Jake Spidle of the Las Vegas Bike Co-Op tells us how to pick the right bike for riding around Vegas.

The most interesting thing about this video is the number of cars that go beyond the crosswalk line. About seven feet behind the striped crosswalk, is the line where cars are supposed to stop. Half the time cars would stop there, and the other half they would come dangerously close to pedestrians.

Neurological and psychological studies have shown that when people drive, the car becomes an extension of themselves. Despite being behind the wheel of a 3,000 pound machine, they inch close to pedestrians about as far as it would be socially acceptable in person. It's one of the dangers of becoming too familiar with driving and unfamiliar with what it's really like to walk around the city.

Remember folks: your car is massive compared to people. Keep your distance.

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What else can you do?

- Let Google know that you want the “Add Destination” option on public transit searches. Currently, it’s only available for car searches. This option allows you to add stop between your main route so you can plan a more efficient trip.

Make your idea known here: Google Maps Suggestions

- Write a letter to RTC Southern Nevada asking for cell phone text alerts of bus arrival times. That way, you can take your time at the store, coffee shop, or where ever you happen to be without worrying about missing the your bus. Also, you’ll neve be stranded at a stop again because of bus malfunctions or traffic congestion.

RTC Southern Nevada
600 S. Grand Central Pkwy.
Ste.. 350
Las Vegas, NV 89106
Phone: 702-676-1500
Fax: 702-676-1518

Bogotá, Colombia, is a city of almost 8 million inhabitants. Very limited urban planning and a historic lack of infrastructure development resulted in public transit woes. Getting around in Bogotá can be tough, but the city has done a great job in recent years in improving public transportation and making the city more navigable.

Here are some ways that people get around in Bogotá.

Read the rest of this entry →

The new Park and Ride transit facility groundbreaking on Durango and US 95 was held on Wednesday, June 24th.

The RT Rider laments his home town of Sacramento not having a cool music video like San Francisco’s BART. With nearly one musician per 10* in the population, why shouldn’t RTC?

*This statistic is completely made up.

I ike to start off with humor, so here’s a long forgotten song from the ’50s about pollution:

Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission cut their public transit budget by 25% after a November 4, 2008 vote against increasing the sales tax by 1/8%. In March, they cut bus routes of the free bus, Sierra Spirit. This is the only bus that connects the entire downtown without any transfers, which is what there should be. Unfortunately for me and my commute, 25% means a lot.

Share your own stories about public transit cuts in your city on our EcoStreets YouTube Group.