Year: 2009

When Congress tripled the size of the "cash for clunkers" program in July, both Congress and the White House billed the $3 billion program as a boon for struggling domestic automakers. But when those Detroit car companies released sales figures today, the numbers didn't quite match up to the hype.

Pairing environmentalism with a do-it-yourself ethic, a couple of guys who live the bike culture opened Marin County's first co-op bike repair shop, Bicycle Works, and already have people clamoring to sign up.

(Graphic: HTNB) The puzzle of how to pay for new federal investments in transportation is the single greatest stumbling block facing members of Congress — should a gas tax increase be combined with a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax? How about a national infrastructure bank that leverages private capital? A poll released today by the … Continued

A very interesting post today on the Streetsblog Network from getDowntown, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The getDowntown program, which aims to get more people using alternative modes of transportation through a variety of incentives and support systems, is a partnership between the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, the City of Ann Arbor and the Downtown Development Authority. It's been around since 1999.

Woman Who Allegedly Attacked an SF Parking Officer Facing Prison Time (SF Gate)  Hit-and-Run Driver Sought in Crash That Injured Santa Rosa Bicyclist (Press Democrat) Unsettling Video: Red-Light Running Pol Rams Cyclist (Cyclelicious via Streetsblog.net) In Toronto, Former Attorney General Questioned in Crash That Killed Bicyclist (Toronto Star) Portland Gets Its First Cycle Track Two … Continued

It may be the most dramatic Pavement to Parks implementation yet: at the intersection of San Jose Avenue and Guerrero Street, enormous logs have arrived that will form the backbones of planter beds. The Planning Department's Andres Power provides an update:

"FoundSF invites history buffs, community leaders, and San Franciscans of all kinds to share their unique stories, images, and videos from past and present. With over 1,800 articles of primary sources, essays, and images, the new FoundSF, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society, is poised to become the Living Archive of the city, an interactive digital space in which history is actively shaped by the many voices and perspectives. With Chris Carlsson."

"San Francisco is one of only two cities to be awarded a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation to implement the New Day for Learning report, which calls for a dramatic transformation of America’s education system. The goals include a seamless learning day and year, an emphasis on experiential learning and the use of the city as the classroom. The local Initiative is a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office, San Francisco Unified School District and the San Francisco School Alliance. With Margaret Brodkin of New Day for Learning and Milton Chen of the George Lucas Educational Foundation."

"This new how-to guide and source book reveals opportunities for housing design that are both respectful of current residents and sustainable for generations to come. Its focus is on using design to improve affordable housing and neighborhoods across the U.S. Featuring co-author William Morrish, recently-appointed dean for Parson's School of Constructed Environments."