Google Maps Embraces Bike Routes

March 11, 2010

This should be great news for bike enthusiasts. For those always on the lookout for bike routes, Google Maps has added a bike directions tool that puts them at your fingertips. Just like information about transit routes, bus schedules, and car driving directions, the Google Maps bike feature allows people to make more choices about their transportation mode. Now folks can look ahead and plan a bike ride around town knowing that the path will serve them well.

The bike map feature is currently available for 150 U.S. cities. An article from PCWorld offers more background and information on how to use the map system.

Bike Directions Added to Google Maps

Google has also posted information on the bike feature and how they built the routes.

It’s Time to Bike

Travel Time Reliability

March 11, 2010

Travel time reliability is a measure that's becoming increasingly important to public agencies, elected officials, and most importantly the traveling public. The reliability concept is less than a decade old and continues to be explored and advanced through research programs, such as the Strategic Highway Research Program 2. On March 4th, the Portland office of KAI led a workshop about the history and current state of the practice of reliability, key concepts and performance measures, and a description of how reliability concepts can be (and will be) applied to mainstream traffic operations and planning activities in the near future.

Slideshow presentation included.

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Commute Orlando Blog Provides Bicycle Awareness & Information Sharing

March 08, 2010

The Commute Orlando blog provides a wealth of information on local issues for bicycle users within Central Florida and also on practices that are relevant nationwide. Click through the blog to learn about pedestrian and bicycle safety, bicycle training and awareness, commute and traffic issues, and bicycle recreation. The blog includes a variety of video clips to demonstrate bicycle training and highlight common biking issues.

The website also contains information on selecting a bicycle and other equipment, route planning, tips for safe riding, and opportunities for bicycle education classes within Central Florida.

Commute Orlando

Portland, OR Aims to Keep Cyclists Safe

March 05, 2010

The city of Portland, Oregon, has popped up in bicycle news recently for innovative treatments to improve bike safety and awareness. As a community that can boast having over 6% of citizens commuting to work by bike,1 the city has the large task of moving those bicyclists efficiently and safety along with motorized traffic.

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Green Streets: Infrastructure and Design Options

March 04, 2010

Although roads are a large and important part of our urban infrastructure, their contribution towards environmental pollution is hard to overlook. As a result, maintenance and street design are receiving much focus as new mitigation techniques and strategies are developed.

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Transportation at The Olympics in Vancouver

February 25, 2010

Submitted by Paul Ryus

Hosting an Olympic Games is a huge logistical challenge, involving the transportation of athletes, coaches, officials, spectators, marketing partner guests, Olympics workforce, and members of the media, among others, all of whom need to arrive at competition venues before the competition starts. At the same time, daily life in the host city must go on, along with the transportation demands that creates.

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Bicycle Boulevard Guidebook

February 18, 2010

A masters student from Portland State University, with some assistance from Alta Planning + Design and others, recently put together a guidebook on Fundamentals of Bicycle Boulevard Planning and Design. The guidebook contains a lot of useful illustrations and case studies of bike boulevard treatments.

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TIGER Grant Funding Announced

February 17, 2010

Today, the US Department of Transportation announced $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant funding for transportation projects. TIGER Grants are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and include projects focusing on freight rail, road and bridge repair, and community livability. For more background and to see the full list of projects receiving funds, visit the DOT’s TIGER program information page.

TIGER Grants

Mary Taylor Raulerson Joins KAI

February 16, 2010

KAI is pleased to announce the addition of Mary Taylor Raulerson to the team. As KAI’s newest Principal Planner, Mary will be based in Orlando, Florida, while she continues to serve clients nationwide.

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Reston Virginia Office Now Open!

February 16, 2010

KAI is happy to announce the opening of its newest office in Reston, Virginia.

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