Aaron Naparstek

Parks Dept. spokesperson Abigail Lootens confirms this morning's story:

According to a Streetsblog tipster, the Parks Dept. is finally cracking down on the numerous employees who have turned sections of Central Park into a parking lot. Below is a broadcast e-mail from Parks Dept. Assistant Commissioner and Senior Counselor Jack Linn to Parks Dept. employees. I have a call in to the Parks Dept. to verify this e-email. Here is the message that was reportedly sent out on Friday:

$3.5m for Beach Bike and Handicap Path Stuck in Parks Dept Red Tape (News) Sen. Schumer Says NYC Bridges Neglected Despite His Wife’s Assurances (Sun) MTA Studying One-Seat Rail Ride to Upstate Stewart Airport (Sun) Mayor Bloomberg’s SUV/Subway Commute Makes the National News (NPR) Pave the Railways! Tri-State Region’s Road Network Must be Expanded (NYT) … Continued

Grist recently produced a list of the world's 15 greenest cities. Streetsblog favorites Copenhagen, Curitiba, London, and Bogotá all made the grade. StreetFilms' posterchild Portland captured the number two spot right behind geothermal-powered Reykjavik, Iceland. San Francisco and Austin were the only other U.S. cities to make the list with Chicago meriting runner-up status.

Streetsblog tipster Geoff Zink reports "this morning there were two friendly DOT guys on the Brooklyn side of the Manny B handing out flyers regarding the reopening of the north side bike lanes. Gotta love the new DOT!"

2,000+ NY Bridges “Deficient,” 9 NYC Spans Lowest Rating (NYT, Sun, News) Current Weight Limits on City Bridges Would Ban Large SUVs (Streetsblog) Heavy Trucks Contribute More to Road and Bridge Wear and Tear (TSTC)  I-35 Survivor Recounts Terrifying Plunge (NYT) Results Are In: How Many SUVs Are There on Your Block? (Brian Lehrer) 9th … Continued

Tonight, you are invited to a planning meeting to prepare for the previously discussed parking spot squat in New York City as a part of Park(ing) Day 2007. If you want to get involved, this is the place to be. Let's show those San Franciscans who's boss. 

Upper East Side Politicians Unite to Fight Bike Lane (Sun) Massive I-35 Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis (The Lede) RELATED: Gowanus Expressway 2012? (Gulp!) When a Mayor Plays Just Another Straphanger (NYT) Lousy Gas Mileage in the City Hall Parking Lot (Politicker)   Bloomberg: Some People Focus on Important Things, Some Don’t (City Room) City May … Continued

Sweden re-launched its congestion pricing system today following a 6-month trial and voter referendum last September, in which Stockholm residents approved the traffic control measure by a margin of 52 to 45. The referendum was a definitive victory for a system that reduced Stockholm's traffic congestion by as much as 50 percent and decreased noxious air pollution by 14 percent (you can see some stats here). Notably, prior to the 6-month trial run, polls showed that as many as 80 percent of Stockholm residents were against the idea congestion pricing.

A Curbed tipster sent along this photo of the "controversial" new bike lane going in along E. 90th Street.