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.
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
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.
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