Re: With gas prices major problem: opportunity for carfree program
Justin Hyatt <[email protected]> Thu, 8 Mar 2012 18:27:01 +0100
| Newsgroups | gmane.politics.activism.carfree-network |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CAF_aiTQYSXDcNQ0BMxO9eEHH2a8x7BZ=VTVPr88Yy_kBCZy1QA@mail.gmail.com> |
--20cf3063e32f873c5604babe9576 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hi Aaron, Jason and all, I like the sound of paying more attention to the carfree message in the media. And yes, in fact there was a media working group in the past, although that has not been very active of late. But if there is renewed interest in that, there is no reason why we couldn't restart that! I would suggest, if Aaron, Jason and others are interested, we could start by first recruiting a few more volunteers, and then continue with the work on the media list. It would make the most sense to start with a few modest goals, and see how that goes. Work could consist of both sending reactions to car-slanted stories in the media, as well as getting out the word with blogs and articles in various places. There could also be a basic message template that could function as a press release or a basic article to build on. Are there people who would like to work on that? I could put a call out to join in the bulletin or elsewhere, but it would be good to have 5-10 or more people to get started. any thoughts? Justin On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 4:05 PM, Jason Meggs <[email protected]> wrote: > Great idea about building in emergency capacity for communities. > Buildings can also be more fire proof. > > Here in Bologna (Italy), I rarely see a fire truck, although I see > plenty of car crashes and ambulances. This contrasts with the USA > where the Fire Department is typically the first on the scene at all > emergency response, because they are fastest and generally deployed by > default. > > I assume fire engines are rarely seen because the city is built of > bricks; a building on fire seems very unlikely. Good thing too as > people tend to be locked behind multiple gates and doors, and the > density means an urban wildfire could spread very quickly. > > In the USA, automobile congestion is a major factor in emergency > response delays, causing additional loss of life. (In contrast there's > no delay when there's a critical mass ride when a fire truck needs to > get through, because bicyclists clear the street almost instantly, > whereas motor vehicle gridlock has no option.) > > All the more support for carfree cities, even if they must be built > with bricks with hoses dangling everywhere. :)p > > The original idea was to get the word out: this is an exciting idea. > Maybe easier said than done, but one must start somewhere. Is there > any energy for this? Should a committee be created? WCN was working on > identifying media contacts around the world at one point when I was on > the Steering Committee. There is so much opportunity to put the > carfree cities idea on the web now (commenting on news articles and > blogs, for instance), and there are rarely articles about the carfree > cities solution. Letters to the editor of major newspapers is an > additional approach. It just takes time, although it can be fun, and > more effective with some coordinated energy. One approach (or first > step) would be to make resources available: > > * How to make a public message > > * Where to make a public message > > I know such things have been made many times, most NGO/NPO groups have > at least an internal one. So we could probably find some of these and > make a super global excellent one. > > Then in terms of making it happen, since we can assume zero funds at > present we could maybe make a game...you get points... > > Jason > > > > > On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 1:16 PM, Lloyd Wright <[email protected]> > wrote: > > I have noticed in some car-free areas of Shanghai, the fire service is > built > > into the community's structure. There are facilities with extinguishers > and > > hoses at certain points in the community, which means the community > members > > are largely their own fire department. > > > > It is also worth noting that these communities have no buildings taller > than > > three stories, which also tends to mitigate the need for more elaborate > fire > > protection investments. > > > > Best regards, > > > > Lloyd > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: carfree_network-/[email protected] > > [mailto:carfree_network-/[email protected]] On Behalf Of J.H. Crawford > > Sent: 29 February 2012 22:31 > > To: [email protected] > > Cc: [email protected]; carfree_network-/[email protected] > > Subject: Re: [carfree_network] With gas prices major problem: opportunity > > for carfree program > > > > > > Aaron said: > > > >>Surely we cannot go straight for a 100% carfree world, not least because > > car-like vehicles are needed for emergency services. > > > > Emergency services are a bit of a red herring. The actual number of > trips is > > very small and most of the police activity can be on bikes. The number of > > ambulance runs will be down significantly now that people aren't getting > > hurt in car crashes. > > > > Except for Venice and Fes, no existing city has streets that are too > narrow > > for emergency services. When we narrow the streets after cars are gone, > we > > must make sure not to make them so narrow that fire trucks cannot serve > all > > buildings. This is not difficult, and smaller fire trucks are already in > > wide use in Japan in any case. > > > > So, there's really no reason to delay on the conversion to carfree > cities. > > > > Best, > > > > Joel > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- ### ----- > > J.H. Crawford > > [email protected] > > http://www.carfree.com > > Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities Video channels: > > http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos > > http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "World Carfree Network" group. > > To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/[email protected] > > Replies are sent to the author of the message. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected] > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en > > > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups "World Carfree Network" group. > > To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/[email protected] > > Replies are sent to the author of the message. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected] > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "World Carfree Network" group. > To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/[email protected] > Replies are sent to the author of the message. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "World Carfree Network" group. To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/[email protected] Replies are sent to the author of the message. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=en?hl=en --20cf3063e32f873c5604babe9576 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Aaron, Jason and all,<div><br></div><div>I like the sound of paying more= attention to the carfree message in the media. And yes, in fact there was = a media working group in the past, although that has not been very active o= f late. But if there is renewed interest in that, there is no reason why we= couldn't restart that! I would suggest, if Aaron, Jason and others are= interested, we could start by first recruiting a few more volunteers, and = then continue with the work on the media list.</div> <div><br></div><div>It would make the most sense to start with a few modest= goals, and see how that goes. Work could consist of both sending reactions= to car-slanted stories in the media, as well as getting out the word with = blogs and articles in various places. There could also be a basic message t= emplate that could function as a press release or a basic article to build = on.</div> <div><br></div><div>Are there people who would like to work on that? I coul= d put a call out to join in the bulletin or elsewhere, but it would be good= to have 5-10 or more people to get started.</div><div><br></div><div>any t= houghts?<br> <br>Justin<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 4:05 PM= , Jason Meggs <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">jmeg= [email protected]</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" styl= e=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"> Great idea about building in emergency capacity for communities.<br> Buildings can also be more fire proof.<br> <br> Here in Bologna (Italy), I rarely see a fire truck, although I see<br> plenty of car crashes and ambulances. This contrasts with the USA<br> where the Fire Department is typically the first on the scene at all<br> emergency response, because they are fastest and generally deployed by<br> default.<br> <br> I assume fire engines are rarely seen because the city is built of<br> bricks; a building on fire seems very unlikely. Good thing too as<br> people tend to be locked behind multiple gates and doors, and the<br> density means an urban wildfire could spread very quickly.<br> <br> In the USA, automobile congestion is a major factor in emergency<br> response delays, causing additional loss of life. (In contrast there's<= br> no delay when there's a critical mass ride when a fire truck needs to<b= r> get through, because bicyclists clear the street almost instantly,<br> whereas motor vehicle gridlock has no option.)<br> <br> All the more support for carfree cities, even if they must be built<br> with bricks with hoses dangling everywhere. :)p<br> <br> The original idea was to get the word out: this is an exciting idea.<br> Maybe easier said than done, but one must start somewhere. Is there<br> any energy for this? Should a committee be created? WCN was working on<br> identifying media contacts around the world at one point when I was on<br> the Steering Committee. There is so much opportunity to put the<br> carfree cities idea on the web now (commenting on news articles and<br> blogs, for instance), and there are rarely articles about the carfree<br> cities solution. Letters to the editor of major newspapers is an<br> additional approach. It just takes time, although it can be fun, and<br> more effective with some coordinated energy. One approach (or first<br> step) would be to make resources available:<br> <br> * How to make a public message<br> <br> * Where to make a public message<br> <br> I know such things have been made many times, most NGO/NPO groups have<br> at least an internal one. So we could probably find some of these and<br> make a super global excellent one.<br> <br> Then in terms of making it happen, since we can assume zero funds at<br> present we could maybe make a game...you get points...<br> <font color=3D"#888888"><br> Jason<br> </font><div><div></div><div class=3D"h5"><br> <br> <br> <br> On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 1:16 PM, Lloyd Wright <<a href=3D"mailto:lwright@= vivacities.org">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br> > I have noticed in some car-free areas of Shanghai, the fire service is= built<br> > into the community's structure. =A0There are facilities with extin= guishers and<br> > hoses at certain points =A0in the community, which means the community= members<br> > are largely their own fire department.<br> ><br> > It is also worth noting that these communities have no buildings talle= r than<br> > three stories, which also tends to mitigate the need for more elaborat= e fire<br> > protection investments.<br> ><br> > Best regards,<br> ><br> > Lloyd<br> ><br> > -----Original Message-----<br> > From: <a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network-/[email protected]">carfree_netw= ork-/[email protected]</a><br> > [mailto:<a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network-/[email protected]">carfree_ne= twork-/[email protected]</a>] On Behalf Of J.H. Crawford<br> > Sent: 29 February 2012 22:31<br> > To: <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]= </a><br> > Cc: <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>; <a hre= f=3D"mailto:carfree_network-/[email protected]">carfree_network@googlegroups.= com</a><br> > Subject: Re: [carfree_network] With gas prices major problem: opportun= ity<br> > for carfree program<br> ><br> ><br> > Aaron said:<br> ><br> >>Surely we cannot go straight for a 100% carfree world, not least be= cause<br> > car-like vehicles are needed for emergency services.<br> ><br> > Emergency services are a bit of a red herring. The actual number of tr= ips is<br> > very small and most of the police activity can be on bikes. The number= of<br> > ambulance runs will be down significantly now that people aren't g= etting<br> > hurt in car crashes.<br> ><br> > Except for Venice and Fes, no existing city has streets that are too n= arrow<br> > for emergency services. When we narrow the streets after cars are gone= , we<br> > must make sure not to make them so narrow that fire trucks cannot serv= e all<br> > buildings. This is not difficult, and smaller fire trucks are already = in<br> > wide use in Japan in any case.<br> ><br> > So, there's really no reason to delay on the conversion to carfree= cities.<br> ><br> > Best,<br> ><br> > Joel<br> ><br> ><br> ><br> ><br> ><br> > ----- =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 ### =A0 =A0 = =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0-----<br> > J.H. Crawford<br> > <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><br> > <a href=3D"http://www.carfree.com" target=3D"_blank">http://www.carfre= e.com</a><br> > Twitter: <a href=3D"http://twitter.com/carfreecities" target=3D"_blank= ">http://twitter.com/carfreecities</a> Video channels:<br> > <a href=3D"http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos" target=3D"_blank">http:= //vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos</a><br> > <a href=3D"http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities" target=3D"_blank= ">http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities</a><br> ><br> > --<br> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Gro= ups<br> > "World Carfree Network" group.<br> > To post to this group, send email to <a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network= @googlegroups.com">carfree_network-/[email protected]</a><br> > Replies are sent to the author of the message.<br> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br> > <a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected]">carfre= e_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected]</a><br> > For more options, visit this group at<br> > <a href=3D"http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl= =3Den" target=3D"_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl= =3Den?hl=3Den</a><br> ><br> ><br> > --<br> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> > Groups "World Carfree Network" group.<br> > To post to this group, send email to <a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network= @googlegroups.com">carfree_network-/[email protected]</a><br> > Replies are sent to the author of the message.<br> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br> > <a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected]">carfre= e_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected]</a><br> > For more options, visit this group at<br> > <a href=3D"http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl= =3Den" target=3D"_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl= =3Den?hl=3Den</a><br> <br> --<br> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br> Groups "World Carfree Network" group.<br> To post to this group, send email to <a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network@goog= legroups.com">carfree_network-/[email protected]</a><br> Replies are sent to the author of the message.<br> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br> <a href=3D"mailto:carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected]">carfree_net= work-unsubscribe-/[email protected]</a><br> For more options, visit this group at<br> <a href=3D"http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl=3Den" = target=3D"_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl= =3Den</a><br> </div></div></blockquote></div><br><br> </div> <p></p> -- <br /> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google<br /> Groups "World Carfree Network" group.<br /> To post to this group, send email to carfree_network-/[email protected]<br /> Replies are sent to the author of the message.<br /> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<br /> carfree_network-unsubscribe-/[email protected]<br /> For more options, visit this group at<br /> <a href=3D"http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl=3Den">= http://groups.google.com/group/carfree_network?hl=3Den?hl=3Den</a> --20cf3063e32f873c5604babe9576--