Dear :
We have an opportunity to get some good Sustainable Transportation results this month – here is what’s going on.
Best Russell Sydney
310-450-7419
In this Sustainable Transportation Club Newsletter:
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Community based action
Working Groups to organize changing the city
Bicycle and human powered
Electric Vehicles
Bio Fuels
Mass transit and re-localization
Goals for Building a Sustainable City
Possibility of events around the Emissions Free global trek.
Outreach and Education
Blogs and email groups related to Sustainable transport
Getting your Sustainable Ride
Plug in Hybrid Mini Cooper with 200+ mile EV range
Hot new Bicycle Store in Santa Monica – Cynergy Cycles
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You can find the subject you want by looking for the separator bars
with the row of XXXXX’s in this document.
Please send any relevant information for inclusion in this
newsletter.
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Community based action
Working Groups to work with changing our communities
Bicycle and human powered
Electric Vehicles
Bio Fuels
Mass transit and re-localization
We are a group that has a full range of interests in Sustainability.
Getting your interests and needs met in your communities takes
people working together and taking the appropriate action.
Toward that end we are starting to get working groups together
that focus on specific parts of the work.
We had a great meeting last week with people who are interested
in bicycles and human powered rides. We have groups of people
interested in Electric Vehicles, in mass transit, and in Bio fuels like
biodiesel. Once we get working groups going in all these areas
they would be tied together to create a large and strong community
organization that could get real results – strength through mutual
interest and support.
The current project is to get the city of Santa Monica on track with
Sustainable Transportation. This is not only important in itself but
a good test run for getting our larger group working. We can use
what we learn and build from this to work with any receptive
community including yours.
The next two steps for the City are to finalize the goals as
described below and then to turn those into an action plan through
a process that will involve a workbook and public workshops.
We have a chance to participate in this and to build support for
your ideas about sustainability. Now is the time. What can you do
to help make this happen?
Please get in touch to let us know about what you can contribute to
this effort, even if it is something simple.
Email electric@sustainabletransportclub.com
Call 310-450-7419
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Changing the City of Santa Monica through the
General Plan Goals – Preparing for September
The City is working to create a new set of goals to shape the future
of our community. These goals will set the direction for what our
area will look like. You may think that Santa Monica will
automatically do the right and sustainable thing but that will only
happen if the people support the right direction.
The process has produced two sets of goals. One of them is so
weak as to be meaningless in terms of our concerns. The
Alternative language is better and still not strong enough. Why is
it not strong enough? Because more people have not been pushing
for the stronger language. We have a chance to help give one more
push before moving to the next phase.
You are encouraged to read the alternative language goals below
and to read the changes one of our working groups have come up
with. We want to present our suggestions to the staff and council
before the council meeting on Sept 26th.
We can present the suggestions with the support of a few people or
with the support of lots of groups and lots of people. The number
of people will depend on how each of you reacts and helps out.
You can sign up to support the stronger language and you can get
groups you are connected to do the same. That will make the
difference.
Here is what we are working on:
Alternative Circulation Element Goal Language
Effective Transportation System: we are a community that
strives for everyone to get where they need to go comfortably, and
where walking, bicycling and riding transit replace some auto trips
to reduce congestion and maintain mobility as travel demand
grows
Universal Safety: we are a community that wants pedestrians,
cyclists, transit-riders and drivers to feel and be safe regardless of
their age or ability
Well Designed Spaces: we are a community that strives for
quality designed public spaces so people can travel quickly and
comfortably, can enjoy the outdoors and interact with other people
Local Identity/Regional Context: we are a community that
strives for people to be able to travel easily within Santa Monica
and to and from regional destinations
Environmental Responsibility: we are a community that strives
for a transportation system that minimizes, and where possible
eliminates, pollution, energy consumption and vehicle congestion
Community Care: we are a community that strives for a
transportation system that enables people to be healthy, to pursue
fitness and cultural and educational opportunities and to participate
in the community.
Alternative Land Use Element Goal Language
Balanced Growth: we are a community that strives for a pattern
of development that promotes diversity, inclusiveness and
enhanced transportation choices and is compatible with the
surrounding community.
Protection of Resources: we are a community that strives to
protect and conserve the quality of our natural and cultural
resources for their scenic, economic, social and environmental
values.
Connected Neighborhoods: we are a community that strives for
safe, secure, and connected neighborhoods with quality public
spaces and amenities
Community Design: we are a community that strives for
attractive and inviting places, spaces and activities that enhance
our quality of life.
Local Identity / Regional Context: we are a community that
strives to be a distinct local community that is regionally connected
Environmental Responsibility: we are a community that strives
for human activity that respects the environment and protects it for
future generations
Community Care: we are a community that strives to be
responsive to the diverse interests and social and educational needs
of its residents, businesses and visitors
End of Alternative language
Our bicycle working-group has gone over these goals and made
adjustments to the language to make it focus more specifically on
sustainable options. This is a work in process and your input
would be welcome. This is one step further along the road to
sustainability and your support for this will help build the
momentum we need to make this a reality.
More Sustainable Language (changes have an * at the beginning and end)
Effective Transportation System: we are a community that
strives for everyone to get where they need to go comfortably, and
where walking, bicycling and riding transit *increasingly replace*
auto trips to reduce congestion and maintain mobility, *physical
and emotional health* as travel demand grows
Well Designed Spaces: we are a community that strives for
quality designed public spaces that foster quick and comfortable
access *through proximity to local destinations,* enjoyment of the
outdoors, and social interaction
Community Care: we are a community that strives for a
transportation system that enables residents and visitors to reach
and participate fully in the community's cultural, educational and
commercial opportunities *while also pursuing fitness with
physically active travel options.*
Local Identity/Regional Context: we are a community that
strives for people to be able to travel easily within Santa Monica
and to and from regional destinations *using all forms of travel*
Environmental Responsibility: we are a community that strives
for a transportation system that minimizes, and where possible
eliminates, pollution, energy consumption and vehicle congestion
*as well as using renewable sources of energy*
Protection of Resources: we are a community that strives to
protect and conserve the quality of our natural and cultural
resources for their scenic, economic, social and environmental
values *as well as using food and green waste responsibly as an
energy/fuel source.*
End Sustainable Changes
This is a chance to help move Santa Monica toward being a bike
and EV haven. As Santa Monica (and other places like Pasadena)
shows how it is done then we can get the rest of So. Cal. to follow.
You can get in on the working groups by using the email in the previous section.
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Community based action
Possibility of events around the Emissions Free global trek.
This is to follow up on the idea of doing something to raise
awareness by highlighting the global traveler Tim Harvey
and his emissions free voyage around the world. Anyone want to
sign on? Here are the suggestions so far:
One thought I had was to arrange a school presentation or two, at
New Roads, Crossroads, and perhaps a charter school down town.
If so, maybe we could involve yall as well somehow.....
One thing we might be able to do is get him featured at the Green
Drinks gathering. There is some chance we could get the LAC
Bicycle Coalition into it and or to get him featured with the
Critical mass people and do a press release around that.
Love the idea of a Green Drinks and/or CM featuring Tim.
Preaching to the choir a bit, but we could try to get a press release
out and, who knows.
Send your replies to Anna@rsydney.com
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Outreach and Education
Blogs and email groups related to Sustainable transport
One of the many things that our people connected to the
Sustainable Transport Club do is to help spread the word and the
knowledge about what we are doing. Here is some info about
some of these efforts so you can get connected to what rings your
bell – or honks your horn (depending on if you are bike of car
oriented)
Please send in your blog or web site (or your favorite link) so we
can share that in a future issue.
Bicycles –
The Bitchinspin Blog is a lighthearted forum of all things bike
related, both in the local Los Angeles area and beyond. An avid
commuter by Xtracycle and Roadbike, blogger Anna Cummins
primarily focuses on the bike as a form of clean, green
transportation, and encourages others to chose pedals over petrol.
If you have a story, idea, photo, or rant you’d like her to publish,
send all thoughts to anna@bringyourown.org
Bitchinspin: http://bitchinspin.blogspot.com/
A resource for chicks - and friends - who like to ride, rabble rouse,
and remind one another that there is indeed strength/safety/sanity
in numbers.
Other bike blog recommendations, but first a word:
When you start to peruse the world of bike blogs, you will be
stunned at the sheer mass – critical perhaps? – of fellow bike
lovers out there. I will include just a few here, and I recommend
that you take your own personal cyber journey. Follow a few of the
links these offer to other bike bloggers, follow the linked bloggers
links, and you will find yourself amongst an astounding
international community of velorutionaries. Slowly but surely, its
happening….
Bike Portland: http://bikeportland.org
A chronicle of the Portland bike scene. This is a superlative blog,
truly a model, all cities should strive to have such a resource.
Check it out for inspiration.
C.I.C.L.E Blog http://www.cicle.org/wordpress/
The collective blog from C.I.C.L.E, “cyclists inciting change
through live exchange”, a not-for-profit group, based in Los
Angeles that seeks to promote the bicycle as a viable and
sustainable transportation choice.
Oil is for sissies: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/thil0020/carfreelife/
Adventures in cycling and car free living in Minneapolis. Has an
extensive collection of other bike related links.
Bici Blog: http://bicyclekitchen.blogspot.com/
A blog for the Bicycle Kitchen: “la receta, de la bicicleta. recipes,
bikes. riding the city of angels.”
Bicycles –
Michael has a great on going dialogue about things on two wheels
at the Cycle Santa Monica blog/ list serve. This covers everything
from local goings on to interesting cycle news from around the
world. Current topics include electric bicycles.
See the Cycle Santa Monica! Blog:
http://cyclesantamonica.blogspot.com
<*> To visit this group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cyclesantamonica/
Renewable Energy
C. Scott Miller has a good newsletter about bio waste conversion –
getting energy back from organic trash. This includes the green
waste from our landscape etc that is a renewable source of local
energy.
This is a good way to keep up on what is happening with the
Renew LA initiative.
Here are some outtakes from his recent mailing, which included
lots of informative links. Sign up and he will turn you on to those
links.
“The time has come for all stakeholders of environmental, energy,
and waste disposal initiatives to come together to support the
permitting and deployment of conversion technology (CT)
facilities. As reported in MSW Management magazine, CTs offer
society:
• Increased Recycling.
• Generation of Renewable Energy.
• Reduced Landfill Impacts.
• Offsets To Fossil Fuel Usage.
• Lower Air Emissions.
• Reduced Carbon Emissions.
----
I invite you to add your comments and join my survey stories,
technological milestones, and breakthroughs as the exciting
paradigm shift from fossil fuels to renewable fuels unfolds. Please
forward this email (see link below) to anyone you know who
would be interested keeping track of change that will affect us all.
They can add their name to the mailing list on the BioConversion
Blog.
C. Scott Miller, EDP
BioConversion Blog
email: miller@performancegraphics.com
phone: 818-508-5514
web: http://bioconversion.blogspot.com
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Getting your Sustainable Ride
Plug in Hybrid Mini Cooper with 200+ mile EV range
Development work on using electric hub motors is moving forward
with this plug in Mini Cooper Hybrid. For more info:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/08/pmls_inwheel_mo.html
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Getting your Sustainable Ride
Hot new Bicycle Store in Santa Monica – CynergyCycles
If you have not had a chance to visit yet this is a fun spot. Located
at 23rd and Santa Monica blvd in Santa Monica, it has some great
looking rides and real up to the moment technology.
www.cynergycycles.com 310-857-1500
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A chance to push for a more Sustainable City and other news