From NRDC:

http://t.co/it8WCmqL

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

From Richard Risemberg:

>Interesting Tweet form my colleague Gary Kavanagh, attending the
>congress for the New Urbanism summit:
>
>> I love that for CNU, breaking up urban freeways & converting to
>boulevards, selling land, is fiscal conservative position.
>
>The conversion of freeways to more usable and less expensive urban
>spaces is a growing meme in the US and worldwide…and we have in GRID
>the infrastructure paradigm that can help make it happen successfully,
>and make it acceptable to ALL stakeholders.
>
>Rick
>--
>Richard Risemberg
>http://www.bicyclefixation.com
>http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
>http://www.rickrise.com


Best,

J.


-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities

And for those who are interested in more details about what GRID is, see our
website:

http://gridlogisticsinc.com

This covers only GRID Phase I; GRID Phase II envisions transit and carfree
villages along a reclaimed SoCal river channel right-of-way, reclaimed power
transmission ROW,  or--ideally, in my opinion--reclaimed freeway corridors!

Rick


On Sep 9, 2012, at 5:12 PM, J.H. Crawford wrote:

> From Richard Risemberg:
>
> >Interesting Tweet form my colleague Gary Kavanagh, attending the
> >congress for the New Urbanism summit:
> >
> >> I love that for CNU, breaking up urban freeways & converting to
> >boulevards, selling land, is fiscal conservative position.
> >
> >The conversion of freeways to more usable and less expensive urban
> >spaces is a growing meme in the US and worldwide…and we have in GRID
> >the infrastructure paradigm that can help make it happen successfully,
> >and make it acceptable to ALL stakeholders.

--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

I couldn't help sending this to you all.

-Jon

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bikes, Books & a Little Music <comment-reply@...>
Date: Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 6:28 AM
Subject: [New post] Car Free Streets of Detroit
To: jonkoller@...


**
   Charlie Z posted: "Detroit is a great city for bicycling. The
neighborhood streets and major roads carrying car traffic in and out of the
city are super wide. Quite a few of them are one way, making for ideal
cycling. Throughout busy Southwest Detroit and sections of midtow"    Respond
to this post by replying above this line
       New post on *Bikes, Books & a Little Music*
<http://bbandm.wordpress.com/author/chasbo1/>  Car Free Streets of
Detroit<http://bbandm.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/car-free-streets-of-detroit/>
by
Charlie Z <http://bbandm.wordpress.com/author/chasbo1/>

Detroit is a great city for bicycling. The neighborhood streets and major
roads carrying car traffic in and out of the city are super wide. Quite a
few of them are one way, making for ideal cycling. Throughout busy
Southwest Detroit and sections of midtown, many miles of bike lanes have
been installed, and from what I understand, more are coming. Over on the
city’s eastside, there’s been progress on the Conner Park Greenway that
will eventually extend from the Detroit River out to Eight Mile Road, a
distance of about nine miles.

<http://bbandm.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/bike-sign-c-park-dr_4830.jpg>

In addition to the wide streets and bike lanes that make for easy city
riding, one of the best things I like about riding the streets of Detroit
is the lack of traffic. It’s not uncommon for me to ride two to three miles
on major three-lane, one-way roads or on two-way streets without a single
car passing me in either direction. Although Detroit lost over half its
population in the last 40-years, (thus fewer cars on the streets) it’s
still a major American urban center. Considering its size, the lack of
traffic on the city’s streets is incredible to me.

<http://bbandm.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/c-park-dr_4828.jpg>

<http://bbandm.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/mack-ave_4145.jpg>

Obviously not all the streets and roads are void of cars. Woodward,
Michigan, Gratiot Avenue, and others always have plenty of traffic. One of
the things that I don’t understand about riding on the wide, less traveled
one-way streets is that most cars don’t generally move out of the right
hand lane.  I’ll be pedaling close to the right curb, and they still whiz
closely by, even though the left lane(s) are completely open with lots of
space for them to move over. Drivers must be programmed to stay in the
right hand lane, no matter what.

Bicyclists in Detroit are fortunate to have access to lightly traveled
streets and roads. Their openness makes for enjoyable, stress free rides.
  Of course, there’s the exception of stray dogs, but that’s another story.

<http://bbandm.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/g-river_4832.jpg>
   *Charlie Z <http://bbandm.wordpress.com/author/chasbo1/>* | September 12,
2012 at 4:58 am | Categories:
Uncategorized<http://bbandm.wordpress.com/?cat=1>| URL:
http://wp.me/pOAXv-ZN

 
Comment<http://bbandm.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/car-free-streets-of-detroit/#resp\
ond>
    See all
comments<http://bbandm.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/car-free-streets-of-detroit/#com\
ments>

      Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage
Subscriptions<https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=5a1305b1fac273f54d960c97f8f1d\
fde&email=jonkoller%40gmail.com>.


*Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser:
http://bbandm.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/car-free-streets-of-detroit/
          Thanks for flying with WordPress.com <http://wordpress.com>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

FWD

>From: "Todd Alexander Litman" <litman@...>
>To: "'Todd Alexander Litman'" <litman@...>
>Subject: VTPI News - Summer 2012
>Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:44:06 -0700
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 12.0
>Thread-Index: Ac2QA/uB5EVbT2QjQCCCxAULEb8onQ==
>
>             -----------
>             VTPI NEWS
>              -----------
>              Victoria Transport Policy Institute
>              "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
>              -------------------------------------
>              Summer 2012    Vol. 12, No. 3
>              -----------------------------------
>The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization
dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. The
VTPI website (http://www.vtpi.org ) has many resources addressing a wide range
of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services.
>               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>NEW VTPI DOCUMENTS
>====================
>"Local Funding Options for Public Transportation"
(http://www.vtpi.org/tranfund.pdf )
>This paper, submitted for presentation at the TRB Annual Meeting, describes the
results of a study that evaluated potential local funding options to help
finance public transit improvements. It evaluates seventeen options according to
eight criteria, a somewhat larger set of options and more systematic evaluation
than most previous studies of this type. Each option has disadvantages and
constraints. As a result, the overall conclusion of this study is that a variety
of funding options should be used to help finance the local share of public
transit improvements to insure stability and distribute costs broadly.
>
>"Safer Than You Think! Revising the Transit Safety Narrative"
(http://www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf )
>Public transportation is a safe form of travel. Total per capita traffic
casualties tend to decline as public transit travel increases in a community.
However, many people have the misimpression that transit is dangerous, and so
are reluctant to use it or support transit service expansion in their
communities. Various factors contribute to this excessive and irrational fear,
including conventional traffic safety messages, heavy media coverage of
transit-related crashes and crimes, and the nature of public transit, which
requires travel with strangers in confined spaces. There is much that public
transit agencies can do to change the narrative to emphasize the overall safety
of public transit travel, to improve passengers’ sense of security, and to
provide better guidance concerning how passengers and communities can enhance
public transport safety and security.
>
>"Smart Congestion Relief: Comprehensive Analysis Of Traffic Congestion Costs
and Congestion Reduction Benefits" (http://www.vtpi.org/cong_relief.pdf )
>This report critically evaluates the methods used to measure traffic congestion
impacts, and applies a more comprehensive evaluation framework to various
congestion reduction strategies. Current evaluation methods tend to exaggerate
congestion costs and roadway expansion benefits, and underestimate the overall
long-term impacts and benefits of pricing reforms, public transit improvements
and land use policy reforms. The results indicate that more comprehensive
evaluation can help identify more efficient and equitable congestion reduction
solutions.
>                 *    *    *    *    *
>
>UPDATED DOCUMENTS
>=================
>Below are recently updated VTPI documents.
>
>“If Health Matters: Integrating Public Health Objectives in Transportation
Planning” (http://www.vtpi.org/health.pdf)
>This report investigates various ways that transportation planning decisions
affect public health, and how planning practices can better incorporate public
health objectives. Conventional planning tends to consider some public health
impacts, particularly traffic accident risks and pollution emissions measured
per vehicle-kilometer, but generally ignores the additional accidents and
pollution emissions caused by increased vehicle mileage, and health problems
resulting from less active transport (reduced walking and cycling activity).
This tends to undervalue strategies that reduce total vehicle travel and
increase transport system diversity. This study identifies various “win-win”
strategies that help improve public health and achieve other planning
objectives.
>                 *    *    *    *    *
>
>PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE
>===================
>“Changing North American Vehicle-Travel Price Sensitivities: Implications For
Transport And Energy Policy”
(<http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2012.06.010>http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tr\
anpol.2012.06.010), published in “Transport Policy”.
>There is a growing interest in transportation pricing reforms to help achieve
various policy objectives including reduced traffic congestion, accidents and
pollution emissions. Their effectiveness is affected by the price sensitivity of
vehicle fuel consumption and travel, measured as elasticities (percentage change
in consumption caused by a percentage change in price). Lower elasticities imply
that price reforms are relatively ineffective at achieving objectives, high
prices significantly harm consumers, and rebound effects are small so strategies
that increase vehicle fuel efficiency are relatively effective at conserving
fuel. Higher elasticities imply that price reforms are relatively effective,
consumers can respond relatively easily, and rebound effects are relatively
large. Some studies found that US price elasticities declined during the last
quarter of the Twentieth Century but recent evidence suggests that vehicle
travel has since become more price sensitive. This article examines evidence of
changing vehicle fuel and travel elasticities, and discusses policy
implications. This article is based on the longer report, "Changing Vehicle
Travel Price Sensitivities: The Rebounding Rebound Effect"
(http://www.vtpi.org/VMT_Elasticities.pdf ).
>
>"Reducing Carbon Emissions through TDM Strategies - A Review of International
Examples" for Transportation Demand Management in Beijing
(http://tdm-beijing.org/files/International_Review_Executive_Summary.pdf ) for
Transport Demand Management in Beijing – Emission Reduction in Urban Transport
(http://www.tdm-beijing.org ). This report discusses promising TDM options for
Chinese cities. It describes international examples of effective transport
policy reforms including London, Singapore, New York, Berlin, Seoul, San
Francisco and others.
>
>"Transforming Urban Mobility In Mexico: Towards Accessible Cities Less Reliant
on Cars" Institute for Transportation and Development Policy"
(http://mexico.itdp.org/wp-content/uploads/Transforming-Urban-Mobility-in-Mexico\
.pdf ).
>This study was conducted by the Institute for Transportation and Development
Policy México with support from the British Embassy in Mexico and the UK
Prosperity Fund. It hopes to promote the development of sustainable cities and
thereby increase quality of life for its inhabitants.
>
>"Regional Transit Local Funding Options - Draft Technical Analysis"
>(http://www.crd.bc.ca/regionalplanning/transportation/documents/CRD_LocalTransi\
tFundingOptionsReport_18June2012-web.pdf )
>This report describes the results of a study commissioned by the Victoria
Regional Transit Commission to identify and evaluate potential local funding
options to help finance major public transit improvements in the Capital
Regional District. This research included literature reviews, public surveys and
focus groups, and analysis.
>
>"Transport, The Environment And Public Health: Classic Papers On Non-Motorised
Travel"
(<http://www.e-elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?currency=US&id=14642>http://www.e-\
elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?currency=US&id=14642)
>This book edited by Stephen P. Greaves and Jan Garrard includes Todd Litman’s
report, "The Economic Value of Walkability" (http://www.vtpi.org/walkability.pdf
).
>
>"What's It Worth? Comprehensive Evaluation of Bicycling Benefits"
(http://www.vtpi.org/velocity2012.pdf ), presentation at the VeloCity Conference
in Vancouver.
>
>"What solutions to curb congestion in emerging countries? – Comments"
(<http://ecomobility.tv/forums/topic/what-solutions-to-curb-congestion-in-emergi\
ng-countries?replies=2#post-426>http://ecomobility.tv/forums/topic/what-solution\
s-to-curb-congestion-in-emerging-countries?replies=2#post-426 )
>
>Recent Planetizen Blogs
(<http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394>http://www.planetizen.com/blog/2394 ):
>'Be Careful With Statistics' (http://www.planetizen.com/node/58169 )
>'Land-Use Regulation, Income Inequality and Smart Growth'
(http://www.planetizen.com/node/57754 )
>'The Ecological Value of Lawns' (http://www.planetizen.com/node/57354 )
>'New Understanding of Traffic Congestion' (http://www.planetizen.com/node/57017
)
>
>Let’s be friends.  Todd Litman regularly posts on his Facebook page
(<http://www.facebook.com/todd.litman>http://www.facebook.com/todd.litman).
Befriend him now!
>                 *    *    *    *    *
>
>BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
>========================
>VeloVillage Conference  presentation
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/99751654/Win-Win-Strategies-for-Healthier-Communities
) and video
>( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB1ZIr650G0&feature=youtu.be ).
>
>USEFUL RESOURCES
>=================
>"Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities" (http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/167122.aspx
) Chapter 16 of TCRP Report 95 of "Traveler Response to Transportation System
Changes." This 500-plus page report discusses the transportation and health
impacts that result from various types of non-motorized transportation
improvements and programs, including sidewalks, bicycle boulevards, regional
path and bikeway systems and marketing. Impacts are quantified to the extent
possible, and the report includes extensive references, photos and a set of
PowerPoint slides.
>
>"Collection of Cycle Concepts"
(http://www.cycling-embassy.dk/2012/05/10/cycle-concepts2012 ). This attractive
book by the Cycling Embassy of Denmark provides extensive information on how to
improve cycling.
>
>"TR News" (http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/167474.aspx ) May-June issue is
devoted walking and cycling issues
>"Best Design Practices for Walking and Bicycling in Michigan"
(www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_Research_Report_RC1572_Part6_387521_7.pdf
). This report provides guidance in the design of nonmotorized improvements that
have been shown to reduce crashes. A summary matrix is provided that provides a
general comparison of the potential crash reduction, potential mobility impacts,
and cost of each best practice.
>
>"Valuation Of Travel Time Savings In Bicycle Trips"
(http://www.vti.se/en/publications/valuation-of-travel-time-savings-in-bicycle-t\
rips ). This study indicates that many people value walking or cycling for
enjoyment and exercise and so will choose these modes even if they take longer
than driving.
>
>"2010 Bike Commuting Data"
(<http://www.bikeleague.org/news/acs2010.php>http://www.bikeleague.org/news/acs2\
010.php )
>uses data from the 70 U.S. cities largest cities to show that communities which
have improved bicycling conditions have experienced increased bicycle
transportation.
>
>"Creating Walkable and Bikeable Communities: A User Guide to Developing
Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans"
(http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/media/IBPI%20Master%20Plan%20Handbook%20FINAL%20(7.\
27.12).pdf ) by Portland State University’s Center for Transportation Studies is
designed to help communities strategically plan for bicycle and pedestrian
transportation.
>
>"Urban Bikeway Design Guide" (http://www.c4cguide.org ) by the National
Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is a toolkit for designing
safer streets for bicyclists published.
>
>"Good For Busine$$ - The Benefits Of Making Streets More Walking And Cycling
Friendly"
(http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/GoodforBusinessFINAL_\
Nov.pdf ). This discussion paper by Rodney Tolley explores the benefits to
retailers, residents and councils of improving walking and cycling conditions,
based on international case studies.
>
>"Complete Streets: Policy Analysis 2011"
(http://www.completestreets.org/webdocs/resources/cs-policyanalysis.pdf )
>summarizes more than 350 complete streets policies approved by communities
across the United States and identifies best practices.
>
>"Local Policies And Practices That Support Safe Pedestrian Environments; A
Synthesis Of Highway Practice"
(http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_syn_436.pdf ) describes the
regulatory, administrative, and financial tools used to provide safe pedestrian
environments.
>
>"Bicycle Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists"
(<http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/fhwasa12018/fhwasa12018.pdf>ht\
tp://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/fhwasa12018/fhwasa12018.pdf ) by
the Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety provides information on
principles of the safety of cyclists and potential issues affecting cyclists.
>
>"Amenity or Necessity? Street Standards as Parking Policy"
(http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/1001-2-street-standards-street-width-par\
king-policy-investigation.pdf ) concludes that requiring wide residential
streets to provide on-street parking is not justified for safety, nor by
consumer demands since many households would not choose to pay for parking if it
were unbundled, and so represents a hidden subsidy of automobile ownership and
use.
>
>"SF Better Streets" (http://www.sfbetterstreets.org ) provides information for
residents on how to improve street designs and maintenance.
>
>"Operations Benefit/Cost Analysis Desk Reference"
(www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12028/fhwahop12028.pdf ) by the U.S.
Federal Highway Administration includes basic background information on
benefit/cost analysis, including basic terminology and concepts, intended to
support the needs of practitioners just getting started with B/C analysis, who
may be unfamiliar with the general process.
>
>"Walkability Workbook"
(<http://www.walklive.org/project/walkability-workbook/>http://www.walklive.org/\
project/walkability-workbook) is a set of documents and slideshows that provide
everything needed to organize community walkability workshops and conducting
walkability audits, developed by the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute.
>
>"Better Urban Mobility in Developing Countries: Problems, Solutions and Good
Practices" (http://www.uitp.org/publications/brochures/Dev-Countries-uk.pdf )
>This brochure, provides concrete solutions and good practices for more
efficient transportation management in developing countries.
>
>"World’s Largest Development Banks pledge $175 Billion for the Creation of More
Sustainable Transport"
(http://www.itdp.org/news/worlds-largest-development-banks-pledge-175-billion-fo\
r-the-creation-of-mor ) provides good news for anybody who wants to see more
efficient and equitable transport systems in developing countries. Thanks to
efforts by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), the
eight largest development banks have pledged $175 Billon to support more
sustainable transport worldwide.
>
>"International Fuel Prices 2010/2011"
(http://www.giz.de/Themen/en/dokumente/giz-en-IFP2010.pdf ) by
<http://www.giz.de/fuelprices>www.giz.de/fuelprices , provides an overview of
the retail prices of gasoline and diesel in over 170 countries.
>
>"ITDP: End Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Promote Sustainable Development"
(http://www.itdp.org/news/end-fossil-fuel-subsidies-promote-sustainable-developm\
ent and http://priceofoil.org/fossil-fuel-subsidies/international ) and
"Implementing Energy Subsidy Reforms : An Overview Of The Key Issues"
(http://go.worldbank.org/5QBSGWMK60 ) discuss how and why to reduce government
subsidies of gasoline and diesel fuels.
>
>"IMF: Environmental Tax Reform: Principles from Theory and Practice to Date"
(http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=26049.0 ) by the
International Monetary Fund recommends a system of upstream taxes on fossil
fuels, combined with refunds for downstream emissions capture, to internalize
costs and reduce carbon and local pollution emissions.
>
>"How Much Do Drivers Pay For A Quicker Commute? New Evidence Suggests That It's
Less Than We Think"
(http://daily.sightline.org/2012/08/01/how-much-do-drivers-pay-for-a-quicker-com\
mute ), the latest column in the Sightline Institute's, "Dude: Where Are My
Cars?" (http://daily.sightline.org/blog_series/dude-where-are-my-cars) indicates
that even modest tolls tend to significantly reduce vehicle trips. This is
consistent with my study, "Changing Vehicle Travel Price Sensitivities: The
Rebounding Rebound Effect" (http://www.vtpi.org/VMT_Elasticities.pdf ).
>
>"Traffic Forecasts Ignoring Induced Demand: a Shaky Fundament for Cost-Benefit
Analyses" (http://www.ejtir.tbm.tudelft.nl/issues/2012_03/pdf/2012_03_02.pdf ).
shows that ignoring induced vehicle traffic significantly affects cost-benefit
results.
>
>"TOD 205 - Families and Transit-Oriented Development: Creating Complete
Communities for All"
(http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/PDFs/20120620TODandFamiliesfinal.pdf ).
>
>"Methodology for Determining the Economic Development Impacts of Transit
Projects" (http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_w56.pdf ) investigates
the productivity increases associated with agglomeration economies, economies of
scale and density, caused by transit improvements.
>
>"Residential On-Site Carsharing And Off-Street Parking Policy"
(http://transweb.sjsu.edu/PDFs/research/1001-1-residential-carsharing-offstreet-\
parking-policy-san-francisco.pdf ) identifies factors that affect the success of
on-site carsharing.
>
>"Contemporary Approaches to Parking Pricing: A Primer"
(http://www.parking.org/media/129582/fhwa%20parking%20pricing%20primer.pdf ) by
the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, discusses advances in parking pricing
policy, parking technology, and strategies for gaining public acceptance for
parking policy reforms.
>
>“Impact of Parking Supply and Demand Management on Central Business District
(CBD) Traffic Congestion, Transit Performance and Sustainable Land Use
(http://www.dot.state.fl.us/research-center/Completed_Proj/Summary_TE/FDOT_BDK77\
_977-07_rpt.pdf )
>This Florida Department of Transportation report evaluates various parking
management strategies suitable for reducing parking problems in large city
central business districts.
>
>"Urban Traffic Calming and Health: A Literature Review"
(http://www.ncchpp.ca/175/publications.ccnpps?id_article=686 ) examines traffic
calming effects on collisions, air quality, noise, and active transportation.
>
>"Sustainable Transport, Mobility Management and Travel Plans"
(http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754679394 ) by Professor Marcus Enoch analyzes
travel plans from various perspectives and offers specific recommendations for
policy reforms and program implementation.
>
>"Evaluating The Fiscal Impacts Of Development, Part I - Final Report and User’s
Manual"
(http://www.costofsprawl.org/Evaluating-Fiscal-Impacts-of-Development-Part-I.pdf
) describes the New Hampshire Cost of Sprawl Impact Model which evaluates the
financial impact on local governments related to new development and ways to
reduce costs through smart growth policies.
>                 *    *    *    *    *
>
>Please let us know if you have comments or questions about any information in
this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our email list. And
please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful.
>
>Sincerely,
>Todd Litman
>Victoria Transport Policy Institute (<http://www.vtpi.org/>www.vtpi.org)
>litman@...
>facebook.com/todd.litman
>Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
>1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
>“Efficiency - Equity - Clarity”
>



-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities

SCN's publisher Eric Miller weighs in with  a using on city life and what makes
it different…see "There's More to City Living than Just Living in a City," on
Sustainable City News at:

http://sustainablecitynews.com/moretothecity.html

Plus our archives holding twelve years of articles on sustainable city living,
and our blog, newsbriefs, city pages, and more, all at:\

http://www.SustainableCityNews.com

Cheers,

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

Nice Photoshop thought experiment showing vast increases in charm when LA
streets are "narrowed":

http://www.mascontext.com/issues/8-public-winter-10/narrow-streets-los-angeles/

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

Hello,

Prague has a lovely car-free area in the historic part of town. It was
pedestrianised before the Berlin Wall came down (I know because I visited in
1988).

For some reason nobody ever talks about this even though it's every bit as
noteworthy as the famous Strøget in Copenhagen. I can't even find out when it
was done. Obviously it was a political decision to do it, and maybe that's the
reason there's so little information on it: it was something the communists did
right. (The East Bloc had a lot of tram systems too, something they shared with
the German-speaking countries in the West).

So please can anyone tell me, when did Prague get its lovely pedestrianised
historic centre?

Erik Sandblom

Excellent article on the growth in use of cargo bikes for goods delivery in
European cities, with increasing government support. Notes economic as well as
environmental and spatial efficiency, as well as speed through congested
neighborhoods. Article also mentions integration with trains and cargo trams….

http://t.co/GwCWApzc

Good one to pass around!

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

Hi All,

I had this message from  Jeremy Leach.

The animations don't work for me, but the PDF is fine and clear enough.

I'd be interested to know if the animations work for others.

Best,

Joel



I hope you are well and thanks for all the fabulous work you do.

You might be interested in this. On Wednesday I went to a meeting in London and
there was a presentation there from an academic - Prof Miles Tight  - on a
project he had done called Visions2030 about transport in cities in the future.
The outcome was interesting but the process was more so. They had created a
website:

http://www.visions2030.org.uk

on which there is a series of animations of how urban settings might develop.
There is also an academic paper too which I attach.

If you look at the animations, the following is the basis for each of the 3
different visions in terms of modal share (%) (Vision 0 is the present day -
each row totals 100%). Vision 3 - is a sort of post fossil fuel collapse
scenario.



Current Situation (2006)
Vision 1
Vision 2
Vision 3
Walk
28
32
37
40
Cycle
1
13
23
40
Public Transport
12
25
35
15
Car
59
30
5
5



I hope that this is of interest to you. Prof Tight m.r.tight@... seemed a
really approachable kind of person.

Best wishes - Jeremy Leach London

<file://D:\eudora603\raq\incomingAttach\Visions2030Paper-21Sep12.pdf>
Visions2030Paper-21Sep12.pdf
<file://D:\eudora603\raq\incomingAttach\Visions2030Paper-21Sep12.pdf>
Visions2030Paper-21Sep12.pdf

   ----------



-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The number of Chinese travelers hitting the highways soared to 85
million by Sunday afternoon, in part because, for the first time in more than a
decade, tolls were waived on most
expressways for passenger cars.

The announcement of the new policy was initially applauded by private-car
owners.

But from the early-morning hours of the first day of the holiday,
highway travelers around the country reported traffic jams and gridlock, many by
posting announcements and photos on their Weibo accounts.
Photos have been circulating around the Internet of people playing tennis, doing
pushups, walking their dogs, and commiserating with other drivers and passengers
on the highways while they waited for traffic to clear.
...

"We are making a world record of stupidity by launching this policy," remarked
director of the Center for China in the World Economy at Tsinghua University Li
Daokui on Weibo.

Full text at:

http://www.gochengdoo.com/en/blog/item/2802/chengdu_joins_nation_in_holiday_grid\
lock


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In Sustainable City News this week, Debra Efroymson explores the part-time
carfree zone in Viet Nam's Hoi An, and wonders why, given its benefits, it isn't
full time and bigger:

http://www.sustainablecitynews.com/difficulty.html

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

See the article (and video) in the new york times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/world/asia/hanoi-traffic-daunts-tourists.html?\
_r=0

Here's a howler form the wingnuts, a book claiming that suburbs are not
subsidized, and that ignores coercive zoning in its claims that they developed
freely…read it and weep:

http://t.co/QeX14mzP

Oh, yeah, and Obama's to blame for the resent troubles in suburban America.

Sustainable City News will soon be publishing its own commentary on this; we'll
announce it here.

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

You didn't think that Sustainable City News would let Rush get away with this
level of blatant lying, did you? Our publisher and editor Eric Miller has
written this response to Rush and his effort to ram Stanley Kurtz's
fact-checker's nightmare down America's throat…

Read "Through the Looking Glass: the Great Suburban Swindle":

http://sustainablecitynews.com/lookingglass.html

Only on Sustainable City News!

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

This is one I wish I could go to! "Designing Cities" conference in NYC. In their
words:

> Streets and sidewalks comprise close to 80 percent of a city’s public space.
These streets not only represent essential corridors of commerce and industry,
they serve as front yards, playgrounds, and theaters which showcase the
expressions of urban life. It lies in the hands of the public to define how they
use this wealth of space, but it is the responsibility of city leaders in
transportation to stir their minds to imagine all the possibilities.

NACTO is the "National Association of City Transportation Officials," and they
are doing the most progressive work in us street design.

Details: http://nacto.org/designingcities/

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

Hi All,

I didn't know half this stuff, and I follow climate change fairly closely:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-currier/arctic-climate-change_b_1911550.htm\
l


1. Greatly<http://nsidc.org/monthlyhighlights/2012/01/> increased arctic water
vapor, increasing arctic warming (water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas) but
also fundamentally
<http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2012/2011JD016969.shtml>altering arctic
hydrology and hence weather patterns.

2. Immediately and
<http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2009/2009GL040541.shtml>fundamentally altered
arctic atmospheric chemistry, causing increased arctic methane lifetime, among
other basic changes.

3. Certain increase in acceleration of arctic warming, from
<http://epic.awi.de/30245/1/fulltext.pdf>increased solar energy entering the
arctic ocean (this engenders 1.) and the release of latent heat into the
atmosphere during autumn's rapid re-freezing.

4. Consequent increased potential for large arctic storms like
<http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=78808>the Great Arctic
Cyclone this summer.

5. Consequent increased deep
<http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2011/2011JC007218.shtml>convection events
(mixing to bottom) of arctic ocean, particularly important over the shallow
water of the shelves, where
<http://www.sciencemag.org/content/327/5970/1246.abstract>lower layers can now
often be methane-saturated.

6. Consequently an
<http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/01/19/406762/arctic-methane-outgassing-on\
-the-east-siberian-shelf-primer-interview-dr-natalia-shakhova/>increase of
seabed methane emissions -- including from seabed permafrost, shallow methane
hydrate, and from thawing of either or both of these and increased gas migration
pathways allowing free gas from underneath the hydrates to outgas.

(For full PowerPoint PDF, scroll down to Topic/Title
<http://symposium2010.serdp-estcp.org/Technical-Sessions/1A>Methane Release from
Eastern Siberian Shelf.)

7. This increase in seabed permafrost thawing leads to a subsequent increased
risk that a random seismic event could suddenly release large amounts of methane
from the above combination of thawing sources, or from other thawed arctic
carbon stores (see PowerPoint above).

8. Increased risk of general degradation of shallow methane hydrates leading to
<http://geosci.uchicago.edu/%7Earcher/reprints/archer.2007.hydrate_rev.pdf>slope
failure and consequent methane release.

9.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/science/earth/warming-arctic-permafrost-fuels\
-climate-change-worries.html>Certain increase in chronic emissions of methane
(and CO2) from thawing
<http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v5/n6/full/ngeo1480.html?WT.ec_id=NGEO-20120\
6>land permafrost, peat, etc. with the general added warming mentioned above.

10. The increased arctic methane lifetime (2.)
<http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2011/2010GB003845.shtml>is indistinguishable
from an increase in its arctic abundance.

11. Increasing continued rate of ice (and snow) loss as the ice-free-period
subsequently lengthens, from all the above, particularly significant as the
insolation increases earlier in the season to around the solstice in June
(discussion here, scroll down to
<http://io9.com/5945658/what-the-hell-is-happening-to-the-arctic-sea-ice>An
Ice-free Solstice).

And here are some immediate potential global impacts to chew on:

12. Recent research suggests that ice (and snow cover) loss is at least one
causative factor in recent
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/science/earth/arctic-sea-ice-eyed-for-clues-t\
o-weather-extremes.html?_r=0>extreme weather -- drought, flood, fires, etc. --
and if so this could quickly be amplified.

13. Consequently, recent global
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42716&Cr=climate&Cr1=drought#.UGDd\
MUZ3x7Q>impacts on food security could increase proportionally.

14.
<http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/06/06/495713/extreme-weather-is-the-new-c\
limate-reality/>Economic losses from each of those (12., 13) would probably
increase proportionally, and potentially could amplify into global economic
recession or even depression.

15. If there's large-scale (multi gigaton-scale) methane release soon, this
would of course fundamentally alter the whole path of global warming (see my
Twilight posts
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-currier/methane-in-the-twilight-z_b_119823\
9.html>#1,<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-currier/methane-in-the-twilight-\
z_1_b_1207619.html>#2), with vast consequences.

16. If the ice-free period expands significantly, altered arctic tropospheric
oxidation could rapidly start to impact high latitude urban areas, making cities
with large populations rapidly become more difficult to live in (good discussion
<http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/briefs/voulgarakis_01/>here at GISS, where
Hansen is himself director).


If you have any time, read the original article and follow some of the links.
This is very scary stuff.

Best,

J.



-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities

On Oct 10, 2012, at 7:16 AM, J.H. Crawford wrote:

> I didn't know half this stuff, and I follow climate change fairly closely:
>
>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-currier/arctic-climate-change_b_1911550.htm\
l

		 One of the problems with "connecting the dots" is that the resulting picture
depends to a great deal on the predilections of the dot connector. One can
reveal an image of runaway Arctic ice melting, or one can discover a picture of
a giraffe eating an ice cream cone.

	 The referenced Huffingtington Post article is replete with "if"s, "could"s,
"potential"s, "suggests," "probably"s and other less concrete suppositions, what
one has come to expect from Nathan Currier and cohorts at the "Climate Reality
Project," Al Gore's failed attempt to recover lost political influence through a
continuation of his "Inconvenient Truth" scaremongering campaign.

	 The problem with possibilism is that anything is possible, including the exact
opposite of the possibilities suggested by such articles as this excessively
arm-waving diatribe.

	 The "solution" proposed to deal with Arctic ice reduction is far more
frightening than the reality of natural climate variation. "Geoengineering," the
ultimate expression of mechanistic hubris, is suggested as a means to "stop"
this nefarious Arctic ice reduction, and "save" the Arctic ice. Nothing could be
more dangerously absurd.

	 We do not understand all of the complex cosmic and geophysical mechanisms and
interactions that result in weather and climate on this planet. We do know that
climate has varied naturally for millions of years without human intervention.
We do know that the Arctic has been largely ice-free several times in the past
without human intervention. We do know that the earth has gone through four
global ice advances over the past 500,000 years, without human intervention.
Anyone with eyes to see can perceive the rise in global temperatures accompanied
by a rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration that accompanied each of these ice
ages and interglacials.

	 It is clear, from a geological perspective, that the earth is in the last
stages of the Holocene interglacial, following exactly the same pattern as in
the past interglacials. The world’s climate is about to peak and begin the long
slide down into the next glacial advance. The principle of uniformitarianism
tells us that geophysical processes in the past occurred by the same mechanisms
as the geophysical processes we observe in the present.

	 Therefore, there is no need to search for new, man-made mechanisms of climate
variation in the present when we know perfectly well that observed climate
variation has natural explanations.

	 The difference is, we can’t do anything about natural processes of climate
variation. Our only recourse is accommodation. Any attempts at “geoengineering,”
in ignorance of its consequences in a complex adaptive climate system, are like
infants playing with a loaded revolver. We can’t predict the outcome of observed
climate variation, let alone the results of our careless meddling with
overwhelming geophysical processes.

	 The climate scare-mongering practiced by the likes of Al Gore, Bill McKibben
and James Hansen are politically (and economically) motivated attempts to build
influence and control in the international field of “sustainable development”
promulgated by the United Nations United Nations Environment Programme. This is
not about science, it’s about politics, funding and control.

	 Michael A. Lewis

Michael A. Lewis
http://www.calcentral.com/~malewis/environmeddlers.html

Most of the links do not work for me because there is no space between > and
the following word. Is it possible to repost with a space after each > ?
Thanks.

Hi All,

I let Michael A. Lewis's post through because it has a viewpoint that I think
we're going to hear a lot of in the future.

The biggest problem is that it sets up a false dichotomy:

1) do nothing and let nature take its course

2) resort to geo-engineering with all sorts of as-yet "unknown unknowns."

There is, of course:

3) Set about making massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. This is easy,
economical, sustainable, and probably effective. No wonder this option is off
the table.

Best,

Joel


>> I didn't know half this stuff, and I follow climate change fairly closely:
>>
>>
>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-currier/arctic-climate-change_b_1
>911550.html
>
>  One of the problems with "connecting the dots" is that the resulting
>picture depends to a great deal on the predilections of the dot
>connector. One can reveal an image of runaway Arctic ice melting, or
>one can discover a picture of a giraffe eating an ice cream cone.
>
> The referenced Huffingtington Post article is replete with "if"s,
>"could"s, "potential"s, "suggests," "probably"s and other less
>concrete suppositions, what one has come to expect from Nathan Currier
>and cohorts at the "Climate Reality Project," Al Gore's failed attempt
>to recover lost political influence through a continuation of his
>"Inconvenient Truth" scaremongering campaign.
>
> The problem with possibilism is that anything is possible, including
>the exact opposite of the possibilities suggested by such articles as
>this excessively arm-waving diatribe.
>
> The "solution" proposed to deal with Arctic ice reduction is far more
>frightening than the reality of natural climate variation.
>"Geoengineering," the ultimate expression of mechanistic hubris, is
>suggested as a means to "stop" this nefarious Arctic ice reduction,
>and "save" the Arctic ice. Nothing could be more dangerously absurd.
>
> We do not understand all of the complex cosmic and geophysical
>mechanisms and interactions that result in weather and climate on this
>planet. We do know that climate has varied naturally for millions of
>years without human intervention. We do know that the Arctic has been
>largely ice-free several times in the past without human intervention.
>We do know that the earth has gone through four global ice advances
>over the past 500,000 years, without human intervention. Anyone with
>eyes to see can perceive the rise in global temperatures accompanied
>by a rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration that accompanied each of
>these ice ages and interglacials.
>
> It is clear, from a geological perspective, that the earth is in the
>last stages of the Holocene interglacial, following exactly the same
>pattern as in the past interglacials. The world’s climate is about to
>peak and begin the long slide down into the next glacial advance. The
>principle of uniformitarianism tells us that geophysical processes in
>the past occurred by the same mechanisms as the geophysical processes
>we observe in the present.
>
> Therefore, there is no need to search for new, man-made mechanisms of
>climate variation in the present when we know perfectly well that
>observed climate variation has natural explanations.
>
> The difference is, we can’t do anything about natural processes of
>climate variation. Our only recourse is accommodation. Any attempts at
>“geoengineering,” in ignorance of its consequences in a complex
>adaptive climate system, are like infants playing with a loaded
>revolver. We can’t predict the outcome of observed climate variation,
>let alone the results of our careless meddling with overwhelming
>geophysical processes.
>
> The climate scare-mongering practiced by the likes of Al Gore, Bill
>McKibben and James Hansen are politically (and economically) motivated
>attempts to build influence and control in the international field of
>“sustainable development” promulgated by the United Nations United
>Nations Environment Programme. This is not about science, it’s about
>politics, funding and control.
>
> Michael A. Lewis
>
>Michael A. Lewis
>http://www.calcentral.com/~malewis/environmeddlers.html
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities

If you go to the original Huffington Post article (linked at the top of the
email), the links are all imbedded in the text.

	 Michael


On Oct 10, 2012, at 9:34 AM, Tony Brewer wrote:

> Most of the links do not work for me because there is no space between > and
> the following word. Is it possible to repost with a space after each > ?
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

I see from this content that my message is not welcome on this forum. It's
unfortunate that so many are so closed-minded about the possibilities of
differing viewpoints.

	 I have studied climate science and climate variation since 1991 as an
archaeologist involved in research on human responses to climate variation in
the Arctic.

	 With regard to proposition 3):

	 "making massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions" is neither easy nor
economical.

	 Think about it. How would we reduce fossil fuel burning sufficiently to make a
significant difference in total atmospheric CO2 concentration, even if that
would reduce global average surface temperature, and assuming that global
average surface temperature is a meaningful measure of climate variation?

	 Based on IPCC numbers, we would have to stop all fossil fuel burning for 35
years in order to reduce global average surface temperature by 1 degree
Centigrade (if those numbers are accurate and meaningful). That means no
fossil-fueled transportation, no fossil-fueled electricity generation, no
fossil-fueled production of renewable energy technology, no fossil-fueled
heating or cooling.

	 Even if it were demonstrated definitively that ending fossil fuel burning today
would result in a one degree decrease in global average surface temperature, we
do not have the technological capability to make this massive change.
Furthermore, "probably effective" is insufficient justification for embarking on
such an enormous undertaking that would undercut the entire economic basis of
human civilization.

	 The jury is still out; the science is not settled; we are technologically
incapable of knowledgable geoengineering of the earth's climate or transforming
the world's energy infrastructure to renewable sources within any timeframe
applicable to the IPCC AGW scenario.

	 Meanwhile, no matter what humans do, natural climate variation continues apace,
on its inevitable course to the next ice age.


On Oct 10, 2012, at 9:42 AM, J.H. Crawford wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I let Michael A. Lewis's post through because it has a viewpoint that I think
we're going to hear a lot of in the future.
>
> The biggest problem is that it sets up a false dichotomy:
>
> 1) do nothing and let nature take its course
>
> 2) resort to geo-engineering with all sorts of as-yet "unknown unknowns."
>
> There is, of course:
>
> 3) Set about making massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. This is easy,
economical, sustainable, and probably effective. No wonder this option is off
the table.

>I see from this content that my message is not welcome on this forum. It's
unfortunate that so many are so closed-minded about the possibilities of
differing viewpoints.

snip

Well, the post wouldn't be here at all if that were true.




-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities

Regarding Joel's point 3, may I add that reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
rather than being economically disastrous (as Michael Lewis claims) could be
enormously beneficial. Investing less in road and car infrastructure would free
up vast resources for better public transit, as well as conditions for walking
and cycling. Many of the necessary changes would be worth making even without
climate change, as they would help reduce the international epidemic of obesity
and non-communicable disease, reduce the million deaths each year from road
crashes, and so on. Much of the world already does not have seemingly limitless
access to fossil fuel and thus has to conserve, like it or not. Americans,
consuming vastly more than their share of the world's resources, are living in a
bubble which someday will have to burst. Better to start reducing energy use now
and thus decrease the likelihood of future disaster. (As if to illustrate my
point, as I'm typing this,
  the electricity just went out. Get used to it, guys!)


________________________________
  From: J.H. Crawford <mailbox@...>
To: carfree_cities@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 10:42 PM
Subject: Re: [carfree_cities] Arctic ice disaster looms


Hi All,

I let Michael A. Lewis's post through because it has a viewpoint that I think
we're going to hear a lot of in the future.

The biggest problem is that it sets up a false dichotomy:

1) do nothing and let nature take its course

2) resort to geo-engineering with all sorts of as-yet "unknown unknowns."

There is, of course:

3) Set about making massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. This is easy,
economical, sustainable, and probably effective. No wonder this option is off
the table.

Best,

Joel

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>> I see from this content that my message is not welcome
>> on this forum.  It's unfortunate that so many are so
>> closed-minded about the possibilities of differing
>> viewpoints.

=v= Once again, global warming denialism following the tired
script of preemptive _ad_hominem_ attacks ("closed-minded")
whenever the substance of an argument is found wanting.

> Well, the post wouldn't be here at all if that were true.

=v= This variety of denialism hasn't come up with anything
of substance since every concern was addressed/debunked
in the 1990s.  Since then it's been the same old same old,
wearing funny hats and presented as new! different! daring!
with pepperings of insubsantial preemptive accusations like
the above.

=v= Actual substance doesn't matter, the point is an ongoing
(and very well-funded) whack-a-mole game to distract people
and keep actual discourse from getting anywhere.
     <_Jym_>

It was the original response that started with "I'll let this post through..."
as if doing someone a favor by posting something that should have been denied.

	 Again, this is a no-response response. There is nothing here that addresses the
content of my post, merely empty platitudes.

	 My post dealt with the realities of "making massive cuts in greenhouse gas
emissions" and the nature of natural climate variation, yet this response is
about "denialism" and a "well-funded" conspiracy theory. This has nothing
whatsoever to do with the original proposition of geoengineering as a response
to perceived AGW.

	 If I am part of a well-funded conspiracy, when do I get my check?

	 Michael


On Oct 11, 2012, at 12:46 PM, Jym Dyer wrote:

>>> I see from this content that my message is not welcome
>>> on this forum.  It's unfortunate that so many are so
>>> closed-minded about the possibilities of differing
>>> viewpoints.
>
> =v= Once again, global warming denialism following the tired
> script of preemptive _ad_hominem_ attacks ("closed-minded")
> whenever the substance of an argument is found wanting.
>
>> Well, the post wouldn't be here at all if that were true.
>
> =v= This variety of denialism hasn't come up with anything
> of substance since every concern was addressed/debunked
> in the 1990s.  Since then it's been the same old same old,
> wearing funny hats and presented as new! different! daring!
> with pepperings of insubsantial preemptive accusations like
> the above.
>
> =v= Actual substance doesn't matter, the point is an ongoing
> (and very well-funded) whack-a-mole game to distract people
> and keep actual discourse from getting anywhere.
>    <_Jym_>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Of course, what Michael is proposing, to continue massive released of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere indefinitely, is ALSO geoengineering. It's just not
very well engineered, as the engineers really don't know what effect it will
have, only that it's likely to warm the planet.

I'm now closing this thread as non-productive.

J.


-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities

Interesting NYT article on Robert Gordon's thesis that we can depend on no more
industrial revolutions:

http://t.co/lU1gOTKz

I post my comment on it below in case they don't choose to publish it:

> What underpins Gordon's argument is that IR #1 and IR #2 (and to a certain
extent IR #3) are all dependent on coal and oil, a non-repeatable windfall. Oil
is running out, and we cannot afford to burn coal at rates that would replace it
without forcing the planet into climate collapse. Endless growth was based on
endless energy. (Though even with free energy it is an absurd hypothesis; you
cannot fill every square inch of the planet with cars and television screens and
have a life, much less an economy.)
>
> Furthermore, the Global War on Labor will in the long run undercut the ability
of populations to buy the goods and services on which a consumer economy is
predicated. This will reduce total wealth, though the Right's program of income
redistribution will keep the 1% in comfort for quite a while as we devolve into
a neo-feudalist economy.
>
> In other words, to prevent the collapse Gordon foresees, we have to do three
things: 1) Return to the more progressive tax rates of the (Republican) 1950s,
which saw widespread prosperity; 2) Transform from a fossil-fuel based economy
to a solar-based one; and 3) Surrender the idea of endless growth and commit to
circular economies where all are producers and providers as well as consumers,
and people are paid fairly for their work instead of suffering virtual taxation
by the management and investment communities.

What do y'all think of Gordon's hypothesis?

R
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com

http://neven1.typepad.com/blog/2012/09/models-are-improving-but-can-they-catch-u\
p.html

scroll down to  the "you are here 2012" graphic.

J.


-----                           ###                            -----
J.H. Crawford
mailbox@...
http://www.carfree.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
Vimeo:   http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities

Good rundown on the connection between sprawl, high taxes, and civic
bankruptcies:

http://t.co/PrcbCLr9

Rick
--
Richard Risemberg
http://www.bicyclefixation.com
http://www.SustainableCityNews.com
http://www.rickrise.com