Columbus Rides Bikes!

The timing of a proposal to reduce the number of lanes on Sullivant Avenue has perplexed some Hilltop neighborhood leaders. Traffic in each direction would be reduced from two lanes to one on Sullivant between Hague Avenue on the Hilltop and Yale Avenue in Franklinton. The 2.3-mile section would also get a new center turn lane and “sharrows,” symbols that tell drivers that bicycle riders are encouraged to use the same lane. “Why are we doing this now, before we see the impact of the casino?” said Chuck Patterson, who leads the Greater Hilltop Area Commission. “I do think it would be wise to wait and see.”The Hollywood Casino Columbus is to open Oct. 8 on W. Broad Street about 2.5 miles from the intersection of Sullivant and Hague avenues. Columbus wants to start the Sullivant work next spring or summer. City officials have presented the draft plan to the Greater Hilltop and Franklinton area commissions. They’ll be discussing it at a 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday at the Columbus Met...

The slums of the developing world are filling up with our e-waste, as intrepid recyclers try to find the valuable metals within. A new invention helps them strip down the old computers more quickly and safely, all with the tech of a simple bike. Rachel Field got the idea for the  Bicyclean  at the e-waste dump near  Agbogbloshie market, in Accra, Ghana. She says it was "almost a surreal place to be. [There were] mountains of refrigerators, computers, and cell phones, literally piled up outside." Scores of people were taking everything apart, often manually--mostly looking for copper. Field, a 22-year-old engineering graduate, was shocked. "Across from the market was housing, and the river was completely polluted. The impact on the site is pretty toxic, and people know that the air they are breathing is bad. But they’ve got to make a living." Her solution is a standing bike with the back taken out and replaced with an enclosed grinder...

We are still in need of volunteers for our Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts on Wednesday, September 26 th . You may signup online:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040845A4AE2F4-fall1 The next bi-annual Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Staff (PBS) meeting at MORPC will be held sometime in early 2013. In the meantime, attached are notes and the agenda for the meeting that took place September 5 th . Thanks to everyone who attended and especially to our presenters! We heard brief presentations on several local projects including: bicycle safety education (How We Roll), a national bike route through our area (AASHTO Bike Route 50), and the recently dedicated Westerville Bike Hub! Our feature presentation was Dublin’s Bridge Street Corridor, including the bicycle and pedestrian-oriented parts of the plans and Code. PDF copies of our presenters slideshows can be found online in two parts. Part One includes the first through fourth presentations: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BywtJ8...

Cleveland Park resident Herb Caudill posted about the zoning update on the neighborhood listserv, and triggered a lively debate. On the issue of required parking, one resident wrote about "the growing hostility toward the automobile," and said, "The need for parking is a reality of modern urban life." Caudill followed up with this fantastic article, which we're cross-posting with his permission. The thing about the "anti-car/pro-car" frame is that it's utterly useless when talking about urban planning and transportation planning. Most of us drive sometimes or all of the time. I drive, my wife drives, my friends and neighbors all drive. Photo by M.V. Jantzen on Flickr. Certainly some people are car-free by choice and sanctimonious about it; let's ignore them for the time being. And while externalities like pollution and fossil fuels are important, they don't need to factor into this conversation either. This isn't about morality ...

  Andrew Liszewski The best way to stay safe while biking is to stay visible to those you share the road with. And while concepts for laser-based systems that create a  highly visible virtual lane around your bike have existed for years and years, they're finally real (and cheap!) now. A Korean company called Slancio makes this rear safety light that includes a requisite set of flashing red LEDs, but also a pair of lasers that produce a thin set of lines on the road on either side of your bike. Not only do they add to your visibility at night, they also create a safe space around your bicycle that most drivers and other riders will subconsciously stay clear of. It's a brilliant idea that's made all the more amazing with a  $20  price tag that makes these a no-brainer upgrade for your ride. [Keep reading at Gizmodo]

Friday Stayed at Hostel Detroit Rode over to Motor City Brewing Works Saturday Metric Century route for some of us. We met our up with the others at Belle Isle and finished out the route. 5000+ riders After ride we headed down to Lafayette Greens, Waterfront, Dequindre Cut for another loop. 65 miles for day Photos

Midwest Outdoor Experience Highlights Dayton’s Recreational Amenities!   ACTIVITIES ABOUND AT CELEBRATION FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEARFEST Re-imagined with a new name and a new image, GearFest has transformed into the  Midwest Outdoor Experience , presented by Subaru. This recreation celebration is taking place Friday, October 5, through Saturday, October 6, at Eastwood MetroPark , 1385 Harshman Road, in Dayton. View the   2012 Schedule  to learn about all of the activities, demos, competitions and more! PLAY THE MIDWEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE VIDEO! Dog Friendly Event - Thanks to Subaru Thanks to our friends at Subaru  our furry friends will have plenty to do  at Midwest Outdoor Experience. Watch the high flying Subaru Ultimate Air Dogs, play in the Pooch Island Dog Park or snap a souvenir photo with your best buddy at the Subaru booth.  Learn More >> Get Out & Ride at IMBA Bike Village!! The IMBA Bike Village at Midwest Outdoor Expe...

Close Orange County, NY Tourism Cyclists in the Hudson Valley region can travel rural paths and visit small towns like Warwick, N.Y. After a day of cycling, the food always tastes better, says David Howard  , executive editor of  Bicycling  magazine. "Riding burns up to 800 calories an hour, so you've got a calorie deficit to make up." With more locally sourced restaurants and markets, riders have some great options for eating on the road. Fall is a perfect time to explore, says Howard, who shares some favorite areas with  Larry Bleiberg   for USA TODAY. Hudson Valley, N.Y.  With several bridges spanning the Hudson River, it's easy to map bike loop tours through the scenic upstate valley. "You can ride right alongside the Hudson River and get these amazing sweeping views," Howard says. Work up an appetite on the hills and stop to eat at St. Andrew's Café at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and the Rhinebeck Farmers ...

Andrew Holleran / Photo editor A student crosses the street within a crosswalk on campus. The Columbus Division of Police has been cracking down on jaywalking and bicycling rules in the off-campus area, and plans to continue. The crackdown on jaywalking and bicycle violations along High Street is far from over. In fact it will continue “minimally for the next couple weeks,” according to a member of the Columbus Division of Police. After issuing 241 tickets in the University District Sept. 7 and 8, Columbus Police followed up its increased enforcement the next weekend with 226 tickets in the same area. Students should expect the same level of focus for at least the next couple weeks, said Columbus Police Precinct 4 Commander Chris Bowling. “We’re just trying to get everyone’s attention,” Bowling said. But some students don’t think issuing fines and tickets is the right way to address the problem. “They’re giving out like $100 tickets and I think that’s a little bit excessive especia...

Last week The East End Food Coop put the final touches on 30 new and secure spaces for its patrons and employees to park their bikes.  The 30 spots are spread over two locations on The Factory’s property; a parking spot turned Bike Corral and an indoor rack / work-station. The East End Food Coop, along with The Factory’s landlord, developed the property’s first Bike Corral in the parking spot adjacent to the outdoor picnic area. The Corral consists of ten new ‘swerve’ racks with space enough for twenty bikes. Its convenient location will provide bikers easy access to the coop, a safe area to pack their bike with groceries, and a more quiet space for picnickers to enjoy a car free meal! Ten more bikes can be parked at five new swerve racks located inside the main entrance to The Factory. These spots will be used primarily for employee bike parking. A Dero Fix-it station, equipped with all the tools needed for basic bike maintenance, will also be located in this area to give em...

A professor at San Francisco State University recently developed an econometric model to study how smart growth affects travel behavior. His finding: quite a bit. If Bakersfield, California enjoyed the same density and transit amenities as the San Francisco Bay Area, households would drive 55 percent less, according to a recent study. Photo: Bakersfieldcarealestate.com Dr. Sudip Chattopadhyay  measured the impact  of certain smart growth indicators on 18 metro areas across the U.S. He found that a 10 percent increase in smart growth amenities — measured by residential and job density and per-capita transit spending — leads to a 20 percent reduction in miles driven. “This is a huge impact,” said Chattopadhyay. “Success is gradual and long lasting.” [Continue reading at dc.streetsblog.org]