Another Green Monday
-Spokane Police Department Launches Bike Lane Violation Enforcement Effort. SPD has put the final touches on the carparkedinbikelane@spokanepolice.org email address. They are ready to field complaints and send out letters when they receive all of the necessary information. (Like address, make and model, and a photo attachment.) Read here for more details on the Bike To Work resource page. Help Shape Downtown Spokane’s Transportation Future; June 29 Workshop. When you’re not on your bike, what transit alternatives would you like to have in downtown? Streetcar? Electric trolley? Personal jet packs? (Well, maybe not that last one) Come to the public open house, Tuesday, June 29, 6-8pm., Champions Room, Spokane Arena. Entrance is across from the Flour Mill on the south side of the arena (not the north side with the big parking lots); 15 minute presentation of options at 6:15 and again at 7pm. Questions? Contact Molly Myers, MMyers@SpokaneTransit.com. We're pleased to hear that Barb Chamberlain is using the Bike To Work site as a year-round resource for safer transportation. After the jump are some stories you might’ve missed
After the warm weekend, it feels like summer is finally here folks. For real. Due to the weather, we’re noticing more bikes coming out of hiding on the road. Hopefully, everybody is aware how much is happening that affects two wheel riders as we strive to become a more bike friendly region. Thanks to Barb Chamberlain for all of her hard work at making Bike To Work a success and she recently sent an email her comprehensively lists Spokane Area Bike news. Here’s a slightly abbreviated version of upcoming events:
-The City of Spokane Valley is researching and developing a Bike and Pedestrian Master Program (BPMP) and wants your thoughts and comments. Their short, 10-question survey should take only 2 to 3 minutes to complete. This is a non-statistical survey, designed to gather helpful information to determine general goals and desires. Your input is an important piece of the process of identifying possible future improvements for riding bikes and walking in Valley neighborhoods.
-Spokane Valley Cyclists, Gear Up! City Council Vote June 29. The Spokane Valley City Council will vote Tuesday, June 29, on whether to reject grant funding for the Broadway safety project that would include the addition of bike lanes. Check the Mark Mims Facebook page in support of the project.
-Spokane Summer Parkways: Want to Help? July 11 Event REALLY Needs YOU! Looking for an opportunity this summer to join your friends and neighbors and enjoy walking, running, cycling, and other forms of active transportation on city streets…all in a car-free environment? Well, you’re in luck, because Summer Parkways is coming to Spokane! On Sunday, July 11 and Sunday, August 22 from 9 am to 1 pm, 2 miles of roadway will be closed to automobiles and opened up to create a 5-mile loop for bikes, pedestrians, skaters, and other human-powered forms of transportation. The course will run along Howard Street between Riverfront Park and Corbin Park, with fun events at either end of the route and at a few destination points along the way. Interested in volunteering? You are needed! Visit http://summerparkways.com/volunteer-opportunities/ and sign up to set up or break down the course, direct traffic, assist vendors, help with recycling, or provide information to participants. If you have any questions or are interested in signing up to volunteer, please contact Kate Cornwall at (509) 209-2404 or kcornwall@landscouncil.org.
PG&E trying something a little unconventional when it comes to promoting solar power. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, PG&E Corp. will spend $100 million to help a San Francisco company finance solar panel installation. No, PG&E isn't getting into the banking business, simply trying something creative to increase revenue while also promoting the use of renewables. The deal was struck with SunRun Inc, who unlike most solar companies, pay most of the installation costs of residential solar systems, and continue to own the system afterward. So here's how it works: customers buy the power from the solar panels, they dont' buy the panels themselves. The payments are then split between SunRun and a PG&E subsidiary, Pacific Energy Capital. Read more HERE.
Washington and Oregon and coal - we may share a border, but we don't share the same beliefs on emissions. Early last week Washington released details of a final agreement to reduce the amount of toxic mercury and smog-causing pollution being emitted from the stacks of the Centralia coal plant. According to Sightline Daily, "Washington's agreement would, at the end of the day, allow the Centralia plant to release three times more pollution than proposed regulations in Oregon would have." There's more to it than what's on the surface, but at the end of the day, Oregon is tougher on emissions. Read the differences HERE.
Greenwashing alert. We live in Washington, so we have to talk Boeing. In a story we found in the Everett Daily Herad, Boeing was boasting about their plans for a "cradle-to-cradle" approach to building and recycling aircraft, with ambitions to build airplanes out of materials that can be recycled back into future jets. The best part is, that paragraph starts out with "someday". Like it really matters anyways, look at the business they're in. "Flying, making Sasquatch-sized carbon footprints since 1903." Thanks Boeing, we'll wait for the developments.... read the rest HERE.
