BART to hold Clipper Card outreach

BART to hold Clipper outreach events throughout service area

Get a free Clipper card!

BART is transitioning away from paper discount tickets to the Clipper card, the regional transit fare payment system. Their ticket sales network will shrink over the next six months, so get your card now.

If you already have a Clipper card, add cash and use your card on BART. For your convenience, you can load value onto your card at ticket vending machines in any BART station.

Tag your card to the disk and follow the on-screen instructions, then don't forget to tag your card to the disk again to load value and go. You don't need tickets anymore. No small leftover values to consolidate, and magnets are your friend again. When you get to the fare gate, tag, open and go!

If you have a RTC identification card, you are ready for smooth sailing on BART. Your ID card is already a Clipper card. Go to a ticket vending machine and load your fare onto the card. No more red tickets!

Need a card? BART staff will be at outreach events to hand out adult cards and to dispense senior cards to eligible customers 65 years and older. Children 12 years and younger can bring their applications (signed by a parent or guardian) with appropriate identification and our staff will validate the information and get a youth card sent to the listed address. No need for red or green tickets anymore. Best of all, you will always be able to travel at the discounted rate because as long as you have your card, your can add fare to it at any station.

Come to one of the following locations and get your card. See you there!

Your Customer Service Crew,
Julie, Georgene, Mike, Mike and Carol will be available to answer your question.

Upcoming events include:

Oct. 18: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
VFW Hall at 1919 Wendell Lane, Pleasant HIll

Oct. 19: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
VFW Hall at 1919 Wendell Lane, Pleasant Hill

Oct. 22: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Pedalfest on the Water
Jack London Square, Oakland

Oct. 25: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Dublin/Pleasanton BART

Oct. 28: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Fremont Senior Center
40086 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont

Oct. 31: 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Livermore Senior Center
4444 East Avenue, Livermore

Nov. 2: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
San Ramon Senior Center

Nov. 3: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Summerset 4
Summerset Residents Only, Brentwood

Nov. 4: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Walgreen's Balfour
2271 Balfour Rd, Brentwood

Nov. 7: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Fruitvale BART Station (Spanish)

Nov. 8: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
St. Mary's Gardens Senior Center
201 10th St, Oakland

Nov. 9: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Bayfair BART Station

Nov. 10: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Walnut Creek Senior Center
1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek

Nov. 11: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Hayward BART Station

Nov. 11: 8:30 am - 3:15 pm
School for the Deaf
Student Event Only, Fremont

Nov. 14: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
South Hayward BART Station

Nov. 16: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Fremont BART Station

Dec. 5: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Millbrae BART Station

Dec. 7: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
San Bruno BART Station

Dec. 9: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
South San Francisco BART Station

Dec. 12: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Colma BART Station

Dec. 14: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Daly City BART Station

You can also get more information on the main Clipper website or in the section specifically about using Clipper on BART.

Alameda County to hold workshops on transportation sales tax ballot measure

The Alameda County Transportation Commission is holding the last three workshops on planning a ballot measure to extend and possibly raise the county half cent sales tax for transportation.

Commissioner staff will discuss and accept comments about the proposed ballot measure which is scheduled for November 2012, as well as possible road and transit projects to be funded.

The two-hour meetings are:

• 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the East Oakland Senior Center, 9255 Edes Ave., Oakland.


• 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Union City Sports Center, 31224 Union City Blvd., Union City.
• 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Dublin public library, 200 Civic Ave., Dublin.

For information about the ballot planning, go to www.alamedactc.org/ and click on "transportation in Alameda County."


- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Oakland, Ca

VTA seeks public input on Highway 85 express lanes

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is proposing to convert the existing HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes on SR 85 between South San Jose and Mountain View to express lanes. This project will allow solo drivers the option of paying a toll to use the express lanes. The general public is invited to attend the community meeting to learn more about the project. Project exhibits will be available for review and the project team will be available to answer questions.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 19th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Saratoga Senior Center located at 19655 Allendale Avenue in Saratoga.


- Posted from my iPhone

New Santa Clara bicycle improvements

While cycling along Monroe St. in Santa Clara this morning, I got the chance to see the city's recently installed bike lane and lane reduction project.

The main funding sources were from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's (BAAQMD) Transportation Fund for Clean Air and TDA BEP (Transportation Development Account- Bicycle Expenditure Program) funds.


The road diet is on Monroe Street from Scott Boulevard west to San Tomas Expressway connecting to the recently completed San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail. To see how the roadway looked prior to the work see the satellite image map below. Let's hope the city continues with the project to the west of San Tomas given that the four lanes encourage drivers to speed through a residential neighborhood.



The project does include a portion of the bike lane that is colored green at the intersection of Scott and Monroe (see picture), but the green paint is surely need as you cross San Tomas Expressway.


- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Monroe Street and Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, Ca

October 12, 2011 - Cycling Events in the Bay Area

Upcoming Events in the Silicon Valley

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Autumn is here! (Check below for SF Bay Area Map)

Thanks to all who showed up for last night's BIRD meeting. We had a great turnout. Thanks to Justin and Yoshi for leading the meeting. Next week's ride is going to be a great evening thanks to all of the great BIRD volunteers.

Are you ready for the Rapture Ride. Come celebrate San Jose Bike Party's 4th anniversary.

 Come dressed ready for the Rapture dressed as an angel or a demon.

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October East Bay Bike Party: ZOMBIE HOMECOMING

Friday, October 14 · 7:30pm - 11:30pm

Meet at North Berkeley BART Station

Volunteers Needed!
Middle School Bike Party: Hoover Middle School San Jose

Saturday, October 15 · 10:30 am - 4:00 pm

Come help lead middle school students on an amazingly fun ride to two local colleges! (SCU & SJSU) We'll start with an on-campus obstacle course (which you will run, events flexible to your taste/comfort but I have plenty of stock ideas too), then we take off cruising through town with a small group, leave-no-kiddo-behind, teaching the love of cycling (and safe lane positioning) with every pedal stroke

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October 21, 2011- Friday - 8:30 - 10:00 PM

San Jose Bike Party

Rapture Ride

Ride details to be posted next week.

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6ix Chix Mini-Randonee and Musical Gathering

Saturday, October 22 · 4:00pm - 7:00pm

6ix Chix presents an end of summer bike and music event. Join us for our first Mini-Randonee (a 20 mile bike ride) to Alviso and back with a short break at Maria Elena's. The ride concludes roughly at 7pm at 6ix Chix farmhouse with dinner, music and drinks.

For more info

October 22, 2011- Saturday - 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Pedalfest @ Jack London Square, Oakland

From people who've never been on a bicycle to people who never seem to be off one, Pedalfest has something for everybody.

For families, there's a kid's zone, bike parade and pedal-powered amusement rides. For thrillseekers, there are bike stunt shows by nationally and internationally ranked riders. For those who appreciate the beauty of the bicycle, there's a handmade and vintage bike show. Plus, you can grab a beverage at the... New Belgium beer garden. Add to that a pedal-powered music stage, bike demos, a bike clinic, bike-powered food vendors and bike rides, and you've got one heck of a festival. For a complete rundown of the day's events, visit http://www.pedalfestjacklondon.com

 (KRUZ3R MOB) BBQ & Ride with our Union City pals!
Sunday, October 23 · 10:00am - 1:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=167038710046911

(SF)Sunday Streets 2011 Season Finale in the Mission
Sunday, October 23 · 11:00am - 4:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111731525601382

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Halloween Family Ride in Willow Glen

Halloween Festival and Kid's Concert
Sunday, October 30
12 noon to 3:00 PM at Treehouse in the Glen.
2:15 PM - Halloween Costume and Bike Parade

Featuring:

• Halloween Arts and Crafts
• Halloween Carnival Games
• Family Fun and Giggles
• Face Painting and Balloons
• Giant Pirate ship and Photo booth
• Costume Awards and
• the Papa Hugs Band

Treehouse in the Glen - 1275 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA

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San Francisco Bike Expo (COW PALACE)
Saturday, November 12 at 10:00am - November 13 at 5:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143604952396003

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October East Bay Bike Party: 

Friday, November 11 · 7:30pm - 11:30pm

Meet at: TBA

Too see all rides on the map click the link just below the map. Thanks.

View Upcomming Bay Area Bike Events in a larger map

Tread bike shop - just one more reason to enjoy downtown Campbell

So many great improvements have been made in downtown Campbell in the last few years that it has become the new "spot" in the Silicon Valley. The new nighttime light sculpture under Highway 17, the new bridge and pedestrian improvements over the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and great events such as Boogie on the Bayou, Octoberfest, and the weekly farmers market have been drawing residents and visits alike.

The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a big draw. Situated in downtown Campbell along the Los Gatos Creek Trail is Tread Bicycle shop, a great independent local bike shop catering to the mountain, road, and recreational rider.


I stopped in this morning unexpectedly with a faulty front tube. Because of the great Sunday traffic due to the trail's popularity and the farmers market the store staff were getting ready for a 9 am opening! A bike shop open at 9 o'clock on a Sunday morning is not only rare but a testament to the commercial and community success of downtown Campbell.

Another welcome sight is that they rent bicycles. Yes as far as I know they are the only location in the valley that rents bicycles to the public. Yes there is a business that caters to the out of town techy, roadie, geek with $6,000 carbon race machines and will deliver them to the Fairmont Hotel a steep price. But Tread rents mountain and cruiser bikes to the public right on Campbell Ave. The cruiser bikes rent for $20 for the day and full suspension mountain bikes rent for $75 a day.

So come on down on a Sunday, enjoy the farmers market and then take a bike out on the beautiful Los Gatos Creek Trail.


- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Los Gatos Creek Trail,Campbell,United States

Bike Share will bring much needed improvements to downtown San Jose

Two great changes are on the table next year in the South Bay. At the last Caltrain BAC (Bicycle Advisory Committee) meeting it was announced by Caltrain staff that an RFP will be initiated in December for vendors to manage the Bay Area bikeshare system. We should see a roll out of the system by late early 2013.

In preparation for an extensive bike share system in downtown San Jose, the city will be making some changes to improve cycling infrastructure. In conversations in the last couple of weeks with San Jose Department of Transportation staff I was informed of several projects that cyclists will be sure to love.

The long awaited San Fernando buffered (and colored) bike lane will finally come to fruition. This project (along with the paving of the Guadalupe River trail north of the airport) has been brought up at previous San Jose Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meetings, but it now looks like we will have a iconic cycletrack in our future. This will create a key link with Diridon Station at the west end of downtown and the city hall and university areas at the easterm end.

Other improvements will include;

• One-way freeway feeder streets such as 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th will gain a bike lane. These are key streets bordering San Jose State University that will provide a visible invitation for new cyclists.
• A road diet on San Carlos Street along with much needed streetscape improvements.
• Improvements to the Park Ave. bike route. This will be a great improvement to the fading sharrow markings that currently mark the route.

City staff stressed that the timing of these improvements will coincide with the opening of the bikeshare system and will encourage more residents and vistors to either ride their own bike or rent one on a short term basis. Thanks for the great news.

Adobe Systems Towers - Are they a good fit for downtown San Jose?

Sitting along the banks of the Guadalupe River, near the confluence of the Guadalupe and Los Gatos Creek the Adobe Systems towers create a stunning backdrop to a rather innocuous downtown San Jose. Comprising nearly the whole city block (save a required park and the Pacific Gas and electric Building), the buildings add an enormous amount of office space to the downtown market. But how do these buildings (and the infrastructure that surrounds the buildings such as the park, roadway, etc) reflect well on San Jose and are they good for the city? Do they add value to the downtown community?


Although the company has done very well in establishing their bona fiddes with regards to all things green, a closer look reveals otherwise. At the main entrance (if there really is a main entrance), the company proudly displays both the Energy Star plaque as well as their "Bay Area Green Business" certification. It certainly is entertaining to watch the windmills spinning in the afternoon breeze, but does this development add value to the downtown area?

The claim is that 20% of employees use public transportation, but unless this is all Caltrain riders, the number seems suspect. Not only is there not a bus stop located in the front of the building on Park Ave., but it is highly doubtfull that Adobe employees "ride the bus". See some simple calculations to figure out parking and employee mode share.



First of all in evaluating the surrounding area, the intersection of Almaden Blvd. and Park Ave. what one notices right away is the suburban office park feel to the site; a wide boulevard, high speed corners, vacant buildings and civic and park structures that draw minimal use to the area. Almaden Boulevard and Park Avenue are both 105 feet wide on the building's south and east sides slightly less than some city blocks in New York, San Diego, or Portland. High speed corners on with radii of 80 feet are seen more in suburban office parks than on downtown streets. This creates a need to put pedestrians on islands where they must push a button to signal their intent to cross. The crosswalk at the northern part of the intersection is 165 feet long making a commitment to cross the street almost as procedural as the filing of a flight plan.


The city didn't require
street level retail,
so Adobe didn't
provide for it.


The building reflects the cities goal of requiring parking but making no provisions for on street retail giving the building a dead look at street level even during the work week. (New York City requires street level retail.) To enliven the street side look the company, similar to computer screen wallpaper, has but up geometrically inspired graphics on the windows but it only cheapens the look even more. What the city does require is substantial parking within the building, making the wide subterranean parking entrance the most notable aspect of the "front" side of the building. All in all the look is one of a modern fortress housing the colonial inhabitants to the downtown area. The only time employees seem to leave the comfortable confines is to go outside for a smoke break or within the safe encapsulation of their Volvo's, Audis, and Escalades.

Employees leave the
security of the fortress in
packs of 10.

But why would you even need to leave the fortress except to get in your car and go home. The company provides a well stocked restaurant open most hours of the day with views of the Guadalupe. With the company paying the costs of employee lunches and with downtown restaurants almost a days hike away there is little incentive to leave the fortress. The closest restaurant, Peggy Sues is over 800 feet away or about 3 or 4 New York city blocks. The new development at San Pedro Square Market with its many new restaurants is almost 4,000 feet away (about 3/4 of a mile). This is why on many occasions when I have notice employees leaving the fort, the do so in packs, groups of 8-10 or more. Its as if they were leaving the safety of the fort to go hunt for food in the American wilderness.






The garage entrance;
more noticeable than
the street entrance.

 But as I have mentioned in another post on the propensity for blank walls, gates and fences in San Jose. The Adobe Towers add to the norm with its walls and covered windows. Walk the entire perimeter of the building and you will not see one person. or evidence of only two working pedestrian entrances. As mentioned by writers such as William Whyte and Jane Jacobs this leads to only the most undesirables inhabiting the space. On any given day you will never see an Adobe employee at the park located next to the building. In their place you will see the backpacks and shopping carts of the new park residents, (as Jane Jacobs calls them) the "leisured indigent". By taking all eyes of the street and off the Guadalupe at street level only the long term "parkers" will use the city maintained park.

October 5, 2011 - Upcoming Bike Events in the Bay Area

Upcoming Events in the Silicon Valley
Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Autumn is here! (Check below for SF Bay Area Map)

October 6, 2011- Thursday - 6:30 - 10:00 PM
San Jose Bike Party
October SLOW Test Ride #3 "Rapture"

One last test ride for our 4th anniversary ride in October. We will be going at a slow (bike party) pace for this one. Come out and ride the route and meet new people.

Click here for the route map.

San Francisco Bike Party
Under the Big Top
October 7, Friday 7:30 pm meet - Roll at 8:00

Route Map

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October 8, 2011- Saturday - 5:30 - 10:30 PM
Biketoberfest Bike Soiree (peninsula)
Here is the game plan
Tour of great peninsula neighborhoods, perhaps some pubs! .

Game Plan:

Meet in downtown Sunnyvale. Perhaps at Walt's Cycle or Murphy St.?

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October 8, 2011- Saturday 10:00 - 4:00
Bike Hike III
This one's a lot more friendly on the bike side. Relatively flat except for the last mile to get to the park.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/659978

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We'll probably do a regroup at the great mall and use warren > paseo padre instead of Mission Blvd. The hike on the other hand will be pretty strenuous... It's not super long though so if you take it easy, you should be able to make it.http://www.bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/missionpeak.html

Things you will need... http://www.4thstpizzaco.com/

bike (w or w/o gears)

water

food

shoes that are good for walking.

Please feel free to invite your friends if you think they will have fun on a ride like this with us.

Participants for this ride will NOT get honorary memberships to the "i hate yoshi fan club" as this is a pretty mellow bike hike bike.

4th street pizza afterwards!

All you can eat pizza and soda $10.

Take the #803 bullet train @ 5:45pm and arrive in San Mateo at 6:14pm.
If you want to start from downtown San Jose, take the (same) #803 bullet train @ 5:35pm .

Get off train in downtown San Mateo, ride around, maybe grab a bite to eat.

about 7:15-7:30pm leave downtown San Mateo, head south

East Bay Bike Party
October Practice/Volunteer Ride, part 2!
Meet at North Berkeley Bart at 10 AM - 1 PM
Saturday, October 8th

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RideESSJ - Ride East Side San Jose - October 9, Sunday, 11:00 AM
Meet at the Alum Rock Light Rail Station.

SJ Bike Party Volunteer (BIRD Meeting) October 11th, location to TBA at a later date.
Meeting starts at 7:00.

October East Bay Bike Party: ZOMBIE HOMECOMING

Friday, October 14 · 7:30pm - 11:30pm

Meet at North Berkeley BART Station

Volunteers Needed!
Middle School Bike Party: Hoover Middle School San Jose

Saturday, October 15 · 10:30 am - 4:00 pm

Come help lead middle school students on an amazingly fun ride to two local colleges! (SCU & SJSU) We'll start with an on-campus obstacle course (which you will run, events flexible to your taste/comfort but I have plenty of stock ideas too), then we take off cruising through town with a small group, leave-no-kiddo-behind, teaching the love of cycling (and safe lane positioning) with every pedal stroke

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Halloween Family Ride in Willow Glen

Halloween Festival and Kid's Concert
Sunday, October 30
12 noon to 3:00 PM at Treehouse in the Glen.
2:15 PM - Halloween Costume and Bike Parade

Featuring:

• Halloween Arts and Crafts
• Halloween Carnival Games
• Family Fun and Giggles
• Face Painting and Balloons
• Giant Pirate ship and Photo booth
• Costume Awards and
• the Papa Hugs Band

Treehouse in the Glen - 1275 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, CA

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Too see all rides on the map click the link just below the map. Thanks.

View Upcomming Bay Area Bike Events in a larger map

Tranportation Costs per Mile

Its difficult sometimes to compare different transportation costs. For example is it cheaper to drive to San Francisco and park or take the train? How cheap is Amtrak compared to BART or Caltrain?

Well the highest cost per mile is actually the Amtrak route from the East Bay to San Jose. From Emmeryville south to San Jose Amtrak ticket prices are $17, or 38 cents per mile for the Capitol Corridor. The Coast Starlight route on Amtrak is actually much cheaper. From San Jose to Portland it averages 14 cents per mile. But the cheapest rate ever was a $1.00 ticket I scored on a Megabus from Washington DC to New York City. The cost per mile was only .44 cents.

Link to spreadsheet

photo:  lazytom

I thought goathead season was over

 

Actually this is the peak of the goathead (a product of the thistle plant) season. It may stick around a little longer this year due to an unseasonably cool summer here in California.

While riding over a little used median I encountered a patch of these "puncturethorns", but it was too late. I picked up about 12 in all.

This is the gravy season for bike shops. The peak goathead season is the end of September. Bike shops do a great business because very few people now days either want to or know how to fix a flat tire, even at a labor cost of about $10 per tire.

If you think tire liners or "slime" are 100% effective, think again. I've had as many as 30 thorns in each tire and the chances are that one of these guys are getting through you tire and tube. So it seems you have at least three options.

1. Learn to fix your own flats.
2. Pay your local bike shop to do it for you.
3. Stay home and watch old Tour de France videos on the sofa.

- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Mossbrook Cir,San Jose,United States

Gronigen - Holland's Cycling city

This article is a repost from my friends over at the World Carfree Network. The article was written by by Ton Daggers and Jane Harding.

In Groningen, the Netherlands’sixth largest city, the main form of transport is the bicycle. The city is famous for having the highest percentage of bicycle usage in the world. How has Groningen done it? Cycling here, and indeed in much of the Netherlands, is just the norm. The success comes from a series of sound policies which view cycling as an integral part of urban renewal, planning and transport strategy. By providing proper infrastructure and amenities cycling has blossomed over time and today the main 46 routes of the cycling network is used daily by 216,000 citizens. By prioritising and promoting cycling as the main mode of transportation, city planners, local authori-ties and cycling advocates have played an important part in the city’s reputation as a great place to live. Groningen has a relatively young population of approximately 180,000 inhabitants, which account for a large proportion of the city bikers, but people of all ages opting for two wheels over four. And this is a growing trend. Research by Groningen municipality in 2008 showed a considerable growth of cycling in the last years: an average of 1.4 bicycle trips per person per day in the city, making up more than 50% of the total journeys, a growth of 9% from 2007. In order to further understand the sucess of the bicycle in Groningen, it is important to look at how urban design and policies have changed over time to make it the leading cycle city we see today.

“Cycling is viewed as an integral part of urban renewal, planning and transport strategy”

History of Carfree Development

The city has a long history of urban developments which have maintained the value of keeping the inner city as a central point for a host of activities: a blend of living, working and shopping which favours pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation over the car. Since the 1960s the municipality has been way ahead in its traffic plans and spatial planning policies; maintaining a vision of a “compact city”and implementing policies which have led to a carfree city centre, with almost all areas easily reachable by bicycle. However, the path has not always been easy.  During the 1950s and 1960s most cities and towns in the Netherlands were making room for vechicles – some even removed bicycle paths in order to free up space for the car.  In Groningen, motorisation was growing rapidly and so was suburban sprawl – there were no restrictions for cars driving through and very few cycle routes leading to the centre. The motorist was king at this time.In 1972, local authorities changed the emphasis of urban planning and development in Groningen.  The centre of the city was to be considered as the “living room”for its people. The basic concept used in urban planning was based on the “compact city”vision, which placed an integrated transport system high on the agenda – for an inner city favouring a combined use of pedestrians, cyclists, buses and other means of public transport. A traffic circulation plan divided the inner city into four sections and a ring road was built, encircling the city and reducing access to the centre by car. The result was an inner city which is entirely closed off to cars, and only possible to travel between sectors by walking, bicycling or using public transport. What has further spurred the use of bicycles over all other sustainable transportation is the huge expansion of the cycle network – there are many traffic free bike lanes from the outskirts to the city centre – making cycling is the most viable mode of transport for most journeys.

Importance of policy
The city treats cyclists with respect. A series of sound transportation policies and invest-ments has maintained a carfree urban space – favouring walking, public transport and predominantly cycling. This has resulted in a major trend away from car-use to bike-use in the city of Groningen. Between 1989 and 2000, € 23 million was invested in cycling infrastructure and the annual amount con-tinues to grow. Investments have also been made to expand the network of cycling lanes, improve the pavements, build bridges for cyclists, and many more bike parking facilities – making cycling faster and more convenient. As cycling is the lifeblood of the city, it has been given adequate space and time to flow safely and efficiently.

During the 1980s and 1990s a car parking policy was strictly implemented. Car parking with time restrictions was introduced in a broad radius around the inner city. Park and Ride areas were created combined with city buses and other high quality public transport. But overall, cycling policy has been central to the traffic plans, which in contrast, car accessibility has been restricted within the city centre.Reaping the RewardsOver a long period of time local authorities have made clear choices, however manifold criticised. Traffic circulation plans were based on the concentration of motorised traffic into a limited road space on the outskirts of the city, and developing a very coherent, comfortable and dense cycle network. This is the result of a clear vision of urban development – based on the idea that a city is for its people. Groningen is a compact city, and for now at least, continues to stay this way. For example, newly built neighbourhoods are no more than 6 km from the city centre. Groningen municipality research showed in 2008 78% of residents and 90% of employees now live within 3 km of the city centre. Residential areas are developed with good connections to the city centre and green lungs in between. There are entire housing developments built along major bicycle and scooter “roadways”, massive bike parks everywhere, many roads that are one way for cars but two way for bikes, and special signal phases for bikes.

Groningen in Numbers
Population: 180,000 inhabitants
Size of Groningen: 87 square kilometres
Residents Traveling by Bike: 57%
Average cycling trips each day: 1.4 per person
Number of cycling routes in Groningen: 46
Number using cycling routes each day: 216,000

There are some interesting economic repercussions to come out of replacing space for cars with greenery, pedestrianisation, cycleways and bus lanes. Banning car traffic has boosted jobs and business. Groningen’s economic development has improved, particularly for businesses which were once in revolt against car restraint, but now are clamouring for more of it. The main function of the inner city has become a successful mix of living, working and shopping.

Cycling into the Future Groningen undoubtedly leads the way in the “cyclisation”of European cities, but many others are putting two wheels in motion to follow its example. However, no other European city can match Groningen’s record, where 57% of all trips around the city are on bikes, but in quite a few cities the ratio is rising to a third or more.The impressive high rate of cycling in Groningen can be explained best by consistent urban development and transportation policies based on reclaiming inner city space from cars, making it into a living room for its people. This spatial concept of city develop-ment has undoubtedly been rooted in the clear political vision of the Social Democrats for several decades. Such legislative commitments do seem to be the key in getting citizens to kick the car habit. Apart from a political vision, many other actors involved in making Groningen the “World’s Cycling City”cannot be ignored – the cyclists themselves. In a nutshell, the success of cycling in Gron-ingen can be explained as a result of a strong vision for a liveable city for its people.  For more information, please visit: http://www.cyclinginfo.nl/ and http://www.fietsberaad.nl/

The centre of the city was to be considered as the ‘living room’for its people”

Photo courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/truusbobjantoo/2404090966/

New York City Mandates Street Retail

From William H. Whyte's Book, City: Rediscovering the Center (1988).
Appendix B

Mandating of Retailing at Street Level

In the 1975 tightening of requirements for open-space bonuses, the New York City Planning Commission took a first step toward banning blank-wall frontages. It required that as a condition of the bonus at least 50 percentage of the frontage on the plaza be devoted to retail uses.

In the 1982 revision of midtown Zoning, the commission went further. It required that all of the frontage on retail streets be used for retailing, whether there was a bonus or not. Stores had to be accessible from the street and the glass fronts had to be of transparent glass.

Below is the commission's "plain English" explanation, and the abridged text.

81-42 Retail Continuity along Designated Streets
The vitality of retail commercial streets depends upon a continuous row of retail establishments which can draw pedestrian shoppers along the length of the street. Areas occupied by open space or non-retail uses can interrupt the flow of shopping pedestrians and impair retail activity along nearby frontages The provisions of this section are designed to protect the retail activity along designated streets by restricting ground floor occupancy to those commercial uses which will enhance the existing retail character.

Abridged Text
81-42 On designated retail streets . . . a building's street frontage shall be allocated exclusively to [retail, personal service, or amusement] uses . . .
Museums and libraries shall be permitted . . . Store fronts for the permitted ground floor uses shall be not more than 10 feet from the street line or, where an arcade is provided with supporting columns at the street line, not more than ten feet from the supporting columns.

In no event shall the amount of street frontage occupied by lobby space or entrance space or a building entrance recess exceed 40 feet.

81-142 On wide street frontages in underlying C5 commercial districts, at least 50 percent of a building's street wall surface shall be glazed and transparent at ground floor level.

New York City Planning Commission, Midtown Zoning (New York, 1982)
Available from the commission at 7 Lafayette Street, New York, N.Y. 10007)

Vibrancy amongst the blight



A south Indian restaurant plans
to open where a Korean restaurant
stood just a month ago.


It's no secret that as attention moves north to the proposed San Francisco 49'er stadium and the recent purchase of stadium opponent Great America by the Niners, the historic El Camino Real sinks into blight, poverty, and crime. (49ers owners part of the $70 million deal to buy Great America theme park)

The El Camino Real is increasingly becoming a sad, decaying monument to 60's era sprawl. The Santa Clara strip starts at the local university of the same name meandering to Lawrence Expressway; the overpass being the gateway to Sunnyvale. Containing cheap motels, used car dealers, liquor stores, and homeless encampments, the neglect becomes more apparent every day.



Blight is more noticeable
these days on the El Camino Real.



As the home to the Korean Community in the Silicon Valley, the ECR is littered with Korean grocers, banks, and restaurants. But lately the area is reinventing itself with new business and restaurants; with new Halal butchers. South Indian vegetarian restaurants, and even a new nursery and garden center.

The cheap rents have attracted new restaurants with an Indus flair. Also small independent grocers have opened, bringing much needed weekend traffic.





This Indian restaurant used
to be Italian. From green, white,
and red to green, white, and orange. 



Given that city has no definable destinations; no downtown, no central business district, no cultural center, and no central park (the city's Central Park is actually on the periphery near Cupertino), there is no focal point to the city. Much of what was downtown was torn down in over 40 years ago.


- Posted from my iPhone