From bicycle highways to a ban on the cul-de-sac, the built environment is the focus of many of The New York Times Magazine's ideas of the year.
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Banning the Cul-de-Sac and Building Bike Highways
Banning the Cul-de-Sac and Building Bike Highways: "
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Sunday, December 13, 2009
dbd Studio - Digitally Fabricated Bookshelf
dbd Studio - Digitally Fabricated Bookshelf: "
We've been hard at work the past few weeks here at the offices of dbd Studio, and late last night we completed the installation of our most recent project. A custom bookshelf specifically designed and built for a condo in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington DC.
The owner had a severe lack of storage for household items, as well as no display options for objects collected from his worldwide travels. The large bookshelf serves as both an art piece in itself and a functional storage/display system.
An organic curving surface was created in Rhino that stretched from floor to ceiling and overhead, terminating at the existing bulkhead. 17 sheets of 3/4' birch plywood were then CNC milled to notch together and form the undulating, gridded mass.
dbd Studio (Design/Build/Develop) is located in the Washington, DC area specializing in restaurant/retail and custom furniture. CNC milling by Brand Vizion of Chantilly, VA.
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We've been hard at work the past few weeks here at the offices of dbd Studio, and late last night we completed the installation of our most recent project. A custom bookshelf specifically designed and built for a condo in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington DC.
The owner had a severe lack of storage for household items, as well as no display options for objects collected from his worldwide travels. The large bookshelf serves as both an art piece in itself and a functional storage/display system.Concept Rendering (click to enlarge)
An organic curving surface was created in Rhino that stretched from floor to ceiling and overhead, terminating at the existing bulkhead. 17 sheets of 3/4' birch plywood were then CNC milled to notch together and form the undulating, gridded mass.Construction Diagram (click to enlarge)
Special attention was paid to avoid interfering with the recessed lights, sprinkler heads, air vents and fire alarms along the hallway ceiling. The vertical plywood components were spaced to avoid them or notched to allow them to function.
Europe's Greenest Capitals List
Europe's Greenest Capitals List: "
The European Green City Index is out, sponsored by Siemens and developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit. Yet another index. This one determines which European cities are the greenest, using a slough of factors.
The Scandinavian capitals occupy the top 3: Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. Helsinki is at number 7.
For the full list and all the methodology/statistics [so the Moncktonites have something to keep themselves busy] just click on these words you're reading right now.
The European Green City Index is out, sponsored by Siemens and developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit. Yet another index. This one determines which European cities are the greenest, using a slough of factors.
The Scandinavian capitals occupy the top 3: Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. Helsinki is at number 7.
For the full list and all the methodology/statistics [so the Moncktonites have something to keep themselves busy] just click on these words you're reading right now.
Copenhagenize the planet. And have a lovely day.
"
LED Lane Lights for Cyclists and Motorists
LED Lane Lights for Cyclists and Motorists: "
The City of Copenhagen has implemented LED lights in four locations aimed at reducing the risk of right turn collisons between cars/trucks and cyclists.
Copenhagenize Consulting produced this info film for the City to use and figured I'd blog about it here.
The LED Lane Lights, as they're called, are located on the last stretch of bike lanes leading up to a busy intersection. They operate through sensors under the asphalt. When cyclists are registered, the lights start flashing and alerting turning vehicles to the prescence of cyclists.
One sensor is located under the asphalt on the separated cycle track right at the light, in order to register cyclists waiting for the light to change. When the lights turn green, the lane lights start flashing if cyclists are present.
There is also a sensor under the asphalt 25 metres farther back. If the lights are green and a cyclist comes riding at speed towards the intersection, the sensors are triggered here and the lane lights start flashing, allowing the cyclist to continue through the intersection.
The lights are visible in one direction. They are aimed at motorists - and truck drivers in particular - looking in their side mirror. Allowing them to flash the other way, visible to the cyclists, is considered to be a distraction for those on bicycles. We would really prefer for them to watch the traffic ahead, for obvious reasons.
When the lights are about to change, the LED lane lights stop flashing and, as the cyclists roll to a stop, the cars can turn.
It's worth mentioning that cars generally stop for cyclists here. Our motorists are cyclists, too, and the massive numbers of bicycles here in the world's cycling capital has trained everyone to take care.
Nevertheless, the City continues to work towards increasing our already impressive safety record for bicycles.
The City of Copenhagen has implemented LED lights in four locations aimed at reducing the risk of right turn collisons between cars/trucks and cyclists.
Copenhagenize Consulting produced this info film for the City to use and figured I'd blog about it here.
The LED Lane Lights, as they're called, are located on the last stretch of bike lanes leading up to a busy intersection. They operate through sensors under the asphalt. When cyclists are registered, the lights start flashing and alerting turning vehicles to the prescence of cyclists.
One sensor is located under the asphalt on the separated cycle track right at the light, in order to register cyclists waiting for the light to change. When the lights turn green, the lane lights start flashing if cyclists are present.
There is also a sensor under the asphalt 25 metres farther back. If the lights are green and a cyclist comes riding at speed towards the intersection, the sensors are triggered here and the lane lights start flashing, allowing the cyclist to continue through the intersection.
The lights are visible in one direction. They are aimed at motorists - and truck drivers in particular - looking in their side mirror. Allowing them to flash the other way, visible to the cyclists, is considered to be a distraction for those on bicycles. We would really prefer for them to watch the traffic ahead, for obvious reasons.
When the lights are about to change, the LED lane lights stop flashing and, as the cyclists roll to a stop, the cars can turn.
It's worth mentioning that cars generally stop for cyclists here. Our motorists are cyclists, too, and the massive numbers of bicycles here in the world's cycling capital has trained everyone to take care.
Nevertheless, the City continues to work towards increasing our already impressive safety record for bicycles.
Copenhagenize the planet. And have a lovely day.
"
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Filling in the Blanks
Filling in the Blanks: "
I live in a city called Frederiksberg, which is an independent enclave surrounded by Copenhagen. There's about 90,000 citizens in the city. The city has a well-developed bicycle infrastructure. You can't really not have it when you're surrounded by Copenhagen.
There are few streets left in the city that don't have separated bike lanes/cycle tracks/whatever you want to call them. One of the stretches is Thorvaldsensvej and the bike lane was finished just last week. It's pictured, above. Previously on this stretch there was a painted lane where there is now a physically separated lane.
With that said, it's certainly not every street that has separated bike lanes. The residential streets around our flat certainly don't. There isn't enough traffic to merit separation. It's only on streets that feature a certain numbers of cars each day. Normally, according to the Danish best practice guidelines for bicycle infrastructure a cycle track is implemented - replacing a painted bike lane - when the number of cars is over 6000 a day and the speed limit is 50 km/h. [If the speed limit is 30 km/h, 10,000 cars a day is the limit before separated cycle tracks are built]. What we're seeing, however, in many parts of Greater Copenhagen is that separated cycle tracks are being built even when the number of cars per day is lower.
This is a section of the city's plan for the Thorvaldsens street. For some strange reason many people seem to think that all of our cycle tracks continue up to the intersection. This isn't the case at all. It depends on traffic volume and the specific nature of the intersection in question.
On the plan you can see the cycle track on the right - the one that sweeps upward - ends well before the intersection and cars and bicycle mingle up to the light. The law in Denmark is that whoever gets there first decides. If a car is the first in the turn lane, the driver can choose to hug the curb or leave space for the cyclists. If it's curb-hugging, then the cyclists move around the car to wait on the left side. If cyclists get there first then it's obvious that they stick to the curb and motorists will wait to turn on the left side of the lane.
On the left side of the intersection the cycle track runs up to the intersection, although the stop line for cars is positioned five metres farther back, as it is in most intersections in Copenhagen. The number of cars turning right here is much lower than it is on the opposite side of the street.
The City of Copenhagen isn't shy to let the citizens know when new cycle tracks are on the way. The sign reads,
'More cycle tracks in the world's best cycling city'.
'It should be safe and secure to ride bicycles in Copenhagen. That's why we're building cycle tracks in Stormgade. If 50% of Copenhageners use the bicycle to get to work or school in 2015 we'll save 80,000 tonnes C02 each year.'
At time of writing this there are 338 km of cycle tracks, 19 km of cycle lanes and 39 km of green cycling routes. More are on the way. Add to that all the shared space streets and residential streets that do not require infrastructure.
We're filling in the blanks.
I live in a city called Frederiksberg, which is an independent enclave surrounded by Copenhagen. There's about 90,000 citizens in the city. The city has a well-developed bicycle infrastructure. You can't really not have it when you're surrounded by Copenhagen.
There are few streets left in the city that don't have separated bike lanes/cycle tracks/whatever you want to call them. One of the stretches is Thorvaldsensvej and the bike lane was finished just last week. It's pictured, above. Previously on this stretch there was a painted lane where there is now a physically separated lane.
With that said, it's certainly not every street that has separated bike lanes. The residential streets around our flat certainly don't. There isn't enough traffic to merit separation. It's only on streets that feature a certain numbers of cars each day. Normally, according to the Danish best practice guidelines for bicycle infrastructure a cycle track is implemented - replacing a painted bike lane - when the number of cars is over 6000 a day and the speed limit is 50 km/h. [If the speed limit is 30 km/h, 10,000 cars a day is the limit before separated cycle tracks are built]. What we're seeing, however, in many parts of Greater Copenhagen is that separated cycle tracks are being built even when the number of cars per day is lower.
This is a section of the city's plan for the Thorvaldsens street. For some strange reason many people seem to think that all of our cycle tracks continue up to the intersection. This isn't the case at all. It depends on traffic volume and the specific nature of the intersection in question.
On the plan you can see the cycle track on the right - the one that sweeps upward - ends well before the intersection and cars and bicycle mingle up to the light. The law in Denmark is that whoever gets there first decides. If a car is the first in the turn lane, the driver can choose to hug the curb or leave space for the cyclists. If it's curb-hugging, then the cyclists move around the car to wait on the left side. If cyclists get there first then it's obvious that they stick to the curb and motorists will wait to turn on the left side of the lane.
On the left side of the intersection the cycle track runs up to the intersection, although the stop line for cars is positioned five metres farther back, as it is in most intersections in Copenhagen. The number of cars turning right here is much lower than it is on the opposite side of the street.
The City of Copenhagen isn't shy to let the citizens know when new cycle tracks are on the way. The sign reads,
'More cycle tracks in the world's best cycling city'.
'It should be safe and secure to ride bicycles in Copenhagen. That's why we're building cycle tracks in Stormgade. If 50% of Copenhageners use the bicycle to get to work or school in 2015 we'll save 80,000 tonnes C02 each year.'
At time of writing this there are 338 km of cycle tracks, 19 km of cycle lanes and 39 km of green cycling routes. More are on the way. Add to that all the shared space streets and residential streets that do not require infrastructure.
We're filling in the blanks.
Copenhagenize the planet. And have a lovely day.
"
Ride Planet Earth - Climate Conference Bicycles
Ride Planet Earth - Climate Conference Bicycles: "Here's another bicycle event timed to coincide with the Climate Conference. It's called Ride Planet Earth
Here's a press release I recieved:
From Australia to Copenhagen on bike in the name of the Climate
Cyclists from around the globe will take to the streets on the 6th of December 2009, demonstrating the capacity and willingness of ordinary people to take action against climate change. Ride Planet Earth aims at helping convince world’s governments to take immediate action in order to close a global climate deal.
Participants will be recording video messages to address the COP15 Climate Conference, stating not only that public action is necessary, but also that they will be taking action personally, to demonstrate that ordinary people will take the lead if governments fail to reach an agreement.
Kim Nguyen - From Australia to Copenhagen by bike.
Ride Planet Earth, started by Kim Nguyen, has begun as a solo bicycle journey from Brisbane, Australia, to Copenhagen, Denmark, to collect messages from people already affected by global warming and their will for economic change. Over the course of the journey a mass solidarity movement has developed and bicycle rides are occurring on every continent as to promote radical alternatives to burning fossil fuel.
Join Ride Copenhagen
Join the last ride with Kim Nguyen who has travelled by bike all the way from Australia through Asia and Europe to Copenhagen. We start the Ride in the town of Roskilde but you can join the Ride along the way. We end the Ride at “The COme 2gether Café ' in the heart of Copenhagen.
DETAILS ABOUT THE RIDE
Starting point: at 10.00 AM at Hestetorvet - next to Roskilde Train Station (35 km left).
1. Pick up point: at 11.00 AM at Høje Taastrup Station (next to the train station) (25 km left).
2. Pick up point: app. at 13.15 PM at Damhustorvet (only 7km left).
End: at The COme 2gether Café , Borups Højskole, Frederiksholms Kanal 24.
Here's Kim in Thailand. Be sure to check out the website and the blog.
Here's a press release I recieved:
From Australia to Copenhagen on bike in the name of the Climate
Cyclists from around the globe will take to the streets on the 6th of December 2009, demonstrating the capacity and willingness of ordinary people to take action against climate change. Ride Planet Earth aims at helping convince world’s governments to take immediate action in order to close a global climate deal.
Participants will be recording video messages to address the COP15 Climate Conference, stating not only that public action is necessary, but also that they will be taking action personally, to demonstrate that ordinary people will take the lead if governments fail to reach an agreement.
Kim Nguyen - From Australia to Copenhagen by bike.
Ride Planet Earth, started by Kim Nguyen, has begun as a solo bicycle journey from Brisbane, Australia, to Copenhagen, Denmark, to collect messages from people already affected by global warming and their will for economic change. Over the course of the journey a mass solidarity movement has developed and bicycle rides are occurring on every continent as to promote radical alternatives to burning fossil fuel.
Join Ride Copenhagen
Join the last ride with Kim Nguyen who has travelled by bike all the way from Australia through Asia and Europe to Copenhagen. We start the Ride in the town of Roskilde but you can join the Ride along the way. We end the Ride at “The COme 2gether Café ' in the heart of Copenhagen.
DETAILS ABOUT THE RIDE
Starting point: at 10.00 AM at Hestetorvet - next to Roskilde Train Station (35 km left).
1. Pick up point: at 11.00 AM at Høje Taastrup Station (next to the train station) (25 km left).
2. Pick up point: app. at 13.15 PM at Damhustorvet (only 7km left).
End: at The COme 2gether Café , Borups Højskole, Frederiksholms Kanal 24.
Here's Kim in Thailand. Be sure to check out the website and the blog.
Copenhagenize the planet. And have a lovely day.
"
Ride Planet Earth - Climate Conference Bicycles
Ride Planet Earth - Climate Conference Bicycles: "Here's another bicycle event timed to coincide with the Climate Conference. It's called Ride Planet Earth
Here's a press release I recieved:
From Australia to Copenhagen on bike in the name of the Climate
Cyclists from around the globe will take to the streets on the 6th of December 2009, demonstrating the capacity and willingness of ordinary people to take action against climate change. Ride Planet Earth aims at helping convince world’s governments to take immediate action in order to close a global climate deal.
Participants will be recording video messages to address the COP15 Climate Conference, stating not only that public action is necessary, but also that they will be taking action personally, to demonstrate that ordinary people will take the lead if governments fail to reach an agreement.
Kim Nguyen - From Australia to Copenhagen by bike.
Ride Planet Earth, started by Kim Nguyen, has begun as a solo bicycle journey from Brisbane, Australia, to Copenhagen, Denmark, to collect messages from people already affected by global warming and their will for economic change. Over the course of the journey a mass solidarity movement has developed and bicycle rides are occurring on every continent as to promote radical alternatives to burning fossil fuel.
Join Ride Copenhagen
Join the last ride with Kim Nguyen who has travelled by bike all the way from Australia through Asia and Europe to Copenhagen. We start the Ride in the town of Roskilde but you can join the Ride along the way. We end the Ride at “The COme 2gether Café ' in the heart of Copenhagen.
DETAILS ABOUT THE RIDE
Starting point: at 10.00 AM at Hestetorvet - next to Roskilde Train Station (35 km left).
1. Pick up point: at 11.00 AM at Høje Taastrup Station (next to the train station) (25 km left).
2. Pick up point: app. at 13.15 PM at Damhustorvet (only 7km left).
End: at The COme 2gether Café , Borups Højskole, Frederiksholms Kanal 24.
Here's Kim in Thailand. Be sure to check out the website and the blog.
Here's a press release I recieved:
From Australia to Copenhagen on bike in the name of the Climate
Cyclists from around the globe will take to the streets on the 6th of December 2009, demonstrating the capacity and willingness of ordinary people to take action against climate change. Ride Planet Earth aims at helping convince world’s governments to take immediate action in order to close a global climate deal.
Participants will be recording video messages to address the COP15 Climate Conference, stating not only that public action is necessary, but also that they will be taking action personally, to demonstrate that ordinary people will take the lead if governments fail to reach an agreement.
Kim Nguyen - From Australia to Copenhagen by bike.
Ride Planet Earth, started by Kim Nguyen, has begun as a solo bicycle journey from Brisbane, Australia, to Copenhagen, Denmark, to collect messages from people already affected by global warming and their will for economic change. Over the course of the journey a mass solidarity movement has developed and bicycle rides are occurring on every continent as to promote radical alternatives to burning fossil fuel.
Join Ride Copenhagen
Join the last ride with Kim Nguyen who has travelled by bike all the way from Australia through Asia and Europe to Copenhagen. We start the Ride in the town of Roskilde but you can join the Ride along the way. We end the Ride at “The COme 2gether Café ' in the heart of Copenhagen.
DETAILS ABOUT THE RIDE
Starting point: at 10.00 AM at Hestetorvet - next to Roskilde Train Station (35 km left).
1. Pick up point: at 11.00 AM at Høje Taastrup Station (next to the train station) (25 km left).
2. Pick up point: app. at 13.15 PM at Damhustorvet (only 7km left).
End: at The COme 2gether Café , Borups Højskole, Frederiksholms Kanal 24.
Here's Kim in Thailand. Be sure to check out the website and the blog.
Copenhagenize the planet. And have a lovely day.
"
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