E-bikes are a greener choice than e-cars — and especially for the 46 percent of vehicle trips under three miles that Americans currently take by automobile, they should be a no-brainer: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2021/02/11/new-bill-would-help-americans-buy-e-bikes/ New Bill Would Help Americans Buy E-Bikes

Modern, single-family zoning policies perpetuate the effects of an overtly racist past … It’s an anachronism that needs reforming if we want to build more equitable, affordable communities: https://sf.streetsblog.org/2021/02/04/spur-talk-the-racist-roots-of-single-family-zoning/ SPUR Talk: The Racist Roots of Single-Family Zoning

With this new guide, any community can combine the three core elements of placemaking — something to do, somewhere to sit, and something to eat and drink — in order to create a vibrant public place that inspires gather ing: http://ow.ly/g6wn50Dtz22 Livable Lesson Videos: Placemaking with Andrew Howard

Study finds that if all Northeast & MidAtlantic states collectively invested $100 million annually in active mobility infrastructure and public transit, the monetary benefit of lives saved would exceed the investment: http://ow.ly/sBag50Dpm7H Investments in Modern Transit Options May Yield $7.6B in Health Benefits

Proposed federal legislation would reinstate and modify the bicycle commuter tax benefit, make local #bikeshare programs eligible for federal transportation funding: http://ow.ly/HQaa50DpjG3 Inspired by COVID biking boom, cycling bills reintroduced in Congress

The authors found that projects with more on-site parking induce more auto ownership and that more parking led to more driving, less transit use, and less walking: http://ow.ly/bU8050DneUA Verified: More Parking Puts More Cars on the Road – Sightline Institute

The #firstsuburbs west of Chicago have a surplus of public bicycle trails, providing many opportunities for riders to take in the beauty of the nearby State Parks, landmarks, and nature preserve areas. Bicycle Trails in the Fox River Valley! – River Travel Magazine

“Sprawl has transformed us from ‘1 nation, indivisible’ into a fragmented society of endless discord. … Sprawl also precipitated a … move from a sense of duty to others, to an individualistic self-centeredness, & … little notion of common good.” Returning to small-town ideas of shared space will help bring us together: Douglas E. Morris

The Central Park sighting reminds us that #conservation is not always about setting aside huge tracts of untouched land; there’s also value in conserving more green space & planting more native plants in parks, prospects that are good for birds & us, too. Central Park’s Snowy Owl Shows Why We Must Conserve Land Everywhere

Los Angeles County planner Clement Lau argues that park planners must think beyond park boundaries, see the big picture, and plan with interconnections, such as transportation, housing, and water management, in mind. An Intentional Collision — Parks & Rec Business Magazine (PRB)