Activity

Marianne,

I have been interested in interactive landscapes for some time. I’ve touched on a few things on my blog, and I know Interaction Designers and Architects have been working together on several projects. I can’t think of specific historical projects off hand, but here area a few sites you can check out that cover digital spatial…[Read more]

That is an excellent article. I briefly looked at Houten, Netherlands (the city mentioned as having a successful pedestrian/auto separation) on Google Earth. The separate bike and auto routes are very interesting, but it seems like more of a novelty than an effective way to design a city.

I can see the advantages to separate transportation ways,…[Read more]

Couldn’t agree more. It is difficult to understand why something so reasonable is not used on regular base. Why all this big fuzz with either removing all the cars or securing safety with new traffic lanes for bikers and pedestrian and making everyday life so difficult and open space so unpelasetn to stay in? I gues it is how far the majority of…[Read more]

I am aware of the bike wars, but don’t think they are quite as bad in Boise. That’s more of a Portland thing. Please remember I never said there shouldn’t be bike lanes on 35 mph roads. Also remember that most people who criticize bikers are not even trying to help them get bike lanes.

This might be better with bullet points / lists of hot SoCal firms.

The LEED rating system, to my knowledge, doesn’t specifically address LCA in terms of product/material selection. However, there is a chance under the “innovation in design” credits that you could make a case to get extra point(s).

Here in the UK it isn’t just litigation folk are afraid of it is the Health and Safety Executive. Designers of playgrounds choose from ranges of play equipment, meeting points, courts, etc. used before or approved rather then liasing with a HSE person and starting from scratch. My heart is with you but, having seen a kid working on a new facility…[Read more]

A timely comment…
Just heard on PBS News of a court case in LA wherein a driver has been convicted of 5 felony counts associated with a car/biker road rage incident, including the charge of using his car as a deadly weapon. Google the story. Applies in spades to this thread in terms of the intensity of the conflict, as evidenced by the…[Read more]

Roland, there is an interesting story on NPR about this exact topic – two bikers experienced severe road rage from a vehicle, the guy pulled in front of them and stopped, they crashed into him, and it went to court – the vehicle guy suffered some penalties.. it is called “road rage case highlights cyclist vs. driver tension” on todays NPR news web…[Read more]

I think it depends on the street. If you’re talking about a residential street like the one I live on, then no, there is no need for a bike lane. It gets maybe one car an hour. If you’re talking about a highway that passes through the city, then yes you definitely need a bike lane. It all depends on the purpose of the street. Some streets are used…[Read more]

Im going

Kevin I forgot to ask you about the train from Cusco to Puno. Did you do this train trip? I’ve been told it’s a beautiful ride, but if it’s nothing special I might consider flying from Cusco right to Arequipa.

Jim thanks for the thoughtful response. I’m always afreaid of trying to pack in too much and never have time to just sit somewhere and take it all in. Like I mentioned to Kevin, we might bag lake T. and Puno. I’ll do some reading about Nazca Valley and check out the ezine. Thanks!

Kevin thanks for the comments. I have been having the same thoughts about Lake T and Puno just from reading about them. We might tain to Puno from Cusco and then go right to Arequipa and out to Colca Canyon. Anybody been to Colca Canyon. Thanks again Kevin.

maybe biker agression is a function of where you live..In California, they are an extremely agressive lot..
My question is, if given a choice between constructing a separated lane for bikers, and keeping them on the street with cars, do you think it is actually better to keep bikers on the street? That is what I cannot understand..For me, the…[Read more]

Thanks Rob. Those are both great sources.

I have asked several experienced designers, including members here who have all deferred to the issue of liability and the decreased risk in specifying manufactured equipment…pretty disappointing, but some still say there is hope, you just have to be a bit more creative both with what you design and how…[Read more]

I know bikers can be obnoxious, but I don’t think that’s the norm. Would you say those near accidents I had were my fault? I wasn’t even in the street!
I still think drivers and bikers can mix. I’m not talking about highways or huge city streets with speed limits above 20 mph. I think obstacles to drivers are a given in cities, even without…[Read more]