Climate change C02 Clean Air « Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance (CABA)

In and around Charlotte

Bike lanes coming to Uptown at S.Tryon overpass – Yes, for sure. The connector over I-277 should have lanes on both sides of the street and a widened sidewalk by December 31, of 2012 !

New Chairperson for BAC committee – Jane Cacchione, CABA Advisory Board member and a key player on the local bike scene has replaced CABA member Dick Winters. The Bicycle Advisory Committee advises the Mayor, City Council and County Council on bicycle policy and related isssues. Chris Gladora, also a CABA member, is the latest appointee. Welcome aboard Chris.

CABA to meet with NCDOT in Raleigh - In case you didn’t know, Paul Morris is the recently appointed Deputy Director of NCDOT (that’s about as good as it gets) and he oversees the entire bicycle and pedestrian planning staff. We hope to team up with other NC bike advocates to talk about the crisis in bike funding in the U.S. Congress and the NC “Complete the Streets” guidelines now under final review.

Solar panels on roof of IKEA – Thanks to Mary Hopper, University City Partners, who sent us this item. Yes, IKEA already has a huge set of bike racks, but they are now demonstrating further their commitment to the challenge of a new green economy. Panels should be in place later this year. Congratulations IKEA !

WANTED: Additional members to CABA Board of Directors – This is a real opportunity to contribute to the cause of safe and fun cycling for our community. We are especially interested in diversifying the board – women, minorities, young adults. Energy and enthusiasm a must ! Public relations skills, volunteer coordination, fundraising talent, or social events coordination are key skill needs. Contact us and tell us who you are: charlottebikes@gmail.org.

District 5 Councilman John Autry - John has been appointed chairperson of the Environmental Committee and member of the Transportation and Planning committee by Mayor Foxx. Both committees can have a huge impact on bicycling and walking in the Queen City. John is the first CABA member to be elected to public office in the Charlotte area.

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Posted by martinzimmerman8

Higher than worst case scenarios

Dateline: November 4 – Washington Post and other sources

Zero emission vehicle. copyright Andy Singer cartoons

Year 2010 results are published. We first saw this on page 6A of the Charlotte Observer. Read this excerpt > ” We’d be facing much higher land temperatures — as much as a 5.5°C (10°F) rise in parts of the United States — plus a six-foot sea-level rise by 2100, along with large species loss, many more extreme weather events, and a big hit to the world’s food supply. Arctic temperatures could rise as much as 11°C (20°F), which would, among other things, speed up the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet…”

It’s increasingly difficult to find a ray of hope when confronted with data as alarming as these findings. CLICK: Dire warnings to read full Washington Post article.

Leave a Comment » | Advocacy - Global, Climate change C02 Clean Air | Permalink
Posted by martinzimmerman8

ACTION ALERT ! Congressional bike-ped funding slash !

September 14, 2011

No time to lose, folks

Contact our NC Senators right now.

CLICK: I bike I vote today and fill in your zip code !

This year, around $700 million of Federal transportation funds, which in reality is less than 2 percent of total transportation dollars, will be spent on bicycling and walking. Given the unsettling situation inside the Beltway, that figure might be a big fat zero within a matter of days, not weeks.

Some Members of Congress want to force us backwards to a 1950s highway-only mindset: as if oil embargoes, suburban sprawl, congestion, smog, the obesity epidemic, strained family budgets and climate change never happened. We expect Senator Coburn (R-OK) will ask Congress to eliminate the federal Transportation Enhancements program. Without this record of past funds, there is no way the bicycling movement would be where it is today.

We’re talking a track record of 20 years for bike lanes, mountain biking and other off-road trails, bike racks on buses, bike education, etc. etc. This isn’t safe or smart; it’s not good for the economy or the environment; this is bad health policy and bad transportation policy.

Bicycling projects create more jobs per dollar than highway-only projects. Cutting enhancements won’t impact the deficit. Act now. The future of the bicycle and pedestrian movement is just a few clicks away.

- Martin Zimmerman / CABA Exec. Director and CABA Board of Directors

Leave a Comment » | Advocacy - National, Climate change C02 Clean Air | Permalink
Posted by martinzimmerman8

NEWS FLASH ! FED’S DELAY AGAIN ON OZONE STANDARDS

August 14, 2011

A real bummer

Dateline: August 12, Press Release from Sierra Club – “Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed a federal appeals court motion stating that the agency plans to finalize its update of the smog or ozone pollution standard “shortly.” …The Sierra Club is troubled by the EPA’s motion today to delay a much needed and long overdue update of smog standards. Smog – or ozone pollution – is an acidic air pollutant that when inhaled is like getting a ‘sunburn on your lungs…..Once updated, protections against smog will save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of asthma attacks. The longer the delay, the greater the risk for the millions of Americans who suffer from respiratory illnesses – we urge the Obama Administration to move swiftly on this critical protection to save lives and clean our air.” Thanks much to Bill Gupton of the local Sierra Club chapter for bringing this to CABA’s attention.

CLICK: www.sierraclub.org/asthma for details.

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Posted by martinzimmerman8

APRIL EVENTS CALENDAR

April 8, 2011

Some highlights

Charlotte Clean and Green festival - a day of education, fun and great food. “Play Green, Live Green and Save Green“! WHEN: Sat. April 16 – 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. WHERE: car-free Elizabeth Avenue at Central Piedmont Community College. By far the largest environmental happening in the region. Tons of free workshops and presentations, green vendors and exhibits, hybrid cars, etc! Visit the CABA tent !

This will definitely be a Zero Waste festival. Recyclable plates, cups and cutlery will be available, carbon credits will be purchased from NC GreenPower to offset any electricity use and volunteers will help reuse, recycle or compost any waste. For more info, CLICK: Go Green !

2 Comments | Advocacy - Local, Climate change C02 Clean Air, Events - Local | Permalink
Posted by martinzimmerman8

MORE GLOBAL BLOGS + COOL VIDEOS

March 7, 2011

Circling the blue marble >

London goes carbon – Watch London Mayor Boris Johnson voice halleluyas and tossle his bleach blond coif in this promo video. Including plans for bicycle “freeways” and center city “no car zones”. CLICK: BLon.

Bike sharing – Golden B.C. to Suzhou China – Tons of videos.The “bike sharing” phenomenon is encircling the globe. CLICK: BShare

San Francisco – See great poster showing tongue-in-cheek bike icons for trendy and not-so-trendy districts of the enchanted city on the bay. Castro, Fisherman’s Wharf, Financial District, etc. From the Timbuk2 messenger bag and apparel folks. CLICK: SFran

Munich, Germany – an catchy film promo of Munich’s campaign to increase the levels of bicycle traffic in the city using positive marketing techniques. To make cycling in the city “normal” and “cool”. Using civic pride, photo competitions and the triangular concept of Attention, Identification and Participation. CLICK: MGerm.

Leave a Comment » | Advocacy - Global, Climate change C02 Clean Air, Cool Blogs and Websites | Permalink
Posted by martinzimmerman8