REALNEO for all - Sustainable Transportation

I GRO EC at Coit Road Farmers Market, for over 75 years

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:27:44 -0400

The Coit Road Farmers Market is one of the most endearing places in real NEO. Hidden away in a near-dead industrial graveyard of East Cleveland, with the curb-appeal of a brownfield, it is not a place one goes without intent. So it amazes me that just about every time I go there I see someone I know. I guess I know some pretty smart people.

New Silver/Health Line Bus Stop at E. 9th and Euclid - detail

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:26:22 -0400

New Silver/Health Line Bus Stop at E. 9th and Euclid - detail - Ameritrust Building in background

Art of the Day: Silver Line RTA Bus Stations and Green Spaces on Euclid Avenue

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:37:53 -0400

Public Art is site specific, so designing public art for a five-mile site - a bus line - must be quite a challenge. Now, as the "Euclid Corridor" "Silver Line" "HealthLine" street improvements, light fixtures, bus stops, signage, green spaces, trees, grass and technologies are becoming apparent, I think much of what has been assembled works for most of the sites I've seen... despite basically wiping out the city, and costing over a $billion, retooling of an existing bus line. Whether the infrastructure and facilities will prove very functional, I have my doubts... we'll know after the first winter of full service. But the form of the bus station, designed by Robert P. Madison International, and light fixture shown in this picture of the East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue "Breuer Stop" works astoundingly well for this important site... one of the most important on the line. In this case, it appears the art was well conceived for the surroundings.

New Silver/Health Line Bus Stop at E. 9th and Euclid

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:24:51 -0400

While "they" may be calling the rehab'd bus line down Euclid Avenue the "Health Line", the stations were clearly designed to the Silver Line theme, which I prefer.

AMAZING - I Never Thought People In Spain Even Knew There Was A Cleveland, Ohio, USA...

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:19:15 -0400

Green Patriotism Bus Ads Prompts Americans to Address Climate Change

by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 07.31.08

Canaries were once used to warn miners of deadly methane levels. The Canary Project is about exactly that: warning us of severe changes to come. Using visual media and art works, the Canary Project spreads public understanding of climate change and supports those who commit to find solutions.

Bicycle to Bluegrass Music @ Mill Creek Falls

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:14:05 -0400

Start: 2008/07/20 - 6:00pm

End: 2008/07/20 - 9:00pm

BIKE TO THE Bluegrass Concert this Sunday (7/20) at Mill Creek Falls

Join neighborhood residents and bicyclists this Sunday at 6:00pm at Washington Reservation as we bike to Mill Creek Falls to enjoy the bluegrass sounds of the Crook Neck Chandler and the Tibbee Bottom Boys (we will be meeting in the parking lot for the Washington Park Horticulture center).

Let Them Eat Fresh, Local, Organic Raspberries and Blackberries They Picked In Their Neighborhood For Free

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:08:10 -0400

Start: 2008/07/08 - 6:00pm

End: 2008/07/08 - 7:00pm

When our neighbor Dr. Pat Blochowiak told us to stop by her garden and pick some raspberries, blackberries and snow peas, I didn't realize the depths of her bounty... or how great blackberries may be. As my kids picked through nature, they chomped down probably $50 worth of the best food in town, when you may find food so good. As I looked at the bowls of berries collected in short time, I felt blessed by my community and nature. Over a fresh berries and whipped organic cream desert, our family celebrated Summer and life in the best way. All that is the certain promise of East Cleveland, with community farming. Help plan that reality with Maurice Small and others as we meet again, today, for what has become an every-other-Tuesday City Fresh I GRO EC brainstorming session, in East Cleveland. This week, we'll meet at the Hough/Star Bakeries complex, and also visit Brown's Market, which we plan to convert into a pilot City Fresh Market.

NEO Excellence Roundtable: Urban Farming with Maurice Small

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:35:35 -0400

Start: 2008/06/24 - 6:00pm

End: 2008/06/24 - 7:00pm

Two weeks ago, City Fresh's Maurice Small met with friends in East Cleveland to discuss City Fresh, urban farming, and how we may convert a typical urban convenient store, Brown's Market, into a pilot City Fresh local foods market. During our discussions, Maurice mentioned that a dedicated urban farmer may earn more than $30,000 per year from sales of food grown on one typical urban lot (say 1/10th an acre). That being the case, and considering our ever-growing need and realigning demand for locally grown food, and the fact food may be grown locally as cost effectively as elsewhere in the world, it occurred to me that the highest and best use for most of the land now cleared, abandoned, blighted and wasted in our urban neighborhoods is for urban farming. So that is a use we are now planning to be core to redevelopment of the Star Neighborhood. Intrigued? Discuss and plan for this reality with Maurice and friends this Tuesday, from 6-7 PM, at that house on Roxbury, in East Cleveland. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Air Quality Advisory for Northeast Ohio

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:45:47 -0400

Monday, June 16, 2008 - Fine Particle "Soot" Pollution Urban traffic" />

Northeast Ohio - An Air Quality Advisory has been issued for Monday until such time as the front containing rain moves through the region. This Advisory is for the counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit.

Ohio 21st c.Transportation Priorities Task Force Meeting

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:33:54 -0400

Start: 2008/06/17 - 4:00pm

End: 2008/06/17 - 8:00pm

You can read about the task force here and here. At this latter site you can get up to speed by seeing a video of part of a previous task force meeting and take part in a survey. We need better public transportation now, so come and speak up.

I GRO EC for City Fresh

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:46:05 -0400

Maurice Small is the most economically and ecologically sensible planner I know.

Joe Stanley, Sudhir Kade and I have been brainstorming with City Fresh's Maurice Small about "I GRO EC" - Independent Green Republic Of East Cleveland. City Fresh already operates a Fresh Stop at Huron Road Hospital - which Maurice reports is doing great - and is active in community farming in East Cleveland. Recently, we've been discussing City Fresh having an involvement converting Brown's Convenient store into a pilot City Fresh Market, which could offer a paradigm-shifting model for bringing local food, farming and their economies into very needy urban neighborhoods, in very innovative and important ways.

An Airline With A New Idea - Weight Based Fares...

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:16:27 -0400

Welcome to Derrie-Air, the world's only carbon-neutral luxury airline, where you don't have to choose between living the high life and saving the planet. Nine out of ten scientists agree—we need to reduce our carbon emissions or perish from the face of the earth. Air travel is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions and global warming. Derrie-Air will be the only airline that plants trees to offset every pound of carbon that our planes release into the atmosphere.

Here's the ClevelandBikes "Bike to Work" Schedule for Cleveland Bicycle Week - Join Us!

Sun, 11 May 2008 10:54:41 -0400

Join the nonprofit organization ClevelandBikes on its annual "Bike to Work" rides, everyday May 12-16, now bigger than ever by partnering with other riding organizations in the first Cleveland Bicycle Week. Ride and you can be elgible for great prizes! This year, you can also find partners on your own through a "Bike Buddy" system brought to you by NOACA. And remember, join us for our ride on Wednesday May 14th and wear yellow for Lance Armstrong Foundation's LIVESTRONG Day!

* ClevelandBikes hosts commuting rides downtown to our host, the Greater Cleveland YMCA (2200 Prospect Avenue), every day during Cleveland Bicycle Week, May 12-16. Join us for coffee, while the YMCA provides free, secure bike parking, showers and free passes for the day. Join us and share your goals about riding in Northeast Ohio, while riders are eligible for fun prizes.

* ClevelandBikes is also pleased to assist with the Northeast Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), which is offering to match solo riders through th Ohio Ride Share "Bike Buddy" program, matching riders with common starting points,ride times and common destinations (www.ohiorideshare.com).

* ClevelandBikes also supports a major health initiative, with a "Bike to Work"ride for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (www.livestrong.org) and "LIVESTRONG" day on Wednesday May 14.

* ClevelandBikes will host "Bike to Work" rides on the final Friday of every month and special rides for festivals and other activities.

Pick a starting location from the list below and ride along with a ClevelandBikes ride leader, or just meet us between 8:00 and 9:00 AM at our downtown host, the Greater Cleveland YMCA, which is offering free showers, secure bike parking and free day passes for YMCA activities.

East Side Starting Points

7:45 AM Arabica at 11300 Juniper in University Circle
7:15 AM Dewey's Coffee on Shaker Square
7:30 AM Starbucks at Cedar and Fairmount
7:00 AM Bus Shelter at E. 222nd and Lakeshore
7:45 AM McDonald's on E. 159th and Lakeshore

South Side Starting Point
7:15 AM Arabica at 5615 Turney Rd.

West Side Starting Points
7:45 AM Civilization Coffee Shop in Tremont at W. 11th and Kenilworth
7:50 AM Talkies Film and Coffee Bar in Ohio City at 2521 Market Ave.
7:25 AM Phoenix in Lakewood at 15108 Detroit near Warren Rd.
7:50 AM Arabica in Lakewood at 11604 Detroit near W. 116th

National "Bike to Work" Week is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org), which offers bicycle advocacy and support programs for more than 125 years.

ClevelandBikes , a 501C3 nonprofit organization, is committed to advancing all forms of bicycling as economical and healthful recreation, sport and transportation.

For More Information, Contact: Kevin Cronin
216.374.7578; kevin@clevelandbikes.org
On the Web: www.clevelandbikes.org
When ClevelandBikes. Cleveland Benefits!

Question of the Day... What Drives Your Hyper-Local Economy?

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:00:52 -0400

Little Italy has always been core to my REAL NEO experience. From earliest childhood memories, my family has always had many meals at various Little Italy restaurants, each year, as well as picking-up an occasional pizza (where else in NEO but Mama Santas or Valentino's... well, do try the Gelatoria at Fairhill). I also love getting Lemon Ice and other goodies at Corbos. with their unusual greeting of "Leave the gun, take the cannoli"... as authentic as life gets, in NEO. Last night, I noticed Corbos moved next door to their old home, to a remodeled new space (much as Prestis did, a few years ago) Little Italy has always been a great hyper-local neighborhood, where people live, work, eat and socialize together within, and interact well with the world without. There's always lots of private rehab and strong entrepreneurial business activity here, off the Med-O-Mart grid. Which makes me ask you, what matters to the hyper-local economy in your neighborhood, and how is that doing.

The China Problem!?

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:19:55 -0400

So I am just back from 14 days in Japan. Interesting to be on the sidelines as 3,000 Japanese police protect the olympic toarch from what I thought would be a calm, reserved crowd. Dont get me wrong, I was not in Nagano, I was in Shibuya / Tokyo.. but it got a lot of attention. Pro and anti China student groups and observers literally throwing punches, 70 year old Japanese men going to jail for throwing tomatoes in the face of the police protecting the toarch... etc. It was akin to what I saw in the USA when the toarch came thru California.