Bicycle Highways in Copenhagen
Did you know that over half of Copenhagen’s residents commute by bike daily? To support and encourage this, Copenhagen has announced plans to spend $47 million on a project to build bicycle superhighways between central Copenhagen and its suburbs. Imagine extra-wide, extra-smooth, bike paths equipped with service stations so you can have some water or re-inflate a flat tire. Best of all is the Green Wave feature, which allows cyclists to hit only green lights if they maintain a certain speed (about 20 km/hr). Anyone who bikes knows it’s kind of a pain to have to stop and start all the time, hence the trackstand heroics you see bikers performing at red lights around town (ok, ok, some of that is just showing off). These bike highways will surely make the typical Copenhagen commute even more comfortable and efficient, even luxurious.
The more bicycle infrastructure is built, the more commuters will prefer to bike rather than drive. Anyone who rides the Springwater Corridor, Portland’s bike ‘highway’ (actually a multi-use path) between the central Eastside and Gresham, knows it hardly measures up to Copenhagen’s criteria for what constitutes a bike superhighway (more on that at TreeHugger). I love the Springwater but it’s a bumpy ride with some downright sketchy intersections. I can’t really see a Gresham commuter finding it a comfortable, efficient way to get to work.
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Solarize Portland
Solarize Portland is a new take on San Francisco’s 1 Block off the Grid project that helps entire neighborhoods band together to buy solar parts, planning, and installing solar panels in bulk. The residents of Mt. Tabor are going to have the opportunity to attend several planning meetings where the Energy Trust of Oregon will give homeowners the opportunity to have their home estimated for a solar panel installation. The obligation free estimate and site survey and planning information will give the opportunity to see if a solar installation is possible for their budget. Though the homeowner has to cover the entire installation out of their own pocket, up to 80% of the money will be refunded using solar rebates from the local and federal government funds. See more at Neighborhood Notes.
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Seal products banned in the European Union
In the first large move ever made to protect seals from the barbaric yearly hunt that has been threatening their populations and their very existence for hundreds of years, the European Union has completely banned the purchase, sale, or transport of any seal products in any of its 27 countries. Canada and the supporters of the seal hunt are already preparing their plans to contest the decision. The 550-49 vote with such a huge majority has little chance of being appealed. The law goes into effect before the seal hunt begins for next year, so maybe Canada will call the whole thing off if they are not able to sell the products (which have little to no market outside of Europe). Source: European Union Bans Trading of all Seal Products.