The Open Planning Project

Attention all NYC and metro area teachers! Livable Streets Education (LSE) invites you to participate in our free training sessions to enliven your classroom this spring! LSE develops inquiry-based lessons that use the streets outside your school as a laboratory and helps you connects these ideas to your Core Curriculum.

RSVP here.

What’s Involved?

Teachers will be given a free set of printed materials including a Teacher’s Guide, lesson plans and worksheets for students.  Our units consist of 6-12 core lessons, with suggested extensions and resources.  All of our K-12 projects take an interdisciplinary approach to environmental education, include a civic engagement component, and culminate in a creative project that conveys lessons learned to the larger community.

Our professional development program includes hands-on experience and step-by-step training in March to make it easy to bring these lessons to life in your classroom this spring.  Participants can adapt these lessons to best suit their schedule and learning goals.  An additional training session will be held in April to help extend these ideas to service learning projects.

The Units

Please see our flyer or contact us for additional information about each unit.
•    Elementary:  K/1 The Streets Around Us
•    Elementary:  2/3 Getting Around Town
•    Elementary: 4/5 Green Streets
•    Middle School:  6-8 The Air That I Breathe
•    Middle School: 6-8 Re-design Your Street
•    High School: 9-12 Making a Livable Community

Training Schedule

Trainings will be held on March 9, 10 and 11th, from 5pm-8pm in The Open Planning Project penthouse at 148 Lafayette Street. Free dinner will be included at each training session.

• Tuesday, March 9, 5pm - All Elementary School Units
  
• Wednesday, March 10, 5pm - All Middle School Units
• Thursday, March 11, 5pm - High School Unit

Every day at Streetsblog San Francisco, our writers and editors marvel at the intelligence and passion of our readership, though we rarely get to meet this community of dedicated urbanists in person. Recently we threw ourselves a birthday party at the LGBT Center in San Francisco to celebrate all that has come in one year and we were joined by 150 of our closest friends and avid readers. We broke bread and raised our glasses in honor of the impact that our brand of advocacy journalism has had on the Bay Area, where Streetsblog San Francisco has quickly become the go-to source for sustainable transportation and smart growth news. The event even became a stop on the campaign trail for current Board of Supervisors candidates intent on pressing palms with some of the smartest and most passionate of their constituents.

Special thanks to Jonathan Weiner, without whom this past year would have been impossible. Thanks also to Katie Brodie and Nico Martin Presents for the great crew of smiling servers, impressive spread and delicious mash potatoes bar (which was quite the hit), B-Haul for the (Tasty) tunes, super volunteer Denyse Trepanier, the LGBT Center, Swirl Wine Bar, SFBC and its volunteers for weathering the rain to provide valet bike parking, Supervisor David Chiu, Supervisor Eric Mar, Judson True, Leah Shahum, Andy Thornley, Gabriel Metcalf, Chris Carlsson, Dave Snyder, John Hamilton (for the great Streetfilm you see above), Mike and Sarah Sonn, Brooke Dubose, Greg Riessen, Gary Fisher, and many, many more...

Here's to a wonderful 2010 and many more reasons to celebrate the San Francisco Bay Area and its improving public realm.

For the end of this year, Streetfilms decided to do something fun: ask some of the most influential livable streets advocates, personalities, journalists and web folk which of the 90 films we produced this year impacted them most.  Since we hit our millionth visitor this week and have recorded close to 2.5 million videos plays - hurrah! - it was a way to pat ourselves on the back, but also a unique way to review the year that was 2009 and let new fans know what they may have missed.

The choices were extremely diverse (only a few films got multiple mentions) which frankly surprised us. It would seem the popularity of some films, didn't necessarily make them the most popular in the minds of our voters.  Thanks to all the picks.  Hopefully we can make lots more in 2010, have a Happy New Year!

Janette Sadik-Khan (NYC DOT Commissioner): "It’s so hard, like choosing what to pick at my favorite chocolate store!  I'd select: The Search for the Zozo, Walk21, and Sands Street."

Brian Lehrer & Derek Tutschulte (The Brian Lehrer Show):  "The High Bridge gave us all a unique behind the scenes view of a New York treasure that few people ever get to see."

Jeff Mapes (author, Pedaling Revolution): "I like Rush Hour on the Hawthorne Bridge the best.  You so nicely captured the feel of something I know a lot about, having biked over that bridge in rush hour literally hundreds of times."

Laura Flanders (GRITtv): "For best series, the Brazil trilogy (ASCOBIKE, Curitiba's BRT, Jaime Lerner) was wonderful, [but] best one off: Scraper Bikes: Bike 4 Life Ride. Kids creating positive subculture, biking, and hip hop?  This was just great."

Mikael Colville-Andersen (Copenhagen Cycle Chic):  Carmageddon Averted in Herald Square.  "This film is great because of the enormity of the transformation and the visionary thoughts behind doing it."

Donald Shoup (professor, author "The High Cost of Free Parking"): "I vote for Bicycle Boulevards for NYC.  They seem like the most cost effective way for cities to make cycling easier, safer, and more enjoyable."

Diana Lind (Editor-in-chief, Next American City): "The video of a snowy Highline...it is real reminder of the New York that once was - and potential for any urban space to be reimaganied."

Gil Peñalosa (Executive Director, Walk & Bike for Life): "If an image is worth a thousand words, the Streetfilms site is worth billions. NYC DOT Explains Bike Lanes in the Big Apple shows that one size does not fit all [when it comes to bike facilities]."

Christine Berthet (über activist, Hell's Kitchen): "Veronica Moss in Times Square. She's just too much!"

Michael Graham Richard (editor Cars & Transportation, Treeghugger): "Copenhagen's Climate-Friendly, Bike-Friendly Streets.  The bike capital of the world can teach us a lot about how we can make our cities much better for people and the environment. Let's pay attention."

Kerri Martin (founder, Second Life Bikes): "I love that Streetfilms takes us to places like  The High Bridge: a gem of a walkway in our corner of the world that most of us have never been on but can dream for its opening and help work towards that possibility."

Elly Blue (Managing Editor, BikePortland): "My favorite shows Mark Gorton wading out into embattled crosswalks yelling 'How rude! Can you believe these people?' Way to point out that the 300lb moonwalking bear in the room has no clothes."

Eric Britton (and the World Streets team): "Ahem. Let me open the envelope here....the Gold goes to: Meet Veronica Moss, A.U.T.O. Lobbyist.  For sheer thoughtfulness and political daring, the Silver goes to: Jaime Lerner on Making Curitiba's First Pedestrian Street.  And on the grounds that no one but no one can resist him: Enrique Peñalosa Brings Inspiration to Boston gets the Bronze.

Carla Saulter (columnist, Bus Chick, Transit Authority): "Scraper Bikes. I have a secret weakness for macked out cars--candy paint, big wheels, hydraulics, the whole nine - and I love seeing this same energy directed at a form of travel I can actually respect.

Ben Fried (Editor, NYC Streetsblog): "Hudson River Crossings: Improving Bus Capacity. Captivating animation and stellar narration bring an under-appreciated congestion busting solution to life."

Jackie Douglas (Director, Livable Streets Alliance (Boston): "The Search for the Zozo. Creative, funny, and an exceptional cast of people working to create more livable streets around the world."

Shin-pei Tsay (Deputy Director, Transportation Alternatives) "There's no better way to see how far we've come in such a short time than to witness people, let alone the founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus, Earl Blumenauer, happily and safely bike around NYC."

Clarence Eckerson Jr. (Director, Streetfilms): "The Transformation of Madison Square.  I really didn't want to pick one of my own, but I so loved being there on a balmy February. I tried hard to translate that energy."

Robin Urban Smith (Associate, Streetfilms): "Seattle's Bus Chick. I love the personal and charming story of this bus enthusiast. I'm also a sucker for the bus graphics!

If you want to leave your own personal pick for favorite Streetfilm of 2009 please do so in the comments field.  And if you have suggestions for places we should visit or subjects to tackle next year, feel free to start a list.

As you may know, Transportation Alternatives put on a red carpet premiere Tuesday night for the "Biking Rules" PSA competition at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The contest pitted video entries against each other in two main categories: "Why Biking Rules" and "Street Code."  Videos in the Street Code category encourage people to use lights, bells, stop at red lights, ride with traffic and generally ride safely and courteously.  Out of some 80 total submissions, about 40 PSAs (and a slideshow of photos) played to a sold out theater.

There is so much bike love out there and it is awesome to see it expressed in funny and beautifully produced biking shorts.

Since many more people wanted to attend than could cram into the theater, Streetfilms decided to put our new community video section to good use. You'll find the five PSA video winners along with a few other Biking Rules PSAs we found on YouTube. "A Love Mucycle," is bit long compared to the others but, definitely worth a watch.

And now, the winners:

In the HD/HDV Biking Rules "Street Code" category, the grand prize was divided between two films:
*"Wrong Way" Directed by Sean Donnelly & Abbey Luck
*"Lights Turn Heads" Directed by Aldo Arias & Pam Tietze

"Gear Up: Safety 'n' You," directed by Philip Chernyak & Nora Wolf, took the prize for best"Why Biking Rules" video in HD/HDV

Best DIY "Why Biking Rules" PSA went to Paco Abraham & Daniel Latorre for "Revolution."

Best DIY "Street Code" PSA was snagged by Yoni Brook for "Eyes."

Ready your smartphones. The FixCity Bike Rack Roundup is coming up this Sunday, Nov 22! The event is a tournament to make Williamsurg & Greenpoint more bike-able.

"Everyone wants better bike infrastructure," says organizer Lily Bernheimer. "The Roundup brings people into the city's planning process in a fun and powerful way."

Join us for lively competition and sweet prizes like a B's Bikes gift basket, a NY Transit museum multi-tool, and fashion-forward totes from Transportation Alternatives!

The FixCity Bike Rack Roundup is the culmination of a pilot campaign to compile a bulk order of 300 bike racks for Brooklyn Community District 1. Contestants will "verify" spots previously suggested and search out new ones. Prizes will go to the team who finds the most spots! Prizes & more here.The result will be more bike racks in better locations.

Though Sunday's event covers Williamsburg and Greenpoint, everyone in the city is invited. If you are looking for more bike racks in your neighborhood, getting involved will help us perfect the tools and process so that we can bring FixCity your way soon.

When:
Sunday November 22nd, 2009
2:00- 5:00 PM

Meet at:
The Change You Want to See gallery
84 Havemeyer St. (@ Metropolitan Ave.), Brooklyn
RSVPs to info@fixcity.org appreciated

Can't make it?
Take part by submitting your suggestions for the area before the 22nd at
http://fixcity.org or via email from a smart phone (see image below).

Here's your last-minute reminder to sign up for the community-building event with the best. name. ever. Join us on November 23rd for the Community Board Join-Up Jammy Jam, hosted by Transportation Alternatives and Livable Streets Initiative. This event is a great way to explore membership on community boards, New York's neighborhood civic decision-makers. As TA reminds us, community boards are "only as open-minded and effective as the people who sit on them."

Join us to apply for your board and to enjoy dinner, drinks, and conversation with current board members. Please RSVP by November 18.

When: Nov 23rd, 6-8pm

Where: The Open Planning Project / 148 Lafayette Street / Penthouse Floor

In September, dozens of people turned out for the Livable Streets Initiative's first bike rack hunt in North Brooklyn, where we identified about 70 spots that are begging for some nice bike parking. The locations will be submitted to DOT as a bulk order for bike racks. But first, we're raising the stakes.

With your help, LSI and Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) will suggest 300 locations for new bike racks in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Finding good locations for bike parking is tougher than you'd think. The trick is to verify that all 300 spots are actually suitable for racks. This handy "How to Get Your NYC Bike Racks" Streetfilm by Robin Urban Smith explains it all.

So here's the plan: This Sunday, you're invited to join us on a "Tag or Treat" ride. We're going to spread the word by scouring the streets for bikes and attaching notes that explain how to suggest bike rack locations using the FixCity: Bike Racks site. Then on November 22, we're going to collect all the locations submitted through the website and put on a contest. Top prize goes to the person who verifies the most locations as suitable for bike racks (details to come).

If you can't make it to either event, you can still suggest a rack location and verify that it is appropriate online. And starting Monday, if you have a smart phone you'll be able to submit rack suggestions via email, on the spot. Simply snap a photo and send it to racks@fixcity.org. Include the address and name of the nearest establishment in the subject line and any further description in the message body (use the format at right). But first, watch the Streetfilm so you can suggest spots that DOT will actually take advantage of.

The bulk order for North Brooklyn is a pilot project of FixCity. If you'd like to get more involved in this bulk order or organize another one in your neighborhood, contact info@fixcity.org.

In New York City, about 80 percent of kids walk to school. This is amazingly high compared to the national average of about 13 percent.

On October 7, over 40 countries celebrated International Walk to School Day. In New York City, Livable Streets Education and the National Center for Safe Routes to School hosted a walk to school celebration in Washington Square Park in conjunction with the Walk 21 Conference.

After students participated in activities promoting better urban mobility, Gil Penalosa spoke to the students and beatbox master Rahzel performed.