Handsome CNN reporter this morning: "...People in Florida are used to seeing the Space Shuttle, and people in Houston are used to seeing it, but people in NYC are not..." Really? Why are people in Houston used to seeing the Space Shuttle?
- Looking to finally get your own bike? On April 29th Bike and Roll will sell off adult hybrid bikes, cruiser bikes, kids bikes, and kids tandem attachments at our annual spring sale! Come grab a 2010 Trek 7200 comfort hybrid bicycle ($240), complete with a comfortable seat, 24 gears, and thick tires built for commuting. Our beach cruisers ($140) have high handlebars, back pedal brakes, and a trendy 50's style. Kids bikes are available in both 20" ($120) and 24" ($160) wheels. Kids tandem attachments are also available for kids who aren't quite comfortable pedaling on their own ($120).
- I agree with so much that this David fellow says. He must be bright. It's not really fair, though, for the author to say that Capital Bikeshare has "lost $7M on operating costs". For one thing, that represents the start-up costs. And it was paid primarily by the federal government and by BIDS. That's how much was spent, but it wasn't lost. Not unless paying for BID garbage cans or new bridges represents money "lost."
- As has been mentioned before, Arlington is expanding it's CaBi system along the R-B corridor. For example N. Randolf and Fairfax, Fairfax and Wilson and Wilson Blvd and N Oakland St.
- The latest in bike share technology: "The multi-language kiosk boasts a very large touch screen. It can serve as an information center. It can print out directional maps or special coupons for system users for near-by shopping. It could also be used by those needing directions. The station has electric battery recharging capability and a recycling container for used batteries for electric bicycle compatibility. With advance connectivity, the new bike station could serve much more transit options for central payment and ticketing. "
The for-profit systems might "break-even" for the city. But giving up offsetting advertising concessions to one vendor, to whom you and your regional partners are locked into for long term, the city probably incurs an opportunity cost loss from not freely and competitively selling ad space on the market. Would at least partially offset the capital expenditures made for a public bikeshare system.
Posted by: darren | April 27, 2012 at 04:45 PM
The shuttle carrier aircraft refuels in Houston when it's ferrying back from California.
Posted by: Russell | April 27, 2012 at 08:05 PM
Blogger-in-chief!
Posted by: Michael H. | April 27, 2012 at 09:25 PM
The shuttle carrier aircraft refuels in Houston when it's ferrying back from California.
It always (or nearly always) stopped in Texas, but usually in Ft. Worth, El Paso, Amarillo or San Antonio (At one of the military installations). But never in Houston.
Posted by: washcycle | April 27, 2012 at 10:46 PM
Earlier in the program, there were 747/shuttle landings at Ellington AFB just outside Houston proper. And there have been a number of fly-bys over the years, including directly over Johnson Space Center.
Posted by: Christopher Fotos | April 28, 2012 at 01:57 PM
Do streets built and maintained for cars (mostly) make profits? Is only non-car transportation infrastructure supposed to be profitable, somehow? CaBi returns quite a bit of user revenue. That would put it way ahead of virtually all streets, non-toll roads, and sidewalks.
Posted by: Greenbelt | April 28, 2012 at 09:56 PM
Doing some research, it appears that there have been about 5 landings at Ellington in the 70s, 80's and early 90's as well as a low-altitude flyover in 2008. Still that hardly means people in Houston are used to seeing Space Shuttles.
Posted by: washcycle | April 28, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Big protests in London, Edinburgh and Rome on Saturday by cyclists hoping to draw attention to poor road safety.
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-for-cycle-safety-slideshow/cyclists-take-part-in-the-big-ride-cycle-campaign-in-park-lane-on-april-28-2012-in-london-england--photo-1335639361.html
Posted by: Michael H. | April 29, 2012 at 02:52 AM
That's how much was spent, but it wasn't lost. Not unless paying for BID garbage cans or new bridges represents money "lost."
This is an excellent point. The public boondoggle that is "garbage cans" doesn't get nearly enough exposure. Will these trash cans ever turn a profit, or are they just going to hang around the necks of decent taxpaying folks forever?
Posted by: oboe | April 30, 2012 at 02:21 PM