[world-carfree-news_eng] World Carfree News #85 - April 2011

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World Carfree News #85 - April 2011 - English Version

		

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QUOTATION OF THE MONTH
/""We will not be banning cars from city centres any more than we will 
be having rectangular bananas."/
UK transport minister Norman Baker, on the EU 2050 strategy for 
transport, which aims to eliminate conventional cars from European cities.

WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
TCC anncouncement

*TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES 2011 IN MEXICO*

The tenth Towards Carfree Cities Conference 
<http://worldcarfree.net/conference/> will be held in Guadalajara, 
Mexico, from 5 to 9
September 2011. The theme this year is "Building Carfree Cities for the 
People, by the People", with a focus on citizen participation and the 
sharing of experiences between campaigners from around the world. We are 
still accepting your ideas for a presentation, workshop or other 
conference activity, but this is the last call: The extended deadline is 
April 15.
*WORLD CARFREE MONTHLY NEWS RELOADED!

*Welcome to the new design of the World Carfree Monthly News! The 
bulletin you are now reading is the winning design from last month's 
competition. Congratulations go to Çig(dem Çevrim and Daria 
Samokhvalova, who work in Prague with Cedilla Design 
<http://www.cedilladesign.com/>. Thanks to all others who submitted a 
design or participated in the voting!

We hope you will enjoy this new design. Your feedback at this point is 
extremely dear to us. Please let us know if you like it! Also tell us if 
you have any problems viewing it, either in your email (you will have to 
allow enriched graphics) or by clicking on the link at the top, and 
viewing it in a browser.

At this point it would require a lot of extra work to also offer the 
text-only version. But please do let us know if this is essential for 
you - we don't want to lose any readers!

Please sent all feedback to bulletin-eIl3k1piWmly0T758RiaJuG/[email protected] Thanks!
READ AND COMMENT ON THE EU WHITE PAPER ON TRANSPORT

As featured in the news section, there is a newly released White Paper 
on Transport put out by the European Commission, which sets goals for 
2050. As the given issues lie at the heart of World Carfree Network's 
mission, it would be worthwhile to examine the details carefully, and 
provide a response as necessary. Please take a look at the released 
document 
<http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/372&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en>and 
send in your comments to the Carfree network listserv. The complete 
strategy is laid out here 
<http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52011DC0144:EN:NOT>.

Following a discussion on the mailing list, a WCN position paper and 
response may be formulated. For those not on the listserv 
<http://worldcarfree.net/listservs/>, but otherwise interested in the 
topic, please write to simon-eIl3k1piWmly0T758RiaJuG/[email protected]

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
EARTH DAY CARFREE FESTIVAL IN SANTA BARBARA, CA, USA

In Santa Barbara, California, the 41st Earth Day celebration will be 
held on April 16 and 17 with special gifts planned for the promotional 
event. The location is Alameda Park. The event will also provide the 
kick-off for CycleMAYnia <http://cyclemaynia.ning.com/>. 
<http://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/earthday.htm>
Read more <http://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/earthday.htm>.
*WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE "CABARET NIGHT" BRIGHTON, UK*

In anticipation of the World Naked Bike Ride (June 12) the Brighton 
group is planning a special event to raise funds and have a good time. 
It will take place on Saturday 9th April, from 7.30 to 11.30pm at the 
Hanover Community Centre on 33 Southover Street. The cost is £7 on door, 
or £5.50 in advance purchase 
<http://www.edgeoftime.co.uk/index.php?p=t2&c=all>.
WNBR Brighton <www.worldnakedbikeride.org/brighton>

IMPROVING CYCLING CONDITIONS IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, USA

The Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition works to improve cycling conditions in 
Saint Paul, Minnesota. They celebrate their 1st anniversary this April. 
If you live in Twin Cities and want to become involved, please contact 
them or come to one of their monthly meetings.
Read more <http://www.saintpaulbicyclecoalition.org/>.

VELOCYPEDIA OPEN CALL

We are announcing open call for art works for an exhibition: 
Contemporary art exhibition about bicycle passion and sustainable 
transport. The exhibition will be held in the Gallery of National 
Technical Library in Prague in May 2011.

Exhibition dates: 3rd May --24th May 2011
Curators: Lenka Kukurová, Milan Mikulás(tík
Application deadline: 15th April 2011
Please contact velocypedia-Re5JQEeQqe9fmgfxC/sS/[email protected]

STOP SIGN - NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Bianca Mugyenyi and Yves Engler, authors of Stop Sign --- Cars and 
capitalism on the road to economic, social and environmental decay takes 
a good hard look at the irrationality of driving in America. They will 
be touring North America beginning in May 2011. If you are interested in 
plugging into the tour, contact the authors [email protected]
Read more <http://www.fernwoodpublishing.ca/Stop-Signs/>.

GREEN SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL

Green Shorts Film Festival announces its deadline of April 25 for new 
submissions. Bici Centro <http://vimeo.com/10645257> community-run bike 
repair was featured last year.
Read more <http://greenshortsfilmfest.org/assets/News-Events.pdf>.

ACTION
Moscow Highway protests

*STOP THE RUSSIAN MOTORWAY FROM BULLDOZING KHIMKI FOREST!
  ... Week of Action and Petition....

*Last summer President Medvedev temporarily halted preparatory works for 
a 43-km section of the Moscow -- St. Petersburg motorway near Moscow 
after determined protests from local people in the Movement to Defend 
Khimki Forest.

The forest is a protected natural area including relic oak groves and is 
a natural habitat for elks, boars and other wild animals. In this 
polluted and densely populated region its value for local people is 
enormous -- so much so that local people have continued their campaign 
in spite of brutal attacks, illegitimate arrests and nasty threats.

The Russian government now plans to start again in late April with the 
French construction company Vinci. Please help stop destruction of the 
forest and call on Vinci to get out of this project.

1) Ask Vinci not to sign any new agreement with the Russian government 
and to withdraw from the project by signing this petition 
<http://www.change.org/petitions/save-khimki-forest-stand-with-russias-human-rights-and-environmental-activists#?opt_new=t&opt_fb=f>, 
which automatically sends a letter to Vinci when you sign.

2) Organise an action during the Week of Action against Vinci 24 -- 30 
April 2011. If there is no Vinci office in your country, try the Russian 
or French embassy instead. Please let us know if you plan to take part.

Read more background material in Russian <http://chn.ge/e1rB53>as well 
as translations in Deutsch <http://chn.ge/hd33OV>, Française 
<http://chn.ge/e35wxK>, and????????? <http://chn.ge/ffqMe4>. (English 
description is alongside the petition)

For more information, please contact [email protected]

<./>

IN THE NEWS
Andy Singer cartoons

The European Commission has laid out its transport plan for 2050 
<http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/372&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en>, 
which includes banning conventionally fuelled cars in cities across 
Europe. A 60% transport emission cut by then is the target. Most of the 
emission cuts proposed would however first come into effect after 2030.
Transport & Environment, based in Brussels, have criticised the plans 
for putting off more serious action for later, and rejecting the idea of 
curbing mobility.
Read more <http://euobserver.com/9/32084>.
The Velocity conference just took place in Seville, Spain. It has come 
to light how far this city has come in advancing cycle-friendly 
atmosphere, jumping from a modal share of under 1% to a current 7% in 
five years. For some glimpses into how this happened, read more 
<http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/sevilles_lesson_to_world_how_to_become_bike_friendly#velocity2010>.
The city of Stuttgart, Germany was anticipating the demolition of its 
main train station and rebuilding it underground - much to the dismay of 
its citizens, and in the face of huge street protests. But in the recent 
state elections of Baden-Württemberg, the Green party came to a historic 
win, in coalition with SPD. The plans for Stuttgart 21 will now be 
reassessed.
Read more 
<http://www.suite101.com/content/anti-nuclear-red-green-alliance-wins-in-2-of-germanys-16-states-a362408>.

Hamburg has created the "Train of Ideas" to promote its vision of a 
green future and to "transform people into environmental protection 
enthusiasts". This fits into the programme attached to their Green 
European Capital 2011 title.
Read More 
<http://hamburggreencapital.eu/train-of-ideas/2505758/train-of-ideas-exhibition.html>. 


REPORTS
CYCLE COMMUTING WITH KIDS

Spokes, the Lothian Cycle Campaign (Scotland), has delivered the 
following publication: "Cycle commuting with Kids" 
<http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/downloads/advice/commuting-with-kids/> 
which is a factsheet all about making the inclusion of children in 
bicycle trips and everyday cycling smoother. Direct download here 
<http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1101-Cycle-Commuting-with-kids-Spokes-factsheet-v7-1302111.pdf>.

RESEARCH BACKS UP 20 MPH SPEED LIMITS

New research by Royal Holloway College, London University, studied the 
perceptual limitations of children and concluded that they had 
difficulty detecting cars approaching at speeds over 20mph. Ensues is a 
discussion of introducing 20 mph zones in London and other parts of England.
Read more 
<http://www.eta.co.uk/2011/03/22/new-research-bolsters-case-20mph-speed-limits?utm_campaign=apple+01.04.11&utm_medium=email&utm_source=The+Environmental+Transport+Association>. 


WHY SPRAWL IS EVEN BAD FOR BUSINESS

Here is a look to the damaging effects of sprawl, from the vantage point 
of a CEO's desk. Straight from Michigan, USA.
Read more 
<http://rustwire.com/2011/03/11/michigan-business-owner-soul-crushing-sprawl-driving-us-away/>. 


MEDIA & NETWORKING
Little Green Bike film still

LITTLE GREEN BIKE VIDEO

Follow the little green bike in a hilly city! This video was produced by 
Massimiliano Amirfeiz (WCN member) in collaboration with Monleone Films 
for the "Toward Carfree Cities Conference" held in York (UK) last year. 
It shows how it is possible to get around by bike even in a city 
considered to be "challenging" such as Genoa (Italy). Thanks to folding 
bike and a seamless integration with different means of mass transit, 
uphill bike climbs or long stretches are no longer necessary.

Watch the video. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlBHS9xl6eo> For more 
information, write to bicintermodale-Re5JQEeQqe9fmgfxC/sS/[email protected]

VENICE IN 3D

Take a virtual tour <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAqBt4wUIjM> of 
carfree Venice, Italy, brought to you by.... Google Earth.
<./>

		

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