Friday, June 29, 2012

Summer Trolley for Kids in Helena

Now in its first month of operation, the Helena Rec-Connect Trolley is a program designed to provide children the mobility around Helena that they would otherwise not have due to working parents or other lack of transportation options. The trolley works five days a week, providing access to places such as the walking mall, library, skate park, water park, Mt. Helena, and local playgrounds and sports facilities. Operating on two loops, the routes are designed to provide overlapping access for children with different schedules and different needs. There are chaperones on board the trolley to make sure that the children are safe, and there is a registration to keep track of users and their contact information.

For a schedule, map, and more information, click here.

Monday, June 25, 2012

S.A.V.E. Rolls Out New Recycling Gear

We've all heard the maxim "keep it simple." That's not always viable, especially in the realm of recycling, but this week S.A.V.E. unveiled its newest, almost simplest design yet at the Great Northern Alive @ 5. A simple tube is all you need to keep those beer cups in order and out of our landfills. Keep your eyes out for these beauties at future events!





P.S. - More on simplicity: This weekend I used a clothesline for the first time to dry my clothes and they smell great and feel great. No machine necessary.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Bike Workshop Comes to Helena

Today at the City Chambers Altera Design presented their latest practices of bikeway and pedestrian transit design. The concepts take into account experience and studies taken from implemented projects in America's most urbanized and heavily populated cities. Within our region, design examples were taken from such cities as Portland, Missoula, and Billings, each of which were successful in providing efficient pedestrian and cyclist access as well as solving access conflicts between motorists and non-motorists. Given that Helena is not as urbanized or populated as these cities, there are nevertheless relevant and applicable modifications that could greatly ease traffic pressures and risks to commuters of all sorts. These projects are compiled by the National Association of City Transportation Officials and are available online here.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

SAVE Radio Episode 11 - Interview with Mick Reed

Mick Reed was the guest of honor this week on SAVE Radio! He is an Americorps member in the community with the state BAR association as a liaison to the law library. He joined us to talk about using the law as a resource in the community and how the state has organized programs for outreach and education on the law.

Right now Mick is working with Celebrate Law in the Library, a program that partners the BAR association with the state library to give the librarians a tool kit with which to develop a legal education program. This program will help community members tackle a wide range of problems such as landlord/tenant issues, finding representation, and how to navigate the court system. More details are available at webjunction.org.

Mick is also drafting a legal resource guide for returning veterans. This work will help veterans readjusting to civilian life answer any legal questions that may have arisen while overseas. Currently the project is in the information gathering phase which should wrap up this summer. When finished, it will be published online and as a hard copy available at your local library.



This week's tunes (a tribute to the '60s):
Otis Redding - Respect
Vanity Fare - Hitchin' a Ride
Gerry and the Pacemakers - I Like It
Diana Ross - Where Did Our Love Go
The Animals - House of the Rising Sun
The Beatles - I've Just Seen A Face
The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - May This Be Love
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Kenny Rodgers and the First Edition - Condition
Small Faces - Itchycoo Park
The Classics IV - Stormy
Herman's Hermits - Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter


P.S. - You may notice that many of these songs are short in comparison to what we listen to today. That is because many artists of the era relied on releasing singles on 7", 45 rpm vinyls that were popular with the jukebox culture of the time. These records had very limited space and as such artists had to accommodate for this restriction.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

SAVE Radio Episode 10 - Interview with Gail Beckner, MC Beeby, and Melinda Barnes

Hello Helena!

This past week I had the pleasure to sit down with three of the city's transit minded citizens to discuss upcoming walking and cycling events in May and what it means moving forward as a community. MC Beeby, chair of the Helena Safe Routes to School Committee shared with us several exciting events:

1) This Saturday from 9 a.m.-11 a.m., May 5th (Cinco de Mayo!), at the Lazy Green Park across from Helena Middle School will be Recycle Your Cycle. This event is a bike swap, and an opportunity to register your bicycle with the Helena police department in case of theft. They will photograph the bike and record the serial number found on it and add it to their database. Feel free to stop by and peruse! There is no charge if you'd like to come and sell your wares or trade.
2) Bike to School Day: on May 9th students at local schools are encouraged to ride their bikes to school and see if it's something they enjoy. Officers will be on hand to direct traffic around the school and give out advice and encouragement for those who participate. This is part of the local Safe Routes to School effort.

Melinda took the mic next and shared some information about this month's Commuter Challenge! Here are the basics:
For the month of May there will be a city-wide contest to see what team can commute the most to and from work! Teams are usually organized by employer, but anyone is welcome to create their own team (you can only be on one). Register your team and record your mileage at bikewalkhelena.org. On the site you will also find perks! Local businesses will be giving discounts or free goodies if you support them and mention that you commuted. Just this past Tuesday I got a free taco from Taco del Sol for having walked to work (and the restaurant). Prizes will be handed out for the winning teams, but you will have to find out what they are for yourself.

Finally, Gail got on the waves and told us about a brand new commuter and recreation map for Helena. It was a cooperative effort that involved several of the city's agencies from the health department to NMTAC, the grants coordinator, GIS department, SAVE and Energy Corps, not to mention local graphic designers. On the map are trails, bus routes, local land marks, trail heads, and a wealth of information to help you move about on foot, bus or bike. Keep your eyes open for these beauties, as they will be hitting stores near you.

More information about the map and everything above can be found at one convenient location: bikewalkhelena.org


And let's not forget the playlist:
Silvio Rodriguez - Al Final de Este Viaje en la Vida
Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come
Dizzy Atmosphere - Track #2 (Untitled)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
Nujabes - Kumomi
RJF - Starving Artist
Bonobo - Between the Lines (feat. Bajka)
Little Joy - Don't Watch Me Dancing

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

May is for Momentum!


Hey folks! Check out this article in the Helena IR about the May commuter challenge. It's a great way to celebrate the season and get in shape!
Bike/Walk to Work in May


P.S. - On Tuesdays you can get a free taco from our friends at Taco Del Sol if you commuted to work by bike or foot.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Sidewalks in Helena

Helena is set to begin evaluating the need for new sidewalks and repairs as the city moves to come into compliance with the national Complete Streets and Americans with Disabilities Act programs.

FACTS:
- There are approximately 260 miles of streets in Helena, of which less than half have sidewalks.
- Each mile of sidewalk that complies with ADA and Complete Streets costs approximately $1 million. - Primary costs come from construction and design. Maintenance is low cost.
- Trip hazards in sidewalks, which would warrant repair, are considered to be a 1/4 inch deviation from       the surface.

 These considerations are an important part of the planning and budgeting process, and will doubtless be key considerations in targeting areas most in need of improvement. These types of renovations have already occurred in other cities, from Missoula to Corvallis and further abroad.

Here is a list of case studies, master plans, and programs that address Helena's coming challenges:
 - Missoula Sidewalks Master Plan
- Corvallis Sidewalk Safety Program
- Greencaslte, PA Sidewalk Repair and Replacement

The New Generation Views Transit Differently

Learn how expectations for technology and observations from a nine-year-old reflect on the transportation changes that are bound to come. Also interesting are the differences in opinion between the public's perspective and experts in the field on how America will implement these needed improvements.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Let's Talk About Bike Lanes

Here is another story concerning the development and use of bike lanes, and the opposition they are receiving. Read here.

Do Bike Paths Promote Cycling?

This question seems to depend on where you are and who you ask. There have recently been contradictory findings in several studies across the nation. The issue as examined in the journal Transportation, however, appears to favor the causation even when factors such as location, socioeconomic status, safety, and public transit availability are considered. Learn more here!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

SAVE Radio Episode 7 - Interview with Sarah Sadowski

Sarah Sadowski is the chair of the Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council, one of Helena's citizen directed advisory initiatives. She stopped by the studio this week to talk to us about what NMTAC is, who it is, and how it can serve you!
The Non-Motorized Travel Advisory Council came to be through a city ordinance several years ago, which sought to increase the level of cooperation accessibility between the citizenry and local government. The council primarily serves the purpose of providing input and recommendations for further transit development. It consists of seven citizen representatives and a government representative as well as non-member contributors and guests.
As with all civic pursuits, it works best when there is cooperation and understanding. Sarah repeatedly stressed that patience, goodwill and genuine concern for the community's interests as a whole are necessary to facilitate meaningful development in the council. Furthermore, the best results have come from those whose participation has been solution oriented. There have been multiple groups to come forward with a stated problem and propose their ideas for how a certain intersection or stretch of road could be improved. Remember, transit development is an inherently slow problem; there are many considerations to be made from the perspectives of engineering, urban planning, efficiency and viability, to name a few.
NMTAC meets every second Tuesday of the month in the City-County Building from 5:15-6:30. Check it out!

Music for you:
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Universal Dub
Thievery Corporation - Until the Morning (Rewound)
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
Jurassic 5 feat. Dave Matthews Band - Work It Out
Fugees - No Woman, No Cry
Bluebeat - Train Line Dub
Herb'n Legends - John's Song
Santana - Soul Sacrifice/Don't Try This at Home
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Wind Cries Mary
Queen - Bicycle Race

SAVE Radio Episode 6 - Interview with Ryan Leland

City engineer Ryan Leland joined me on the show this week to discuss the processes and challenges of guiding Helena's transit growth, both in the immediate and long term future. We discussed how the city's' main modes of transportation had changed throughout the years, and is starting to come full circle with a growing emphasis on non-motorized and public transit options. For example, in the early 20th century, Helena actually had a trolly system! Given that most people didn't have personal transit, this made sense. Over the years though, with the advent of the automobile and the growth of the highways, people turned to personal vehicles. It has taken us almost a century to realize that this option is in the long term far more expensive and unsustainable than public or non-motorized transit, and our transit trends are beginning to again accommodate more to the cyclist, pedestrian, and bus rider.
We also discussed what it takes to maintain roads and sidewalks in this type of climate. It turns out that the thawing and freezing of water does a great deal more damage to roads than cars do. As water seeps into the cracks and pores of the pavement surface and then freezes, it tears apart the binding of the pavement, exacerbating potholes, ruts, cracks and other weaknesses in the street. The materials sciences behind street construction have come a long way even since 2000, but the city is still challenged to maintain the roads, which have been budgeted to be replaced every 100 years. That's tough.
Finally, we touched on the concept of connectivity and how to engineer a street that is inclusive of all its users. This means installing ADA friendly ramps and crosswalks, bike lanes, roundabouts, and a host of other features that subtly direct the flow of traffic and make the street a safer place for all users. For a few examples, take a look at the bulb-outs by Carroll College while driving down Benton or take a look at the walking mall's crosswalk on Broadway!


Playlist:
Peter Wolf Crier - Hard as Nails
Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
Foals - Miami
Delta Spirit - Trashcan
Dawes - When My Time Comes
Future Islands - Swept Inside
Built to Spill - Happiness
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
Modest Mouse - Gravity Rides Everything

Thursday, March 22, 2012

SAVE Radio Episode 5 - Interview with Melinda Barnes

This week I took the opportunity to interview local cycling expert and bike shop owner Melinda Barnes. Among the most important things we talked about were cycling safety, and how to ease yourself into cycling and the community if you're new to the scene. There are obvious reminders, such as wearing the appropriate safety gear (helmet, reflective clothes and lights), but there are also operational considerations that should be made at all times, such as being aware of your surroundings and making yourself as visible as possible. That includes making sure your intentions as a driver (you are considered a vehicle while on the road) are obvious and that you obey traffic laws and norms.
If you are interested in beginning cycling, either for recreation or commuting, be sure to pace yourself and adjust to what your body can handle. A good idea would be to bike once or twice a week to and from work. If it is quite a distance, see if you can bike to a place and get a ride from there, or find alternate means of transportation to accommodate your needs. Avoid technically demanding rides such as steep slopes and winding roads until you have the confidence to handle yourself safely. If you'd like more information, check out Big Sky Cycling and Fitness at 801 N. Last Chance Gulch or their website bigskybikes.com.


This week's tunes:
Miike Snow - Animal
Cults - Go Outside
Oh Land - Sun of a Gun
Reptar - Stuck in my Id
Matt and Kim - Lessons Learned
FM Belfast - Par Avion
Crystal Fighters - At Home
The Naked and Famous - Young Blood
Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Vocal Chords
Theophilus London - I Stand Alone
Little Boots - New in Town

SAVE Radio Episode 4 - Trains and You

Trains seem to be an almost forgotten mode of transportation in our country. How many people can say that they've taken the train from East to West, or vice versa? It seems that modern day trains are relegated to city-wide light rails and freight lines. That may change, however given the inefficient and unsustainable nature of personal transit. Public transit is set to become a much larger portion of transportation in the coming years, in effect returning to the way that America used to popularly commute. Take a look at city photos from a century ago. You'll see trollies, trains, and carriages mingled in with those Ford Model Ts. We won't be going back to carriages (I don't think), but trains and busses will play an increasingly important factor in our lives. This broadcast focused on the future of trains in America, and how we can again rely on timely, efficient public transit. I don't have the space here to elucidate the many considerations and costs of such an endeavor, but they can all be found here: http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/31.shtml

SAVE Radio Episode 3 - Interview with Steve Coen

For those of you out there that like to mingle community, the rugged outdoors, and sports, this was the show for you! I had the good fortune of interviewing the owner of the Garage bike shop and president of the Gravity Guild, Steve Coen. We talked about how he has made a career of his passion for the sport of cycling (especially downhill, hence 'gravity') and how this led him from working at the Great Divide Cyclery to opening the Garage. It's a mix of hang-out, workshop, and community center that engages Helenans of all ages to learn about cycling and to meet their fellow community members. One of the most interesting facets of the shop is the DIY workbench that can be rented on a per-hour basis, along with the cycle maintenance and repair workshops that provide you with all the knowledge you need to keep on cycling. Check them out at 334 Jackson Street, or online at gravityguildgarage.com!
We also touched on what it means to be a part of the Gravity Guild, Helena's downhill cycling team. Along with representing the city on the regional competitive scene, the guild also brings tourists and competition to our own South Hills. The team creates and grooms trails, liaises for cooperation and good-will between cyclists and hikers, and also creates and coordinates competitions right here in Helena! Check out the blog and events tabs on their site for more information. These are meant to be inclusive of any interested community members, and many of their events can be done with almost any kind of bike. The competitive factor is up to you, of course.

The playlist for the day will be posted shortly, so stay tuned!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Transportation Policies and Your Health

This article out of San Diego makes a case for urban cycling development and makes use of some sad-but-true statistics to back up the need in such a heavily developed area:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/17/transportation-laws-can-affect-health/

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Missoula Powershift

This weekend a delegation of SAVE's Americorps workers and Carroll students traveled west to Missoula to attend the Rocky Mountain Powershift conference at the University of Montana campus. There, we attended presentations and workshops designed to produce effective youth advocates for the environment through grassroots campaigning and alternative consumption and organization. Highlights included a Skyped keynote address from BIll McKibben, a small group discussion with student transit coordinators running the campus's fleet of nine buses, a one-on-one discussion with business cooperative specialists, and community buy-in strategizing with Adventure Cycling Association representatives. In all, we came away with new friends and opportunities to expand on our current work. Keep your eyes on SAVE for future announcements!

Friday, February 17, 2012

SAVE Radio Episode 2 - Interview with Steve Larson, HATS Supervisor

Another successful broadcast has come and gone, and I'm proud to announce that the program had its first interview! I spoke to Steve Larson, the new director of the Helena Area Transit Service (HATS), about how the program serves the city, his vision for its future, and what needs to happen for us to get there. As it stands right now, the service is broken down into a fixed route and a curbside pickup service. The pickup service reaches the all of Helena, but the fixed route serves a relatively limited area of the city, leaving out some neighborhoods on the east and west sides of the city. These areas are important to getting new riders for future operations, but how to get them is the big question. There is a proposed creation of a transit district, which would levy a tax on homes above a certain value threshold to provide funding for new equipment and routes, which could be on a ballot as early as this summer. Other ideas include creating new fixed routes that have been known to be successful in the past, such as a government complex pilot program that saw over 10,000 rides given over its one year operation. In either case, there is a need to know where the new riding constituency is coming from to better accommodate future expansions and this is one of the goals that Larson has set. There will also need to be a change in the proportion of fixed route services to curbside pickups, as pickups are the least efficient use of the shuttle vehicles. Moving forward, HATS will need to find the right balance of services to make sure that it is operating as efficiently as possible!

Also don't forget about the music! Here is last night's playlist:
The Flaming Lips - Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (4:51)
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp (3:57)
Animal Collective - Bluish (5:14)
Beach House - Zebra (4:49)
Vampire Weekend - Horchata (3:27)
The Morning Benders - Excuses (5:17)
TV On The Radio - Killer Crane (6:15)
Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) (5:26)
Band of Horses - The Funeral (5:22)
Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill (3:50)
The Virgins - One Week of Danger (2:45)
The Black Keys - Next Girl (3:18)

Friday, February 10, 2012

Linx Meeting in West Yellowstone

This past Wednesday Linx held its annual board meeting in West Yellowstone, Montana. Many shareholders, providers and staff converged to help decide what the next moves are for the cooperative, and to further define its vision. We have several important announcements:

1) This summer in Yellowstone, look to Linx service providers for your transportation needs throughout the park. Last year's pilot program provided the insight and experience needed to re-calibrate our service plans and better serve those who want to get the Yellowstone experience without the responsibility or liability of private transport.

2) As our membership grows, so too does the capability of our web store. We are working to streamline the booking abilities already available and integrate new carriers into the schedule to make transfers as efficient as possible!

3) Linx will be experimenting with new technologies to make your ride simple and intuitive. These include on board GPS and wifi services so that you can surf the web and track your progress (or that of a bus you're about to take), and are testing the viability of smart cards that you can pre-load and swipe whenever you want to be on the move.


Linx is the first organization of its kind to address the needs of rural transit and connectivity. While still growing and developing, the lessons learned and the drive to succeed that our providers and staff have shown has been nothing short of inspiring. With your support and feedback, we'll become the standard for travel around the Greater Yellowstone Region. Book a trip or drop us a line at linx.coop!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

SAVE Radio Takes to the Air!

I am proud to announce that SAVE now has a weekly broadcast! Tune in to 88.5 KROL every Thursday from 5-6 p.m. to hear the latest news and interviews concerning transit progress here in Helena and throughout the state! The program will be loosely structured to be around 25-30 minutes of news and the rest music. Playlists will be posted after each show so you can go and support the artists you like. This week's is as follows:

Atmosphere - Yesterday (3:24)
Jurassic 5 - Concrete Playground (4:08)
Common - The People (3:25)
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (4:04)
Talib Kweli - I Try (4:25)
Mos Def - Auditorium (4:35)
Lupe Fiasco - Daydreamin’ (3:55)
Illecism & Trade Voorhees - Greener Grass (3:55)
The Fugees - Killing Me Softly with His Song (4:59) (cut out about 10 sec early)
De La Soul - The Magic Number (3:16)
Jay-Z - Roc Boys (4:12)
Nappy Roots - Down N’ Out (4:28)
Brother Ali - Forest Whitaker (3:00)

Friday, February 3, 2012

Ride Linx and Explore More!

S.A.V.E. is proud to announce that it has, in partnership with the Helena Area Transit Service, secured a board seat with Linx, the up and coming regional transit cooperative that brings together travel providers from all across the Greater Yellowstone region! This position gives Helena-based cooperative members a great presence among the provider community and will prepare the way for greater integration along the northern reaches of Linx's current area of operation.



I would like to thank HATS Manager Steve Larson, Yellowstone Business Partnership Executive Director Jan Brown, and SAVE Director Matt Elsaesser for their encouragement to seek this position and the support that has brought S.A.V.E. to this moment.

Check out the site, learn more and design your own adventure!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Alliance for Biking and Walking 2012 Benchmark Report

Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report can be downloaded for free or purchased as a hard copy edition. This is a great report to consult for statistics of walking and cycling recreation in the US. For more links and general info, also visit Adventure Cycling's blog.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Suburbs and the Roots of America's Health Crisis

America's built environment has centered around the growth of the suburb for the past 60 or so years. At the time of it's conception, the idea was to get out of the city, to separate from work, and to own a place that you could call your own. This dream relied on private transportation, a remodeled infrastructure based on the automobile and the separation of the home from daily amenities such as grocers and entertainment. This paradigm shift has been incredibly lucrative for the construction, oil, and auto industries and has fueled much economic growth, but as time has shown the costs have proven to be steep, as America's people have grown increasingly heavier and been exposed to far more health problems centered around exposure to noxious emissions from factories, cars, construction and food production/consumption.
A paradigm shift has begun, lead in part by researchers like Dr. Richard Jackson, a professor and chair of environmental health sciences at UCLA's School of Public Health. The focus of the shift is back onto walkable, urbanized, mixed-use environments. Admittedly, this kind of renovation is a hard sell in the face of entrenched business interests that profit from the suburban, individual-oriented environment. Perhaps one of our saving graces is that we have failed to properly maintain this infrastructure, and the costs of repaving highways, reconstructing bridges, and modernizing our traffic grids in both intra/interstate settings may not be worth the cost and continued degradation of public health.
Check out this article for more details: http://chronicle.com/article/A-Scientist-Pushes-Urban/130404/

Monday, January 23, 2012

Regional Travel Made Easy!

Great news, folks! The Linx Cooperative has officially begun online ticket sales. This means that if you want to travel in the greater Yellowstone region around Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming you are just a few clicks away. Basically, this booking service brings together travel providers in the region, whether it be bussing, airlines or rails and provides you an easy portal to reserve your seats and travel as you please. Take some time to explore their site and see for yourself how Linx is helping to improve travel and tourism in the region!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Cycling is Actually Cool!

Popular misconceptions about cycling culture and practice alienates many potential enthusiasts before they even spin the pedals. Grist takes a look at some of these issues and provides apt counterpoints to put the curious at ease. You'll have to look for yourself, as there are 10 articles linked and I can't explain them all!

Cyclists and the Role of the Red Light

In Illinois there is a push right now to allow both motorcyclists and bicyclists to move through a red light if it is deemed safe enough and they have waited for an appropriate amount of time to consider their surroundings. This new bill would only affect municipalities under two million people, which is considerable but leaves out Chicago. The issue of contention for this bill lies in the amount of time that a cyclist should wait until proceeding through the intersection, and since it has yet to be clearly defined it has been vetoed by the governor although that was subsequently overturned. Unfortunately the article does not address where the initiative comes from or what sort of theory or evidence based approach backs law. We will keep an eye out to see if or when this comes into effect what changes in accident or traffic efficiency rates there are.