Thursday, July 17, 2008

MinusCar Goes To School

I saw this once on an e-mail list - “I transferred from Civil Engineering to Planning when I realized that it was political decisions and not the engineering knowledge that was restricting where and how I could bicycle. That's not to say that there are many PEs that couldn't safely get a cyclist out of a paper bag if you left the end open, but ultimately, it's all political.” - Brooklyn, NY

Yesterday I was approved as a new member to the CAC of the UDC which is the MPO of the SECOG. I learned what a TEI is, but I’m not sure TEI are the right letters. I didn’t learn what a TAZ is, but I think Z is zone and the zone is a relatively small geographic region but I have no idea what zone goes with what region.

In simple terms – I joined a government citizens committee dealing with transportation planning. I expect to be exposed to a lot of new concepts. It’s a three year monthly commitment.

Why did they choose me? Like any organization looking for committed volunteers, most anybody with a face will do.

Why did I choose them? Being involved in things that are interesting to me is a lot more interesting than not being involved in things that are interesting. To me.

My participation in this committee is not exclusively framed by this non-literal question: Why is it so difficult to walk from the Empire Mall to the Empire East Mall?

“That is an S.U.V; Humans ride in them because they are slowly losing their ability to walk.” RJ, Over the Hedge

10 comments:

chiggins said...

Why is it so difficult to walk from the Empire Mall to the Empire East Mall?

This TED talk by Kunstler answers that better than anything I've read anywhere.

Tuco said...

Hey MinusCar - wasn't one of Al Gore's lines in "Inconvenient Truth" something like "If your politicians aren't doing what you want them to do, become a politician yourself?"

Similar to you, I joined my city's "Trails for Life" Committee, and have helped create an active transportation subcommittee of this group to work on bike lanes etc.

Best way to give city planners a nudge is to be there in the meeting rooms with them!

bikingbrady said...

"How many humans fit in there?"

"Usually, One"

Suburbia......

Garrett said...

I was on the local trails committee long enough to figure out what was going on, then I became vocal in suggesting that trails should provide transportation opportunities in addition to recreational opportunities. Then either the committee stopped meeting or they stopped calling me.

mytzpyk said...

chiggins - TED, Kunstler, these are a few of my favorite things. You made my day.

tuco - I don't know what Gore said but I prefer to think of it this way. I see a problem I might as well become part of it.

SD_pedalpower said...

I have similar concerns that what happened to Sans Auto will happen to us as we become more vocal.

I have felt it at the city meetings. At times, I feel they want to tell us what they are doing with out our input. That way they can say they are doing something and have a committee involved.

I WANT SIGNS ON THE STREETS THAT HAVE SHARED BIKING/PARKING, SHARROWS, BIKE LANES!!! No one knows what they are for.

Ok, I'm done shouting. :)

mytzpyk said...

SDPP - tired of "pushing on an iceberg?"

Eric A. said...

I always thought their should be a skywalk going between the two malls. They can have a faster movign walk way in it like they do in some airports.

Snakebite said...

Email coming to you regarding this.

"I have a plan...."

SiouxGeonz said...

Happy politicking...