It is 4th of July weekend. Can't think of anything fun to do? Might a Block Party fancy you? There are over 3000 block parties in New York every year. There is bound to be one in or near your neighborhood. Check the Block Party NYC list of locations. Or, if you know about a party that is not listed, just add it yourself. Here is a taste of the 87th Street Block Party in June.
Archive for the ‘Issues’ Category
-
Block Party Summer
-
Figment* 2008 on Governors Island
This weekend, FIGMENT 2008, a free, non-profit art project, drew upwards of 10,000 people to Governors Island for a three day festival of performance, music and participatory art. Partnering with Governors Island, the producers of FIGMENT hope to increase the enjoyment of art by placing it in an under-utilized public space just minutes from downtown. Streetfilms was there to cover the event and speak to one of the creators of what it is all about.
-
Portland (Green) Bike Box!
Earlier this year, Portland's Office of Transportation installed many high visibility bike boxes that are colored lime green to help cyclist avoid right hook collisions. So while in Portland for the World Car-free Conference, we decided to have a little fun and publish a sequel to our very popular "How to Use a Bike Box".
-
Portland’s Sunday Parkways
Despite a very dreary and damp first half of the day, Portland's first Ciclovia-style street closure, Sunday Parkways, was a smashing success with countless thousands of city residents participating. It was like a giant community block party with walkers, bikers, joggers, bladers, families, and pets filling the 6 mile course.
-
Hike the Heights!
Hike the Heights is a yearly guided urban hiking safari for kids thru Morningside Heights, following along paths defined by the presence of statues of giraffes. The object is to encourage fitness as well as promoting fun and education. The event, sponsored by CLIMB (City Life is Moving Bodies), connects numerous parks in the Harlem area. <
-
Car-Free Vancouver Day
The Towards Car-free Cities Conference is wrapping up here in Portland but car-free events go on. On Sunday June 15th, Vancouver hosted a Car-Free Day featuring four simultaneous Community Festivals. Frank Lopez brings you this recap. Check out your local car-free events this weekend. There are two block parties in NYC and Portland is launching [...]
-
Depaving Day!
Portland, Oregon's Depave.org leads an asphalt removing project to kick off the World Carfree Conference. Depave.org will continue to work with Goldsmith Properties to transform this now asphalt-free site into a community greenspace. Once completed, the site will be used to educate the public about pavement removal and storm water drainage management.
-
Mayor Bloomberg & Friends Announce “Summer Streets”
A large heaping of news media and livable streets advocates converged at Astor Place for the Mayor's presser to make the official announcement of "Summer Streets." Essentially the plan opens Park Avenue to pedestrians and cyclists from 72nd thru to the Brooklyn Bridge (using other connectors) on August 9th, 16th, and 23rd from 7 [...]
-
Ciclovia (Express Version)
Since many cities around the world are now flirting with the idea of doing their own Ciclovia-style street closures, we have been asked by a few individuals and advocates for a shorter version of our Ciclovia film, which is helping push the debate from idea to reality in some places. And so we have [...]
-
Bike Share on Governors Island
Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC), Transportation Alternatives and Bike and Roll have joined forces to create what they are calling New York City's first sustained bike share program. Every Friday between June 6th and October 4th, Governors Island visitors can rent adult and children's bikes at no charge. -
Car-free Prospect Park Street Theater! (from 2002)
Back in 2002 there was a huge push on for a three month trial ban on cars in Prospect Park, Brooklyn (I mean really are we still fighting for this?! Come on Mayor Bloomberg it's time to do a trial!) In any event, Aaron Naparstek (with future wife Joanne) organized a fun Halloween street theater event where we all dressed up as cars and raised some eyebrows Saturday morning at the Grand Army Plaza Green Market.
-
Tour de Queens 2008
Not even the heat and humidity of a 96 degree day could keep nearly 500 people from pedaling the inaugural Tour de Queens. The beautiful course - which hugged much of the northwest perimeter of the borough was put together by the Queens T.A. Committee and featured "lots of smiles per hour."
-
Street Transformations: Grand Army Plaza
As one gentleman said to me while admiring the new greenery and traffic islands in Grand Army Plaza, "Wow, sometimes government does work!" It's easy to quickly forget how things were, but we here at Streetfilms aim to not let that happen. Check out these extraordinary before/afters; especially the new separated bike lane which safely shepherds riders from Prospect Park.
-
Bike vs. Car vs. Transit
Transportation Alternatives held its 7th annual Commuter Challenge pitting cyclist, driver, and transit rider in the ultimate showdown of speed. In the end, the bike proved swiftest over the 4.5 mile course which began in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and ended in Manhattan's Union Square.
-
Tour de Brooklyn 2008
Always a diverse funfest of people, the 4th Annual Tour de Brooklyn from Transportation Alternatives was no different this year with over 2,000 joining the cycling fun. This year's event was moved a week early to coincide with the anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge's 125th birthday and launched from DUMBO. Among the highlights [...]
-
National Bike To Work Day
The League of American Bicyclists started Bike-to-Work Day in 1956 as a part of National Bike-to-Work Week, which in some cities has turned into Bike Month. We had cameras in many cities so check out how Bike-to-Work Day 2008 went in Austin, San Francisco, New York City and Portland, Oregon.
-
RAB Ladies Repair
Every Tuesday evening after Recycle-A-Bicycle closes, Susan Lindell teaches bike mechanics 101 to women.
-
Animation: Diverter
Learn the benefits of diverters in this traffic calming stop-animation.
-
Snackin’ & Schwag for Cyclists in Queens
If it's Bike Month, then Transportation Alternatives must be hosting their annual commuter pit stops with help from NYC DOT and the five Boro President's offices. Yesterday, it was a Queens afternoon snack and we thought we'd take the pulse of cyclists departing the QBB as they got some rehydration and filled their packs with literature (and mega safety schwag!)
-
Kicking-Off Bike Month
City Commissioners & Transportation Alternatives kick off bike month with ride down the 9th Avenue's protected bike lane.
-
Melbourne: A Pedestrian Paradise
In the last 15 years, the city of Melbourne has altered its landscape with more car-free spaces, wider sidewalks, greener streets, eclectic cafes, public art and a bustling pedestrian haven where people relate more to their environment
-
Lessons from L.A.: A Rush Hour Drive with a City Planner
Streetfilms Nicholas Whitaker took a back seat, rush hour ride with City Planner Deborah Murphy through the streets of Los Angeles. Murphy pointed out some of the difficulties one encounters in L.A. as a pedestrian advocate, commuter, and champion for change.
-
Janette Sadik-Khan’s “Sustainable Streets”
Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, unveils NYC DOT's "Sustainable Streets" - a strategic Plan for 2008 and beyond.
-
Hal (and Kerri) Grade Your Bike Locking
In our follow up to "Hal Grades Your Bike Locking," two experienced mechanics offer advice and grades on the bike locking ability of New Yorkers.
-
Paris Skates!
Twice a week Parisians can take the streets and see their city on skates. And they do, by the thousands!
-
Baltimore gets a Ciclovia!
Greg Cantori, Executive Director of the Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation, has been trying to get Baltimore to put in place a Ciclovia for over two years. With the help of other organizations - and now called Sunday Streets - this October it will (read his entry on the Audacious Ideas blog.) This is great news and one of many U.S. cities where there is a movement to bring some sort of periodic street closures so residents can enjoy their streets; not just used as thoroughfares for cars.
And we remind you, please, if you are out there advocating the same, Streetfilms can help you do it! Our films are being used throughout the world to demonstrate how livable streets initiatives work. Quoting Mr. Cantori's e-mail to us:
....your film played a key role as we showed it to the city hall staff as part of our presentation. It was a hit! You can be very proud of the great work you are doing in creating changes in attitudes and behaviors. If a picture is worth a thousand words then imagine what thousands of pictures in a film can do.
-
Lessons from LA: Looking at BRT
Looking at some of the pros and cons of Bus Rapid Transit in Los Angeles.
-
The Mayor and Tyra Plant a Tree!
While out filming livable streets improvements around Gansevoort and Ninth Avenue today, we roamed into a quagmire of paparazzi in a feeding frenzy. Soon it was apparent why: Mayor Bloomberg and Tyra Banks showed up briefly to beautify our physically separated bike lane on Ninth Avenue by planting a tree!
-
Lounging & Lollygaging in Wodonga
On Fridays, residents of Wodonga, Australia take back the downtown by placing sofas in the street and programming music and games for families. David Engwicht author, philosopher and creator of the Walking School Bus and Mental Speed Bumps, has taken on "the challenge of a lifetime" - to revitalize this downtown district and make the streets more vibrant and livable.
-
Lady Liberty Marries Mr. Transit
Rev. Billy Preaches Bikes & Transit at the NYC Auto Show in a performance with Transportation Alternatives.
-
Roller Race for Queens
The first Tour de Queens will take place June 8, 2008 and to raise money the Queens Committee hosted a fundraising Roller Race. Watch this video and find out what a roller race is.
-
Taking a Bite out of Traffic in Istanbul, Turkey
What can we learn from a city with a population of 12 million plus people, 2.4 million cars and at least 100,000 new vehicles each year? We talk with Urban Planner, Kevser Üstündag.
-
Chicanes In My Neighborhood
Sometimes double-parked cars and street regulations form their own temporary traffic calmed conditions.
-
Lessons from Bogotá
In Part 3 of our Bogotá trilogy we look at Cyclepaths, Parks, and some of the great initiatives undertaken to make it a more livable city.
-
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Give Me a Ticket!
A humorous but enlightening look at the visual signals drivers send to try to avoid getting a parking ticket.
-
The Street Life of Havana
Ethan Kent from PPS takes us on a pictorial journey of his trip to the streets of Cuba.
-
NYC Bike Move!
It's possible to move by bike in NYC with a little moxie and help from your friends.
-
Enrique Peñalosa talks with COMMUTErs
Enrique Peñalosa encourages New Yorker activists to fight for positive change and Bus Rapid Transit.
-
From Tragedy to Advocacy: Mary Beth Kelly
Mary Beth Kelly's husband, Dr. Carl Henry Nacht, was killed while riding a bike, but it hasn't stopped her from doing something she enjoys nor fighting for safer streets.
-
Raised Crosswalk
Raised crosswalks explained with the help of stop-animation and the classic 80s video game, "Frogger"
-
Block Party NYC!
Get to know your neighbors. See how differently your block can look. Apply for your 2008 block party grant today!
-
Barnes Dance!
The Barnes Dance is an all-cross pedestrian signal!
-
Transforming NY City Streets
Neighborhood activists, professional planners, and experienced advocates gathered this week to share their secrets on how New Yorkers can transform the public realm.
-
Bus Rapid Transit: Bogotá
In Part 2 of our Bogotá trilogy, we examine the tremendously successful Bus Rapid Transit system which has revolutionized transit there.
-
Street Stars: Christine Berthet
Check out this profile of one of NYC's great neighborhood activists and how she gets things done.
-
Crosswalks #1
The streets of NYC can be very dangerous for pedestrians. And we think this footage is on the mild side.
-
Chicane - Animated Traffic Calming
Do you know what a chicane is? In 24 simple seconds you can find out.
-
How to use a Bike Box
There are dozens of Bike Boxes popping up all over NYC, wanna find out how to use them?
-
2007 NYC Street Memorial Ride & Walk
In 2007, 23 bicyclists and over 100 pedestrians died on NYC streets. The Street Memorial Project honors them.
-
The Street Memorial Project (NYC)
A memorial is placed at sites to remind passerby where pedestrians were killed by cars.
-
Merry Gridlock
Streetsblog's Aaron Naparstek talks with drivers about their commute and congestion pricing.
-
Illustrating Parking Reform with Dr. Shoup
Dr. Donald Shoup illustrates with toy cars and a table-sized model of NYC streets the benefits of proper parking pricing.
-
Astor Playa 2007: TOPP at Burning Man
Employees of TOPP went out to the Nevada desert to put on a showcase of livable streets.
-
Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia
In Part 1 of our Bogotá trilogy watch as every Sunday & holiday, every week, the City of Bogotá, Colombia closes down over 70 miles of roadways to cars and let people bike, walk, talk, exercise, picnic, sunbathe, I could go on and on. Just watch the video, it's amazing.
-
Transportation Ethics
Executive Director Mark Gorton interviews NY Times' Ethics columnist Randy Cohen about urban automobility.
-
Cyclist(s) of the Month: The Neistat Brothers
The Neistat Brothers offer up anecdotes about their bicycling films and views about transportation in NYC in general.
-
Bay Ridge Express Bus Riders Discuss Congestion Pricing
Brooklynites talk about the travails of riding buses from Bay Ridge to lower Manhattan.
-
A Walk around the Upper West Side
Mark Gorton and neighbor Lisa Sladkus point out traffic calming features they'd like see on the UWS.
-
Clowns Liberate Bike Lanes
Bicycling clowns use humor to enlighten motorists parked in bike lanes.
-
NYC Streets Renaissance with Jan Gehl
Jan Gehl headlines an exciting livable streets event at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan.
-
Street Transformations - Upper West Side
We take three before & after photosims, manipulate them and add music. Voila! You've baked a livable streets cake!!
-
UWS Streets Renaissance: Amsterdam Avenue
Mark Gorton and neighbor Lisa Sladkus point out Amsterdam Avenue's speed geometry.
-
UWS Streets Renaissance: Space Allocation
Mark Gorton and neighbor Lisa Sladkus examine how the width of sidewalks affects the pedestrian environment.
-
UWS Streets Renaissance: Double Parking
Mark Gorton and neighbor Lisa Sladkus point out the perils of double parking on the UWS.
-
Clarence: The Purple Traffic Calming Wizard
The Purple Traffic Calming Wizard chats with the hoi polloi to find out what peeps think about the physically separated bike path on 9th Ave.
-
Photos of the Tour de Bronx 2007
Photo montage of the Tour de Bronx.
-
Tykes Take the Streets: Kids Art Bike Parade
Kids and parents put their adorned bikes on display in a ride down 2nd Avenue.
-
PARKing Day Redux in Park Slope! (2007)
Advocates take over a few parking spaces and enjoy the day in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
-
In Davis’ Platinum City Even the Munchkins Ride Bikes
Davis, California is the only Platinum bike city in the U.S. Come see why.
-
David Byrne Celebrates NYC Bicycling in Style
Last night, I was one of 1200 lucky ticket holders attending "How New Yorkers Ride Bikes" a David Byrne presentation at Town Hall as part of the 2007 New Yorker Festival. Stuffed with laughs, entertainment, and bicycle inspiration, it was hard not to be psyched about the current state of cycling in NYC. [...]
-
Ninth Avenue Gets a Physically Separated Bike Lane
NYC is getting a separated bike lane. Pinch us! Pinch us!!
-
Minding the GAP (Grand Army Plaza)
DOT press conference for GAPCO ped/bike improvements.
-
LOOKing to Make Cycling Safer in NYC
New public safety initiative from the NYC DOT.
-
PARK(ing) Day NYC 2007
In Fall 2007, T.A. & The Trust for Public Land organized a of group of motley advocates in liberating nearly two dozen parking spaces and turning them into open green areas for city residents to enjoy. Parking Day rules!
-
T.A. Century 2007
Hitch a ride along Transportation Alternatives annual Century ride, one of the most enjoyable and friendly rides in the nation. Here is the 2007 campaign.
-
Portland: Celebrating America’s Most Livable City
StreetFilms' 30 minute film on Portland, OR showing just a few of the ways it is one of the most livable cities in the U.S.
-
Paint a Parking Lot, Put Up a Paradise
In the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge, a triangle that once was home to two dozen car parking spots now is a green pedestrian plaza. If that ain't cool, we don't know what is.
-
Life Near the QBB
Sarah Gallagher from the Upper Green Side introduces Streetfilms to some of the dangers of living near the Queensboro bridge. Talking to store owners, and others in the area, we learn there is another high cost of doing business in the area other than rent.
"There's never a quiet time anymore. And there's never [...] -
S.F. Giants: Valet Bike Parking 81 Games Per Year
The San Francisco Giants offer free, convenient, attended bicycle parking at all 81 of their home games.
-
Photos from a Platinum Bike City: Davis, CA
That's a bus shelter ad from Davis, CA - which according to the League of American Bicyclists is the only Platinum Bicycle city in the U.S. I was there this weekend and in a whirlwind visit and tried to document as much of the city and bike amenities as possible in [...]
-
One Night of Fire
Thousands of people walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and invaded the subway system to go out to Coney Island and watch a fantastic display of fire performers.
-
Pedestrian: Obey! What’s up with this?
Bicycling home from the Village, came across this sign at corner of Washington & Barrow Streets asking peds to obey all pedestrian traffic laws.
Anyone know what this is for? Odd corner; very low traffic volumes. Looks unofficial. -
The 86th Street Parallel
Glenn McAnanama of Upper Green Side explains what 86th Street means for the Mayor Bloomberg's Congestion Pricing plan and the importance to delivery and emergency vehicles.
-
Brooklyn Critical Mass: Feel the Love
In Brooklyn there is a monthly Critical Mass that has had no arrests or tickets issued for three years!
-
Trading Car Parking for Bike Racks
In a historic move, the New York City Department of Transportation has replaced three car parking spaces in Williamsburg with on-street bike racks to accomodate about 30 bicycles.
-
Take a Virtual Tour of NYC’s First Chartreuse Bike Lane
It's a lime green bike lane...and we love it.
-
NYC Metamorphosis!
Copious amounts of positivity coming from the NYC DOT. Check out these before and afters.
-
Street Lessons from a Blizzard
Back in Feb 2006, as the largest ever recorded NYC snowfall (26.9") was winding down, I ran outside with a camera to try to capture some traffic calming, transportation and livable streets lessons.
-
Count Cars Breaking the Law in Prospect Park!
When Doug Gordon visits Prospect Park he always sees vehicles entering illegally after it is closed to cars at 7 pm. It made him mad, so he got out his video camera.
-
Make Music New York
Summer Solstice 2007. Hundreds of bands take to the streets and sidewalks of New York City. Here are just a few in our tribute to the day.
-
London Driver on Congestion Pricing
London driver Barny Crocker offers up some anecdotes about Congestion Charging.
-
Cyclist of the Month: Petra Kirstein
Meet Petra Kirstein a life-long bike commuter who rides each day from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn to the Random House building at Columbus Circle in Manhattan including a stop at her son Magnus' daycare.
-
Go To Governors Island!
Governors Island is a car-free, New York City paradise and now it's open to residents weekends from June thru Sept 2nd.
-
Campaign for New York’s Future: Congestion Pricing
The Campaign for New York's Future explains the health and transportation benefits of congestition pricing, one of the 127 proposals included in Mayor Bloomberg's ambitious PlaNYC2030.
-
Tour de Brooklyn 2007
The third annual Tour de Brooklyn 2007 attracted over 2,000 riders including new, New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
-
Intersection Repair
In Portland, Oregon, City Repair promotes intersection interventions where hundreds of people take back their streets by painting street murals and creating community-friendly commons to gather and socialize.
-
Bike to Shea
Let's go Mets! Let's go bikes!
-
Clarence: The Traffic Calming Sasquatch
Thanks to the great traffic calming and livability a city like Portland, Oregon has to offer, even a bigfoot has felt safe enough around cars to come out of his decades of hiding and ride his bike.
-
Upper East Side Street Sweeper Dance
Glen McAnanama of Upper Green Side explains the chain reaction of the consequence of free on-street parking, what it means to the health of New Yorkers and how it all contributes to world greenhouse emissions.
-
Photos: Village Building Convergence - Intersection Repair
Just returned from City Repair's 7th Annual Village Building Convergence in Portland, Oregon where hundreds of neighbors, students, and volunteers are taking back their streets to make them more livable, and community-oriented. Of the dozens of seminars, celebrations and building projects going on, StreetFilms loves the