Another great San Jose based urbanist blog



http://www.thinkbiggersanjose.com/

 As you know on this blog I cover mainly transportation issues at the city, county, regional (Bay Area), and state levels in addition to land use, placemaking and the ever increasing sums of money we commit to keeping a mono-modal (predominately car oriented) system going.  Transportation issues mainly cover transit (public and private), rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and other modes as well.

Another great local blog I think you'll like is one titled Think Bigger San Jose - San Jose, history, development and tourism (that's right tourism), along with his accompanying Twitter feeds under the name ThinkBiggerSanJose. When Mark is not so busy writing for his own blog, he also writes for Content magazine. In the current, 4.1 issue he has a story on Willow Glen real estate personality Michael Mulcahy and one on a Tetris skyline.

Can you give your input on VTA's Measure A?

On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 7:00 PM VTA invites you to speak out at a public hearing to provide input on the 2000 Measure A program. the meeting will be held at the County of Santa Clara Government Center, Board of Supervisor's Chambers at 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, Ca 95110. The Board Chambers are on the first floor.

Measure A, approved in November 2000, is a 30-year half cent sales tax devoted to improvement projects for the area's public transit network, including extending BART to Silicon Valley. the measure created an oversight committee, comprised of citizens from through the county to review measure A expenditures to ensure funds are being spent in accordance with the intent of the ballot.

This Citizens Watchdog Committee (CWC) is responsible for conducting an annual audit and for informing the community on its findings. Macias Gini & O'Connel, LLP, independent certified public accountants, conducted this years compliance audit and issued an unqualified or "clean" opinion, meaning that in their professional opinion VTA complied, in all material respects, with the requirements applicable to the 2000 Measure A Program.

Additional information on the Meaure A Program, the CWC, as well as the results of the independent compliance audit, is available at http://www.vta.org/. If you are unable to attend the upcoming hearing, written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on May 9 by email to: board.secretary@vta.org or by mail to: Office of the Board Secretary, 3331 North First Street, Building B-1, San Jose, CA 95134-1927.

This location is served by VTA Light Rail and Bus Lines 61, 62, 66, and 181.

May 12th, help celebrate National Train Day

Saturday, May 12 is National Train Day. Help us celebrate the future of Amtrak San Jose Diridon Station.  More details to follow but here is a promotional video on this great event.

2012 San Jose Bike Party - Bike the Limits Ride



Maybe this year SJ Bike Party's unofficial highland
piper Josh Agee will start the ride.
Photo: Richard Masoner::: Cycleicious

Bike the Limits Saturday - May 12, 2012
8:00 am until 11:00 am (assuming those riding 100 miles average over 30 MPH)

Save the date for San Jose Bike Party's third annual Bike The Limits Ride!
Bike The Limits get its name from 2010's routing, which rolled along the San Jose City Limits for 30, 60, or 100 miles!

Metric Century route profile
66 miles - to be listed later
Full Century route profile - to be listed later101 miles
Bring $4 for BART fare

Last years 100 mile finisher stats:
30 guys, 12 ladies
26 geared road bikes, 9 geared hybrid type, 7 non geared (1 cruiser, 3 fixed, 3 single speed)
32 people completed 100mi+ for the first time (yoshi estimate)

One Test Ride Left this Saturday
Test Ride #2 (May 5)http://www.facebook.com/events/280113822071651

Save the date for San Jose Bike Party's third annual Bike The Limits Ride! Bike The Limits get its name from 2010's routing, which rolled along the San Jose City Limits for 30, 60, or 100 miles!

Metric Century route profile
66 miles

... Full Century route profile
101 miles
Bring $4 for BART fare

Last years 100 mile finisher stats:
30 guys, 12 ladies
26 geared road bikes, 9 geared hybrid type, 7 non geared (1 cruiser, 3 fixed, 3 single speed)
32 people completed 100mi+ for the first time (yoshi estimate)

Test Ride #2 (May 5)
http://www.facebook.com/events/280113822071651

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Yoshi's guide for the century (65 mi + 100 mi versions)Training
Build up your mileage slowly. join us on the test rides to any of our rides if you don't have a group to ride with. ride to and from the test rides to add mileage. If you can do 120 miles in a week with 65 miles being on one day, you can do a century. ride the bike you will be riding on the century. try out different foods/drinks to find out what you like. You may like a certain flavor energy bar, but it may taste different after you've had the same flavor 5 times in the last 5 hours... eat something with protein within 2 hours of your rides.

Bike
The third person to finish last year rode a single speed cruiser... it's not what you ride, but that you are comfortable riding it. make sure you are comfortable on your bike for extended periods of time. There are no offroad sections, so buy a set of road (smooth) tires for your bike. get your bike tuned a month before the ride to be able to iron out any problems that may arise. don't make any changes on your bike for the 2 weeks before the ride. make sure your tires are inflated at least two days before the ride (ideally the morning of the ride).

If you have gears, use 'em! starting from a standstill takes a lot of energy and strains muscles. use your easy gears and gradually build up your speed from lights.

Food before the ride
eat till you're satisfied the night before (not too much fat)
light breakfast

Food during the ride
You will be burning about 500 calories/hr. Consume about 200-250 calories/hour every hour. your body can only digest about 250 calories/hr when you're exercising so any more than that and the food will sit in your stomach. 200-250 is about 2 granola bars (one pack), 2 kudos bars, 1 energy bar/hour. eat something with protein (3-4 grams/hour). Pack a lunch or figure out somewhere on the route where you can stop to eat. Things that are salty will taste really good. Most of you will be biking for at least 6 hours + lunch.
EAT BEFORE YOU ARE HUNGRY

Hydration
16 oz of fluid an hour. more if it's really hot.
DRINK BEFORE YOU ARE THIRSTY

Electrolytes
salt: about 300-500mg/hour (most food will have enough salt)
potassium: 100mg/hour

Stuff to bring
Sunblock, sunglasses, something to keep the sun off your head (hat/helmet), tools you know how to use, patch kit/spare tube, device to inflate your tires, credit card, ID, some cash, camera, cell phone, map, lights

Amgen Tour of California Stage 3 to start in San Jose

This year the 8 stage Amgen Tour of California will include a Stage 3 start in San Jose travelling 115 miles to Livermore for the finish.

From the tour site:
San Jose is the only city to have played host to the Amgen Tour of California all seven years of the race. This year, the typical downtown start has been moved to north San Jose, just a few miles from the infamous Sierra Road climb. While the riders won’t be expected to tackle a Category 1 climb just two miles from the start as they have been in the past, the route into Livermore is one that the race has taken before: Calaveras Road and Highway 84. While Livermore will be hosting their first stage finish in 2012, riders have raced thru the town during previous editions including the Stage 4 start in 2011. Home of the renowned Lawrence Livermore Labs, the City of Livermore (established in 1869) played a prominent role in California’s Gold Rush history and is home today to a thriving wine industry.

Just 28 miles into the race, the riders will contest a challenging Sprint to the finish but the race will just be getting started. Heading out north on Livermore Avenue, the riders will likely face a stiff headwind coming down the valley. After passing through the town of Danville, the Amgen Tour of California will grant a wish that has been made for the past six years by riders and fans, “Please climb Mt. Diablo.” For the first time in the history of the race, the riders will climb Mt. Diablo. One of the most revered climbs in California, race organizers, cyclists and fans alike are excited to have this climb as part of Stage 3 of the 2012 race.

After a fast and technical descent into Walnut Creek, the race will then head east into the Town of Clayton where the second Sprint of the stage will take place. From Clayton, the race will connect back to a familiar route into Livermore. Just nine miles from the finish, the riders will likely tackle blustery winds as they battle the final KOM of the stage up Patterson Pass Road followed by a quick descent that will take the race onto Cross and Tesla roads. On Livermore Avenue once again, it will be just a few miles to what is sure to be a sprint finish in historic downtown Livermore.

 

Introducing Joe Minicozzi; offering a new look to urban planning

Joe Minicozzi
 New Projects Director at
 Public Interest Projects

I posted a couple of videos (in the right margin) of a presentation by Ashville, North Carolina urban planner Joe Minicozzi on the state of downtown Ashville. Joe, who like Chuck Mahron of Strong Towns talks numbers. Both have looked at the revenue and costs estimates of traditional downtown development and compared it to suburban, auto-oriented retail. In almost all cases this type of traditional development captures value; in other words with minimal maintenance costs the sales and property taxes more than pay for the infrastructure.

Prior to working with Public Interest Projects in Asheville, he served as the Urban Designer for the City of West Palm Beach, Florida. He was the City’s first Urban Designer and served as the Zoning Administrator for downtown. Joe has worked in town planning with Duany Plater-Zyberk, in architecture with Zyscovich Architects, and in real estate finance with John Hancock of Boston. In addition to his private sector service, Joe has lectured across the country on Incentive Zoning, Form-based Code, Transfer of Development Rights and the role of urban design in community development.

Watch and listen and let me know what you think. I'll post the last of the videos next week.

San Jose Cyclist spots unusual San Francisco Bumper Sticker

Frequent Guadalupe River Trail user Eloy spotted an unusual bumper sticker on a San Francisco cab yesterday. While driving near the San Jose Airport. Eloy took a picture of the unsual bumper sticker but apologizes for not getting a better shot before the light changed. As he stated in an email to me. "Could not get a better pic before the light changed, but the SF cab (in San Jose!!) was sporting a blue bumper sticker stating it had the right to enter the bike lane"

On closer inspection (see below) the sticker reads..."This vehicle authorized to enter bike lane when necessary. Picture shows an open taxi door with a person exiting with a cane.

Has anyone else out there seen a sticker like this on San Francisco cabs.I'm not sure if this is ligit.

Roads worse than San Jose? Look to the south.



San Diego's roads are crumbling.
The city has the money to fix potholes
 but hasn't proven it can efficiently spend it.
 Photo: Sam Hodgson

 In a continuing look at San Jose's road conditions along with other Bay Area cities I have highlighted the need for urgency in our own city and around the Bay Area. Now, with the wonderful work of  the Voice of San Diego we have a look at just how bad their problems are in comparison with San Jose's.

San Jose's Director of Transportation has been up front with city residents when he says that it will take $100 million each year just to maintain local roadways. In fact road repair funds are lacking so much that the director has had to outline a program of maintenance triage with the moniker "Priority Street Network". In essence only key arterial roadways, bus routes and commercial districts will be maintained.

In San Diego the situation is much worse; not only in the condition of their roadways but the cost to fix the road network. According to Carl DeMaio, a San Diego City mayoral candidate, "San Diego already has the eighth worst roads in the country and under the current plan at City Hall the roads will get worse" (
San Diego's Road Problem Fact Check).

At a San Diego City Council committee hearing in February it was revealed that San Diego's road repair problems have reached breathtaking new depths according to engineering officials. According to the Voice of San Diego, "simply maintaining the status quo would cost $160 million a year. That's more than the annual budgets of the parks and rec, library and environmental services departments combined. The city's plan to borrow $500 million won't provide enough money to reverse the decay or even preserve the status quo. Under its current proposal, the city won't begin making progress until 2017." (Streets will worsen for the next 5 years, report says)

These are difficult times, with housing still searching for new lows (US Housing Rebound Could Take An Entire Generation: Shiller), gas prices continuing to climb, and the astronomical amounts needed just to maintain our local roadways (gas taxes, state and federal highways are another matter). But here, as well as in other U.S. cities, we continue to satisfy increase road demand with new, expensive projects with no thought as to their expected return on investment or future required maintenance costs.

As I've mentioned before in this blog, we seem to have a knee jerk reaction to the increase in road capacity followed by immediate approvals to build even more auto centric retail developments (City to proceed with 45 acre" Mega Mall" on Almaden Expressway), that put even more pressure on our roadways in a vicious circle of big box retail expansion, roadway expansion, big box retail expansion, etc.

What are your thoughts?

San Diego's Road Problem Fact Check

How the Mayoral Candidates want to fix the roads.

Streets will worsen for the next 5 years, report says.

Roads Officially worse under Sanders, report says

This Saturday extra special Bike Party Celebration

 WHO IS READY FOR AN EXTRA BIKE PARTY THIS SATURDAY?

East Bay Bike Party, San Francisco Bike Party, San Jose Bike Party are all teaming up with the Midnight Ridazz from  L.A. to make a HELLA. BIG. BIKE. PARTY.

This massive Bike Party will take place in the East Bay. This is a great opportunity to get the whole Bay Area bike community together and do whatwe do best: Bike & Party.

Every one will be meeting at Lake Merrit BART at 7:30pm and roll out at 8pm to a few awesome spots around Oakland and Berkeley.

We must show our friends from the Midnight Ridazz how the Bay Area rolls and vice versa.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

See details of the event on Facebook. **

Mikes Bikes opens on the Avenue tomorrow

Mikes Bikes, a San Rafael based bike shop will open its 10th Northern California store tomorrow in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose. The store will be one of their largest, occupying what was once a dinner and billiards location.

Mike's Bikes was founded in 1964 as one of Marin County's very first Schwinn shops. Brian Wynn who had previously worked at the Los Gatos location will take on the role as Manger of the new store.

The new store will bring some late evening shoppers on the avenue with a 8:00 pm close. Stop by and say hi to Brian and his staff.

The hours will be:
Monday - Friday 10am - 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm

Worker rusing to get the store
ready for tomorrows opening.

Store Address:
1180 Lincoln Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125
(map)

Store phone: 408-295-2453

Upcoming Events in the Silicon Valley

Upcoming Events in the Silicon Valley

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

San Jose Bike Party -Sharks Ride
Friday, April 20, 2012 8:00PM

Concert at the first rest stop with two great bands.
Rupa and the April Fishes: French gypsy/ ska.2) SHAKE YOUR PEACE! : More gospel choir / bluegrass / Latin.

Route will be posted on Thursday, the day before the ride at
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/

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San Jose Fixed  SJF
15-25 mile Bike Ride
Every Tuesday 6:45 @
Meets @ IMinusD Fixed Gear Boutique
112 Paseo de San Antonio (See Map Below)

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San Jose Bike Party - The Shark's Ride

Friday, April 20, 2012 8:00PM

Route will be posted on Thursday, the day before the ride at
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/

Cupertino Bike Swap
Sunday, April 29, 2012 10:00AM - 4:00 PM

104949 S DeAnza Blvd, Cupertino

Save the date. It's one of the best swaps in the area
60 bucks for a space (if your selling) or $2 to enter


San Francisco Bike Party
Friday, May 4, 2012
http://sfbikeparty.wordpress.com/

Bay Area Wide - 18th Annual Bike to Work Day
http://www.youcanbikethere.com/
Thursday May 10, 2012

East Bay Bike Party
Friday, May 11, 2011 7:30 PM

http://eastbaybikeparty.wordpress.com/

San Jose Bike Party Bike the Limits Ride

Saturday, May 12, 2012

And in the not too distant future
May 15, 2012 - Amgen Tour of California San Jose to Livermore
May 15, 2012 - King of the Mountain Challenge
June 21, 2012 Bicycle Music Festival 2012
July 14, 2012 - San Jose Bike Party Ladies Ride - (Sorry guys, ladies only)

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Also note the Guadalupe River Trail will be closed for paving construction soon. The closed portion will extend north of 880 all the way to Gold Street in Alviso. check Twitter for more details.

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

The rules of modern politics - with a transportation spin

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

I've written many times about three main themes that seem to be running through transportation circles in the Bay Area; but believe me it also extends beyond the bay. These themes are a nationwide themes that seem to repeat and resonate with the political seasons. They are;

1. The critical need just to maintain local roads and other infrastructure
2. The need to channel money to maintain existing (not to mention new) auto-oriented infrastructure at the expense of non-auto (rail, transit, bike way, and walkways), also known as complete streets.
3. The third rail in transportation politics, the sanctity of freezing gas tax rates at 1990 levels.

The New York Times this week captured all three, in highlighting New Jersey's governor Chris Christies refusal to move ahead with a much needed tunnel linking Manhattan with New Jersey, even though the independent auditing agency the Government Accountability Office issued a 29 page report criticizing the governor's actions.

The  story first broke in October of 2010 during Governor Christies first few months in office. The tunnel would help a system that hasn't seen any new tunnels built for over 100 years.

Not only is there a need nationwide to maintain existing infrastructure; our current transportation infrastructure is inadequate to serve the needs of a growing population that continues to move to urban areas. The newly planed tunnel would have relieved congestion on the only two tunnels that connect Manhattan to New Jersey.

The need to channel money to maintain existing (not to mention new) auto-oriented infrastructure at the expense of non-auto is evident both in New Jersey and here at home (I am currently researching a post on this very issue in San Jose).

With the combination of increased average gas mileage on American cars and a freeze on federal and state gas excise taxes, the inflation adjusted amount of tax revenue apportioned to the Highway Trust Fund as been reduced dramatically and there is a unwillingness by motorists to match the expected costs to maintain existing roadways with gas taxes. From an article in yesterday's Charlotte Observer:

That's the last thing a public that's paying $4 for a gallon of gasoline wants to hear, and elected officials, from members of Congress to President Barack Obama, aren't likely in an election year to propose that motorists pay higher gasoline taxes or tolls. But many transportation experts and officials agree that if Americans want to drive on good roads, they're going to have to pay more for them, or do without.

Most of the 46,000-mile interstate system has been toll-free for its 56-year history. But pavement and bridges on the system's oldest sections are reaching the ends of their life spans and need to be replaced. A 2009 report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recommended an annual investment in U.S. highways and bridges of $166 billion. Charlotte Observer 4-17-2012

Until Americans understand the real cost of auto mobility there is a genuine sense of denial on the amount of funding required to keep the system going. Until then we're just kickin' the can down the road.

Additional Links:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/tunnel-of-idiocy/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/krugman-cannibalize-the-future.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/gov-chris-christie-and-the-tunnel-project.html

The value of connecting our trails - Willow Glen Neighborhood Association

Tonight, the Willlow Glen NeighborhoodAssociation will be hosting an excellent discussion on the status of San Jose Trails with a group of trailblazers themselves.

Special Guest speakers will include Leslie Hamilton, Executive Director of Guadalupe River Trail and Gardens, Bill Rankin, Vice President of Save Our Trails, Heather Lerner, Executive Director, Happy Hollow Foundation, and Betty Montoya, Executive Director of the San Jose Youth Commisiion.

Come and meet these community leaders as they talk about the three main trails in the area, the Los Gatos Creek Trail, the Guadalupe River Trail, and the Three Creeks Trail.

When: Tonight, April 18, 2012, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Where: Willow Glen High School Library, 2001 Cottle Rd., San Jose, CA
WILLOW GLEN HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY!2001 COTTLE ROAD, SAN JOSE, CA 95125!

San Jose Bike Clinic hosting Bike to Work Gear-up

San Jose Bike Clinic

Bike to Work Day is a little early this year. Are you ready?

Bring your bike down to the San Jose Bike Clinic. They will be setting up shop at San Pedro Square Market, Saint James and San Pedro streets in downtown San Jose.

San Jose Bike Clinic is a newly formed group whose mission is to provide a shared space for bicycle repair and education as well as to build a robust and diverse cycling community in San Jose.

Bring your bike down to the San Jose Bike to Work Gear-up on April 29th from noon until 4:00 pm and give yourself the knowledge to fix the problem on your own.



photo: San Pedro Square Market

 When: Sunday April 29, 2012, Noon until 4:00 pm
Where: San Pedro Square Marketplace, Saint John and San Pedro streets in downtown San Jose.
Questions: info@sjbikeclinic.org