MyWHaT

Acme continues clearing the way for the Bayside Park

GLHowe — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:29:59 +0000

Announcement

Our friends in Acme are knocking down a building this week and they’ve invited the public to come eat pizza and watch the dust settle. Ok, not sure it is exactly an implosion, but the dismantling of Mountain Jacks along US-31, between the ~~road~~ stroad and East Bay, is happening Tomorrow, June 20th from 11:30 – 1:30 pm.

The Acme Deconstruction Viewing Event will be held at the Sleep Inn in Acme, which is located across the ~~road~~ stroad from the deconstruction site. This is part of the effort to make the Acme Shoreline into a public park. During the deconstruction event, more information on the current and future status of the Acme Bayside Park will be shared.

For details on the event, visit Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy events page.

Basics: Thursday 11:30 across the street from Mountain Jacks. Free Pizza and deconstruction.

I couldn’t resist a quick and dirty removal using Google Street View screen capture ((Thanks Google)) and a bit of Photoshop.

Before

After

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are that of the author and do not represent the opinions of writers previously published here or any of the organizations, committees, commissions or other affiliation the authors may belong to, unless so stated.

TC Placemaker made the City better

GLHowe — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:53:12 +0000

City Commissioner Mike Gillman said it well at last night’s commission meeting:

“The City is better because he was here.”

Bryan Crough, 1954-2013 *

“We were talking about placemaking before we even knew there was a term for it.”

~ B. Crough, in MyNorth

* Photo from September 2011

Reclaiming streets is reclaiming community

GLHowe — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:34:46 +0000

Street Scene

Anonymous Street Artist on Union Street

Block Party

If you’re like me, you find it inspirational to see a child freely moving about their neighborhood street. It’s life affirming to see a group of children running from one side of the street to the next or riding a bike in circles or playing ping-pong in the northbound lane or rolling a hula hoop the length of a block or simply plopping down right where they are, breaking out the bucket-o-chalk and adding some color to the asphalt.

At least two block parties happened over the weekend in Traverse City. Undoubtedly, hundreds more happened across the country. Despite years of urban planning that has distanced us from our neighbors, block parties remain popular. I for one think they are healthy.

Block parties allow us to see a different use for the public space that all too much is single use focused. Worse, we have come to see that public space as a threat. The street as something to avoid and we’ve thus retreated from them. What has followed is a retreat from our front yards, then our front porches, and on the worse streets, with the highest speeds and most pollution, we’ve retreated from the front rooms.

Block parties, on any street, in any neighborhood, are a small step in reclaiming that public space and by extension, broadening our sense of home.

Please, party on.

The procedure is fairly easy in Traverse City to block off a street. Go for it.

Street Closure Application (PDF)

Resources:

10 Ways To Love Where You Live (Yes! Magazine)
Blow up your block party (Good)

The chatter: An assortment of stuff related to walking, biking, eating…

GLHowe — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:52:02 +0000

Have you checked it out yet?

Experience 231, The App

Weekly Chatter

Bits of news, perspective, and what-not from the wider or the local world.

Happy Birthday to the National Gas Tax! (Forbes)

Kudos to Mike Sutherland for sprucing up the City’s most peopled corner (Ticker)

Bonus Kudos to TC Food Trucks for gaining the City a little national attention (PRWeb)

Complete Streets improve it for everyone (Momentum) and in SFO, motorists are asking for bike lanes (StreetsBlog)

Bike Stuff:

CitiBike is popular (The Numbers) and will increasingly be as it becomes an employee benefit (A-Cities). Bike share extra: This neat, live info of all bike share activity by each major city (BSMap)

People for Bikes asks: What was your first bike?

I’m with this guy: I bike because I’m lazy (UrbanCountry)

Taking a crack at the bike helmet debate Part I and Part II (ModeShift)

The Walk:

I’m not the only one walking slow (MW) most people walk below the allotted crosswalk times (Health) and will increasingly more so…By 2031, 1 in 5 people will be walking more slowly due to nothing else but age (AtlanticCities).

How do you get urban planners, transportation engineers, and anyone running around a city in their prime to picture the places where we live through the shaded eyes of an octogenarian?

In the above story, the author mentions MIT’s AgeLab…Yup, there is such a thing (AgeLab) and their handy helper, AGNES: MIT AgeLab’s Age Gain Now Empathy System.

As always, More chatter at:

Crossing the street at my own (bleeping) pace, thank you

GLHowe — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:41:23 +0000

Reflective Thursday

Back in April, when there was still snow on the ground, I slipped on ice on a sidewalk on Lake Ave. near Traverse City’s Old Town Parking Deck. It was just a slip; I didn’t even fall. However, I’ve been dealing with a lagging foot injury ever since.

I first thought that it was a passing injury that would heal if I spent a weekend laying on the couch watching the first week of the NBA playoffs. It seemed as good of a home remedy as any, and it included ice (and ice cream), elevation, and beer. What was there to lose?

Now, the NBA Finals are on and if either the Spurs or the Heat called me up to step into action (out of dire need for my wicked court tenacity) I’d most regrettably need to decline. The foot just won’t heal. Needless to say, most of my days aren’t as intense as an NBA game and I can’t spend my entire life on the couch so I gimp around the best I can.

My point of reflecting on this isn’t to complain about the City not clearing sidewalks in front of public structures in a highly trafficked area (done that). Nor is it to gain anyone’s sympathy (I’m on the mend, thank you). Instead, it’s a reminder that not everyone out there is moving at mach-ten or higher.

Empathetic shoes

I’ve written about walking speeds and speeds at crosswalk before. Normally, I’m one of the faster ones and well within the 4-feet per second that most people cross a street. With this injury, I’m reduced to about half of my normal pace, around 2-feet per second, maybe a tad faster, sometimes a little slower. I really noticed it the other day when my pace tested the patience of an otherwise considerate driver. The driver stopped (as is city ordinance) and waved me to cross, only to lose patience as I proceeded and finally giving me a gesture from behind the windshield communicating something like, “WTF? Can’t you go faster?”

As I gimped across 8th Street, I could only shrug back an explanation:

“Sorry, I’m going as fast as I can. I understand you expected an active looking man to move a little quicker, but that just ain’t happening today. Perhaps you’d like to kick back and relax a bit before driving around with your obvious pent-up rage. Now, excuse me while I continue across the second-half of the street at the pace I’m capable. But first, let me tie my shoe.”

Before the injury, I was already aware of the need for streets/sidewalks and crosswalk times to be designed with a wider range of abilities and speeds. During the last two months I now have the empirical understanding of what it is like for people with injuries, disabilities, or just slower cadence than the majority of people to get around.

I know how it feels to stub one’s injured foot on a broken sidewalk and surprisingly have a jolt of pain race up my leg that forces you to sit. Right there. Now.

“Why is that man sitting on the sidewalk?”

He’s dying. Keep moving, honey.

And, I appreciate a bit more the feeling of holding up traffic because there is no higher gear.

I also have a new appreciation for my coming years as an older person who hopes to age in place. Even if my normal good health and luck carries into my elder years (I’m 40, and thinking about it) I can’t help but wonder what the City will be like when I’m not hobbled by injury, but just naturally slower. Or, slower simply because of the years behind me and an increasing attitude of just not giving-a-damn how fast I get anywhere or care who I hold up a few seconds.

For now, I rest and distract myself imagining a call from Coach Popovich.

And, remain engaged on building a city fit for the needs of all.

Announcement: Careful at TART Trail crossing at Grant St.

GLHowe — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:38:34 +0000

Announcement

Below is the PSA regarding the next two days of construction work along Woodmere Ave. Pretty clear concerning automobile detour (northbound), but be alert for obstacles and extra traffic if you’re approaching the area via foot or on bike. The crossing of the TART Trail at Grant St. is sure to be a little more difficult with the increased traffic. As well, the PSA is unclear about the trail crossing at Woodmere Ave. or public transit alternative to the stop in front of the library. A few weeks ago a similar project was a block away from the Woodmere-TART crossing.

If you experience the area on foot, bike or bus today, let us know how it went.

(Amazing work from the MyWHaT graphics team…ahem)

Via the Planning Department:

Woodmere Ave partial closure June 12-13

TRAVERSE CITY- Residents and businesses should be aware that the City of Traverse City will be repairing Woodmere Avenue, between Hannah and Eighth Streets, due to sewer line maintenance this past winter, beginning on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 and ending on Thursday June 13, 2013. Work is expected to take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. This work was previously scheduled on May 20-21, but was postponed due to rain.

For the safety of the public and protection of the construction workers, the northbound lane of Woodmere between Hannah and Eighth Streets will be closed during business hours both days. Traffic will be diverted around the block at Grant Street.

These restrictions are intended to expedite the construction work and minimize the time needed to complete the work. Appropriate signing and barricades will be in place. Expect delays and congestion in and around the work area. Alternate routes are advised.

Unfortunately, this construction will generate noise and cause inconvenience. We would like to thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation. Please contact Justin Roy, Water/Wastewater Maintenance Superintendent, at (231) 922-4923 if you have any questions or concerns regarding the work.

Finding gaps and opportunities in TC’s network

GLHowe — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:50:17 +0000

Engage & Represent

Active Transportation:

Any self-propelled, human-powered mode of transportation. For purposes of transportation planning, it tends to focus on walking, bicycling, including those activities when done with an aid (e.g. wheelchair), and public transit.

The City of Traverse City has undertaking their first Active Transportation Plan (RE). Last week, you may have noticed volunteers from the committee (including myself) soliciting comments from active commuters on where they see there are gaps in the network. Those comments will be consolidated and mapped.

The committee is also seeking input via an online survey. It will take about 5 minutes and your input is greatly encouraged. Find the survey here:

Survey: WalkBikeTC

What makes for a happy ride for everyone?

http://s.zoomerang.com/s/WalkBikeTC

Chatter: The big bridge returns, bike share option, sprawl’s irony…

GLHowe — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:13:33 +0000

Weekly Chatter

Bits of news, perspective, and what-not from the wider and/or the local world.

While NYC has the Subway/CitiBike Derby (NYTimes), MyWHaT started the week looking at the possibility of TC Bike Share. It’s a thought, a challenge, but possible (MW). A start-up based out of Ann Arbor –A2B Bikeshare– aims to lower bike share costs. TC might want to keep an eye on Lansing’s Capital Community Bike Share (CGM) who is considering giving the Smart Bike/Dumb Rack system a whirl (LMB)

Sprawl Watch: This week the County Road Commission and the County Board met to reawaken the once closed debate of Hartman-Hammond Bridge, a controversial $17-$50 million dollar project (RE). In the meantime, the County is actually considering forfeiting $3 million in state funds slated to replace the Cass St. bridge after the Boardman Dam is removed, a project they had already approved. New to town? A little background on the H-H Bridge (MLUI-Archives).

TCFF kicks off the Bijou by the Bay fund drive (Support it!)…related, TC will cut the ribbon to the new Clinch Park on June 25th at 11-am (City)

Loving your bike that loves you back (BikeFacey) –>

If it was the end of the world, I’d still trust my bike–Hater’s gonna hate (WSJ) and the question is raised: “Is Bicycling Partisan?” (StreetsMN)

Sprawl’s irony (Livability)

Gruen tried to bring the downtown to the suburbs….had the whole community been built as planned, there would likely have been a lot less retrofitting needed in our great American sprawl.”

Gas Prices going up in TC and with it…recognition of choices! (RE)

The walking biking advantage for businesse$ (Plantizen)

Small is criminal: More housing restrictions based on large assumptions (NextCity) while tiny homes continue to become cooler and cooler (Good)

Tweet of the Week:

It's great to see @NCDOT's #CompleteStreets #DetachedSidewalks policy is having an effect! #WalkBikeNC http://t.co/u2XNf2funM—
Walk Farce (@WalkFarce) June 05, 2013

Just because…

_

As always, More chatter at:

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Embrace your conservationism

GLHowe — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:48:03 +0000

Happy Smart Commute Thursday!

The Gipper Rides Via TC Sidewalks

Thank you TART Trails and sponsors. Breakfasts have been great this week! Tomorrow, everyone comes together at Oryana for the final day. At night, bike in movie at F&M Park…a big adventure not to be missed.

Measuring public space by the handlebar count

GLHowe — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:47:55 +0000

Bike space

Yesterday, Nate Elkins of Influence Design Forum in Traverse City, set up a demonstrative display, Parking (SPACE), of 22 bikes parked together in a single parking space originally designed for one automobile. Twenty two bikes is pretty snug (comfortable on-street parking is around 12 bikes) but perhaps he stumbled upon a new way to measure downtown public space.

How many bikes can fit here?