THE CITY FIX

Don’t Sell Subway Station Naming Rights

Noah Kazis — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:19:34 +0000

The news is a few days old, but I think it’s really fascinating that New York is considering selling partial naming rights to the Atlantic/Pacific station, the second busiest station in Brooklyn. The Times article on the sale gives some very useful context to the sale. The MTA has been trying to sell naming rights [...]

Highlights from TheCityFix DC

Noah Kazis — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:36:46 +0000

A few highlights from our TheCityFix DC site-if you’re not reading it regularly, you’re missing out: LEED Neighborhood Development Wants You to Build More More More: Why doesn’t LEED-ND certify already existing neighborhoods? It’s one more example of green consumerism, or, as I like to call it, eco-narcissism. Uncovering The Militarized City: D.C. is the strongest example [...]

Hikers and Bikers: Beware of ‘Gators!

Erica Schlaikjer — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Forwarded to us from EMBARQ Senior Fellow Lee Schipper:

NRDC Wants to Know: How Smart is Your City?

Erica Schlaikjer — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:15:49 +0000

Who doesn’t love a little friendly competition? The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) this month launched Smarter Cities, a multimedia Web site and interactive mapping tool that shows how U.S. cities stack up against each other across several indicators of “environmental stewardship and sustainable growth,” which are visually displayed on a CityGrid. As a new media resource, [...]

What Is Super Dense Crush Load?

Madhav Pai — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:00:52 +0000

That’s the official term to describe what happens during rush hour in Mumbai when 14 to 16 standing passengers pack into one square meter of floor space on the Mumbai Suburban Railway. During peak hours, 4,700 passengers pack into a 9-car train, against the recommended capacity of 1,700 people, or four passengers per square meter. These [...]

Carpooling Meets Facebook

Ethan Arpi — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:27:40 +0000

Here’s a video about an organization that leverages the power of online social networking in order to make carpooling easier, safer, and more convenient. If you need a ride somewhere or if you’re looking to cut down on the cost of a trip, check out Zimride, which recently partnered with Zipcar to offer its [...]

Delhi’s Walkways Hazardous to Your Health, Study Finds

Ethan Arpi — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:03:42 +0000

Motor vehicles often impede on pedestrian space in New Delhi, India. Photo by kandyjaxx. Thirty-three percent of commuters in Delhi, India walk to work in conditions that could be described as hazardous to your health. A report published by the Centre for Science and the Environment notes that nearly every pedestrian space in the city, [...]

Streetcars Made in the U.S.A.

Erica Schlaikjer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:50:11 +0000

American streetcar manufacturer Oregon Iron Works turned to European company Skoda to get ideas for its new 10 T3 Streetcar Prototype, which will be open to the public this summer. Photo by United Streetcar. Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood made his appearance at the formal unveiling of an American-made streetcar — the first [...]

The French Get Funny for Car-Sharing

Noah Kazis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:37:24 +0000

Originally posted by Noah Kazis at TheCityFix DC. World Streets shares this very funny French ad for a car-sharing company. The translation of their slogan is “It’s almost your car.” In another ad, the same man is eating a messy sandwich in the car and dripping on himself when someone knocks on the door. How off message can [...]

Mobility-Driven Companies Shake Up the Bikesharing Market

Clayton Lane — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:11:09 +0000

Originally posted at TheCityFix DC. Montreal’s Public Bike System (PBS), also known as “Bixi,” provides a competitive alternative to the bikes-for-advertising business model. Photo by amlibrarian. It seems that D.C.’s 10,000+ SmartBike members may have to wait some time for the District’s promised ten-fold expansion. ClearChannel Outdoor, the advertising giant that operates SmartBike, has little interest [...]