Mark was able to share his ideas and lessons learned from the Livable Streets movement in New York.  Along the tour we were able to see and document best practices in Bus Rapid Transit and space allocation. Watch some of Mark's observations and reactions to India's changing transportation landscape.

Your donations directly fund the original reporting, commentary, and videos we produce – powerful content that influences the decision makers who shape our streets and neighborhoods.

For a bit of added incentive this week, we’re giving away a new handmade messenger bag from Vaya, makers of bags and other bike accessories using recycled materials, to one lucky reader who donates by May 24 at midnight. Here’s a look:

Readers who direct their donation specifically to Streetsblog NYC or Streetfilms by May 24 will also be eligible to win a tour for two of the Mast Brothers chocolate factory in Williamsburg, which comes with some intense chocolate bars too:

And don’t forget the big drawing at the end of the pledge drive for a new Schwinn city bike courtesy of Ride Brooklyn — everyone who donates $50 or more to Streetsblog NYC or Streetfilms will be entered to win.

If you value the work we do at Streetsblog and Streetfilms to advance livable streets and green transportation,please give. Thanks as always for reading.

We figured it was time to celebrate, so enjoy our sassy 2012 promo celebrating all that and more with this montage-arama featuring dozens of our Streetfilms of the past years.  We'll be using this promo to kick off all future movie screenings, community events and powerpoint presentations.  Enjoy.

How cool is it that we were awarded the Golden Sasquatch Award at our Ithaca presentation a few weeks ago?  Actually, heck, let's be honest - it's the coolest award we'll probably ever get.  Forget a head of state giving us a key to the city. Or a proclamation for a National Streetfilms Day. Or a million dollar grant from the Clinton Global Initiative to fund our work.

Okay, maybe we'd take that million dollars, but still, how cool is this award from the great people of Ithaca?  It has been enshrined in a proper place in the office.  And since it is only a "Partial Lifetime Achievement", we'll keep  working towards a full one.  Thanks!

And for those who might be wondering what might have possibly inspired them?  It coulda been this.  Coulda.

That willingness to experiment was a big reason that the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) gave its 2012 Sustainable Transport Award to San Francisco (an honor shared with Medellín, Colombia). In this Streetfilm we profile the innovations that earned SF recognition from ITDP.

Perhaps the city's most exciting new development has been the parklet program, which converts parking spaces into public space complete with tables, chairs, art, and greenery. These mini-parks are adopted and paid for by local businesses, but they remain public space. The concept has its roots in the PARK(ing) Day phenomenon started by the SF-based Rebar Group in 2005.

San Francisco has also seen an impressive 71 percent increase in bicycling in the past five years, despite being under a court injunction that prohibited bicycle improvements for most of that time. The city aims to have 20 percent of trips by bike by 2020. Sunday Streets, San Francisco's version of Ciclovia, has also drawn huge numbers of participants and continues to expand.

The city has also taken the lead on innovative parking management with the SFPark program, which uses new technology to help manage public parking in several pilot neighborhoods. It aims to make it easier to find a parking spot by adjusting prices according to demand, helping to reduce pollution, traffic, and frustrations for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Flashback to 2004:  there had been little to get excited about in nearly ten years on the car-free Central Park movement. Looking for a way to gain momentum and take advantage of a 100,000 signature campaign in progress, Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) hired me to produce a mini film called, "The Case for a Car-Free Central Park", which featured interviews with many prominent New Yorkers like Columbia Professor Ken Jackson and author Robert Brandes Gratz amongst dozens of everyday parkgoers testifying about how they felt about the issue of cars in the Park.

The film was the centerpiece of a T.A.rally attended by nearly 700 people.  The crowd reaction was dramatic and enthusiastic.  Just a few weeks after the rally, the city took substantial action.  From T.A.s website which features a great chronology of Car-Free Central Park:

2004:  Speed limit on the loop drive reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph. West 90th and East 102nd Street entrances and exits closed to cars. West 77th and East 90th entrances closed to cars. West 72nd street slip-ramp closed to cars. People reclaim overnight and early mornings in the park. Cars get to enter 7 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 7 pm. HOV 2+ rule on West drive during morning rush hours.

Although I had been promoting bicycle issues on my cable access show bikeTV since 1999, in many ways this was the first major activism victory in NYC transportation where film played a large role.  And a reminder: YouTube didn't get started until 2005, that makes it all the more impressive.

Thus, it's an absolute honor that "The Case for a Car-Free Central Park" was selected as a featured element at the Museum of the City of New York's upcoming exhibition "Activist New York".  Beginning May 4th, the program examines social activism from the 17th Century right up to the present. We're glad the curators realized the significance of this video in New York's history.

Make sure you go check out what surely should be an excellent exhibit.  And for now if you want to watch the entire 20 minute film, you can right here, for the first time ever available on Streetfilms!

TOD helps older adults maintain their independence by providing good pedestrian access to a variety of public transit options, entertainment and recreation, and basic services such as shopping and health care.  As Rodney Harrell, senior strategic policy advisor at AARP's Public Policy Institute points out, "When you plan for older adults, you plan for the entire community."

Learn more about the Public Policy Institute's Livable Communities initiatives.

Over the last decade, Medellín has worked hard to change its image. The local government is investing in education and social programs, and the city recognizes the importance of providing an integrated public transportation system as the backbone of these projects.

Medellín is becoming famous for innovative sustainable transport. Recent efforts to modernize public transit, create better public spaces and improve safety are helping transform the city. These projects include the development of bus rapid transit (called MetroPlús) and the creation of a bike-share program -- new transportation elements that are integrated with existing metro and cable car systems. In addition, the city is building 1.6 million square meters of new public space.

Medellín was awarded the 2012 Sustainable Transport Award. Streetfilms partnered with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy to document some of the changes taking place in Medellín.

The most recent transportation bill, passed in 2005 by a Republican Congress and Republican president, continued to invest in safer biking and walking. As negotiations over a new bill grind on, however, these programs are in jeopardy. The Senate has passed a bill that by and large preserves the status quo, but the House of Representatives has tried to eliminate bike and pedestrian programs.

Last week more than 800 people from all over the country came to Washington for the National Bike Summit. On the Hill, they urged the House to follow the lead of Wisconsin Republican Tom Petri, who introduced an amendment to restore dedicated funding for bike and pedestrian programs. We caught up with Petri and Bike Summit participants to hear how bike/ped programs have made a difference in their hometowns. Here’s what they told us.

During his decade long effort to understand and improve the streets of New York City, entrepreneur and livable streets advocate Mark Gorton has gathered together a compelling set of examples of how transportation policy impacts the quality of our daily lives. Mark is regularly invited to speak in public about these issues.

In his current presentation “Rethinking the Automobile” Mark explores the history of autocentric planning and considers how New York and other cities can change. Filled with ample video footage of dozens of Streetfilms, we’ve worked with Mark to create a version of the presentation here.

As the founder of Streetfilms, Streetsblog, OpenPlans, and the New York City Streets Renaissance Campaign, Gorton has been on the front lines of the battle to transform New York’s streets. But Mark is not done fighting. He contends that the recent improvements that have been implemented in New York should only be considered as the “tip of the iceberg” and that a truly comprehensive set of changes are still necessary.

For more on Mark’s continued efforts to make our world more equitable, livable, and safe visit www.rethinktheauto.org

"Certified Truffula Tree Friendly"?! I can't tell you how sick that "endorsement" makes me.

Back when I was 5 years old, "The Lorax" tv special first aired in 1972.  It was a powerful environmental message that I believe helped shape who I've become today.  Yes, sure I'd rather have more cars be as environmentally friendly as possible, but that is not the point here and to allow Mazda to sponsor THIS film is just plain blasphemy.  

Universal Pictures and the films producers have completely made a mockery of Dr. Seuss' work.  Seriously.

What do you think?

Mark is an information technology and finance entrepreneur, and he was able to bring his presentation, "Rethinking the Automobile: Lessons from 100 years of Urban Experience with the Automobile” to India's top thinkers, business leaders, and information technology students. The week-long tour, organized by the Institute for Transport Development Policy, made stops in Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad, generating a buzz in the media in each city.

Streetfilms will be bringing you more videos from India. In the meantime you can watch our montage and check out these photos.

According to the State’s own documents “Without major transit investments, already unacceptable levels of congestion are forecasted to occur in the corridor far into the future.”

In the fall of 2011 Governor Cuomo reversed course, deciding that the bridge project would move forward without transit. The State now proposes to build a $5 billion bridge that is twice as wide as the current bridge and provides no relief to the increasing traffic congestion that threatens to constrain the region’s growth and diminish quality of life in the villages and towns along the I-287 corridor.

Local leaders are joined by over 20 environmental, good government and labor groups in calling on Governor Cuomo to put transit back into the Tappan Zee Bridge project. This video shows how they are fighting for this once in a lifetime opportunity to relieve congestion in the I-287 corridor and local roads, improve air quality, achieve sustainability goals, and reduce motorist travel time.

The state is accepting public comment on its Tappan Zee DEIS until March 15th. You can find more information on upcoming public hearings on this project and to tell the Governor to put transit back into the project at www.brtonthebridge.org.

Karyn Williams co-founded Velo-City in 2010 along with Samelys Lopez and Naomi Doerner. Karyn tells us how Velo-City allows them to share their passion about urban planning with young people and motivate them towards a career in the field.  And how Streetfilms plays a small role in that.

SF: What are the main goals of programming at Velo-City?

KW:  We wanted to share our passion with young people because we wish we could’ve been exposed to urban planning as a career option at an earlier age. There was also the desire to see more diversity in our professions.  Urban Planning and Design professions seriously lag behind others both in terms of gender and ethnic diversity and this is something that the three of us know personally.  I’m interested in the issue of diversity not simply for the sake of diversity or wanting to see more people that look like me in the office, but from the standpoint of the very relevance of our professions.  I think we stand to benefit from new ideas and solutions which will inevitably happen when planners and designers from diverse backgrounds are able to bring their personal experiences to the work that they do in the realm of policy, physical planning and design.

The goal of our organization is to provide opportunities for young people from underserved communities to explore the city on bicycles and to provide career training and leadership opportunities for students in the planning and design world.  I don’t expect that every student that gets on a bike and rides with us will then go on to be an architect or an urban planner, but I do expect that every student that participates in our programs will go on to be a more active citizen.

SF: Do you ever use Streetfilms in any of your work?

KW: Yes! I've used Streetfilms as a research tool when developing curricula.   Many of the films have been great for me to keep up with what’s going on in both transportation and the use of public space - not only in New York City but around the world.  I've also used Streetfilms in the classroom because they are an easy way for young people to learn about Bus Rapid Transit or bicycle infrastructure in a fun and engaging way.

SF: Got any fun stories to share?

KW: Recently, I went to a middle school in the South Bronx for career day.  I was really apprehensive about how I would talk about what I do for fifty minutes to a group of 6^th graders and keep them engaged and interested.  So, I began by introducing myself with the promise that I’d show a film at the end that helps explain some of the things that I do.   That’s when I knew I had them.  I showed them Street Transformations- Upper West Side and they were so delighted by how the current street configurations were transformed into a complete street with bike lanes and benches that they asked me to replay the video again.  That Streetfilm saved me that day.

Karyn was featured in our Streetfilm Women in Motion: New Lady Riders Reflect on NYC Cycling by Dahlia Lopez Ramsay back in the summer of 2010:

Después del patrocinio de dos Streetfilms de los dos primeros CicLAvias, la versión del festival al aire libre de los Ángeles, basado en el del Ciclovia de Bogotá, el Streetsblog de los Ángeles se encontró con un dilema. ¿Cómo continuar un evento que conjure a mas de cien mil Angelinos en las calles? La respuesta, crear un Streetfilm que fuese mas accesible a la población del hablante español en el sur de California.

Viva CicLAvia esta partido en dos. Primero, la narradora Mara Corina Arellano Colin explica la historia e el concepto de la gran fiesta al aire libre de los Ángeles incluyendo secuencias y fotos de festivales parecidos en Bogotá, Guadalajara, la ciudad de México, Brussels y Miami. Mientras la narración es una gran explicación de los beneficios y la cultura de CicLAvia, la alma de los esfuerzos en “Social Impact Consulting” cuentan con las entrevistas de los participantes.

Los próximo cinco minutos son un desfile de hablantes españoles profesando su amor hacia CicLAvia. Sea el equipo del Méndez Bike Shop de South Central, el oficial de transito que extiende sus brazos mientras explica lo de Viva CicLAvia o el concilio de la Hollywood, Eric Garcetti; las amplias sonrisas en el sur de California mandan el mensaje en cualquier idioma. Dándole a la gente mas oportunidades de salir a jugar en el sol es bueno para los Ángeles.

El Streetfilm marco otra primera para el equipo Streetfilms, un video directamente apoyado por parte de los lectores. L.A. Streetsblog les pregunto a sus lectores se quisieran un film en español acerca de CicLAvia y cuando respondieron que sí, los lectores fueron lanzados con una campaña por parte de Kick Starters para financiar el film. Huelga decir que los lectores triunfaron.

Ttranlastion:Vanessa Villalobos

After sponsoring two Streetfilms of the first two CicLAvias, Los Angeles’ version of the open streets festival based on Bogota’s Ciclovia, Los Angeles Streetsblog faced a dilemma: How can we continue to cover the event that draws over a hundred thousand Angelenos to the streets?  The Answer: Make a Streetfilm that was accessible to Southern California’s large Spanish-speaking population.

¡Viva CicLAvia! consists of two parts.  First, narrator Mara Corina Arellano Colin explains the history and concept of Los Angeles’ amazing open streets party, including footage and photos from similar festivals in Bogota, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Brussels and Miami.  While the narration is a great explanation of the benefits and culture of CicLAvia, the soul of Social Impact Consulting’s efforts are the interviews with participants.

The next five minutes is a parade of Spanish speakers professing their love of CicLAvia.  Whether it’s the team from South Central’s Mendez Bike Shop, the traffic officer spreading his arms while explaining Viva CicLAvia, or Hollywood’s City Councilman Eric Garcetti; the broad smiles in the Southern California sun give a message in any language.  Giving people more chances to play in the sun is good for Los Angeles.

This Streetfilm marked another first for Streetfilms, a directly reader supported video.  L.A. Streetsblog asked its readers if they wanted a Spanish language film on CicLAvia, and when they said yes, the readers were challenged through a Kick Starter campaign to fund the film.  Needless to say, the readers came through.

Streetfilms worked with ITDP to document these two cities and we'll be releasing videos on each this spring. But since I just returned from Medellín, I can't help but share a few highlights.

I met Carlos Moreno from despacio.org at the airport. Carlos translated and helped coordinate the logistics of this video shoot. We started with a 45-minute cab ride down the mountain to the valley where Medellín is situated. The view as we descended was absolutely spectacular and set the tone for our week's work.

Once in Medellín, we met Jorge Iván Ballesteros and Jesús Acero. These two gentlemen were going to show us why their city was nominated for ITDP's prestigious award. And we were to dedicate each day to a different theme, starting with "public space" on the first day.

Throughout the day we must have visited half a dozen public spaces where young people were playing in fountains and giant sand boxes while their folks relaxed in the nearby shade. In Medellín there are permanent public space projects popping up seemingly everywhere. Then there are the temporary public space projects like the annual festival of lights, better known as Los Alumbrados.

Here is Carlos Moreno talking about Los Alumbrados:

We set aside time to ride the new bus rapid transit lines called MetroPlús, which are integrated with Metro (subway) and MetroCable (cable tram) lines.

There are multiple lines in the MetroCable system, including one that is now accessible for those living in the steep mountainside neighborhood called Comuna 13.  For the residents of this community it used to take 45 minutes to climb the mountain by foot to get to the MetroCable line. With newly installed public escalators, it will take under 10 minutes.

Here's a very brief look at children learning to use this newly installed escalator system:

And of course we rode bikes. We biked in Ciclovia:

Jesús Acero, Mauricio Moore, Carlos Moreno & Jorge Iván Ballesteros after interviewing ciclovia coordinator Mauricio Moore.

We rode in the Wednesday night community-building ride. Here's some footage from this Critical Mass-style ride:

And we rode EnCicla, the new bike-share program. This bike-share system is small, with 145 bikes, but the model is rather unique with public bikes used mainly in the university part of the city but also up in the rural area in Park Arvi. Here we are riding EnCicla on a bikeway to our next interview:

From what I saw and heard, Medellín is serious about becoming a leader in developing an integrated transportation system to facilitate better health and education for all residents of the city.