Less congestion, not more, with bike lanes

Bike lanes give a more open feeling to crowded shopping areas.

Occupy Vacant Lots – off to a start! | Transition Philadelphia

Occupy Vacant Lots – off to a start! | Transition Philadelphia: "Abandoned lots that serve only as neglected and dangerous dumping grounds for trash could, instead, serve to grow healthy food and be a center for community. Actions of stewardship could empower, strengthen, and stabilize communities. "

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#occupyphilly still going strong

The economic collapse is just getting started. The occupy movement is very clear on who is to blame and how to fight back. The wall street bankers have crashed the financial system, have been bailed out by the taxpayer, and now want us to give up our pensions and homes to enrich them even more. There is much more crash to come, and many more bailouts to come. The time to fight back is now. Soon there will be national economic martial law. It is already happening in Michigan.

Unaccountably, this stone is still standing. Occupy is set up near by to protect it.

No room at the Inn for the homeless

Homeless retreat from threatened eviction of #occupyphilly but not welcome in "Christian" Philly either.

#occupyphilly is the voice of the 99%

Foreclosure notice issued to predators (video)

How to identify trolls on #agw, #1u, and #occupyphilly

In the #occupywallstreet campaign, and #climatechange struggle, we are plagued by provocateurs and agents of oil and the 1% which attack from the outside and from within. Here are some tips on how to identify them.

• high tweet/follower ratio on twitter (amazingly useful metric)
• super-radical terminology with confusing array of targets
• insistence on moral absolutes, one must be for/against x
• focus on divisions in the 99%
• focus on any path (money, law, celebrities) except mass unity 
• obsession with corporate media coverage
• focus on conspiracy or implying explosive hidden truth
• asserting belief required for understanding
• asking for money (unless homeless, then give)
• saying "I support your cause, but..." (if they really support, it's their cause)
• always criticizing 99% leadership or persistently negative
• ad hominem attacks, or scatology (to make new people give up in disgust)
• generalized misanthropy - "all people are greedy," "all politicians are crooks"
• claiming all the answers are in one document or candidate
• blaming government for everything
• never directing comments against the banks or oil industry

These characteristics apply to both internal and external trolls. Use common sense and trust your instincts. There are always honest people who are misled and temporarily fall for scams. Some are just people trying to sell something.  Just keep shining daylight on the subject and the trolls will scatter.

Society Hill Home Owners Occupy Bike Lanes All Weekend Long, City Does Nothing « Streets Dept

Society Hill Home Owners Occupy Bike Lanes All Weekend Long, City Does Nothing « Streets Dept: "Walking around Society Hill Saturday afternoon, I noticed what we’ve all noticed a million times, home owners blocking the Spruce and Pine street bike lanes with their cars. This happens EVERY Saturday and Sunday, and honestly I thought nothing of it, until I started noticing that NONE of the 15 or so illegally parked cars I saw had a ticket. This lead me to an interesting thought. If the city is kicking out Occupy Philly protesters from Dilworth Plaza, why isn’t the city, at the very least, ticketing people for blocking the roadway in Society Hill? Let’s think about it…"

photos and story: http://streetsdept.com/2011/11/20/society-hill-home-owners-occupy-bike-lanes-all-weekend-long-city-does-nothing

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Live near public #transit -- save $thousands

Penn State Berks should run a shuttle bus to downtown Reading - bctv.org - News for Berks County and Reading, Pa: Opinion

Penn State Berks should run a shuttle bus to downtown Reading - bctv.org - News for Berks County and Reading, Pa: Opinion: "Berks could provide a shuttle service that would simply go between campus and BTC. It would be one bus, and one driver on an eight-hour shift. The smartest way to distribute these eight hours would be to split it into two, having four hours in the morning from 8 a.m.-noon, and then four hours in the afternoon from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. These hours could of course be adjusted based on what times would end up being the most beneficial.
This type of service would not only benefit students who take the bus, but students who get a ride and also some who drive themselves.
Anyone who lives moderately close to the BARTA hub could simply take the shuttle instead of driving themselves. For other students who drive, it could be beneficial in a situation where geographically they pass close to the vicinity of the bus hub; they park their car close to the hub and jump on the shuttle for the rest of the trip."

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Gettysburg buses free - Evening Sun

Gettysburg buses free - Evening Sun: "Gettysburg will soon join only a handful of other U.S. towns to offer free public transportation.

The Freedom Transit bus system will be free to all riders beginning Nov. 11 to coincide with the Community Appreciation Day held at the Gettysburg Museum & Visitor Center."

'via Blog this'

#occupy groups around the area

http://www.occupyphillymedia.org/content/occupy-pennsylvania-tour

The Times Herald - Occupy Norristown group plans a Saturday, Nov. 5 rally at Montgomery County Courthouse

https://www.facebook.com/OccupyNorristown

The Times Herald - Occupy Norristown group plans a Saturday, Nov. 5 rally at Montgomery County Courthouse: "NORRISTOWN — A group of 15 Occupy Norristown protesters voted to hold its first official rally on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Montgomery County Courthouse."

Democratic Party afraid of class war, surrendering

The Washington Monthly - Ten Miles Square - Democrats Wrong To Play Defense On Class Warfare: "In response, the Democrats have taken every chance presented to them to once again go on defense by rejecting the allegation. By so doing, they are completely forgoing the opportunity to acknowledge that there is most assuredly such a war, it’s been raging for decades, and it’s high time that people begin to focus on who is on the side of the rich and who is on the side of the middle class and the poor."

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End-the-Silence March Saturday (bring umbrella)

End the Silence March: "We will be silently marching to Temple University this Saturday, and their guest speaker is Bill Clinton. We will be walking to the public event to stand up for those in the 99% whose voices have been silenced by the politicians in our failing political system.

We are fighting for those who have lost a their job from NAFTA, fighting for equality and rights in the Poor, LGBTQ, Women's, working communities. We want to break down all racial and socio-economic barriers, and fight for our common goal.

We want to have large signs that have one or two word phrases such as; Health Care, Education, Equality, and so forth. Then we want to cover our mouths with those same phrases OR Corporate Logos.

LETS MAKE THIS OUR DAY!
Occupy Philadelphia!"

'via Blog this'

In return for going green, free SEPTA tokens to be offered Wednesday : The Temple News

In return for going green, free SEPTA tokens to be offered Wednesday : The Temple News: "Temple Student Government will be giving away 50 free SEPTA tokens on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., in an effort to promote the use of public transportation, as well as recycling and water refill stations on campus, in honor of Sustainability Week."

'via Blog this'

Under pressure to make arrests, police and troopers push back - Times Union

Under pressure to make arrests, police and troopers push back - Times Union: "ALBANY -- In a tense battle of wills, state troopers and Albany police held off making arrests of dozens of protesters near the Capitol over the weekend even as Albany's mayor, under pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration, had urged his police chief to enforce a city curfew."

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Careerism and a cause.

A wannabe movie maker strongly encouraged some people to block a busy city street with 15 people as a protest against police brutality. These fifteen would have easily fit on the sidewalk. The city held off as long as possible, then was forced to arrest them. Their numbers were so small that their right to free speech did not require blocking the whole street.

This action was NOT approved in the GA of #occupyphilly. And Occupy Philly sources who talked to the press strongly confirmed this.

The corporate press and assorted trolls jumped on the story and it even was on livestream as the first Occupy Philly arrests. The group did nothing to disabuse anyone of this misconception and even released a statement of demands to the press.

We wish the movie maker success in his career. But respectfully ask him not to blur the lines between his stunts and legitimate protest.

People arrested on 8th Street NOT from Occupy Philly #ows

Metro - Occupy Philly Members Protest Outside 8th Street Police Headquarters, Release Statement: "Occupy Philly stresses that the protestors are individuals and do not represent the movement as a whole, but provided them with food, a medical watch and blankets to weather a chilly night.

8th Street participants released a statement and list of demands this morning. According to the group's Facebook, the statement does not speak for the Occupy Philly's General Assembly or for the movement as a whole."

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Small group trying to smear #occupyphilly

Media waiting to pounce as small group claiming to be #occupyphilly tries to provoke police at 8th and Race streets. This action can only help the banks and provide plenty of material to smear and trash #occupyphilly. Wake up people. Denounce this group.

#occupyphilly chases off austerity goon

Temple University students marching to join Occupy Philly today (Bisola/Lockerz)

Daily Kos: Fearing Occupy Philly, Eric Cantor cancels speech: "Eric Cantor was scheduled to give a speech about the Republican approach to income inequality at the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia today. Earlier in the week, Cantor's staff said the speech would discuss "how we make sure the people at the top stay there."
However, he cancelled the appearance amid reports that the event would be open to the public, and thus flooded with Occupy Philly protesters:"

'via Blog this'

@Occupyphilly get(s?) econ 101

Wedding at #occupyphilly

#occupywallstreet in 72 cities

Philadelphia

Allentown

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/cities-that-have-joined-the-occupied-movement

People march for economic justice

#occupyphilly

Imagine there's no cars

 Cherry Street during Night Market

Tenth Street during Night Market

People #occupyphilly to demand economic justice

Night Market Philly

http://nightmarketphilly.org/

From farm to table via public transit - Transit Dispatches - METRO Magazine

From farm to table via public transit - Transit Dispatches - METRO Magazine: "In Philadelphia, where more than 35 percent of the population relies on public transit as its sole means of transportation and about 25 percent of residents live below the poverty level, accessing affordable, fresh and healthy foods is a challenge.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is working with the City and Philadelphia-based The Food Trust to help make farm fresh fruits and vegetables a staple of Philadelphians’ diets. "

Heather Redfern

Press Relations Officer

Heather Redfern is the press relations officer for the Philadelphia-based Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

Gettysburg - buses may go fare-free

Freedom Transit may very well soon become free.


According to Rabbit Transit Executive Director Rich Farr, the York-based transportation company is in talks with an undisclosed agency to provide resources for Freedom Transit's Lincoln Line to be free for a period of time.

Gettysburg Times

What free #transit could do for Philadelphia

We would not have an ugly no-man's-land between the city and the Delaware River.

Farmers could come to town and not have to park on the sidewalk.

Even if you never ride public transit. Free transit would improve city life. Even if you don't live in the city you would benefit from the improved productivity.

Keep moving, nothing to see here - climate change is a hoax

The eastbound Schuylkill Expressway was impassable from the Blue Route to Girard Avenue…

Water punishes Philly area: Floods, damage, traffic - Philly.com: "In the 42 years that Amy Smith has lived in the Washington Crossing area, Thursday marked the first time that she had to leave her house by boat."

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Climate Change does not spare public transit

12 SEPTA railcars damaged in Trenton by Hurricane Irene getting repairs - Philly.com: "Twelve of the 16 SEPTA railcars stuck in Trenton during Hurricane Irene will be sidelined for weeks as water damage is repaired, SEPTA officials said Tuesday.

Caught by the unexpected rise of a creek that was "not on our radar screen," SEPTA rail operations managers realized too late that the trains could be in harm's way.

They say they will shuffle cars in SEPTA's 365-car fleet to deal with the shortage created by the missing 12 on the Trenton line."

'via Blog this'

Cars sheltered and protected -- people dumped and abandoned

Transit ridership demand up, so supply will go up too, right?

Despite the region's sluggish economy, SEPTA carried more riders in the last 12 months than it had in any of the 22 previous years.

For the fiscal year that ended June 30, SEPTA's buses, subways, trolleys, and trains had about 334 million passengers, up 4 percent from the previous year and the most since 345 million in fiscal 1989.

Have you had enough junk food and junk transportation yet?

Car crashes into junk-food retailer, ties up traffic for 20 blocks around. How much longer do we want this stupid culture to continue? Let's make transit free in Philly and get rid of the cars at least.

Walkshed Philadelphia | Personal and Precise Walkability Mapping

Walkshed Philadelphia | Personal and Precise Walkability Mapping: "Walkshed uses an advanced methodology to calculate and map walkability. It is the personal research project of Aaron Ogle, a software developer at Azavea in Philadelphia, PA.

While living in Seattle, Aaron became intrigued by Alan Durning of the Sightline Institute and his concept of a 'walkshed' that would score a location based on the quantity and diversity of amenities within a one-mile radius. A year later, Walk Score, which drew heavily from Durning's walkshed concept, became the first application to calculate walkability. Walk Score is a fantastic application with a clever methodology but it also has a number of acknowledged limitations.

Aaron wondered if improvements were possible. So as part of Azavea's 10% research project program, he has developed Walkshed Philadelphia and now Walkshed NY to demonstrate that it is possible to more accurately calculate and map walkability."

Must Love SEPTA: Car-Free in Philadelphia

Must Love SEPTA: Car-Free in Philadelphia: "Philadelphia is lucky to have the transit corridors it already has. They've made the kind of density we enjoy (or at least some of us enjoy) possible. Few cities have demonstrated the courage to build mass transit corridors with a future like Philadelphia in mind.
That's why I may never ever leave. "

Public Transportation - How you can help - cazort.net

Public Transportation: There are a number of ways you can become involved in public transportation:

• Become Familiar with Local Systems - Even if you don't frequently use your local transit system, knowing a little bit about how it works can help you answer questions and assist others who may want to use it.
• Use It - As more people use public transportation, demand will increase and the level of funding and service will increase.
• Promote It - Speak positively about public transportation. Buy and display gear and branding of your local transit agency.
• Write and Talk to Key People - By making known to politicians and local business leaders that you value public transportation, you can help increase the public image of transit systems, and make people more likely to provide support.
• Start a Parternship with a Transit Agency - If you hold a position of power or influence, you might benefit both a transit agency and your own organization by partnering with them. Examples of partnerships include colleges or universities providing some funding to the transit agency, in exchange for free passes for students, faculty and staff, or influence over the routes and schedules. Some businesses offer a program where one can buy monthly transit passes and have the cost deducted from your paycheck--this generates tax savings.

What does it mean when auto drivers honk because of irritation?

Imagine that you were irritated about something, would you go to everyone within a 500 meter spherical radius and whine loudly?

Think about it. That is exactly what auto drivers are doing when they honk the horn because of some irritation.

Homes for cars, but not for people

US, PA, not broke - just haven't collected the taxes

Large corporations are making record profits, paying out huge bonuses, and not paying any taxes. Many are getting gifts of taxpayer funds. Many were completely bailed out by the taxpayer and should not even be in business. Conservatives say that it's OK to have the Corporations on welfare because they provide jobs, and if they had to pay taxes they would pass-through that expense in prices. That is not true. Prices are set by the market, not by the amount of expenses. If a company cannot pay for the civil society sea in which it swims, then its business plan is unsustainable and it should drown.

If you would like to do something about this: http://www.usuncut.org/

Let's double the parking tax and get more buses

There is a campaign to roll back the parking tax. We say, double it and give the money for more and better bus service.

LCTA is all ‘pump’ed up by an increase in ridership | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre & Scranton PA

These riders get ready to board an LCTA bus at the intermodal center with more people opting for mass transit due to gas costs.

Pete G. Wilcox/The Times Leader

LCTA is all ‘pump’ed up by an increase in ridership | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre & Scranton PA: "According to ridership reports from the Luzerne County Transportation Authority, there were 4.7 percent more people riding county buses in the first three months of 2011 than in the first three months of 2010."

Driver Sought In Deadly Montgomery County Hit And Run On Township Line Road « CBS Philly

Driver Sought In Deadly Montgomery County Hit And Run On Township Line Road « CBS Philly: "UPPER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) – Police are searching for the driver who fled the scene after fatally striking a pedestrian in Montgomery County Wednesday afternoon."

The victim was walking because she had lost her job and had moved back in with parents. She did not drive because she had a disability and did not want to endanger others. When we we wake up an realize that the auto-sprawl system simply does not work.

No money for SEPTA? Here is why.

Uncut Facebook

Courageous people of Libya undoing the damage of US Autosprawl

Time to admit that car-dependency is a bad idea.

Having a car-dependent society means that all kinds of people will be driving under all kinds of conditions. People under stress, disoriented, emotional, etc. It is easy to say "people should be responsible," but where do you draw the line? Taking that bumper-sticker thinking to its logical conclusion, we should not waste money on stop signs or traffic signals.
Instead, why not just design a system that is safe for humans under a larger range of circumstances? For example: make public transit free, plant gardens of vegetables and flowers in every other street, and abolish the private auto.

Driving into the city -- to see flowers

The flower show is a time of irony. Honking horns, parking mania. Big, stinking, flora-killing vehicles descending on the city. Acres of paved-over paradise to speed the journey. The self-satisfied suburbanites pop out and scamper to the show. The beautiful flowers are locked and guarded behind cement. Heaven forbid the homeless might get to see them. Then, for the return home, the beast-vehicle is retrieved from its temporary cement cave. Home it speeds, home to low-tax, good-school, sprawl heaven.

Yo, people. You can keep living in subsidized sprawl-ville. But please stop voting against public transit. We are tired of supporting your wasteful lifestyle. We would like to make the whole city a garden and take the flowers out from behind the locked doors and the extra police protection.

CATA may go fare free - Local | Centre Daily Times - State College, PA | Penn State, Nittany Lions, weather, news, jobs, homes, apartments, real estate

A rider boards a CATA bus along College Avenue. CDT/Christopher Weddle

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/2011/03/08/2567279/cata-may-go-fare-free.html#ixzz1G441m9G5

CATA may go fare free - Local | Centre Daily Times - State College, PA | Penn State, Nittany Lions, weather, news, jobs, homes, apartments, real estate: "A state-funded study set to start later this year will analyze the universal access concept, which allows mass transit users to ride without paying a fare at that time.

While the “U-pass” system often targets student populations, the study also will analyze a scenario for broader Centre Area Transportation Authority bus riders."

Still own beach property?

Debate rises on saving N.C.'s eroding beaches - Health/Science - NewsObserver.com: "Kids splashed last summer in the waves under an oceanfront row of cottages on the eroding south end. Huge sandbags fortified pilings, the steps of condemned houses dangling above the sand.

'We wanted close to the beach, and that's exactly what we got,' vacationer Rod Daugherty of Greenville, Pa., said as the tide lapped under the deck of his rental house."

People take over 10th Street for New Year Celebration

Reasons to give up your car: #8 - support local business

Small shops in town centres depend on passing pedestrians, but from the 1960s onwards there has been a move to create out-of-town supermarkets and retail parks. Britain has lost 30,000 independent grocery stores between 1995 and 2005 (pdf). I’ve got about three of them on my own street. If your high street is a ghost town of pound stores and charity shops, you know what car culture can do to town centres."
Ten reasons to give up your car « Make Wealth History: "8. Support local business

Local food, beautiful town. De-pave.

Depaving Day! from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

micro urban: Dollar value of walkability

micro urban: "Economic Analysis of Walkability
http://www.ceosforcities.org/files/WalkingTheWalk_CEOsforCities.pdf
Each WalkScore point can add $1,000s in value of a house in some cities, even after factoring out other variables. Even in our auto-centric country, demand for walkable urbanism is under-met."

What if we stop all the waste and pollution for nothing?

http://climatecrocks.com/

State College, PA - CATA Study to Explore Fare-Free Rider Access

State College, PA - CATA Study to Explore Fare-Free Rider Access: "CATA will soon study the feasibility of making its entire bus system fare-free for all riders, the public-transit agency confirmed.

The state Department of Transportation has awarded the Centre Area Transportation Authority a $100,000 grant to investigate the idea formally, CATA transit planner Greg Kausch said. He said the study, funded through PennDOT's Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative, is expected to last 18 to 24 months."

Greenworks Philadelphia: Reducing automobile traffic

One Perfect Day Aboard Amtrak

One Perfect Day Aboard Amtrak: "With a shared love of rail travel, it seemed only natural to plan a honeymoon by train. We even took a train from our wedding to the hotel where we spent our wedding night. Our honeymoon spanned most of the nation, with travel on several of Amtrak's routes including the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Lake Shore Limited. The train turned out be a perfect way to honeymoon. Our sleeper car was a perfect private getaway, and the motion of the train and the whistle only added to the romance. When we ventured out we enjoyed the lounge car, wine tastings, a film in the movie theater,and delicious meals in the dining car."