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Latest post made by Nick Bates at Apr 21 21:30 UTC

From: iraweiss Weiss Date: Apr 21 10:57 UTC Short link

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:corifmanager@gmail.com]
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

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From: Nick Bates Date: Apr 21 12:19 UTC Short link

Housing and Education are the biggest two for me.  As we re-develop sections
of Columbus we have to consider low-income individuals and their housing
needs.  The impact of education on our society is clear, especially
pre-school for all and quality elementary school programs.



> 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:corifmanager@gmail.com]
> 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,"
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>
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From: sechaffin Date: Apr 21 14:58 UTC Short link

I agree with both of you. My solution to advancing  both of these issues is to
provide more education about planning, decision making, and the role of voting.
If people knew why things happen the way they do, they might get involved to
make things better. We dont teach anything about this in Public Education and
the media does little to help. It is up to us as citizens to self educate and
help ohters in our community.

From: Elizabeth Ike Date: Apr 21 16:24 UTC Short link

I wonder what, if any, promotions of civic education are happening within
our regions' school districts.  The planning program at OSU works with some
of the Columbus Public Schools to engage kids in planning activities
(identifying goals, thinking about solutions, determining barriers, etc.)
however these sessions are limited to one or two class periods.  While this
may be enough exposure to spark an interest in children (and better yet, to
bring these ideas home to share with adult family members) it is not nearly
enough.  Can anyone provide examples within your communities of civic
education/involvement of youth that has shown effective results?

Liz Ike

Master's Candidate
OSU City and Regional Planning

From: Nick Bates Date: Apr 21 21:30 UTC Short link

National service learning initiatives have shown high impact on engaging
high school students in their communities.  (however these programs that are
actually working well are mostly in suburban upper class communities and not
in inner cities. This further perpetuates the 'us' 'them' categories and the
have's and have-nots in our society).

Also with our homeless youth council we have engaged youth across central
Ohio and the rest of the state in civic engagement activities that have
produced a lot of very active citizens and educated individuals.




> I wonder what, if any, promotions of civic education are happening within
> our regions' school districts.  The planning program at OSU works with some
> of the Columbus Public Schools to engage kids in planning activities
> (identifying goals, thinking about solutions, determining barriers, etc.)
> however these sessions are limited to one or two class periods.  While this
> may be enough exposure to spark an interest in children (and better yet, to
> bring these ideas home to share with adult family members) it is not nearly
> enough.  Can anyone provide examples within your communities of civic
> education/involvement of youth that has shown effective results?
>
> Liz Ike
>
> Master's Candidate
> OSU City and Regional Planning
>
> On Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 9:13 AM, sechaffin <sechaffin@roadrunner.com> wrote:
>
>> I agree with both of you. My solution to advancing  both of these issues
>> is to provide more education about planning, decision making, and the role
>> of voting. If people knew why things happen the way they do, they might get
>> involved to make things better. We dont teach anything about this in Public
>> Education and the media does little to help. It is up to us as citizens to
>> self educate and help ohters in our community.
>>
>> Info about sechaffin:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/1ujYI0wMXCEV2FAje6Jma6
>>
>> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2NZEbvpt952aE2BEIU4vBR
>>  -----------------------------------------
>>  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<http://onlinegroups.net/>
>>
>
> Elizabeth Ike
> Clintonville, Columbus
> Info about Elizabeth  Ike: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/whelanike
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/3YeY34i6e9yI5onC5SwdfV
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>   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:
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>
>   E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net

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