The Car is no match for propelling ones-self。

(車不如自行 • chē bùrú zìxíng）
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FYI: 2012 is the year of the black-water dragon. In general, that means a year of strength and good fortune. With the inclusion of water, it is a calmer, more empathetic dragon open to collaboration, cool deliberation, and the making of intelligent decisions. Yet, it remains a dragon and needs to be approached with caution.

Good luck.

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via USEPAgov

Now, this is placemaking

Normal, IL’s Uptown Normal Roundabout project won the EPA’s Smart Growth Achievement Award for turning a solution to a traffic dilemma into something much, much, much more value added.

The Uptown Normal Roundabout project solved a complicated intersection, created a public plaza that has fostered economic vitality & increased social capital. In addition, the integrated stormwater system (Hoerrschaudt) naturally filters the runoff from the surrounding streetscapes and reuses it in the form of a water play feature and eventually to irrigate the adjacent landscaping.

This is a Complete Street project.  Complete + Green Street = Designed for People

Can you imagine this place with just concrete? Or, even just grass here with no people? It’s just, I mean, it’s boring.”

~ Mark Peterson City Manager of Normal, IL

Dear Decision Makers, Please take note. 

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NOTE: Roundabouts in Traverse City? Still looking for leadership at the commission and staff level. They seem more interested in $3-million tunnels. The MyWHaT Modern Roundabout page continues to get hits, so someone is interested. 

via the Tumblr universe

Short days touched me. Started thinking of spring time.

Fly free.

Poetry welcome.

Each dot = A life ended on U.S. roads

In total, 369,629 people died in crashes between 2001 and 2009.

49,827 of those deaths were people on foot, bicycle or some other non-motorized vehicle.

Dangerous by Design

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Get to zero

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* Graphic: Screen grab of the The Guardian’s interactive US road accident casualties: every one mapped across America using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Jason Whittaker navigates the wooded section of Sunday

Last week I received an email that ended with the message:”bring the kids. Bring the cowbells. Rain or shine! See you there.” It was from one of the riders for Einstein Cycles who yesterday hosted a cyclocross race at the Civic Center in Traverse City.

Cyclocross racing is a specific type of racing that mixes trail riding with pavement and grass, hills with flats, and typically includes obstacles that require riders to quickly dismount to clear. Since it takes place on a short course, it makes it a perfect spectator sport. It also makes it a perfect fit for the County run Civic Center–cowbells and all.

Unfortunately, I missed the early races, including the women and the youngster race-hopefully, there is a next year. Photographer Erik Olsen has also posted some images from the day.

Einstein Cycles shop owner Jason Lowetz stays on the wheel of teammate Ty Schmidt

Oak Park resident Ty Schmidt represented well for the

Whittaker clearing an obstacle.

Photos by Gary L. Howe

Welcome winter. I’ll try to embrace you.

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Did anyone go to last night’s introduction to winter biking?

Any inspiring tips you’d like to share? 

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Click for larger view

Does walking in the winter count double?

]]> http://mywheelsareturning.com/2011/11/11/is-walking-more-effective-than-a-flu-shot/feed/ 1 GLHowe Health http://mywheelsareturning.com/2011/11/04/graphic-friday-biking-numbers-in-a-pretty-graphic/ http://mywheelsareturning.com/2011/11/04/graphic-friday-biking-numbers-in-a-pretty-graphic/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:20:03 +0000 GLHowe http://mywheelsareturning.com/?p=16570 ]]> Graphic Friday

Click for larger view

Data by  Bikes Belong, infographic by Nau and hosted by Osprey Packs’ Ditch Your Car series.

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What’s the most popular outdoor activity?

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“These were all over town, both in Arlington and in DC.”

Thanks for thinking of us in your travels, Bill Palladino. Ding! Ding!

EDITOR’S INVITE: If anyone is about out and about in the world and sees something of intention in a public space, from their hotel window or otherwise, I encourage you to frame a shot and send it in. It’s appreciated. 

6th Street Halloween night 2011. (Click for larger view)

Does anyone know the history of Traverse City’s 6th Street as the region’s mecca for Halloween trick ‘o treating? Was there some lead agent back in the 50′s who called it to order? I grew-up in Lake Ann and certainly recall at least one Halloween night in the 70′s where we made the 18 mile drive for some sugary handouts.

Is it simply that more density = more candy in the least amount time? As the region has grown in population, it’s done so mainly through sprawl, as such TC’s neighborhoods would predictably see an uptick on Halloween; it is a walking holiday after all. Still, you don’t see the same number of goblins and zombies crashing Traverse Heights and other dense city ‘hoods. I suspect, in part, because of a lack of sidewalks and other features that make walking enjoyable.

Halloween is an annual walkability test–how does your neighborhood shape up? 

6th Street Halloween night 2011. (Click for larger view)

Related Articles

• The night the ‘burbs come to town (reprise) (Switchboard)
• The Popsicle and Halloween test (MML)

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