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Bicyclists, It Is Time To Be Heard | Transit Miami
Are you frustrated with your bicycle commute? Is there a location sorely in need of bicycling parking? Are you discouraged by even the idea of bicycling in Miami? Do you want to know what the City and County are doing to become more bicycle-friendly?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, by all means come out on June 3rd or June 7 and raise your voice!
Two public workshops are being organized for early June to help update Miami-Dade County’s 2001 bicycle and pedestrian plans. You’ll find maps and experts on hand to inform you about the paths and other facilities already in place or in various stages of design. The planners want public input, so mark one of these dates and make your own arrangements to be there:
* June 3, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove.
* June 7, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211th St.
Thanks to Spokes n’ Folks for the tip. ... more -
U.S. PIRG Transit Video Contest
In the last decade, the amount of time that Americans spend stuck in rush hour traffic has more than doubled, and it’s only getting worse. If we had other options, like more and better public transportation, we could save that time – along with a whole lot of air pollution and CO2 emissions, dollars at the pump, and frustration.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is committed to improving public transportation by helping to make it work faster and cleaner for all of us. That’s where you come in. We need a new vision for public transportation in America, so we're calling on you to film it.
We want you to create your most persuasive video about why we need more and better public transportation. What should a 21st century transit system look like or not look like? Perhaps your vision focuses on biking, walking, and ultra-convenient mass transit, or perhaps it presents the endless auto gridlock and rising gas prices of today. The only limit is your imagination!
We'll use the winning videos to help decision-makers imagine with us a better future and see the dangers of keeping the status quo. Your video will be a critical part of an effort to educate local and state representatives, and to call on Washington, D.C. to change the way it funds our transportation system.
The winner will receive a $500 prize and will be featured on our website. Runners-up will win $250, $150, and honorable mentions will receive a one-year membership to U.S. PIRG.
You can see our sample video and learn more about the issues and the contest here: http://www.uspirg.org/transit-video-contest
We look forward to seeing your entry.
Break a leg (but of course, film safely)! In the last decade, the amount of time that Americans spend stuck in rush hour traffic has more than doubled, and it’s only getting wo... more -
Tri-Rail in Serious Jeopardy | Transit Miami
In case you haven’t heard, Tri-Rail is in big trouble.
Larry Lebowitz wrote a piece a couple days ago (sorry for the tardiness in reporting) outlining the impending doom for the Tri-County commuter rail line:
Tri-Rail may be facing no weekend service and a 60 percent cut in weekday trains in the fall after the state Legislature failed Friday to pass a major commuter rail bill that jeopardizes funding for the South Florida train.
Tri-Rail has been battling for years to get the Legislature to approve a dedicated funding source so it doesn’t have to seek money annually from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.
Without dedicated funding, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), which operates Tri-Rail, is preparing for massive service cuts starting in October.
Tri-Rail executive director Joseph Giulietti said the agency would have to kill its entire Saturday, Sunday, and holiday service — about 15 trains a day — and reduce weekday commuter service from 50 trains down to 20.
SFRTA had been hoping two years ago that the Legislature would pass a measure that would allow Tri-Rail counties to hold a referendum on initiating a $2 a day fee on most rental cars that would provide a dedicated funding source to Tri-Rail. The result? Transit-hater Jeb Bush vetoed the bill. This year, two more bills pushing the $2 rental car fee passed the House, but died in the Senate without a vote a few days ago.
So this is how it will likely go down now: Palm Beach County will cut its share of funding down to the legal limit of $4.23 million. Of course, Miami-Dade and Broward will follow suit, resulting in an $18 million dollar loss for Tri-Rail.
This is almost unfathomable considering the following:
* Tri-Rail is one of the fastest growing transit systems in America
* A $440 million doubling-tracking project was completed less than two years ago
* Ridership is up 28% from this time last year, largely stemming from service increase
* Tri-Rail provides the only regional north-south transit service between Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties
Can it get much worse for transit in South Florida? We finally have a successful transit system that serves a critical role in the regional transportation network, it’s seeing rapid growth every year, and that’s not even good enough? Shameful, embarrassing, moronic — these words that immediately come to mind don’t even do justice here.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/519255...
http://www.cfrail.com/newsevents.asp?type=news&id=4...
http://www.mcall.com/topic/sfl-0430trirail,0,6237169.st... In case you haven’t heard, Tri-Rail is in big trouble. ... more -
Green city to rise in the desert
Emirate Abu Dhabi is moving ahead with a large-scale project to build Masdar City -- a "green city" near the Abu Dhabi airport. Masdar City, expected to cost $20 billion and ten years to complete, will be a unique urban project that will be car-free, solar-powered, and feature advanced recycling facilities. Residents and visitors will get around on a light-rail system powered by solar energy in an eco-friendly city constructed with a contemporary design aesthetic. Read more in Craig and Marc Kielburger's contribution on this story in the Toronto Star. Emirate Abu Dhabi is moving ahead with a large-scale project to build Masdar City -- a "green city" near the Abu Dhabi airport. Masdar... more
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Wheels of Fortune
Steve Meyer wants to sell pedicabs to the world — but is the world willing to go along for the ride?
The sales pitches are assorted and relentless, shouted to an endless flood of pedestrians bedecked in Colorado Rockies attire streaming down the 16th Street Mall.
"How about a ride to the game, folks?"
"Lighten your load a little bit!"
"Give your kids a thrill!"
One man in a Red Sox shirt is warned point-blank: "You need a ride out of here. You're gonna be mobbed."
They come from drivers manning a line of pedicabs parked at 16th and Blake streets. Today is the Rockies' home opener, and there are dozens of the vehicles out and about, shuttling fans to Coors Field and pedaling empty cabs back to lineups at key pickup spots around downtown. The three-wheeled contraptions consist of a bike hitched to a cart with comfy seats in back; some have canopies, some don't. They're mostly spotted at night around the 16th Street Mall, but they also turn out in force for every Rockies home game, Denver Broncos game, New Year's Eve, Saint Patrick's Day, and any other event or celebration when the sheer amount of people, inclement weather and considerable quantities of alcohol create a perfect market.
Steve Meyer wants to sell pedicabs to the world — but is the world willing to go along for the ride? ... more -
Vancouver transit cops still bullish on Tasers
Transit police defend taser policy against fare evaders on SkyTrain in Vancouver, British Columbia. The controversial tasering policy is upheld -- even against non-violent fare evaders. Transit police defend taser policy against fare evaders on SkyTrain in Vancouver, British Columbia. The controversial tasering policy ... more
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The New Mexico Rail Runner Express
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is encouraging support for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, currently serving communities between Belen and Bernalillo with stops in downtown Alberquerque, New Mexico, and adjacent communities. The project is planned to extend service and new track towards the state capitol in Santa Fe. This extension of service is expected to be in operation by late 2008, and should be a great addition for commuters and tourists alike. Although Amtrak offers rail service on the Southwest Chief route between Albuquerque and Lamy -- the nearest community to Santa Fe -- the Rail Runner will offer a direct commuter connection between the two cities and also offer an alternative to an increasingly congested highway on the I-25 corridor. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is encouraging support for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, currently serving communities betwe... more
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Kiruna - Town in Transit
Kiruna is a small mining town in the north of Sweden. Recently the mining company, LKAB, discovered that the deformations zones created by the mining eventually will reach the town center.
To stop mining was just not an option since it is the livelyhood for a big part of the people living in Kiruna. Instead - during 2007 it was decided that the town would have to move.
In the effected area are some very important buildings like the church, the town hall and old historical houses with a big cultural value.
This film is about how Kiruna will go about moving the town and how the people are coping with it. Kiruna is a small mining town in the north of Sweden. Recently the mining company, LKAB, discovered that the deformations zones create... more -
Public Transportation
Sure is annoying sometimes....what does everyone else have to deal with in their cities?
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Black Market Metro
A basic single transit ticket in Berlin is good for two hours of travel - meaning you can get off of the subway, tram, or bus and then get back on later if your time hasn't expired. This, coupled with the fact that most people's tickets expire while they are at their destination, even though their trip may have only taken 15 minutes have led to an underground economy of transit ticket resellers. These resellers, who can be found at virtually every subway station in the city, often work in teams asking people exiting trains for tickets that they are no longer going to use. A basic single transit ticket in Berlin is good for two hours of travel - meaning you can get off of the subway, tram, or bus and then... more
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