If you think car-free schools aren’t possible in North America. Think again.
P.L. Robertson elementary in Milton, ON (a suburb of Toronto) just opened this month with a car-free drop off policy. And they didn’t just create a policy in their school operation manual, they also designed a car-free process to back it up.
How in the H E double hockey sticks did they do that? Don’t they know it’s the middle of winter? They live in Canada….it’s cold outside? Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, In other Cities, kids, neighborhoods
Tagged Canada, car-free school, everyday fitness, Milton, Ontario, walk to school
I spent two fantastic days in Marin, CA this week visiting with old friends and hanging out with their families. Just north of San Francisco, Marin is the epitome of car culture with traffic jams, packed parking lots and streets clogged with luxury cars.
At least they are doing something right with the kids: they get to school on bikes. Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, In other Cities, kids, neighborhoods, School
Tagged bike-to-school, kids, Marin, Safe Routes to School
When the already short Seattle days end at 4:18 pm (the earliest of the year!), the window for an after-school tree-gathering-family-bike adventure is small.
We tried to grab the kids right after school, bundle them up in extra (or is it Xtra) layers and hustle our way over to the local summer berry stand/temporary pumpkin patch/Christmas tree oasis while the feeble sun still shone.
Though we did our best to make our selection in the waning light and hightail it home before everyone turned into a Popsicle, it wasn’t meant to be. Not to point fingers, but damn, those kids are picky. I think we liked it better when they didn’t get to vote. Instead, we shivered up a storm while we picked up, fondled, and rated what seemed like every Noble Fir on the block. I finally stepped in with fatherly veto power to break a three-way tie (no surprise to anyone who knows me: The winner was $11 cheaper) and get us on our way with a minimum of bloodshed.
Then it was on the bike for a should-be-quick trip home in the dark. And Did I mention it was cold?
Hell yes. We even resorted to ducking into a Starbucks for cocoa and cider so the kids’ little piggies could thaw out before the final leg home.
Said Fir now sits in a bucket, hydrating in preparation for its month on stage in the lights. And me? I’m already over the voting scandal and looking forward to the fourth anniversary adventure.
More photos here
-Tim
I just finished reading No Impact Man. On loan from the library, it languished on my nightstand for two weeks before I decided to read it. Even with the due date looming, I still picked it up and put it down several times before finally struggling to the finish.
Why did I have such a hard time with this book?
It started with the title, No Impact Man. No Impact? Really? Is that possible in our modern society? Is No and Never just too extreme?
I’m idealistic by nature. I’m all for changing my habits to benefit the planet and live more sustainably. I long for the simplicity of my youth and wish my kids could have an equally carefree childhood. Riding a banana seat bike down the middle of the street, helmet-less and barefoot and without a care in the world—that’s livin’. Tim and I are doing our best to raise our family with simple ideals in mind. But we know that all or nothing is not realistic these days, if for no other reason than it being too tough a message for most people to accept.
Wouldn’t we being doing more good if we got people to embrace a sustainable moderation message?
I know book titles (and blog titles for that matter) must be catchy to entice people to buy/read them. Shock sells. And people are probably buying the book because they are intrigued by No Impact. “Somewhat Less of an Impact” isn’t as exciting. Why else would Colin’s ass cleaning routine (some sort of secret routine devoid of toilet paper) be the question most interviewers asked him over the course of his project? Maybe people want to read about extremes.
Fine, but I’m pretty sure most people don’t want to live that way. Continue reading
Head’s up: Anne and I were out for ride with a neighbor on Wednesday and noticed an upcoming Burke-Gilman trail reroute.
Apparently a small portion the trail needs to be closed December 14 – January 3 to allow early prep work for the future University Link light rail station.
An easy detour is available on Mason Rd, the lightly-traveled access road which runs parallel and just above the trail grade.
More from Sound Transit:
Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, Burke-Gilman Trail, mass transit, neighborhoods, seattle, traffic
Tagged burke-gilman trail bikes, light-rail, link, signage, signs, sound transit, UW
photo courtesy of Worldchanging
Worldchanging is hosting two events at Town Hall this Wednesday, November 11th and Thursday, November 12 featuring Seattle’s own –Alex Steffen, executive director and co-founder of Worldchanging, publisher of best selling tome on sustainability and internationally renowned speaker.
What’s not to like? Food and drinks provided by Skillet, promises of live music, introduction by mayor-elect, Mike-likes-bikes, McGinn and a free glass of beer from Fremont Brewing Co. We’ll be there on Thursday – come on down and join us!
Click the event link to get the scoop and buy tickets Continue reading
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, Human Powered Politics, seattle
Tagged Alex Steffen, events, mayor, Mike McGinn, seattle, Town Hall, Val Kleitz, Worldchanging
October is International Walk to School Month. At our local elementary, we don’t discriminate. Walk, bike, hike, skip or even take the bus. Just don’t drive to school in October!
Our elementary school received a Seattle Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School grant last year. We’re using some of the funds from the grant to host a Walktober celebration this month. Kids keep track of their “active” trips to school and earn prizes if they make a minimum number of trips by foot, bike or scooter (any way other than a personal automobile).
Basically we’re bribing them.
We should really give prizes to the parents. What do you think would work? massages? coffee? gift certificates to the pub?
Cause it’s really up to the parents to make it happen.
– Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, kids, neighborhoods, School
Tagged bike, ride, Safe Routes to School, School, walk
Get ready to leave your car at home on Tuesday, September 22 in honor of World Carfree Day:
World Carfree Day is an annual celebration of cities and public life, free from the noise, stress and pollution of cars. Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets and neighbourhoods to celebrate World Carfree Day and to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated societies.
Come on, it’s just one day, give it a try. Take your bike or the bus or your feet instead of your car.
I took a peek at the events page and it looks as if (for most of the country) World Carfree Day doesn’t have many organized events. If you live in Santa Cruz or San Francisco, Broomfield, Boulder, Louisville, Ashland, Galveston or Roanoke, by all means get out and celebrate.
Otherwise, just leave your car at home on Tuesday and go about your daily business.
– Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bigger than here, bikes, Human Powered Politics
Tagged 2009, carfree, World Carfree Day
In addition to the weather, Tim and I love to talk about bike parking, bike racks and anything related to parking and racks. If you ride a bike, you need to have a secure parking spot for it upon arrival at your destination.
SDOT wants to know where on-street bike parking is needed around the city. So go ahead and send them your suggestions! Email requests to bikeracks@seattle.gov.
I already commented, telling SDOT to expect some from me. But unless you only want them in front of cafes, bars and restaurants (when I ride a bike, I get hungry, thirsty and I need a place to park my bike!) you better submit your spots, too.
– Anne
Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, Rack that Bike, seattle
Tagged bike parking, bike racks, on-street bike parking, seattle
Faster, the Night is Catching Us
It feels like Summer is fading around here.
Quickly.
Maybe it’s the way it changed from tank-top weather to sweater weather in about two hours this afternoon. Or maybe it’s the way I’ve decided that lights are now a prudent addition to my evening commutes.
Whatever the reason, the Car Free Days family is feeling some serious pressure to do something, anything, fun in the last couple weeks of summer.
Luckily for us, the Seattle bike scene has stepped up to provide some pretty family friendly, bike on music action this weekend. Continue reading
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