Bike cops by Sura, October 24

Bike cops help make our streets safer.
They broaden bike culture.
They’re more accessible as human beings and are easier to get to know.
They have closer and longer eyes on the streets.
They’re faster than cops on foot.

I talk to bike cops almost every time I see them.

We need more.

24 Oct 2007 | 10:18 pm | Safety, Streets, Bicycles, Pedestrians | Read 1 comment - Add your comments

Bike-sharing programs by Sura, October 22

The Madison Mayor’s Platinum Biking City Planning Committee has concluded that the
bicycle is a vehicle for social change.

How exciting is that!!

Madison is trying to become the best city for bicycling. If they can do it, so can we!

They have also started a bike sharing program which now operates it as a lending library.

The city of Milwaukee is looking at starting this also. I’ll post more details when I find them.

22 Oct 2007 | 10:19 pm | Streets, Bicycles, Pedestrians | No comments yet - Add your comments

Lots to Plots by Sura, October 22

Milwaukee needs more community gardens, urban agriculture and a vital food policy. We can do what many other cities in the U.S. started doing years ago to build community, create jobs, strengthen community health and empower youth. See what Seattle is doing here.

22 Oct 2007 | 10:00 pm | Green Spaces | No comments yet - Add your comments

Lawns to Gardens by Sura, October 22

Here’s an interesting page from a website site called Food Not Lawns

It points out that Americans spend almost $30 billion per year on their lawns. These lawns, often chemical-saturated, could produce enough organic vegetables for thousands of families, using much less water, and caring for our environment.

lots of interesting information!

22 Oct 2007 | 9:37 pm | Green Spaces | Read 2 comments - Add your comments

Area of improvement: Milwaukee has the 2nd worst jobless rate by Sura, October 22

From a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on Oct. 16:

“Among the 50 largest U.S. cities, only Detroit had a higher unemployment rate than Milwaukee in August, according to a new study at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.”

“Compared with other large cities, Milwaukee has a low rate of college-educated residents and a high degree of segregation, which places central-city job-seekers away from suburban job growth, Levine said.”

We are fortunate that we have a very high rate of education in the 3rd District, but we need strong leadership to work on creating more jobs, particularly in the central city. Kudos to those businesses that employ people with criminal records and help them become participating citizens.

22 Oct 2007 | 7:54 pm | Economic Development | Read 1 comment - Add your comments

Car sharing by Sura, October 16

The East Side, Brady Street and Riverwest are now part of the Flexcar service area! Any UWM neighbor is welcome to use the Flex cars located at the UWM campus, Kenilworth or Riverview Dorms.

If you’ve been thinking of giving up your car or a second family car, check them out, because the more people who drive them, the more cars they will bring in for neighborhood use.

If you join Flexcar by November 28, 2007, the first year’s membership fee will be waived (a $35 value).

16 Oct 2007 | 4:37 pm | Environmental Sustainability | No comments yet - Add your comments

Micro Wind Power by milo, October 15

Here’s an interesting idea for micro wind generators. I could see these strung between houses and buildings to lessen the amount of fossil fuels that need to be consumed to light and heat our neighborhoods.

15 Oct 2007 | 8:56 am | Environmental Sustainability | No comments yet - Add your comments

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