The Film Fest is on; bike parking is not!

What a great festive atmosphere in and around the Vancouver International Film Festival Saturday.
The sun was shining and the streets were clear of cars outside the Granville 7 Theatres downtown, which hosts the bulk of the Fest’s screenings.
Unfortunately, the streets were also clear of bike parking…completely.  Ellie O’Day, Media Director for the Festival, briefed me [...]

Island Transit wins Vote to improve Fare-Free Funding!

I was just informed by Island Transit Executive Director Martha Rose that Island Transit won the Sales Tax increase that was voted on in Island County, Washington State on 18 Aug 09.
Island Transit has been Fare-Free from its inception in 1987.  Prior to this vote, they received funding from a 6/10 of 1% sales tax [...]

2009 Cob Building Workshop!

This workshop has closed…please click here for the latest offerings…
Want to learn how to build your own house/greenhouse/shed/whatever?
Want to build with cheap, reusable, completely natural materials that are earthquake proof, fire proof, sound proof, insect proof, and proven to last for centuries?
Cob is the term for an earthen building technique that mixes sand, clay and [...]

Bike to Work? Not if the VPD has anything to do with it…

Vancouver’s finest example of our civilization’s insanity struck yet again last Monday morning.
Not surprisingly, Private Constable Clark (badge 2432) was “working” in an automobile, misusing another expensive and dangerous piece of technology provided to him by our tax dollars.
Here’s the scene: me, riding a bike (my bad) north on Main Street, a minute away from [...]

Viff ‘08: Where has all the Bike Parking gone?

As was the case last year, the bicycle parking for the Granville 7 Theatres downtown has not materialized for the start of the Vancouver International Film Festival.
There is, however, parking for cars and trucks just outside the theatre.
Bus riders will have to walk at least 2 blocks; Spytrain takers will need to walk through construction [...]

Learn to build – naturally – with Cob!

Want to learn how to build your own house with human-power!?
Want to build with cheap, reusable, natural materials that are earthquake proof, fire proof, pest proof, and proven to last for centuries?
Cob is the term for an earthen building technique that mixes sand, clay and straw and is sculpted on a wall. No forms [...]

The Ultimate Commuting Machine

Yes, I think I’ve stumbled upon it…the ultimate commuting machine!
Why such a bold statement? Let me list the ways…it’s
Clean: when the battery is charged via solar panels, there are virtually no emissions (the manufacture of the solar panels created some emissions, as does the flatulence of food digestion…oops, pardon me). The reduction in CO2 [...]

A highway built for 2…

 
Imagine a highway built for 2 cars…that’s right, a road where only 2 cars can reach the destination every 2 hours.
It certainly would solve traffic congestion and it would cost a lot less than the Gateway boondogle the provincial government is trying to shove down our throats.
Of course, no car owner would stand [...]

This is a Truly Terrible Twin!

No one likes to sit in traffic. That’s one reason why I ride a bike. Unfortunately for those who didn’t look at the big picture when deciding where to live, this isn’t much help. Thousands of folks bought homes in the ‘burbs to try to save money while continuing [...]