Tag: remzem
Universities lead the way on public transport
A recent study by the US PIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group reveals that the steps universities are taking to encourage students and staff to use eco-friendly modes of transport are paying off: fewer students are bringing cars with them to campus. University of Missouri Kansas City In 2011, UMKC’s students faced constant parking supply […]
The 10 most useless freeways in North America
An updated list of the nation’s most teardown-worthy highways is the highlight of the recently released report, Freeways Without Futures, compiled by the Congress for the New Urbanism, a nonprofit which works for “walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development, sustainable communities and healthier living conditions.” CNU is the “hub” of the freeway removal movement, having formed a […]
Is your state one of the 11 most dangerous to drive in?
Eleven states dangerously lack basic safety regulations, according to a recently released report on highway safety. As the Washington Post notes, a new report from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety revealed that 11 states earned a red rating, indicating “poor protections.” On the other hand, ten states (plus D.C.) received a green rating, and the […]
Brussels receives a car-free makeover
Brussels, one of Europe’s most traffic-jammed cities, may soon go car-free — at least in part. The city’s newly inaugurated mayor, Yvan Mayeur of the Socialist party, hopes to transform the central area of Belgium’s capital into a pedestrian-only area, according to a recent report by The Atlantic. Brussels is notorious for its congestion. TomTom, […]
Road signs of Middle-Earth
Our office design crew is full of fans of The Hobbit, and with The Desolation of Smaug opening tomorrow, we got together and cooked up a couple of signs that Bilbo, Thorin, Bard, Gandalf and company might have found handy in their travels. Not all who wander are lost, but they might need some signs […]
Should you bother buying a personal breathalyzer?
Nearly all U.S. states have a standard .08 blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in place for drivers. Driving drunk can have life-changing consequence, from injury and death to arrest and skyrocketing insurance premiums. For some drivers, a personal breath analyzer (often known by the brand name, Breathalyzer) may help increase safety on the road. As most […]
New theory explains urban sprawl
Most cities follow a familiar pattern – they start at the center of trade routes or near plentiful food resources, gradually accumulating population, and ending with multiple centers connected by urban sprawl. But what’s behind the evolution of a metropolis? A new mathematical model by two physicists holds the answer to how cities and their […]
Grieving mom: three-point child seats are inadequate
Eight years after her four-month-old daughter died as a result of car crash injuries, Pennsylvania mom Darla Johns is advocating for safer car seats. Johns’ daughter Aryn Mills was riding in a car with a three-point harness that her family now claims was defective. “She was always happy and giggling. She’d laugh at the ceiling […]
Golf carts now legal to drive on some city streets
Golf carts aren’t merely the stuff of prepubescent boys’ driving dreams and elderly golfers’ daily lives – they’re street legal in some areas. Supporters claim that golf carts are friendlier to the environment than their gas-guzzling counterparts, cheaper to run and maintain, and that the vehicles are particularly useful for short trips – which are, […]
How loud can my vehicle be?
The law isn’t always loud and clear when it comes to legal noise levels for vehicles. In fact, legal levels vary by area, just as enforcement methods vary, too. What passes for whispering in some big cities might be construed as a shout in a rural area; and the same goes for car exhausts, mufflers, […]
