Comments on: Going Back to College for Some Lessons on Livable Space http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:18:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dc http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6809 dc Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:24:35 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6809 Dogs who are determined to have an aggressive disposition may want to try anabolic steroids. My dog, incidentally, is determined to go for a walk, but she has to wait for me to assemble some pedals and toe clips first. Dogs who are determined to have an aggressive disposition may want to try anabolic steroids. My dog, incidentally, is determined to go for a walk, but she has to wait for me to assemble some pedals and toe clips first.

]]> By: wordnerd http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6808 wordnerd Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:17:43 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6808 There's a sign in a North Cambridge park discussing "shared space" which in this case refers to setting aside some hours for dogs to roam off leash. Except, the sign says, for dogs "determined to have an aggressive disposition". It took me a while to parse that. There’s a sign in a North Cambridge park discussing “shared space” which in this case refers to setting aside some hours for dogs to roam off leash. Except, the sign says, for dogs “determined to have an aggressive disposition”. It took me a while to parse that.

]]> By: dc http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6731 dc Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:59:00 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6731 Ugh indeed. Two pedestrian deaths caused by cyclists in one city in less than a week is awful, and surprising. As reckless as many cyclists are around pedestrians, it seems like I only rarely hear of significant injury, and almost never hear of deaths. As I <a href="http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/27/to-whom-it-may-concern/#comment-6605" rel="nofollow">said in the comments to the dogpoop post,</a> I think it's important for responsible cyclists to be extra courteous with cars and especially pedestrians, because the reckless riders are giving us a bad name and setting back our "cause." As much as I rant about cars and their drivers on this blog, I try to be excessively courteous to cars and pedestrians on the road, in order to counteract the bad rep that other riders are creating for us. Plus it's just a lot less fun to ride around angry all the time. For an idea of what a world full of responsible cyclists and a more balanced transportation infrastructure might look like, check out <a href="http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/11/30/back-to-civilization/" rel="nofollow">this report from Copenhagen.</a> where the pedestrians don't look like they have anything to fear from maniacal cyclists. (Maybe I'm foolish to think that you could ever get a bunch of Americans to behave in a civilized way like that...) Ugh indeed. Two pedestrian deaths caused by cyclists in one city in less than a week is awful, and surprising. As reckless as many cyclists are around pedestrians, it seems like I only rarely hear of significant injury, and almost never hear of deaths.

As I said in the comments to the dogpoop post, I think it’s important for responsible cyclists to be extra courteous with cars and especially pedestrians, because the reckless riders are giving us a bad name and setting back our “cause.” As much as I rant about cars and their drivers on this blog, I try to be excessively courteous to cars and pedestrians on the road, in order to counteract the bad rep that other riders are creating for us. Plus it’s just a lot less fun to ride around angry all the time.

For an idea of what a world full of responsible cyclists and a more balanced transportation infrastructure might look like, check out this report from Copenhagen. where the pedestrians don’t look like they have anything to fear from maniacal cyclists. (Maybe I’m foolish to think that you could ever get a bunch of Americans to behave in a civilized way like that…)

]]> By: wordnerd http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6730 wordnerd Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:31:47 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6730 Ugh: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/troubles-in-philly-lessons-for-new-york/?hp Ugh:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/troubles-in-philly-lessons-for-new-york/?hp

]]> By: Mike d'Ocla http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6649 Mike d'Ocla Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:22:55 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6649 Great essay. Hit the nail right on the head. As progressive as many people in Oakland think they are, they are way behind in terms of understanding land use/nonmotorized transportation/quality of life/economic growth issues. You've no doubt opened a few eyes and minds here. Bravo. Great essay. Hit the nail right on the head. As progressive as many people in Oakland think they are, they are way behind in terms of understanding land use/nonmotorized transportation/quality of life/economic growth issues. You’ve no doubt opened a few eyes and minds here. Bravo.

]]> By: wordnerd http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6633 wordnerd Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:09:09 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6633 Lots of family groups are out walking around this weekend. But they have that holiday look--which means that this is something they only do on holidays. Lots of family groups are out walking around this weekend. But they have that holiday look–which means that this is something they only do on holidays.

]]> By: jabel http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6568 jabel Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:49:18 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6568 Roger Miller brings up some great points in his post but he did give me a chuckle because anyone of a certain age knows "Roger Miller" as"King of the Road" Roger Miller brings up some great points in his post but he did give me a chuckle because anyone of a certain age knows “Roger Miller” as”King of the Road”

]]> By: ruth gutmann http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6567 ruth gutmann Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:20:30 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6567 While I have not been on the Berkeley campus, I assume that like other college campuses, it is a community that is a conglomeration of a great variety of individuals, with some unique features that are peculiar to academicians: It used to be said that professors were almost by definition absent minded. How then do they manage to pay attention to other vehicles outdoors? Perhaps these two states are more under the individual's control than we are apt to suppose. I like to think of the university as a place where you can, at the very least, observe what happens to people who have chosen a certain profession: does that profession control the person, or can the person be in charge of its demands? And how is the choice made? The other day I heard about and from a professor who studies standing on/or/ in line! (I think his name is Larsen, he has a sense of humor and a Q in his name and he is at MIT). I no longer remember whether it was his own dislike of waiting in line which caused him to study it. But I was pretty amazed at the trivial nature of his pursuit. -- Give me the professor, also at MIT, who studies the mechanics of the Hummingbird's way to get their nectar with tiny straws. While I have not been on the Berkeley campus, I assume that like other college campuses, it is a community that is a conglomeration of a great variety of individuals, with some unique features that are peculiar to academicians: It used to be said that professors were almost by definition absent minded. How then do they manage to pay attention to other vehicles outdoors? Perhaps these two states are more under the individual’s control than we are apt to suppose.

I like to think of the university as a place where you can, at the very least, observe what happens to people who have chosen a certain profession: does that profession control the person, or can the person be in charge of its demands? And how is the choice made? The other day I heard about and from a professor who studies standing on/or/ in line! (I think his name is Larsen, he has a sense of humor and a Q in his name and he is at MIT). I no longer remember whether it was his own dislike of waiting in line which caused him to study it. But I was pretty amazed at the trivial nature of his pursuit. — Give me the professor, also at MIT, who studies the mechanics of the Hummingbird’s way to get their nectar with tiny straws.

]]> By: wordnerd http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6566 wordnerd Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:59:50 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6566 Today was a great day for riding around Boston. How nice of the cars to share their space with us for a day! Happy Thanksgiving to Fragmentarians everywhere! Today was a great day for riding around Boston. How nice of the cars to share their space with us for a day! Happy Thanksgiving to Fragmentarians everywhere!

]]> By: Roger Miller http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/2009/11/25/going-back-to-college-for-some-lessons-on-livable-space/#comment-6563 Roger Miller Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:28:28 +0000 http://www.fragmentaryevidence.com/?p=1585#comment-6563 DC, Thanks for your ramblings on public space, walker-biker-car dynamics and more. A couple of quick thoughts to share. Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) is a relatively new organization that is working on making Oakland look more like the Cal campus. In 2010 WOBO will bring at least two "Oaklavia" events (think San Francisco's Sunday Streets or Bogota's Ciclovia) to Oakland where we hope to get 10,000 folks out playing in closed down city streets. While these events may be a drop in the bucket, they'll help pave the way for future improvements in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that WOBO is advocating for with the City of Oakland, such as the project to get bike lanes on Broadway, Franklin and Webster that are currently underway and bike lanes on Park Boulevard. BTW, I noted from one of your previous posts your concerns about Park Boulevard. WOBO is looking for folks to help champion projects in your area such as a Park Boulevard project. Park Boulevard is included in the City's Bicycle Master Plan (<a href="http://www.oaklandpw.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2164" rel="nofollow">http://www.oaklandpw.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2164</a>), but it isn't on the planners docket of low hanging fruit (for more info see: http://www.oaklandpw.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2164, agenda item #7). If we're going to get new bike lanes on Park, we're going to need to start some grassroots organizing in that community. Interested? Let WOBO folks know. Regards, Roger Miller Board Member Walk Oakland Bike Oakland DC,

Thanks for your ramblings on public space, walker-biker-car dynamics and more. A couple of quick thoughts to share. Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) is a relatively new organization that is working on making Oakland look more like the Cal campus. In 2010 WOBO will bring at least two “Oaklavia” events (think San Francisco’s Sunday Streets or Bogota’s Ciclovia) to Oakland where we hope to get 10,000 folks out playing in closed down city streets. While these events may be a drop in the bucket, they’ll help pave the way for future improvements in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that WOBO is advocating for with the City of Oakland, such as the project to get bike lanes on Broadway, Franklin and Webster that are currently underway and bike lanes on Park Boulevard.

BTW, I noted from one of your previous posts your concerns about Park Boulevard. WOBO is looking for folks to help champion projects in your area such as a Park Boulevard project. Park Boulevard is included in the City’s Bicycle Master Plan (http://www.oaklandpw.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2164), but it isn’t on the planners docket of low hanging fruit (for more info see: http://www.oaklandpw.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2164, agenda item #7). If we’re going to get new bike lanes on Park, we’re going to need to start some grassroots organizing in that community. Interested? Let WOBO folks know.

Regards,

Roger Miller
Board Member
Walk Oakland Bike Oakland

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