Elizabeth Press
Recent Posts
London’s Do-It-Yourself Approach to Safer Streets
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In the UK, the non-profit Sustrans is pioneering a community-based method to reclaim streets from high-speed traffic and make neighborhoods safer and more sociable places. Called "DIY Streets," the program brings neighbors together to help them redesign their streets in a way that puts people, safety, and streetlife first. So far, individual streets have benefited […]
A Case for Open Data in Transit
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Ever find yourself waiting for the next bus, not knowing when it will arrive? Think it would be great if you could check a subway countdown clock from the sidewalk? Or get arrival times on your phone? Giving transit riders better information can make ridng the bus or the train more convenient and appealing. And […]
Cycle Chic in Copenhagen and Beyond
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You can trace the term "cycle chic" back to 2006, when Mikael Colville-Andersen launched his Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog. It means different things to different people, but basically, "cycle chic" is about riding in everyday clothes instead of specialized gear like spandex or cycling shoes. When I was in Copenhagen last December I had the chance to […]
Major Bike Mojo in Minneapolis
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In a surprising choice, the May edition of Bicycling Magazine named Minneapolis America’s best city for biking. The city still trails Portland, Oregon in the percentage of commuters who bike to work (4.3 percent to 5.9 percent, respectively, according to the most recent American Community Survey), but Minneapolis has been gaining momentum. Next month, Minneapolis will launch the […]
Streetfilms: Secure Bike Parking at Washington DC’s Union Station
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Washington, D.C.’s Bikestation is one of the sleeker and more fully-featured bike parking facilities that Streetfilms has ever seen. Located at Union Station, the Bikestation provides secure parking for more than a hundred bicycles, offers repair, rentals, lockers, and a changing room. Members get 24/7 access. Have a look and see how D.C. has made their […]
Voices From the National Bike Summit
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Last week, hundreds of bike advocates descended on Washington D.C. for the tenth annual National Bike Summit — the largest one yet. Hosted by the League of American Bicyclists, the summit is always a great opportunity for advocates to share ideas and make the case for cycling on Capitol Hill. This year attendees encouraged their […]
Streetfilms: Fixing the Great Mistake of Planning for Cars
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"Fixing the Great Mistake" is a new Streetfilms series that examines what went wrong in the early part of the 20th century, when our cities began catering to the automobile, and how those decisions continue to affect our lives today. In this episode, Transportation Alternatives director Paul Steely White shows how planning for cars drastically […]
Streetfilms: Copenhagen’s Climate-Friendly, Bike-Friendly Streets
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Tens of thousands of people from nearly every nation on earth have descended on Copenhagen this month for the UN climate summit. As the delegates try to piece together a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they’re also absorbing lessons from one of the world’s leading cities in sustainable transportation. In Copenhagen, fully 37 percent […]
Streetfilms: Bill Lind, a Conservative Voice for Transit
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At last month’s Rail-Volution conference in Boston, Streetfilms was able to grab a few moments with William Lind, a politically conservative transit advocate. Lind aims to provide "liberal transit advocates" the language to build support for public transportation (okay, just rail) in terms that conservatives can relate to. Some of Lind’s arguments don’t reflect our […]
Streetfilms: NYC Bike Lanes 101
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In some cities people are so desperate for bike lanes they’ll mark their own. Elizabeth Press of Streetfilms in New York City, on the other hand, had this to say about the work the NYC Department of Transportation has been doing in her city: "It feels like every time I get on my bike there […]
Streetfilms: Making Streets Safer For Seniors
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Transportation Alternatives’ Safe Routes for Seniors campaign began in New York City in 2003 to encourage senior citizens to walk more by improving the pedestrian environment. Funded by the New York State Department of Health, it was a pioneering program to address the needs of elderly pedestrians. In 2008, New York City launched its own […]
Streetfilms: Curitiba, the Cradle of Bus Rapid Transit
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Curitiba, Brazil first adopted its Master Plan in 1968. Since then, it has become a city well known for inventive urban planning and affordable (to the user and the city) public transportation. Curitiba’s Bus Rapid Transit system is the source of inspiration for many other cities including the TransMilenio in Bogotá, Colombia, Metrovia in Guayaquil, […]