Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector

Anybody out there know anybody out there who would be interested in pursuing these monies for better alternatives to petroleum transportation structures. Just a shout out in the dark about a funding opportunity.

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45498

Instruction posted for how to use the new-fangled hanging bike racks at SUNY-ESF. Any one out there know what the name of this kind of rack is or who manufactures it?











The hanging bikes in action at ESF, and underneath the eaves of the building, protected from the elements.














Though of course, it is Winter, and the majority of racks on campus are now nude, until the warm springy weather joins us again. How do you get students to bike more in the winter? Have a fender program on campus?

BikeCNY

"BikeCNY!" is a project of the Syracuse-Onondaga Cycling Coalition, a member-directed organization advocating for bike lanes, bike routes, and shared roadways throughout the Syracuse Metropolitan Area."

I must confess I do not know much about the workings of BikeCNY. I know a guy named Pete who is involved though and maybe it would be worthwhile paying more attention to their efforts and using my blog here as another source for distributing news from these guys. News hasn't been updated unfortunately since October 24, 2008. And the Google Groups email list for BikeCNY hasn't been active since Nov 20, 2008 wither. But there is an upcoming meeting scheduled, so they must still be relatively active - "Our next meeting will be on Monday March 23, at 7:30pm. It will be at 412 Kensington Rd. in Syracuse"

There is a lot of valuable info on the site though, so I do recommend checking it out. And they have a a cool Google Map about the proposed bicycle grid in Syracuse too.

A Thursday and Friday of Non-Walking

So it's a bummer when work demands my use of a car. I guess it doesn't demand it, but I have not taken the time to figure out the most efficient way otherwise to transport display materials over distances without my car. Thursday night was the Northside Business Reception at St. Joe's hospitals beautiful waterfall conference room. (Dang, I didn't get a pic of that, but I did of my Green Energy Aware program display).

And that display is what I'm talking about here. I need to carry the big display board, two boxes of materials for distribution, and the laptop set-up. I guess a bike trailer could work, but I don't have one as of now, and it would have to be pretty weatherproof against the rain and snow.

Then Friday, I set up at the SBDC Survive and Thrive session at Onondaga Community College. I guess I could take the bus and lug all this stuff onto the bus with me, but I haven't rode the public buses here in Syracuse before, so I would need to familiarize myself with the routes/system and get myself acclimated to the experience.

So in both cases I used my car. At least I get paid mileage for going to OCC!

Transportation Alternatives

This site is the grail for the dealio I'm talking about here on my blog, they cover it all relating to biking, walking, and public transport from the advocacy and promotions point of view.

Although TA focuses on New York City, there is a ton of great info for learning how to advocate in your own city. The Resources page provides useful links, and the Campaigns page provides lots of inspiration for action here in Syracuse. Check it out.

Freedom to Discover

Although I love riding my bicycle, and I could easily get to work in 5 minutes with it (though I like the fact that 20 minutes walk gives me a better workout than 5 minutes of riding), it really is true that you see and discover more if you slow down, and in my case walk.

Take for instance this little patch of green space along N. Salina St. You could drive or bike past it every day, and unless you stopped, you wouldn't know it. But even if you are just walking by, you have enough time to absorb its essence and its purpose, and even scan the sign even if you don't stop to read the whole thing (which is what I did today).




Turns out that this route is part of "The Freedom Trail", yep that's what I discovered today. And it's all about Syracuse as the "Central Depot" of the Underground Railroad. More about the Freedom Trail can be found here: http://www.pacny.net/freedom_trail/

I think I'll stop and read the whole sign next time through :)

Tools for Walking to Work

This is my newest umbrella. I bought it at the Salvation Army store in Auburn. It is gold and makes me feel like Bea Arthur when I carry it. It cost me $2.99 and is Totes brand. I took it into the office today and hung it on a coat rack. It is now my emergency umbrella for when I don't take my best umbrella into the office in the morning.

Show me your umbrella, I just showed you one of mine :)

Buried Treasure

Amidst the drift of ice and snow;
lies buried treasure deep below.

But this is a treasure you won't come searching for soon. Unfortunately, at this time of the year, when the ice and snow melts away, the treasure often finds you, and the bottom of your shoe.

I'm talking about dog shit (or poo for the sensitive eyes and ears out there). I don't want to single any park out, but I just happened to be walking past James McGroarty Park on the Northside the other day just after the big thaw, and lo and behold, treasure abounded.

View of the treasure on the sidewalk surrounding James McGroarty Park.











A bonus image of treasure up close, just for you my reader :)











Poo bag post, with missing poo bag holder.











I don't think I need to mention that dog poo can contain pathogens such as roundworm, giardia, and E. coli; can burn grass with high levels of nitrogen; and can pollute lakes and streams from runoff (some estimate contributing up to 30% of water pollution in an urban environment).

Let's get real people, clean up after yourself. Reasons to scoop, from thewagway.com:

1. To Protect local water quality

2. To Protect our children from disease

3. To Monitor your dog’s health

4. To Respect our community and the visitor experience

Umbrella for Hire?

I have to admit I did not give 1 iota of thought today to the fact that it might rain. I mean, it has literally been below freezing temperature-wise for the past 6-8 weeks, zilch chance of the wet stuff. So when I would head out to walk to work during this period, all I had to make sure of is that I was warm enough.

So I find myself stuck at the office, staring out the window at a constant drip, with an appointment about 15 minutes walk away coming up, and no umbrella. Where oh where did my little 'brella go, oh where oh where can it be? I know exactly where it is, at home right inside the front door of my apartment.

I recently went thrifting for bowls to eat lunch out of here at the office. We had exactly one bowl before that, I guess I'm the only one who likes bowls here. So I picked up a set and brought them in. Now I am never bowl-less at lunch time. Guess I might need to do the same with some umbrellas :>)

On the Road Again.....

Back in the day, I had a blog.
http://bicyclecommutingnow.blogspot.com/. It was about bicycle commuting. My highs and lows. My challenges and triumphs. My stories. I was biking about 4 miles to work and then 4 miles home. I moved to a new city. I lived too close to work and school, and I walked a lot more than I biked. The blog floundered. It is time for a resurrection, and an expansion of consciousness. Welcome to a new and improved blog, about alternatives in Syracuse, NY.