Posts Tagged ‘bridge’

Links to some other stuff…

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Got City Game wrapped up their first season this week.  Set in Cleveland, Got City Game is an online reality show that draws the viewer in by asking you to vote and by giving away great prizes!  The season my be over, but you can catch up on all the action on their site.  The Plain Dealer did a great piece on them as well.

The Cleveland Sustainability Summit Design Committee met last Thursday to start planning our our 2010 Summit.  It was a great day for me.  I am always left feeling enthusiastic about the possibilities that abound for Cleveland and NE Ohio when you get a bunch of  like minded individuals in one room to talk about what we can do.  The outcome groups all seem to be progressing well, and I can’t wait to see what comes from the summit this year… It is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, September 22nd and 23rd with a public day on Friday the 24th as we roll into Ingenuity Fest.  What a great week that is gonna be!

The Plain Dealer has finally gotten into the fray on the I-90 bridge.  Hopefully the video I posted last week that is making a splash on You Tube and around the net has gotten more citizens involved.  That video was made by local folks and some of the people involved are members of the transportation working group from last year’s summit.  They weren’t kidding when they called them “working groups” as since the summit many folks are putting their nose to the grindstone to promote sustainable ideas around town.

Did you know that we are getting our first “gasification” power plant?  You can read the basic story here and the longer story here.  But the gist is this:  Cleveland is going to build a power plant that turns organic waste into burnable fuel.  That fuel will then be used to create electricity.  It is considered a green technology and I can’t wait to see how this plays out.  We started a pilot program to collect compost able food waste at some areas of the city, so will we be using this?  Or could we be putting our other solid waste to work?  Bottom line we will be putting 100 PEOPLE to work and producing 6% of CPP’s peak power load.  If it turns out to be profitable, maybe we will be the first city to turn all our waste into electricity…

This is for the birds!  and the bats.  The Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force may be getting one step closer to our off shore wind farm.  They are studying bird migration patterns to make sure that we consider wildlife when we build our wind farm.  More at the Plain Dealer.  More than just a source of electricity, an off shore wind farm could be the source of a whole new future for Cleveland.  Sure we will get clean electrical power, sure jobs will be created to build and maintain turbines and their parts, but what may be more important than any of that would be the change in perception created by an off shore wind farm.  The city that does it first will be recognized across the country, and also get attention around the globe.  Becoming the City of the Wind could wipe away the stain of the burning river and attract business to the region.  We are a cool city, but if we so cool that we have a wind farm, them maybe we could have the new Apple Headquarters?  Imagine how much we could lease offices for (and what cool company would want them) if they overlooked a beautiful blue lake filled with spinning blades.

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Grassroots could be the answer to ODOT refusal

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

In case you are living under a rock, Cleveland needs a new bridge on Interstate 90.  Despite requests from citizens and public figures, ODOT has no intention of even considering a pedestrian lane or bike path for our new bridge.  If we want to make Cleveland a more sustainable city that is built on dense urban neighborhoods and connectivity, rather than the past standard of flight to the suburbs and single car commuters, we need to think in a more progressive way.  Of course, I am left to think that perhaps ODOT is really not invested in Cleveland as much as they are in the status quo and getting paid.  It’s not like adding a pedestrian and bike lane on a freeway bridge is a completely new idea.  There are multiple cities across the country who have done it already.  ODOT’s argument is a concern over safety and maintenance.  They also say that there are plenty of other places to cross the river by foot or bicycle that are safer and more convenient.  Really?  I wouldn’t call the Lorain-Carnegie bridge a safer byway than I-90 with a separate lane with a concrete barrier.  I would say that the spokeperson from ODOT who had the nerve to say such a thing has not been on a bike in the Near West side anytime recently.  I say go over their heads and send your thoughts to the governor himself, or maybe your state rep or senator.  Isn’t this an election year?  Make your voice heard.

The one really cool thing about what is going on these days in NE Ohio is participation by its citizenry.   Now that you have seen this video, go to Green City Blue Lake to learn more about how you can get involved or add your name to a letter to Governor Strickland.

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Bridges are for people not just cars!

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

When the bridge was rebuilt connecting Tremont to Ohio City, I was among the citizens who were appalled that the planners didn’t address traffic without cars. Much of the progress in this city has been done without any consideration toward bicyclists and pedestrians. What is especially shocking is how near that bridge lies to the transit station at the West Side Market. So, as we move forward on rebuilding the most important piece of bridgework in the city, the I-90 bridge, what is being done to accommodate bikers and pedestrians?

One way of thinking that is often followed around the country is that people do not like to be outdoors. It is simply not true. when restaurants provide outdoor seating, their patios are mobbed on nice days. In places like LA, where the car is king, there is a growing movement toward living without a car altogether. Cleveland has a history of urban flight and “brain drain.” With this very serious problem looming overhear, why on earth would we even consider not building more bike lanes and pedestrian areas which will make living in the city more attractive? Consider Tremont. This growing neighborhood is full of new condos and townhouses that are being snapped up by professionals, old and young alike. It has a great neighborhood feel, great restaurants and attractions, and is very walkable. It sits so near the West Side Market, that a Saturday stroll for fresh food is a delight. yet, we built the connecting bridge without a bike lane. Sitting so close to the Q and Progressive Field (and a coming casino), a nice way to walk or bike to some of the city’s downtown attractions only makes sense. So why is this even an issue?

Marc Lefkowitz at Green City Blue Lake wrote a great article about the issue. It is insightful and well written, so rather than try and tell you myself, I recommend that you read his article. But the basic breakdown is this:

We are going to spend a pile of cash on a new I-90 bridge-and the sooner the better! We cannot afford to rebuild it again for a long time, so we need to think long term in making this bridge the right bridge for today’s population as well as the population of the next few generations. Bicycling is more than a fad and we need to accommodate it as a viable transportation method. Why is a bike lane not one of the first things added to any plan around the city? We are priding ourselves on our ability to be progressive and re invent ourselves for the new economy, so why are we doing things business as usual? We need to think outside the box and get moving! As citizens of Cleveland, we also need to be firm in our resolve and let our local leaders know that we demand bike lanes and pedestrian paths on all new planning. Do we want to be more like Portland, where public transportation, bicycling, pedestrians and automobiles are ALL part of the discussion? Or would we rather be more like LA, where sidewalks are often blocked by telephone poles, and cars are the only ones invited to the planning table?

Read Marc’s article and tell me what YOU think!

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Over the bridge…or under…

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

I really like that Cleveland took part of the Detroit Shoreway bridge and made it a pedestrian and bike friendly through-way. Part of what has been missing from the overall plan for Cleveland’s green future has been to add access to those who are not using a car. In case you did not know, there was originally a trolley line that ran under that bridge. It came up onto the street somewhere by the Van Roy coffee building (near 28th and Detroit). There was a major station that was housed at each end of the bridge. The bank building on 25th and Detroit (where Massismo restaurant is housed) has a beautiful entrance that is still in great shape. Under the bridge, most of the rails still exist as do several other entrances. The tile work is still in great condition in much of the space and with some minor work could almost be made usable again. Let’s face it though, that is not likely to happen.

The underside of the bridge is open to the public at least once a year to walk. If you have not been, then watch for your next chance. The views are great and the columns of the structure add a great ambiance to the overall experience. This weekend was the Bridge Project. The folks who bring us Ingenuity Festival every year decided to expamd on their concept and bring us a little art and culture in September. This time, they held it on the bridge. This was a great way to esperience the mile long expanse of bridge. In the past, it has just been a walk and and gander, but this time I was excited by all sorts of sights, sounds and smells.

There were great exhibits of local artists. My favorite was a Main Street made from toys (like Polly pocket houses and Weebles tree-house) all lined up. They were all boarded up, though to say a little something about the state of the economy in regions like NE Ohio. I say some great drawings and paintings. This type of venue is perfect for struggling artists to get their work out to the public, so you see some truly interesting stuff. There were several bands that played and music varied through out the 2 day event. I hope the organizers felt it was a success, as this is a great way to get more interest in our downtown.

We made the trip with our friends the Purdums. Check out Prasti’s blog here for some great pictures. They have 3 kids, so I was thrilled to see this type of event with little hands and eyes along. It was really a family friendly experience and a great way to expose young minds to new and interesting arts. If they do this again, do NOT miss out!

The space is so interesting, and rarely used, that it makes me wonder why we can’t put together a local market that is open every Saturday during the summer. I love our local farmers markets, but one issue that i see is that there are so many that they tend to be small and fragmented. If we could tap into the energy of the West Side market experience, and bring many vendors together in one place, then we could make something truly incredible happen. The one complaint that I have about the West Side Market is that so few of the vendors are selling anything from Ohio. Most are selling the same produce that is available at Giant Eagle or Dave’s, imported from Chili, New Zealand or California. Farmers markets, on the other hand are full of local (and thus healthier and tastier) produce. Why not expand on it too? Every arts or street fair in Cleveland is packed with people. Why not bring some of these local arts and artisans to one place, mix them with food and farmers, add a little music and voila! The Cleveland Urban Market. The venue is already available. It is currently unused. The costs of having a booth would easily offset the marketing and restroom set up…Know anyone who would like to make this happen? Would you go?

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