I'm cheap, I'm green. Get used to it!
Those who know me call me cheap if they like me, miser if not. I prefer to think of myself as frugal.
One reason that I ride my bike is to save gas money, and the parking fee of course. But I also ride because it's good for me and for the environment. Coming from Detroit, I've always been sensitive to the impact that cars have on the places we live, and one of the things I love most about Iowa City is it's bikeable scale.
There are things we can do to promote more biking here. Trails, possibly designated bike lanes, and more police bike patrols come to mind. The bike racks on city busses are a great idea. And my experience shows that we need more and better-placed bike racks downtown.
Running our busses on bio-diesel is another positive step the city has taken to become more environmentally friendly. I'd like to study the idea of running all heavy city vehicles on bio-diesel--garbage trucks, roads, fire trucks...
I'm convinced we also need to do everything possible to promote LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for new buildings in Iowa City. Certainly we must have this for all buildings in which the city has a funding say. LEED certification is based on a series of environmentally-friendly standards relating to design, construction, and operation of new buildings. LEED buildings are green in a big way.
Historic Preservation is also an environmentally friendly idea--instead of developing open space, preservation rehabs existing buildings and preserves the unique character of Iowa City neighborhoods. But, preservation can be hard work. Just ask me when I'm two stories up on a ladder repainting our 134 year old house...
One reason that I ride my bike is to save gas money, and the parking fee of course. But I also ride because it's good for me and for the environment. Coming from Detroit, I've always been sensitive to the impact that cars have on the places we live, and one of the things I love most about Iowa City is it's bikeable scale.
There are things we can do to promote more biking here. Trails, possibly designated bike lanes, and more police bike patrols come to mind. The bike racks on city busses are a great idea. And my experience shows that we need more and better-placed bike racks downtown.
Running our busses on bio-diesel is another positive step the city has taken to become more environmentally friendly. I'd like to study the idea of running all heavy city vehicles on bio-diesel--garbage trucks, roads, fire trucks...
I'm convinced we also need to do everything possible to promote LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for new buildings in Iowa City. Certainly we must have this for all buildings in which the city has a funding say. LEED certification is based on a series of environmentally-friendly standards relating to design, construction, and operation of new buildings. LEED buildings are green in a big way.
Historic Preservation is also an environmentally friendly idea--instead of developing open space, preservation rehabs existing buildings and preserves the unique character of Iowa City neighborhoods. But, preservation can be hard work. Just ask me when I'm two stories up on a ladder repainting our 134 year old house...
posted by Mike at
7:01 PM
3 Comments:
The title of this post says it all...but a car that runs for 399,000 miles. You are the cheapest! Will you give my husband lessons?
Way to go Mike. Good blogger
More bike trails -- yes! and trails that encourage bicycle commuting through the heart of the city. I've been cycling to work in Iowa City for 36 years and have been generally impressed with the respect given to cyclists by motorists. However, I am embarassed by some cyclists who flout the traffic laws. By stricter enforcment, we can underline the fact that bikers are indeed vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities of motorists.
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