Comments ErikB has made

Ageism?

It seems like aq classic case of ageism here against the young. Global Warming will get progressively worse. The Old Farts in Power now could care less because THEY'LL BE DEAD SOON! Why the hell arent the young rioting in the streets? It's their life that the old farts in power are ruining!  On Against climate polluters posted 2 years, 3 months ago 13 Responses

Bloomberg

Ifranz, while NYC cant control what goes on in the rest of the NY megalopolis, NY is setting a good example at reast. Manhattan has the highest density of residents in the US while it maintains its dynamic vibrancy. Tourism is through the roof. Bloomberg is trying to get a toll to drive into Manhattan.
 Meanwhile look at Detroit or Houston which have had low density auto dependent sprawl as their strategies for growth. They are both rated as some of the worst places to live in the US.

There is a massive conspiracy with an auto dependent agenda here in the US with Big Oil at the head of the snake. They hate anything to do with Smart Growth or mass transit. They want more sprawl , more roads, more cars and SUVs. NYC is one of the few places in the US standing up to this Big Oil monster. Like I said , only 20% of the Manhattanites own cars which has Big Oil worried. Big Oil and Detroit are the twin headed monsters of the US auto dependent oil hungry globalism machine. SO you should focus your hatred and energy in the fight against them. They are the reason we are in the mideast. They are the reason for terrorism. On 15 Green Cities posted 2 years, 4 months ago 51 Responses

daiquiri

What is NYC doing about its sprawl? I would bet nothing. That means 17 million NYers are living unsustainably in the burbs. Only Manhattan has the low carbon footprint and thats only 2 million  of NYs 19 million. So until they try to reign in the sprawl they aint doing much to curb their carbon footprint.  Maybe they need a Metro government like Portland has. Its a government that oversees all of Portlans burbs as one city unit. On 15 Green Cities posted 2 years, 4 months ago 51 Responses

Vancouver BC

My vote goes to Van BC for being the most pro-active to reduce their carbon footprint. I was there a couple weeks ago because I had heard so much about it. We here in Portland have gotten most of our ideas from Vancouver long ago but they have been more successful. To list some:

#1. Most important, they have made it illegal to build on their surrounding farmland since about 1970 so they have stopped sprawl!

#2This has made it necessary to grow more upward and increase density. They invented the "skinny towers" that pack their downtown and many other places, which dont block all the sun.
Not only has it helped stop sprawl but it has made their downtown remarkably VIBRANT! Robson, Davies, Granville and Denman streets are packed with pedestrians all day and  night long even during weekdays.
 Storees dont close until 11 pm or so!

#3  No freeways go through Vancouver! Freeways just encourage people to live further out in the burbs which is what has ruined American cities. After 6 pm American  downtowns (except Manhattan) become ghost towns.

#4 They built a great light rail mass transit called "SkyTrain" which is now being greatly expanded before the 2010 Olympics. It will be a subway under their downtown. Each Skytrain station is surrounded by half a dozen or more skinny tower apts and condos.

One criticism though is that their downtown is very congested with cars as well. SOmetimes the cars block pedestrians crossings at red lights. I think the Skytrain extension will help alot but I think they need to think about a downtown street car system like Portland is doing now   and possibly more bicycling lanes and streets.  

Here's a great article comparing Portland, Vancouver and Seattle.

"Who is the Smart Growth Leader?"
Hint: it’s not Portland
By Clark Williams-Derry
Great Lakes Bulletin News Service    

Vancouver has achieved remarkable success in directing growth to people-friendly, land-saving neighborhoods. Excellent planning helped. So did the resolve to put far-sighted Smart Growth principles into effect.

Portland, Oregon is a success story among mid-sized American cities.  Its downtown grew more vibrant over the last two decades, attracting new residents and businesses at a time when many other cities were drying up. At the same time, its pioneering growth boundary — in place since the mid-1970s — limited sprawl while protecting farmland and open space..............

http://mlui.org/growthmanagement/fullarticle.asp?fileid=1 ...
On 15 Green Cities posted 2 years, 4 months ago 51 Responses

PHYSICS: Hybrid Power Rules

Have you ever heard of KINETIC ENERGY?? Long distance trips is irrelevant. The hybrid gets it advantag in city stop and go driving where the regenerative braking system can recAPTURE the normally wasted kinetic energy which is lost every time you brake in normal car. This is FREE ENERGY people. Not hydrogen power, not wind power it is FREE!! Hybrids tap that, nothing else does!On You may be surprised posted 2 years, 10 months ago 56 Responses