How Metro and Caltrans are Making California Fires Worse
"Some people think that Metro is just buses and trains. It's not. While operating transit, Metro is also actively expanding freeways. A recent Metro report found that, on the whole, Metro projects and programs are increasing emissions. Metro freeway expansions greatly increase greenhouse gas emissions - much more than any decrease from all of Metro's bus and rail projects combined."
What are "Hurricane-force wind gusts"?
Hurricanes have *sustained* winds of 74 mph, but gusts can often be 25% more than that. A Santa Ana windstorm with 80 mph gusts doesn't have the sustained force of a hurricane.
Also winds in a mountain-related downslope windstorm are typically far more variable than in a hurricane, sometimes even going from near-calm to peak strength in a matter of a few minutes.
Not to say they aren't dangerous. Stay safe!
This week’s unholy mix of drought, wind, and fire in Southern California » Yale Climate Connections
California clarifies ebike rules:
(1) A vehicle with two or three wheels...to attain a speed greater than 20 miles per hour on motor power alone or to attain more than 750 watts of power.
(2) A vehicle that is modified to attain a speed greater than 20 miles per hour on motor power alone or to have motor power of more than 750 watts.
(3) A vehicle that is modified to have its operable pedals removed.
New California law makes crystal clear which electric bikes are now 'illegal'
California ebike rebates will be available in December, or so the website says. Got to admit this is the closest expected date they've announced yet.
E-bike incentive vouchers for income qualified Californians - California E-Bike Incentive Project
Metro gave Culver City half a million dollars for bike lanes - then the city ripped them out again. Metro wants its money back.
"In April 2023, the council voted to remove the project's protected bike lanes, having cyclists instead share lanes with buses...staff noted that the grant funding agreement specifies if that funded facilities cease to be used for the original purpose specified, then funding must be returned."
California ebike rebates now pushed back to summer, according to the FAQ "When will you be accepting consumer applications?"
California’s budget crunch is fueling a fight over whether to spend scarce dollars on highways or walkways.
"Environmentalists say the money — $200 million in each of the next three fiscal years — won’t make a significant dent in the state’s $5.2 billion highway account. “We hear the administration say, ‘Well, with the deficit, we have to make these painful cuts,’ but they’re not cutting back on road building"
California ebike rebates now pushed back to Second Quarter 2024. But they have a website!
#california #ebike
E-bike incentive vouchers for income qualified Californians - California E-Bike Incentive Project
Lil bit of gathering community feedback as the spring deadline fades into the sunset
Ooh, they set another date! Spring 2024 now!
Highway Expansion Project Not Approved by California Transportation Commission
"While we're putting passenger vehicles and light duty trucks onto express lanes, we're then creating more capacity for trucks to go on those lanes, but the [environmental analysis assumes] that there will be no more trucks. ...it will and can induce truck traffic. Those truck impacts are ignored"
Six Southern California cyclists have been killed in this past week.
Smidgen of progress here. Fall 2023 now announced as the go-live date for California's ebike rebates.
California E-bike Incentive Project | California Air Resources Board
California making a little progress to their ebike incentive program. I bet every voucher is snapped up within minutes if they ever manage to get it open.
"We are in final development on the e-bike retailer application, retailer portal and project website. The retailer portal will be used for retailers to quickly look up vouchers and track their payouts."
(What's the deal with disabling clicks on a simple FAQ page?)
