<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Obama, transportation policy, and the highway bill]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by justlou http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:43:25 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/1 A Real Conundrum

How to keep the wheels on an energy hungry and crumbling infrastructure while integrating it with and transforming it into an energy lean and sustainable network.  There will be powerful forces that insist on continuing to build the unsustainable part of it while other forces fight on the definition and design of what is truly sustainable.  Attempting to piggy back on to a design nightmare based on the cheap fossil fuels may be our biggest obstacle to reaching the dream of sustainability.  

]]> A Real Conundrum

How to keep the wheels on an energy hungry and crumbling infrastructure while integrating it with and transforming it into an energy lean and sustainable network.  There will be powerful forces that insist on continuing to build the unsustainable part of it while other forces fight on the definition and design of what is truly sustainable.  Attempting to piggy back on to a design nightmare based on the cheap fossil fuels may be our biggest obstacle to reaching the dream of sustainability.  

]]> Comment #2 by sindark http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:56:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/2 Subsidy

It cannot be accepted that any form of modern transportation competes in an environment of 'neutrality.' That simply isn't possible when the infrastructure demands are so great. At least until we have universal by-the-kilometre billing for road-using vehicles, we need to acknowledge that the question is one of relative subsidies, rather than subsidized transport on one side and 'free market' private vehicles on the other.

A good book that touches on some of this is Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City by Peter D. Norton.

a sibilant intake of breath

]]> Subsidy

It cannot be accepted that any form of modern transportation competes in an environment of 'neutrality.' That simply isn't possible when the infrastructure demands are so great. At least until we have universal by-the-kilometre billing for road-using vehicles, we need to acknowledge that the question is one of relative subsidies, rather than subsidized transport on one side and 'free market' private vehicles on the other.

A good book that touches on some of this is Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City by Peter D. Norton.

a sibilant intake of breath

]]> Comment #3 by Jon Rynn http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:02:56 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/3 Dave, thanks for asking the question,

about rail, even if he was doing his best not to answer it.  I assume that until the election, there will be zilch talk about shifting from highways to rail, as it would probably be considered politically radioactive -- after all, Obama's tacking to the "center" now -- although he's really always been there, people seem to forget -- he has to talk like he's 100% behind the car drivers, and since they'll probably take the cities for granted (thanks, founding fathers, for that electoral college!), they won't make a peep -- well, maybe a few peeps -- about transit or rail.

That being said, I suppose it will be imperative to push them when (hopefully) Obama wins the election.

]]> Dave, thanks for asking the question,

about rail, even if he was doing his best not to answer it.  I assume that until the election, there will be zilch talk about shifting from highways to rail, as it would probably be considered politically radioactive -- after all, Obama's tacking to the "center" now -- although he's really always been there, people seem to forget -- he has to talk like he's 100% behind the car drivers, and since they'll probably take the cities for granted (thanks, founding fathers, for that electoral college!), they won't make a peep -- well, maybe a few peeps -- about transit or rail.

That being said, I suppose it will be imperative to push them when (hopefully) Obama wins the election.

]]> Comment #4 by Charles Komanoff http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:22:20 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/4 Don't confuse energy policy with transport policy

Dave, maybe Obama doesn't yet have a transportation advisor, but from the looks of his remarks above, energy advisor Grumet does a poor imitation of one.

Transportation policy isn't about infrastructure for plug-in hybrids and alt fuels. It's about providing and facilitating a variety of modes (rail, bus, bike, walk, car-share), land-use incentives to enable communities to take advantage of them, and road-pricing policies to fund them while desubsidizing car use.

Judging from Obama's statements to the cycling advocates in Chicago last month (captured in Streetsblog, with a photo of the candidate riding a bike), on transportation policy he's way ahead of his energy advisor.

Charles http://www.komanoff.net

]]> Don't confuse energy policy with transport policy

Dave, maybe Obama doesn't yet have a transportation advisor, but from the looks of his remarks above, energy advisor Grumet does a poor imitation of one.

Transportation policy isn't about infrastructure for plug-in hybrids and alt fuels. It's about providing and facilitating a variety of modes (rail, bus, bike, walk, car-share), land-use incentives to enable communities to take advantage of them, and road-pricing policies to fund them while desubsidizing car use.

Judging from Obama's statements to the cycling advocates in Chicago last month (captured in Streetsblog, with a photo of the candidate riding a bike), on transportation policy he's way ahead of his energy advisor.

Charles http://www.komanoff.net

]]> Comment #5 by Jay Alt http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:30:56 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/5 The Chicago bike plan -

has a central roll in the city's Olympic bid and push toward green.
The eventual goal is to have bike routes within 1/2 mile or less of  residences and businesses.

http://www.bike2015plan.org/intro.html


]]> The Chicago bike plan -

has a central roll in the city's Olympic bid and push toward green.
The eventual goal is to have bike routes within 1/2 mile or less of  residences and businesses.

http://www.bike2015plan.org/intro.html


]]> Comment #6 by JMG http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:30 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/6 Arrgggh

You just have to read Grumet's mush responses to know that the road gang will wind up with 99% of everything, again.  We MUST indeed "foist them against each other" -- we must aggressively support the modes with a future (electrified rail, primarily) against carhead thinkers like Grumet, who will be the death of us.

The 5% Project

]]> Arrgggh

You just have to read Grumet's mush responses to know that the road gang will wind up with 99% of everything, again.  We MUST indeed "foist them against each other" -- we must aggressively support the modes with a future (electrified rail, primarily) against carhead thinkers like Grumet, who will be the death of us.

The 5% Project

]]> Comment #7 by Laurence Aurbach http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:54:41 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/7 More than the presidency

As Maria Zimmerman has pointed out, there are more reasons than just a new president that the highway bill reauthorization is the biggest opportunity for change in decades.

There is a fiscal crisis in the transportation sector. The highway trust fund is almost broke; the gasoline consumption that funds it is on the decline. Mass transit use is on the upswing at the same time transit agencies are running short of operating funds.

The makeup of Congress is different from previous Congresses that authorized transportation bills, and it is projected to change even more in November.

Many factors previously not included in transportation decisions are putting pressure on all politicians: peak oil, global warming, ethanol and food prices, the housing bubble and affordability, crumbling infrastructure from deferred maintenance and environmental stress, recession, inflation, etc.

Population growth and cultural/demographic changes are shifting the market preference for urban living. Some studies say the U.S. now has enough surburban McMansions to meet demand for 30 years, while there is a large and growing demand for walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods that is not being met.

Many state and local measures supporting transit  are getting on ballots around the country and are being approved by voters.

There is widespread agreement that the existing system is broken.

To capitalize on all these trends and set a new course for transportation policy in America, a coalition of smart growth groups has formed called Transportation for America (T4America). They'll be releasing a draft platform this summer in preparation for the reauthorization battle next year.

I urge everyone who is concerned with transportation, and the transportation and land use connection, to get involved in this initiative.

Ped Shed Blog

]]> More than the presidency

As Maria Zimmerman has pointed out, there are more reasons than just a new president that the highway bill reauthorization is the biggest opportunity for change in decades.

There is a fiscal crisis in the transportation sector. The highway trust fund is almost broke; the gasoline consumption that funds it is on the decline. Mass transit use is on the upswing at the same time transit agencies are running short of operating funds.

The makeup of Congress is different from previous Congresses that authorized transportation bills, and it is projected to change even more in November.

Many factors previously not included in transportation decisions are putting pressure on all politicians: peak oil, global warming, ethanol and food prices, the housing bubble and affordability, crumbling infrastructure from deferred maintenance and environmental stress, recession, inflation, etc.

Population growth and cultural/demographic changes are shifting the market preference for urban living. Some studies say the U.S. now has enough surburban McMansions to meet demand for 30 years, while there is a large and growing demand for walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods that is not being met.

Many state and local measures supporting transit  are getting on ballots around the country and are being approved by voters.

There is widespread agreement that the existing system is broken.

To capitalize on all these trends and set a new course for transportation policy in America, a coalition of smart growth groups has formed called Transportation for America (T4America). They'll be releasing a draft platform this summer in preparation for the reauthorization battle next year.

I urge everyone who is concerned with transportation, and the transportation and land use connection, to get involved in this initiative.

Ped Shed Blog

]]> Comment #8 by Wolverine http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:50:49 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/8 Trend Is Both Directions At Once

Lawrence is correct that many people have recognized the harmful effects of private motor vehicles and wish to move away from them.  But a new Pew Research Center poll, reported by Grist, just showed that 60% of Americans prefer increasing energy supplies over protecting the environment, and that a slight majority favors extracting more oil over energy conservation.

While I unequivocally oppose further destruction of the Earth for artificial human transportation, it is easy to see why so many Americans prioritize that over the environment.  The average person doesn't really think about big issues.  After un- or semi-consciously choosing a lifestyle that requires a significant amount of driving, (s)he is freaked out at the rising price of gasoline.  Instead of thinking the problem through in order to get at its root, which is far too much driving, (s)he then advocates for whatever will reduce the price of gas, or at least keep it from rising further.

Add to that the power of the oil, auto, and infrastructure industries and that their lackeys are already in Congress, and I therefore think it's overly optimistic to believe that it will be easy to capitalize on the trends identified by Lawrence.  Not to say that it can't be done, and I certainly plan to lobby my representatives in that direction, but it will take a Herculean effort.

]]> Trend Is Both Directions At Once

Lawrence is correct that many people have recognized the harmful effects of private motor vehicles and wish to move away from them.  But a new Pew Research Center poll, reported by Grist, just showed that 60% of Americans prefer increasing energy supplies over protecting the environment, and that a slight majority favors extracting more oil over energy conservation.

While I unequivocally oppose further destruction of the Earth for artificial human transportation, it is easy to see why so many Americans prioritize that over the environment.  The average person doesn't really think about big issues.  After un- or semi-consciously choosing a lifestyle that requires a significant amount of driving, (s)he is freaked out at the rising price of gasoline.  Instead of thinking the problem through in order to get at its root, which is far too much driving, (s)he then advocates for whatever will reduce the price of gas, or at least keep it from rising further.

Add to that the power of the oil, auto, and infrastructure industries and that their lackeys are already in Congress, and I therefore think it's overly optimistic to believe that it will be easy to capitalize on the trends identified by Lawrence.  Not to say that it can't be done, and I certainly plan to lobby my representatives in that direction, but it will take a Herculean effort.

]]> Comment #9 by Delay And Deny http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:01:55 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/my-other-candidate-is-a-bike/9 Bike Roadways


"Promised them support"

Great...what does that mean?

Bikes are a real answer to many of our woes.

But making bike travel safe and developing independent bike routes, safe from cars?

Where's the dialog?

]]> Bike Roadways


"Promised them support"

Great...what does that mean?

Bikes are a real answer to many of our woes.

But making bike travel safe and developing independent bike routes, safe from cars?

Where's the dialog?

]]>