by Bike Courier | May 26, 2021 | Uncategorized
On the way to the Frazier History Museum to sit in on the ‘Jump-Start Downtown’ program, I admired the beauty of several blocks of Main Street. I thought of equally pleasant blocks along Fourth Street, and blocks along Market Street in NULU. I then marveled at how other areas are so physically unattractive, lacking the elements that encourage a family stroll. The panel, united in considering it an imperative, discussed how to make downtown more inviting. “How do we get people back on the street?”. The discussion addressed many aspects of urban life with housing playing a central role and leading to the conclusion that downtown also is a neighborhood. That ‘strolling family’ came back to mind – that family enjoying the clean, quiet, peaceful, safe evening under a canopy of leaves, admiring historical architecture. Also to mind came the current reality of narrow sidewalks and speeding cars along wide, wide roads. To mind came the current reality of limited affordable housing and a superfluity of surface parking lots. Our priorities are clearly skewed toward cars rather than people and housing. The roar of engines and the blare of radios attest to little concern for peace and quiet. Even the title of the evening’s discussion, ‘Jump-Start’ Downtown, references our motorized inclination.When we closed local parks to motorized traffic the park roads filled with strollers enjoying the clean, quiet, peaceful, safe, greenery of the parks. “How do we get people back on the...
by Bike Courier | May 4, 2021 | Uncategorized
LLUTRAIN – Louisville Land Use and Transportation Initiative – A citizens’ group supporting public transit and engaging mayoral candidates and government (Metro/KY) TARC, Metro and mayoral candidates have yet to present a vision and supportive plan for urgent public transit and land use transformation. LLUTRAIN continues to press for such. LLUTRAIN is communicating with mayoral candidates Findley, Greenberg, James, and Parrish-Wright. Invitations have been extended to four candidates to take with us a one hour walking tour downtown. The tour should help candidates define their visions for TARC and land use. Craig Greenberg has taken the walking tour, as has David James’ campaign manager (we look forward to repeating the tour with council member James). Craig Greenberg asked to schedule a bike tour. That tour will take place mid-April. A list of LLUTRAIN’s Steering Committee/Advisory Board/Supporters is available, as is a LLUTRAIN Q/A document. ???, Fischer, Abramson, Armstrong, Sloan,… Who will drive the...
by Bike Courier | May 4, 2021 | Uncategorized
22 July 2020 Honorable Greg FischerMayor of LouisvilleCity HallFifth & JeffersonLouisville KY 40202 Dear Mayor Fischer: This is the twentieth month of “The Mayor’s” Monthly Earth Day Initiative. Twenty months ago, on 22 November 2018, we began delivering to your office a monthly letter asking for concrete and immediate action by Metro to slow climate change. This, our twentieth letter, joins the previous nineteen monthly letters in asking for Metro to act immediately on reducing locally the two primary sources of greenhouse gases per EPA data, power generation and transportation. (https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions) As mentioned last month, in the past twenty months we have seen much too little concrete action addressing power generation and transportation. On the power generation side of the equation, there has been no significant action toward the installation of photovoltaics or turbines (hydro or wind). LG&E has not been challenged by Metro to be a good corporate citizen. LG&E has not even been challenged by Metro to abandon the gas pipeline through Bernheim Forest. Metro is not taking a lead in greener local power generation. On the transportation side of the ledger, and as stated last month, the most significant action taken by Metro has been to close down the economy in response to Covid 19, resulting in less surface and air travel. Recognizing that to be an accidental result, Metro gets no credit for less surface and air travel. With the racial justice protests of recent weeks, Metro has been presented with, and (to date) ignored opportunities to change transportation in Louisville. Armed citizens in moving motor vehicles are threatening protesters. And LMPD is risking escalation,...
