Highlights from the NCBW e-newsletter

Mass bicycle protest in Netherlands

We subscribe to the National Center for Biking and Walking Newsletter, a bi-weekly e-newsletter with an excellent summary of articles about creating more walkable and bicycle-friendly communities. Here are some highlights from the Dec. 7 newsletter:

• How the Dutch Got Their Cycle Paths - Given the reputation of the Netherlands as a cyclist's paradise, you might think that its extensive cycling infrastructure came down from heaven itself, or was perhaps created by the wave of a magic wand. Not so. It was the result of a lot of hard work, including massive street protests and very deliberate political decision-making.
• My Short Trips Campaign, Belgium - My Short Trips program helps small towns and municipalities encourage individuals to take 20% of their short trips (under 5 kilometers) on foot or bike for one month a year.
• The Transportation Planning Rule Every City Should Reform - San Francisco is currently in the process of drafting a new sustainable transportation metric that will replace LOS and promote livability.
• The Death of the Fringe Suburb - Boomers and Millennials want to live in walkable urban downtowns or suburban town centers.
• Occupy All Streets: The Role of Carfree Cities in a More Sustainable World - Cities in the modern era have been overrun by cars and trucks. Carfree cities are a delightful solution to many different problems at once.