Down To Earth

The state of Bicycling in Spokane

May 15, 2008 at 4:17 am · Filed under Daily Tips, DTE Recommended, WEEKLY FEATURE

Work to eat. Eat to live. Live to bike. Bike to work

Take a bow Spokane; your participation, enthusiasm, and overall two-wheel hysteria this week is worth an ovation and the best part is, it’s quite infectious. In logistical terms, Bike to Work week is a smashing success. Nearly 900 people have registered to bike to work this week, an astonishing obliteration of expectations. That is some 600 or so more than was expected as only 300 shirts were made to give away to participants. Super-bicycle-awareness promoter Barb Chamberlain has been working this event like Don King promoting a fight. In daily emails she has sent out updating everybody on the progress, she never fails to mention how overwhelming the response has been. It’s been a while since Spokane has promoted this national event locally but you can guarantee that Barb will be upping the number of T-Shirts for next year. But what will Spokane do in terms of accommodating Bike to Work 2009 participants? By that time will Spokane be a more bicycle friendly city? Judging by the number of passionate riders this week, and some sincere local activists – the odds are in favor of two wheels in Spokane. Read the rest of this entry »

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Free the Falls

May 15, 2008 at 4:06 am · Filed under From the SR, Spokane River

Spokane River

One look at the above picture and it should be clear that something needs to be done to ensure adequate water flows in the Spokane River. It’s hard to envision now as water roars through the city at a mighty pace, but summer flows in the Spokane River are nothing, if anything to admire. Avista Corporation diverts all of the water during the summer months to its historic powerhouse next to the YMCA. All for a few megawatts that could be replaced by a few windmills.

For the first time in 35 years, provisions of the Clean Water Act are making it possible for five dams to be relicensed to ensure water quality. Now is the time to fight for mandatory water levels of 600 cubic feet per second. The following is a wonderful piece written by Rachael Paschal Osborn, executive director of the Center for Environmental Law & Policy. Read the rest of this entry »

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How low can you go?

May 14, 2008 at 7:01 am · Filed under Automotive, Health, Recreation, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

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In their transportation ranking, the above graph from one of our favorite sites, Sightline Institute, displays the most climate-friendly way to travel. It charts CO2 emissions by transportation mode and shows differences based on occupancy. Best strategy: Bike!

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Sound check

May 14, 2008 at 6:36 am · Filed under Surrounding News, DTE Recommended

Running parallel to the Seattle Times’ series on Puget Sound pollution, Crosscut is featuring another side of the issue. Titled “People vs. Puget Sound,” check out the following three stories:

“There’s nothing new in a plan to save Puget Sound” by Daniel Jack Chasan, focusing on the ignored citizen comments during the cleanup plan; “Puget Sound on Prozac” by Knute Berger, about the beautiful waterway as a dump for everything from oil to, you guessed it, anti-depressants; and “The need for cruise control” by Fred Felleman, calling for better federal regulations to police polluters among the world’s fleet of cruise ships.

Long called an invisible issue, DTE is pleased to finally see the Seattle Times raising awareness, while Crosscut has done a decent job since its inception (credit is due to environmental reporter Chasan.) Actually, the Seattle P-I ran a better series in November 2002, but it’s astounding how much as changed since in terms of population growth. Once again, for more information please visit Puget Sound Partnership.

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The old man and the street

May 14, 2008 at 6:16 am · Filed under Daily Tips

Daily Tip # 243

Listen up, you hoser. It’s a common and incredulous sight in residential parts of Spokane: Cleaning the driveway by hosing it down, which causes water waste and contributes to runoff, damaging our waterways. A hose uses 25 gallons every five minutes, so you’ll save with sweeping, and burn up to 173 calories an hour.

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Tuesday Video–double bill

May 13, 2008 at 7:07 am · Filed under Tuesday Video

[Disclaimer: The following two videos do not represent the opinions of DTE or The Spokesman-Review.]

Jane Goodall, the kooky lady who speaks to gorillas, is still shaking things up in an interview about population growth and the environment. In the early 1970’s, there was this fear of global limits, that from the population boom, the earth would reach the end of its “carrying capacity.” The argument was dormant until now, after CIA director Gen. Michel Hayden said the biggest threat facing the U.S. was not terrorism but overpopulation in poor parts of the world. “By mid-century, the best estimates point to a world population of more than 9 billion,” he said in a speech at Kansas State University. “Most of that growth will occur in countries least able to sustain it.”