety a concern as crude moved by train - San Antonio Express-News: "The parade of mile-long trains carrying hazardous material out of North Dakota and Montana and across the country has experts and federal regulators concerned. Rail transport is less safe than pipelines, they say, and the proliferation of oil trains raises the risk of a major derailment and spill."

'via Blog this'

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on mass transit: 'Now is the time' | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on mass transit: 'Now is the time' | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com: "“Now is the time for Indianapolis to invest in a first-class transit system,” Ballard said. “I ask our legislators to give us the tools we need to make this investment in our transit system. And to all the residents of Indianapolis, I encourage you to call your state legislators and urge them to pass Indy Connect Now.”"

'via Blog this'

Are “public” streets actually public? | the get around blog

Are “public” streets actually public? | the get around blog: "I am struck by the book’s description of popular reaction to the invasion of motor cars on city streets during the early years of motordom. Before the automobile invasion, streets were public space in the true sense of the word, not very different from the way we think of city parks. As the book details, in order for cars to take over the roads, we had to fundamentally alter this view."

'via Blog this'

Tenants flee suburban Chicago office parks - In Other News - Crain's Chicago Business

Tenants flee suburban Chicago office parks - In Other News - Crain's Chicago Business: "Suburban landlords have more unwanted office space than any major metro area in the country, concludes New York-based tenant brokerage Studley Inc. Preliminary third-quarter statistics show 24.3 percent of suburban space is available, the highest level of the 12 U.S. suburban markets it tracks. That volume of unwanted space could fill the 110-story Willis Tower 7½ times."

'via Blog this'