Spend the 200K on something that actually improves the car free lifestyle, instead of “Rah Rah look at us” for only a handful of people. Seriously 5000 people signed the pledge, a fraction showed up...the money should go to something that makes a difference. How many bike lanes can be painted with 200k?

by RJ on Sep 23, 2008 11:14 am • link • report

200k? That's too much money for a Segway demonstration and a yoga class.

RJ to answer your question, probably not as many as you would think.

by Nick on Sep 23, 2008 12:50 pm • link • report

I signed the pledge and was indeed car-free yesterday, as I am most days. But I did not go to any activities sponsored by the promotion, so i don't think you can use that as a measure of how many participated.

by Bianchi on Sep 23, 2008 1:51 pm • link • report

A) Asking working professionals to go to Gallery Place in the middle of the work day for yoga doesn't make much sense. Forget the centralized 'event'. I think it would be better to set up 'stations' along certain arteries known to have a lot of cyclists to distribute high-fives or free water bottles or stickers or something. Same goes for Metro Stations and other intermodal centers.

B) Doing it on a Monday is not that great. I was all geared up for it on Friday... even had my wife agree that she'd walk to the Metro instead of drive. But, by the end of the weekend, it had totally slipped my mind. I lived up to the Car Free pledge because I am normally car-free.

C)

by Phil Lepanto on Sep 23, 2008 3:02 pm • link • report

RJ: From what I've seen online (Google "cost of bike lanes"), for $200k you can get about 40 miles of striping. That doesn't include the opportunity cost of removing a driving lane or parking lane, or reducing the widths of other lanes if possible.

by Michael P on Sep 23, 2008 3:16 pm • link • report

yeah, I like Phil's idea. How about handing me a banana as I ride by next year? How many bananas can you get for 200k?

by Bianchi on Sep 23, 2008 3:52 pm • link • report

Blocking off any major street will not solve anything; lets say they block off a lane of k, penn or anyother street, all you will do is force traffic to other streets or force it on metro which will make metro more crowded and that make infact make some go back to using there car see.

No matter how you do it, it will solve nothing and just add to congestion on either streets, sidewalks or public transportation there; its a lose lose situation

by kk on Sep 23, 2008 4:25 pm • link • report

KK-

But its a great way of feeling good by pushing the traffic away!

by Douglas Willinger on Sep 23, 2008 4:31 pm • link • report

kk & Douglas, please read this landmark study of changes in traffic (reduction) and the resulting reduction in air pollution and visits to the ER for pediatric asthma. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/285/7/897

Asserting that reducing traffic has no beneficial results is either naive or dishonest.

by Bianchi on Sep 23, 2008 4:52 pm • link • report

There's also this story about the popularity among Beijing residents of the traffic restrictions during the olympics. http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/20888 and http://thecityfix.com/category/cars/

by Bianchi on Sep 23, 2008 5:00 pm • link • report

Bianchi-

What about the surrounding areas? Was there a traffic increase there or ...?

And what about lost economic activity?

I would increase all via electrification of buses and autos.

by Douglas Willinger on Sep 23, 2008 5:55 pm • link • report

DW-

1)Did you read the study? 200 extra busses were in operation during the study period, which was 17 days. The acute asthma records of five counties were observed. The traffic that was reduced/changed was that destined for downtown. If you're interested in how traffic patterns outside the downtown destination area and outside the five counties were impacted, then why don't you look for a study on it? Or do one? I'm sure there're data. Five counties seems like a big area.

2)A study on how the economics of Atlanta were impacted by the 1996 Olympics is a great idea. Why don't you do one? Or look for one to share? I'm sure there're a lot of data. I expect overall the economy of Atlanta was positively impacted by the Olympics.

3)I'm baffled by your last statement. What does it mean?

With your questions are you trying to negate these results showing that reduced car traffic resulted in reduced air pollution and simultaneously there was a reduction in ER visits for asthma during the study period of 17 days? Do you think car traffic doesn't cause air pollution? Do you think air pollution isn't associated with negative health impacts? I don't understand your questions. If you are saying this study has limitations, yes I agree. Every study performed by humans has limitations.

by Bianchi on Sep 23, 2008 6:27 pm • link • report

NO. Petro combustion exhaust is not good for people's lungs.

But I do wonder about the ripple effects, as I do the failure to look more towards electrification- especially of automobiles which are far more time efficient for many people then mass transit.

by Douglas Willinger on Sep 23, 2008 6:41 pm • link • report

I'm glad we agree. Why do you think electric cars are being ignored? Isn't Ford coming out with a plug in next year? The Volt? Aren't the Honda and Toyoto hybrids on back order? It doesn't seem like electric cars are being ignored to me. Although I do wish there was a small station wagon model available. (That Ford SUV just won't do).

by Bianchi on Sep 23, 2008 6:53 pm • link • report

Electrification has been relatively ignored in this mercantilist political world of favoring certain commodities over others- e.g. petro, corn and tobacco...

http://cos-mobile.blogspot.com/2008/05/fisker-karma-serial-hybrid.html

http://freedomofmedicineanddiet.blogspot.com/search/label/criminal%20mercantilism

by Douglas Willinger on Sep 23, 2008 7:04 pm • link • report

DW-I haven't checked the links you sent yet but I'm glad to find something else we agree upon- the favored commodities over others. I have my own reasons to be concerned about those three that may or may not coindcide with your concerns. Thanks for the links.

by Bianchi on Sep 23, 2008 8:18 pm • link • report

How about not having a bus strike (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2008/09/reduced_service_on_fairfax_con.html) during the the Car-free day?? I, for one, would have participated if the bus that i would take from Metro to my work was not canceled due to the Fairfax Connector strike.

by Kevin on Sep 23, 2008 10:31 pm • link • report