Blog

California's law SB375 - incentivising public transport

23 Oct 2008
In October 2008, California's Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law SB375, to limit the state’s CO2 emissions by curbing suburban sprawl and increasing transit-based development through various incentives.  In this article, Charles Lockwood explains how it works.
If a community plans walkable, mixed-use, transit-oriented growth that reduces automobile use and greenhouse gas emissions, for example, it gets moved to the front of the line for state and federal transportation funds.  If a proposed building is loc
Tags:

A step in the right direction for Papamoa development

16 Oct 2008
A new development in the car-oriented seaside sprawl of Papamoa is aiming to move away from post-World War II suburban sprawl and return to village living.
Tags:

The Great Harbour Way - getting around Wellington harbour by foot and pedal

16 Oct 2008
The Great Harbour Way project aims to promote a Walkway and Cycleway around Te Whanganui-a-tara, the harbour of Wellington, New Zealand. The aim is that there will be a continuous, safe, signposted walkway and cycleway around the whole perimeter - from Fitzroy Bay in the west to Sinclair Head in the east. Few, if any, opportunities exist elsewhere in the world to safely walk or cycle the entire coastline of a major city harbour, continually touching the water’s edge.
Tags: Hutt, Wellington

ShapeNZers take to the pavement

16 Oct 2008
The latest ShapeNZ poll found 49% of respondents walked rather than used their car "in the past year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help manage climate change". The survey didn't attempt to tease out who had done it for these noble reasons rather than trying to limit the haemorrhaging in their wallet resulting from petrol price rises, but at least it asked.
Tags:

Make pavements safer for walking on

16 Oct 2008
The Foundation of the Blind used International White Cane Day to call for stricter by-laws on footpaths especially in the face of increasing obstacles in the form of billboards and al fresco dining. (Source: TVNZ) The Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind is calling for footpaths to be left clear for 1.8 to 2.0 metres clear access from the building line out towards the edge of the footpath.
Tags:

Walking Access Commission Board appointed

16 Oct 2008
The newly established Walking Access Commission Board has an interesting challenge ahead of it. The board was appointed on Monday by Rural Affairs Minister Damien O’Connor and was created under the Walking Access Act 2008.
Tags:

Nelson draft Regional Land Transport Strategy being debated

16 Oct 2008
The draft Regional Land Transport Strategy for Nelson city is being debated with public meetings on Monday October 20 at the Trafalgar Pavilion, Trafalgar Park at 6pm and Tuesday, October 28 at 1pm at the Stoke Memorial Hall. Regional transport committee chairman Cr Derek Shaw said the meetings were an opportunity for people to hear what was proposed, the reasons for it and to ask any questions. The main focus of the draft strategy is to offer more transport choices, walking and cycling options
Tags: Local government, Nelson