Jason Varone

As New York State sets up a commission to study the costs and benefits of New York City's congestion pricing proposal, a new study by the Clean Air Task Force finds that, for many New Yorkers, the greatest exposure to dangerous and unhealthy air pollution comes during the daily commute. "Although we spend only about six percent of our day commuting to and from work, it is during that time when we receive over half of our exposure" to diesel exhaust, researchers found.

From Sean Roche at the Newton Streets and Sidewalks blog:

With new fuel economy standards under consideration in Congress, James Surowiecki ponders why Americans continue to buy gas guzzlers when polls show that the majority would like to see the government mandate big increases in fuel efficiency. What does all of this have to do with professional hockey players wearing helmets? This was in last week's New Yorker:

Fatalities per billion kilometers driven from 1970 to 2005 for selected countries

Leading representatives from the New York Central Labor Council, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Environmental Defense, Nos Quedamos and Transportation Alternatives will join with other leaders from the Campaign for New York's Future to thank New York's elected leaders for moving New York's congestion pricing plan forward while also urging quick action on key remaining steps required to secure $500 million in federal funds, during a press conference, 1:00 pm, Sunday, July 22, on the steps of City Hall, Manhattan.

This summer, Transportation Alternatives is collaborating with Groundswell to create a mural as the centerpiece of a community traffic calming project along 3rd Avenue in Boerum Hill, Park Slope and Gowanus. This project was inspired by the tragic death of James Rice and many other children that have been injured and killed by cars. As many of you know, James was hit and killed by a Hummer on 3rd Avenue and Baltic Street on his way home from pre-school this past February. He had just turned four years old.

Mayor Richard Daley has been aggressive in transforming Chicago into a more livable city, cracking down on sociopathic motorists, encouraging traffic-calming, promoting bicycling and paying attention to the nitty gritty environmental impacts of street design. The Chicago Tribune recently reported on the Mayor's latest effort to fund citywide park-improvements projects using revenues from city-owned parking garages:

On Sunday in Paris, more than 10,000 bicycles became available at 750 self-service docking stations. The bike program, called Vélib (for "vélo," bicycle, and "liberté," freedom) is supposed to double in size by the end of the year. Pierre Aidenbaum, mayor of Paris's trendy third district, said "For a long time cars were associated with freedom of movement and flexibility. What we want to show people is that in many ways bicycles fulfill this role much more today." The New York Times reports:

Regional Rail Working Group A Consortium of Transit Advocacy Organizations