> In one word - energy. I suggest everyone check out the issue of peak oil.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil
>
>
>
> This will first affect transportation.
>
>
>
> If you think that current gasoline and oil prices are high now you haven't
> seen anything yet. With earth day coming tomorrow we have to really think of
> how we can transform from a carbon based to an alternative energy based
> society. Or else.
>
>
>
> For a current issue, as far as people getting around, I'll quote from my
> March 30th issue of Energy and Hybrid Cars:
>
>
>
>
> All right, I'm all for the streetcar proposal. It's not the end all of rail,
> it's a demonstration project. Let's put something into perspective: The
> street cars are one segment of a comprehensive alternative transportation
> package that an enlightened Mayor Coleman has proposed in a year's time.
> Couple the streetcars with Operation Safewalks for sidewalks and the
> Columbus Bicentennial Bikeway plan and all of a sudden you have a sea
> change.
>
>
>
>
>
> The major complaint that I have both heard and read about concerning these
> packages is that they don't go far enough fast enough. Yes, it would be
> great if we could get more than 50 miles of sidewalks and expand the area
> farther than the city's ancient boundaries. Yes, it would be great if we
> could do the entire bikeway plan by 2012 and not have to do it in phases.
> And yes, it would be great if we could go beyond one 2.8 mile streetcar
> demonstration and put together a complete light rail transportation system
> moving out to the suburbs in all directions by 2012. But, that is just not
> fiscally or physically possible.
>
>
>
>
>
> I was truly fascinated when the streetcar plan was unveiled Thursday night
> seeing Bill Lhota at the table. Then it dawned on me: Coleman, Lhota, Gee
> and the others who participated in the process did an end run around COTA's
> need to go to the voters for rail. They put together a plan financed
> primarily by user fees. By 2012 we will have a demonstration short, short
> line rail system in Central Ohio. And, people will see this for the
> enlightened idea it is.
>
>
>
>
>
> Times are changing and as the mayor said people can ill afford to pay for
> gasoline and diesel. And, the cost of these fuels will only continue to go
> up. We need to expand the walkability, bikability and mass transit options
> in Columbus and Central Ohio. By 2012 we will have made substantial progress
> in these areas, enough so that voters will hopefully be willing to support
> ballot issues to expand these services further and in an accelerated time
> frame.
>
>
>
>
>
> In my crystal ball, I can picture how these modes would work together in a
> comprehensive Central Ohio transportation system.
>
>
>
> For most people, you can look at the modes as walking for shorter distances,
> bicycling for intermediate to longer commuting distances, and coupling
> walking and bicycling with mass transit for the furthest distances.
>
>
>
> First, realize that every trip begins and ends on your own two feet. In an
> ideal region for a longer-distance trip with much more mass transit and
> better bicycle and pedestrian facilities than you see in Central Ohio today
> it might look like:
>
>
>
> 1. Walk for the shortest trips
>
> 2. Get on your bike for shorter to intermediate distances
>
> 3. For longer trips just ride or walk to a bus stop (or train station
> if it is nearby)
>
> 4. Get on a bus (and load your bike on rack if you use it) Buses act
> as a feeder into a rail system or for cross-town routes.
>
> 5. Get off the bus and walk to a train (and put your bike on the rack
> in the train - this is how they do it in Minneapolis). DC and suburban MD
> and VA have a system in place with buses, walkers and bicycles feeding into
> their Metro and this improves air quality as fewer buses have to venture
> into the central city.
>
> 6. Get off the train (and remember to take you bike with you:-)) and
> either get on another bus, or ride or walk to your destination
>
> 7. If you took a bus, get off the bus and walk or ride your bike to
> your destination (lock your bike to ample bike racks if you did not walk)
>
>
>
> I've said at more than one MORPC meeting that requiring you to specify which
> mode you use to travel in a multi-modal world is a bogus process. In the
> scenario above you walked, rode a bicycle, used a bus, used a train, etc.
> You can't just pick one - it's not reality. We're here to facilitate
> transportation, not bean counting.
>
>
>
>
>
> This kind of multi-modal system is what we need in Central Ohio. We should
> not be satisfied with anything less.
>
>
>
>
> We need to move to a multi-modal energy-efficient transportation in Central
> Ohio that emphasizes mass transit, bicycling and walking. Not tomorrow or
> ten years from now, but now. This also has broad implications for future
> land use and how we service people where they live and work now.
>
>
>
> I'll save the issue of how we provide goods to people for a future mailing.
>
>
>
> Ira S. Weiss
>
> 11735 Eddington Ave NW
>
> Pickerington OH 43147-9194
>
> <email obscured>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forum Manager [mailto:<email obscured>]
> Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2008 10:17 PM
> To: <email obscured>
> Subject: [CORIF] The Issues that Matter
>
>
>
> Good Evening Everyone--
>
>
>
> We would like to start off the discussion with a general topic. What do you
>
> feel is the most pressing issue facing our region and what steps have or
>
> could be taken to begin working toward solutions?
>
>
>
> Because this is a very broad topic, the issue you identify could serve as a
>
> 'seed' to a new discussion topic. Remember, to start a new topic, you can
>
> simply address an email to <email obscured> with a new heading
>
> in the subject line.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
> Liz and Josh, your forum managers
>
>
>
> Corif Forum Manager
>
> Central Ohio, None
>
> Info about CORIF Managers:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/morifmanager
>
>
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1H4LmkHQmrDRvFfVEz3XIJ
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
> To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
>
> To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
>
> in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
>
>
> More info about Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum:
>
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif
>
>
>
> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>
>
> Ira Weiss
> Summerfield, Pickerington
> Info about iraweiss Weiss: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/iweiss
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3rXKcpnF2fHjFcxWcsDNO8
> -----------------------------------------
> To post, send your message to: <email obscured>
> To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on,"
> in subject line and send to: <email obscured>
>
> More info about Central Ohio Regional Issues Forum:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/corif
>
> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net