Amtrak celebrates America's return to rail

Amtrak sets new ridership record while improving on-time performance

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, also known as Amtrak announced record ridership and revenue figures this morning for the fiscal year ending September 2012. With today's good news and the third division series baseball game starting this afternoon, the District of Columbia must be in a rare ebullient mood this morning. Amtrak ridership was at 31.2 million passengers for the year, the highest level ever since its 1971 start. The year end results also mark the ninth (out of the last ten) year a ridership record has been achieved.

L to R, Joe Boardman - President, Amtrak,
Janet Napolitano US Sec. of
Homeland Security,
Ray Lahood US Sec. of Transportation

"People are riding Amtrak trains in record numbers across the country because there is an undeniable demand to travel by rail," said President and CEO Joe Boardman.

During FY 2012, ridership on the Northeast Corridor is up 4.8 percent to a record 11.4 million. State-supported and other short distance routes is up 2.1 percent to a record 15.1 million and long-distance services is up 4.7 percent to their best showing in 19 years at 4.7 million. State-supported routes are mainly commuter or shorter routes such as California's Capitol Corridor or the Pacific Surfliner.

Also, FY 2012 produced other ridership achievements including new records for 25 of 44 Amtrak services, and 12 consecutive monthly records with July being the single best month in the history of Amtrak. Since FY 2000, Amtrak ridership is up 49 percent.

 

Year to year comparison on
long distance routes

Dutch Diplomats share their cycling secrets with San Jose this month

ThinkBike coming to San Jose

In an upcoming pair of workshops Dutch diplomats will share their secrets with locals. The Netherlands U.S. Embassy works with cities throughout the U.S. to share best practices and develop environmental friendly transportation networks through the ThinkBike initiative. On October 22 and 23, the City of San Jose will host the ThinkBike workshop San Jose.

The two-day workshop brings Dutch bicycling experts with local planners, engineers, transportation experts and advocates to stregthen bicycling in San Jose.

Join the opening session on Monday morning to learn about Dutch bicycling concepts and San Jose's bicycle goals and see the proposals developed during the workshop at the closing session on Tuesday evening.

This event is sponsored by the City of San Jose, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition,
and the Dutch Cycling Embassy.

Admission is FREE but advanced registration is required.

Register Now!

ThinkBike San Jose Opening Session
October 22, 2012 9:00-10:30 am
San Jose City Hall Wing
Rooms 118/119/120
200 East Santa Clara St.

ThinkBike San Jose Opening Session
October 22, 2012 9:00-10:30 am
San Jose City Hall Wing
Rooms 118/119/120
200 East Santa Clara St.

ThinkBike Workshops Bring a Touch of Dutch Cycling to Pittsburgh Streets

Hedding Street Improvments and building fires

Hedding St. fire.

Although Hedding Street will be getting some new bike lanes latter this year fire struck an older warehouse just last week along Hedding at 10th St. where the railroad crosses the street. This is one of many fires I have notice over the years in San Jose. Whether historical houses or old warehouses, nothing is safe from a potentially deadly flame.

Looking east.
10th Street and Hedding at the Raiload
tracks

DC Bike Party and DC bikeways just keep getting better

DC Bike Party on
Wednesday evenings.
A Bike Party first.

Next Wednesday, a week from this evening DC (that's Washington) takes off on their fourth bike party ride in some would call a monument-tal task. A few years ago DC, a city you would not think of as bike friendly has made a number improvements to a city that is already tourist friendly. But since the coming and going of Gabe Klein as DC's Director of Transportation, things just got a bit more bike friendly.

DDOT has a very progressive Bicycle Program with some of the most innovative initiatives in the nation, including the first self-service bike parking program and the Bikestation at Union Station. The Bikestation offers secure, protected parking for more than 100 bikes right next to the District’s busiest transit hub. DDOT has also installed more than 1000 outdoor bike racks across the city and is constantly adding more. Additionally the city now has bike lanes linking the White House to the Capitol as well as the Capitol Bike Share program, which has been incredibly successful.

BikeStation at
Union Station

DC also has a successful BikeBrand Your Biz  program. The program focuses on increasing the number of bicycle-friendly organizations in the city in order to reduce traffic congestion and fuel consumption and improve the overall quality of life for those who live and work in the District.

Elements of a successful bike-friendly program may include the installation of streetside bicycle racks, secure bicycle parking Capital Bikeshare corporate memberships, education and information for employees, transportation fringe benefits for bicycle commuters and more.

The BikeBrand Your Biz program is part of goDCgo, an initiative of the District Department of Transportation’s sustainable transportation program, offers free consultations and other services to organizations and businesses throughout the District to promote the use of alternatives to driving as a single occupant.

In the coming weeks, I plan to highlight more about DC Bike Party and its chief instigator Lia who, go figure is from San Jose, the home of Bike Party. Good luck on next weeks ride and many more.

Upcoming Cycling Events in the Bay Area - October 3, 2012

Upcoming Events in the Silicon Valley

San Jose Bike Party - October 19, 2012 8:00pm
The Halloween Ride
Stay tuned for test ride dates.

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Bike Party is growing - In the Bay Area .....San Jose, East Bay, and San Francisco.

Also now in Washington DC , Baltimore, Chico CA and Salinas, CA.

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Every Friday at San Jose City Hall....

Bike to Lunch Fridays at 11:55 am. Meet at Bamboo Garden on the South Side of City Hall to ride to a nearby restaurant. Just bring a bike, a lock, some lunch money....and follow the rules of the road. Host John Brazil, San Jose City Bicycle Coordinator.

 

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Just Ride: How to Have More Fun on your bike

Grant Petersen, founder and owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works, will tell you how he got caught up in a racer's lifestyle for more than 25 years, how it took the fun out of riding, how this can happen to anybody, and what he did about it. Come meet this passionate cyclist, who challenges conventional cycling dogma and offers a more satisfying and sustainable approach to riding in his new book, "Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike".

Three different venues in the Bay Area (for more details)

 

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San Francisco Bike Party
Hardly Strickly Bike Party
Friday, October 5, 2012
(More info) 

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Santa Cruz Open Streets
West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz
Sunday, October 7, 2012 9am-1pm
Free community event. Enjoy West Cliff Drive without automobile traffic. Bicyclists, joggers, strollers, skaters...come one, come all! Streets for people from Lighthouse Field to Natural Bridges State Park.
 More Info

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East Bay Bike Party

Friday, October 12, 2012
(More Info)

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Ride ESSJ - Second Sunday
Ride East Side San Jose
Sunday, October 14, 2012
(More info

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Sunday Streets Berkeley

Sunday, October 14, 2012
Open Streets are coming to Berkeley.
Sunday Streets Berkeley will take place on Shattuck Ave for 17 blocks from Rose Street to Haste Street (see map below). It will be a celebration of local businesses and organizations. Storefronts will be unobstructed, and business owners will be encouraged to promote commerce and visibility by setting out seating on the street, hosting activities, and otherwise inviting interest and community.

(More info)

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DC Bike Party
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
(More info) 

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Peninsula Bike Party
Friday, October 19, 2012
(More info)

San Francisco Sunday Streets (Street Closure Event) - Excelsior

Sunday, October 21, 2012 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Mission Street, from Silver to Seneca; Seneca from Mission to San Jose (Tentative) More Info

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Reveal the Path: Inspiration on a Bicycle
October 26, 2012

Join REI and ROMP (Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers) for a screen of "Reveal the Path", a unique adventure film that explores - from the seat of a bicycle- what it means to live an inspired life, however modest or extravagant. filmed across four continents and featuring Tour Divide rage legends, Matthew Lee and Kurt Refsnider. This immersive film will take you to meet the locals in Scotland's lush valleys, Europe's snow-capped mountains, Morocco's high desert, Nepal's rural countryside, and Alaska's rugged coastline. For more information

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Tour De Coop
October 27, 2012
Silicon Valley's first Tour De Coop in western Santa Clara County. The first annual Silicon Valley Tour de Coop,  a self-guided bicycle tour of chicken coops and gardens, announces its call for coops.
The tour is designed to educate visitors about keeping hens, inspire the bike rider and gardener in all of us, and build community. Open to adults and children, the tour will feature various hen houses and breeds.

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Purisima to Half Moon Bay & Back Annual ROMP Halloween Costume Mountain Bike Ride Saturday, October 27, 2012 9:45am Meet, 10:00am Start

This multi-level ride will include a gentle/beginner option, an intermediate ride, and (depending on interest) a harder ride.  Meet us at the Purisima Parking Lot on Skyline Blvd., just north of Kings Mtn Road.

The gentle group will do a short route from the parking lot.

Intermediate and harder groups will ride down to Half Moon Bay and back via Purisima OSP - http://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_purisima.asp.

This ride is 20-25 miles with 2,300' of climbing, on dirt and approx. 30% paved roads closer to Half Moon Bay.  We ride to a preselected pumpkin patch for pumpkins & a short break before climbing back to the start.  Maps will be provided.
 

For more information

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

Reveal the Path: Inspiration on a Bicycle

Reveal the Path
October 26

Join REI and ROMP (Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers) for a screen of "Reveal the Path", a unique adventure film that explores - from the seat of a bicycle- what it means to live an inspired life, however modest or extravagant. filmed across four continents and featuring Tour Divide rage legends, Matthew Lee and Kurt Refsnider. This immersive film will take you to meet the locals in Scotland's lush valleys, Europe's snow-capped mountains, Morocco's high desert, Nepal's rural countryside, and Alaska's rugged coastline.

Come get lost in the wonder of the world and spark your own dream of adventure. You'll have the chance to win great prizes from REI and ROMP at intermission. All ticket proceeds will benefit REI and ROMP, the oldest mountain biking advocacy and riding group in the Bay Area.

Date: Oct. 26, 7:30pm-10pm; doors open at 6:30pm for general seating at Los Altos High School's Eagle Theater, 201 Almond Avenue, Los Altos 94023
Price: REI member $10, if purchase in advance at REI Mountain View, REI San Carlos, and REI Saratoga stores Nonmembers: $12. Ticket price at the door $12 for all.

www.revealthepath.com

Monthly ROMP Ride The Pumpkin Ride

Responsible Organized Mountain Peddlers
ROMP is putting on this event.

Purisima to Half Moon Bay & Back

Annual ROMP Halloween Costume Mountain Bike Ride

Saturday, October 27, 2012 9:45am Meet, 10:00am Start

This multi-level ride will include a gentle/beginner option, an intermediate ride, and (depending on interest) a harder ride.  Meet us at the Purisima Parking Lot on Skyline Blvd., just north of Kings Mtn Road.

The gentle group will do a short route from the parking lot.

Intermediate and harder groups will ride down to Half Moon Bay and back via Purisima OSP - http://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_purisima.asp.

This ride is 20-25 miles with 2,300' of climbing, on dirt and approx. 30% paved roads closer to Half Moon Bay.  We ride to a preselected pumpkin patch for pumpkins & a short break before climbing back to the start.  Maps will be provided.

Prizes will be awarded back at the start for riders bringing back the most weight in pumpkins, oddest looking pumpkin, weirdest pumpkin stem, etc., and for best costumes (optional, & please keep costumes safe for cycling!)

Panniers, backpacks, Bob carts, pockets etc. can be used to transport pumpkins.  Historical record is over 100 lbs in pumpkins hauled back up the hill by one person!  Tandems are welcome.

We're also organizing two trail work days - October 20th and November 10th - to support local trails.
See romp.org for more info!

Bring layers, it might be cold/windy in Half Moon Bay. Bring  snacks to help you cycle back up the hill, and cash to buy your pumpkin. Bring cameras...  Rain in forecast 24 hours ahead cancels the ride.

Sunday Streets Berkeley

Berkeley's inaugural ciclovia coming
October 14.

Open Streets are coming to Berkeley.
Sunday Streets Berkeley will take place on Shattuck Ave for 17 blocks from Rose Street to Haste Street (see map below). It will be a celebration of local businesses and organizations. Storefronts will be unobstructed, and business owners will be encouraged to promote commerce and visibility by setting out seating on the street, hosting activities, and otherwise inviting interest and community.

Sunday Streets Berkeley has very much been inspired by Sunday Streets San Francisco’s successful 5 year run.Come join activities throughout the route which include; face painting, pedal powered music from el arbol, pumpkin decorating, a nature zone, yoga and pilates classes, and more.

SF Sunday Street is helping
to set up Sunday Streets
Berkeley.
photo: SFBike

You are invited to be a part of the first Sunday Streets in Berkeley on October 14, 2012. San Francisco, Bogota, Portland, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City, Vancouver, Minneapolis and more have had many successful years of Open Streets. The public’s love for these events is overwhelming. A community slideshow of 1,491 photos and counting of Sunday Streets SF tells it all

The Sunday Streets Berkeley working committee consists of Livable Berkeley, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, the Ecology Center, the Downtown Berkeley Association, the North Shattuck Association, and the Office of Mayor Tom Bates.

Sunday Streets Berkeley webpage 

Sunday Streets Event Map

Just Ride: Rivendell Bicycle Works Founder and Owner to speak in the Bay Area

I can't wait till I grow up,
"Then I can wear bright green,
and a helmet just like
my mom and dad."

Tonight at the Berkeley REI Store:

Do you enjoy riding your bike the way you did as a kid? Or, is your time on the saddle more work than fun, driven by performance?

Tonight, Grant Petersen, founder and owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works, will tell you how he got caught up in a racer's lifestyle for more than 25 years, how it took the fun out of riding, how this can happen to anybody, and what he did about it. Come meet this passionate cyclist, who challenges conventional cycling dogma and offers a more satisfying and sustainable approach to riding in his new book, "Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike".

If you register for this free presentation we will hold a seat for you until the scheduled start time. Seating may be available at the door, even if registration is closed.

Additional dates:
 10/10 Concord REI
10/24 San Francisco REI

The Atlantic Book Review

Just Ride: Youtube

Just Ride: Grant Petersen: NY Times

Starting today use your Clipper Card on three SF Bay ferry routes

Golden Gate Ferry at
Ferry Building dock

Starting today, October 1, 2012, you can use your Clipper card on three San Francisco Bay Ferry routes:

• South San Francisco/Alameda/Oakland
• Alameda Main Street/Oakland/San Francisco
• Alameda Harbor Bay/San Francisco

Passengers purchasing adult single one-way tickets can save between $1.25 and $1.50 each time they ride the ferry. Transferring to and from MUNI? San Francisco Bay Ferry will offer a $0.50 discount to adult MUNI passengers using Clipper.  These transfer discounts will only be available to riders using Clipper. Paper transfers will no longer be accepted by MUNI after November 1, 2012.

Clipper will be accepted on the Vallejo/San Francisco route later in 2013.

Before using Clipper on the San Francisco Bay Ferry, you must make sure your card has enough value. You can use passes or cash value on your Clipper card to ride the ferry. Currently you cannot add value to your Clipper card at the South San Francisco, Oakland, or Alameda ferry terminals. You can purchase a Clipper card or load value:

• Online at clippercard.com
• In person at a participating Clipper retailer, such as Walgreens and at a Golden Gate Ferry ticket vending machines (TVM) at the San Francisco ferry terminal or at transit ticket offices
• By phone at 877.878.8883 (TDD/TTY 711 or 800.735.2929)
• At work through your employee transit benefit program

To learn where and how to add value to your Clipper card, click here
How to Use Your Clipper Card
When boarding the ferry, make sure you Tag On.

1. Locate the Clipper card reader at the ferry terminal.
2. Tag your card by holding it to the Clipper logo on the reader.
3. Wait for the beep, look for the green light and continue to board.

When leaving the ferry, make sure you Tag Off. You must tag off at your destination station by holding your card to the Clipper logo on the card reader. When you tag off, the system calculates your actual fare based on the route(s) traveled and refunds you the difference. Tagging off at the end of your trip ensures that you are not overcharged for your trip.

Family returns to train tracks to remember 2 year old son.

New Blossom Hill Pedestrian
Overcrossing
photo: neighborhoodwebsj

Around 200 attendees visited the site of a new pedestrian overcrossing on Friday to help the family remember the two year old Elijah Arriga who died just below on active train tracks. The babysitter's friend walked Elijah and his brother across the train tracks near Monterrey Highway and Blossom Hill Road when the younger brother was struck by a southbound Amtrak train back in 2005.


Here is more information about the bridge, which will be called "Xander's Crossing." According to the VTA.

The bridge includes a 315-foot long prefabricated steel structure with an inside width of 12 feet.

There are two 10-foot wide ramps that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and stairs to allow users to access Cottle Road and Endicott Boulevard pedestrian paths on the west side and access to Monterey Road on the east side.

New sidewalks and curb ramps connecting to existing paths

Fencing to deter unsafe at-grade crossing of the railroad tracks.

Capital Cost and Project Funding for the Pedestrian Overcrossing 

$0.98 million   00.99%  2000 Measure A Transit Impr Program funds
$6.79 million   64.67%  2006 State Prop 1B Infrastructure Bond funds
$2.48 million   23.62%  Federal Highway Administration funds
$0.25 million   02.38%  City of San Jose

$10.5 million 100.00% Total Funding

Election Nears: Candidate Forum in Willow Glen

Election 2012
Forum in the Glen

State office seekers to address neighborhood on core issues

San Jose, CA.: Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) will host a candidates forum October 17th, 2012 featuring runoff candidates for the California State Asembly and Senate Office.

The focus will be on the budget, education, health and health care, the environment and infrastructure. These five core issues are at the heart of California's future recovery and growth. The forum will be held at the Willow Glen High School Library, 2001 Cottle Avenue, San Jose, CA. Doors open at 6:30pm.

In January two of these candidates will take on the challenge of funding California's educational system, tackling our state's growing health care burden, dealing with rapidly changing demands of global warming and preparing the state's infrastructure for the 21st century's competitive world economy.

Who will the voters send to Sacramento: Jim Beall or Joe Coto for State Senate; PaulFong or Chad Walsh for Assembly? The choice is yours. Join us for an informative evening with these four candidates. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) was formed in 1973 by concerned citizens of Willow Glen who volunteered to represent citizens on issues of importance to Willow Glen, San Jose and beyond. The WGNA is known for its community engagement and passion for preserving and advocating for quality of life for all.

Willow Glen Neighborhood Association

Friday Ride/bys

Guadalupe River Trail
at the Airport SJC

Riding along the Guadalupe River Trail next to the airport this afternoon I encountered spotted a sign asking for just a little more patience. Although most of the painting at this location is done there still is some work being completed near the 880 freeway. Estimated opening date 10-3-2012. I wonder if they will have a grand opening; maybe even a ribbon cutting?

 Update 9-28-2012 2:40 PM - According to Richard Masoner of Cyclelicious, fog seal is being applied today from 101 to Montague Expressway.


Also in the "build it they will use it" category, I spotted Ryan this afternoon delivering freight by bike; that just happened to be bicycles. Ryan works at IMinusD bicycles on the Paseo de San Antonio across from San Jose State University. IMinusD along with Bicycle Express are personal favorites. Talk to Mark or Ryan at IMinusD or Karen or Chuck at Bicycle Express.

Ryan of iMinusD delivering
bicycles by bike

Whether its individuals selling bikes along the 11th St. bicycle corridor or bike shops using the 4th St. bike lanes to transport inventory from the warehouse to the retail shop greater numbers have been seen along the new bikeways.

This week I just finished reading An Economist Gets Lunch - New Rules for Everyday Foodies by Tyler Cowen. I've read his other book, Discover you Inner Economist, another economics book in the Freakonomics vein. 
I've just started reading Ill Fares the Land byTony Judt. I heard about this book while listening to a recent podcast of "To The Best of Our Knowledge". Judt is a British Historian, essayist and college professor who know lives in the United States.

Renewing an Old Idea: Common Good (New York Times, March 16, 2010)

Radio Open Source with Christopher Lydon - Tony Judt’s “Social Democracy” in America: A Call for Help! 

Champion of the unpopular and unfashionable, "Thinking the Twentieth Century" - The Globe and Mail, February 24, 2012

 

Currently Reading:
Canals for a Nation - The Canal Era in the United States 1790-1860, Ronald E. Shaw
Cadillac Desert - The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Marc Reisner
The Age of Heretics - Heroes, Outlaws, and the Forerunners of Corporate Change - Art Klein (Tribes Biography)
The Leaderless Revolution - How Ordinary People Will Take Power and Change Politics in the 21st Century, Carne Ross
Ill Fares the Land byTony Judt