"Dog and Cat Collars" (2009) by Chris Jordan

Depicts ten thousand dog and cat collars, equal to the average number of unwanted dogs and cats euthanized in the United States every day*.

from "Running the Numbers - An American Self-Portrait".

Chris Jordan entry on Wikipedia.

* Statistics from HSUS seem to originate with this org., but I cannot find them.

Regarding "Compleat Streets"

Transportation for America wants people in the U.S. to send this letter:

Dear Secretary LaHood, I am alarmed by the continually high pedestrian fatality rate in this country.
Just this week, a new study by the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership and Transportation for America reported that in the last 15 years, more than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along a street in their community. Overwhelmingly, these deaths occurred on poorly designed roadways that encouraged speeding cars and made little or no provision for people on foot, in wheelchairs, or on a bicycle.
The study shows the strong correlation between a metro area's Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) and its spending on pedestrian safety projects. The metro areas in greatest need of improvement are spending the least.
The study also shows how many communities are creating safer streets - by making sure that every road project provides for the safety of everyone who will be using the road, including pedestrians. More than 100 communities across the country have adopted Complete Streets policies to do just that.
Nationwide, less than 1.5 percent of funds authorized under the federal transportation law, SAFETEA-LU, have been spent on projects to improve the safety of walking and bicycling. Yet pedestrians comprise 11.8 percent of all traffic deaths and trips made on foot account for almost 9 percent of total trips.
Your work on combating distracted driving and establishing a new Safety Council shows that you are passionate about transportation safety. Please add to that record of achievement by supporting Complete Streets policy adoption across the country. This is a strategy that will not only can make our streets safer, but will help make our communities more livable by providing people with attractive transportation options.
We need your leadership on Complete Streets with Congress and within USDOT.
Sincerely, (Your signature)

to which I say:

(to the tune of your favourite rap or folk song...)

Some had the space for a horse for a ride
Or trees so the neighbours and birds could hide
On others all agreed bikes could be ridden
Or a tram to sit in when you want your legs hidden

Streets were complete before cars came along
The sidewalks so wide you could dance your own song
The sidewalks so proud that they met in the middle
The compromised think that this must be a riddle.


***

"Better", "Slower" are qualitative and acceptable; "Streets for People" used elsewhere, is vague but might be okay, but please ask yourself:

* Don't these terms mean something different than "complete"?
* What about the noise and tailpipe emissions of motor vehicles, in particular private cars... they also share the street, and not in a nice way.
* Why pretend to treat everyone equally regarding safety?
* Just how much does this encourage "alternative" transport? (Probably a bit to a bunch, depending on the quality of complementary measures... so that's good.)

"Complete", re-contextualised to include private urban cars, sends a strong signal that this subgroup of automobiles (which can be appropriately used) will be a permanent feature of the built environment -- that it deserves a place as much as other modes.

So, it's a pity that local authorities are confused (and confusers), and it's a shame that various community and advocacy organizations - such as "Transportation for America [sic]" which has an otherwise decent agenda - push this new kind of "complete". It is deceptive... even Orwellian language. If enshrined as law it's very, very dangerous.

Dogs on Board! 1 of 4

Click on image to enlarge and HERE for page two

Dogs on Board! 2 of 4

Click on image to enlarge and HERE for page three

Dogs on Board! 3 of 4

Click on image to enlarge and HERE for page four

Dogs on Board! 4 of 4

Click on image to enlarge and HERE to return to the first page

BikeBridges

BikeBridges is part of the Bikes on Board! (BOB) project. (EuroVelo map only used for reference; Green Idea Factory is the initiator and co-director of BOB).

Adverts: Bus vs. Car or Bus not vs. Bike?

CLICK on image to enlarge.

ON the left is a well-known ad which appeared in Canada five years ago. It was pulled after protests from transit advocates. On the right is my version.

Bikes on Board! 1/4

Click HERE to go the second page.

Bikes on Board! 2/4

Click HERE to go to the third page.

Bikes on Board! 3/4

Click HERE to go the fourth page.

Bikes on Board! 4/4

Click HERE to go back to the first page.

Dogs on Board!

Please Click HERE

JCDecaux, Škoda Auto and Prague Transport attack sustainability in "PT: Self-Harming Adverts" + bonus

Prague is a marvellous place to be cynical!

My Flickr Set Self-Harming Adverts in Public Transport...

... continues with coverage of an absolute bombardment for the New Year, in which Škoda Auto, (owned in full by VW - which is partly owned by Porsche, aided by JCDecaux (the saviour of Paris) and Prague (Public) Transport, invite the latter's (future former) customers - among others - to BELIEVE that if you have to:

* Carry a large animal
* Move house, or
* Have unexpected visitors...

You need a new Škoda combi.

The intention of Porsche/VW/Škoda is clear, the confusion of Prague Transport in assaulting their city is not, and if anyone thinks that JCDecaux actually cares about sustainability, well, then they have their head buried in the sand at the Seine.

This next totally-predictable miracle of the Automobile Advertising Industrial Gigaplex starts here:

(Then browse forward...)

***

Bonus:

Of course, the bombardment is not just coming from Stuttgart*, Wolfsburg**, Mlada Boleslav*** and Neuilly-sur-Seine****, but also from Seoul***** and Vevey******:

HQ index:
* Porsche
** VW
*** Škoda Auto
**** JCDecaux
***** Kia
****** Nestle, the owner of Orion)

Berlin and other German cities tighten particulate emissions rules for road vehicles

Germans tighten road vehicle exhaust rules - Three German cities - Berlin, Cologne and Hanover - have introduced "environmental zones" to reduce fine particle emissions from traffic.

from BBC World Service

Drivers now have to display a coloured sticker on their vehicle to enter the inner city zones. The colour depends on the pollutants the vehicle emits. The cities are gradually phasing in fines of 40 euros (£29;$58) for anyone caught driving without a sticker.

Other German cities - but not all - plan to have such zones later in 2008.

The stickers - green, red or yellow - are mandatory not only for locals but also for foreign drivers, INCLUDING TOURISTS.There is a one-off charge of five to 10 euros for the stickers, issued by Germany's vehicle registration authority and authorised garages.

Some hotel and restaurant owners have voiced fears that tourists will be put off by the requirement for stickers, reports in Germany say.

The German motoring club, the ADAC, plans to take legal action against the restrictions, the DPA news agency reports.

The EU has set the limit for fine particle pollutants at 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air, which cannot be exceeded on more than 35 days per year.

The Berlin environmental zone covers about 88sq km (55sq miles), while the one in Cologne covers about 16sq km. Officials say the majority of cars in the affected cities qualify for the stickers.

***

Here is the page on the City of Berlin site which has a link to a PDF flyer in English on the scheme .

(I hope that some Berliners on these lists can add some information or insight for all us other donuts...)

NOTE that the German scheme is not following an earlier congestion charge of any sort.

Lung Lovers in London have to wait until 4 February...

.......Interestingly, Berlin (and Paris) are also starting this today...

... and finally, see what just started in Milano.

Keep the Air Pure (but watch out for False Filters)!

***

Another Scandal for German Clean-auto Zones

Prague Central Station

Praha hl.n.

Praha hl.n. a okolí 1/2

Praha hl.n. a okolí 2/2

Click here for details on logistics concept...

Praha hl.n., nejen pro nakupující... 1/20