Lakewood Colorado Mayor Bob Murphy cutting the ribbon to open
Studio at 1560 Teller Street, Friday, June 08, 2012
The new studio is located 0.5 miles - 10 min walk - 3 minute bike ride from the future Lakewood-Wadsworth Light Rail Stop
The ceremony is part of a week long celebration of the arts by the City.
|
|
THE BACK FENCE NEWSLETTER
The Newsletter Featuring Livable Community Items That Readers Value and Highlights of Happenings Along the West Corridor on the RTD West Rail Line Serving Golden, Lakewood & Denver. |
|
The "W" Line Opens
in
320 Days
 |
|
|
Hi Everyone! This is Bill Spriggs and I have found several news articles, links and blogs that I wanted to share along THE BACK FENCE & beyond in this Sunday Edition, June 10, 2012. |
|
West Corridor, Denver & Region
| BoulderBlueLine.org
Bikes and Bus Rapid Transit by Zane Selvans, Jun 07, 2012 There's still political wrangling to be done and funding to be found, but with a little luck we'll see something resembling Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) coming to the US 36 corridor Real Soon Now.
READ MORE...
TheDenverPost.com
U.S. 36 Group Develops Westminster-Boulder Interactive Bike Map
By Monte Whaley, Jun 06, 2012
A new interactive map of bicycle routes along the U.S. 36 corridor is being introduced as part of an effort to encourage bike riding from Westminster to Boulder.
READ MORE...
Business-News.TheStreet.com
Ft. Carson CO Enlisting Help to Make Its Base Energy Independent
By Mark Jaffe, June 03, 2012 The barrel-like oven transforming wood chips into electricity with a Ford auto engine hardly seems like battlefield equipment, but Army officials say it may save lives.
READ MORE...
|
|
National
| |
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Conservative Motion to Cut Transportation Spending Fails (and Fails Hard)
By Ben Goldman, Jun 08, 2012 The House has just defeated, in a 323 to 82 whopper, a motion to instruct members of the transportation bill conference committee to slash spending by nearly 30 percent in order to stay within the projected limits of the Highway Trust Fund.
READ MORE...DC.StreetsBlog.org
House GOP Threatens to Wipe Out Local Control Over Bike/Ped Funding
By Tanya Snyder, Jun 08, 2012 The House GOP couldn't pass a transportation bill of their own, so now they want to undo one of the major bi-partisan achievements in the Senate transportation bill.
DC.StreetsBlog.org
House GOP Wastes Time With Bogus Gas Tax Debate
By Angie Schmitt, Jun 07, 2012
If you've been following the ongoing transportation bill saga, then you know there's a fair amount of gamesmanship going on in Congress right now - lots of political posturing, little progress on substantive policy. Here's a great new example of what the House GOP has been up to instead of passing a transportation bill.
READ MORE...InReuters.com
Boehner Floats 6-month US Transport Funding Extension By David Lawder, Jun 08, 2012
Signaling that hopes for a deal on a transportation construction bill may be fading, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Thursday floated the idea of a six-month extension of current funding to push the issue past the November elections.
READ MORE...
TheAtlanticCities.com
What Really Matters for Increasing Transit Ridership: Rail Edition
By Eric Jaffe, Jun 08, 2012 If you're a mid-sized metro area whose only form of public transportation is the bus, you might increase transit ridership just by tweaking the system. Lose a stop here, add one there, draw a few new maps. That worked for Broward County, Florida, which recently grew its passenger base by shifting its focus on job centers rather than downtown districts...
READ MORE...Good.is
Can Ditching Your Car Make You Feel More Free? By Alissa Walker, Jun 05, 2012
Los Angeles once showed the world that the car equaled freedom. Our vast parking lots and spacious two-car garages offered the utmost convenience. Even our roads were named after the idea-freeways-that automobiles provided this feeling of independence as a personal transportation experience. It worked for awhile. That is, until those painted lanes choked with Sigalerts and gas nosed towards $5.00 per gallon.
StreetsBlog.net
By Angie Schmitt, Jun 07, 2012
Yes, there is a bike business boom going on in the Motor City. It's sort of like an authentic version of Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" campaign, except with bikes, and except it's Actually taking place in Detroit. In an especially poetic twist - which gives us hope for the future of America - these businesses are now setting up shop in buildings that were once testing sites for GM.
TheAtlanticCities.com
In Santa Monica, a Sculpture That Aims to Change the Weather By John Metcalfe, Jun 08, 2012
Lots of artists want to change thoughts and opinions. Few try to change the weather.
|
|
International (when available)
| News.NationalGeographic.com
Low-Cost Solar Brightens Lives in the Developing World By Jeff Smith, Jun 06, 2012
Thanks to technological advances, simple solar lamps go for as little as $10 to $20 each, and ones that have multiple brightness settings and an outlet to charge a cell phone don't cost much more.
TheAtlanticCities.com
How the Olympics Will Reflect London's Changing Food Scene By Feargus O'Sullivan, Jun 06, 2012
Does it matter that visitors to London's Olympic Park this summer will mostly be guzzling Singapore Noodles, barbecue wings, burgers and burritos? News arriving last week that food offerings at London's Olympics won't be particularly British may come as a relief to some visitors. With a reputation for producing boring stodge, Britain's international culinary renown remains modest, no matter how many cursing TV chefs and trans fat withc hunters we export.
|
| Sunday's Film (when available)
| MomentumMag.com
When People and Bicycles Ruled Vancouver Streets June 06, 2012. On May 7, 1907, U.S. filmmaker William Harbeck strapped his camera onto the front of a BC Electric Railway Co. trolley and captured the earliest known street life film of Vancouver, BC, Canada.
|
 |
Things you need to know along the West Corridor
|
>Denver Union Station Historic Summer Tours, June 14, June 28, July 12, & July 26, 2012 at 4:30pm - 5:30pm
The Denver Union Station Project Authority (DUSPA) will be conducting free guided tours of the Denver Union Station redevelopment site this summer. This guided tour will emphasis the early station history and famous travelers who visited Denver by Train. The tour will also tell visitors about all the exciting new features that will soon be part of, and surround, the historic station. The one-hour tour will start inside the Great Train Hall at the historic station, 1701 Wynkoop Street. Participation is limited to 35 people per tour. To reserve your spot, visit. RSVP here [Scroll down on left]
[Note: in just 11 short months West Corridor residents will be able bike to a West Rail Line station, jump on board with their bikes, get off at Union Station & cycle just six blocks to Coors Field and LEAVE THE CAR BEHIND. But until then, those of you adventurous souls who can commute to downtown, check out the facilities in place this year.] 
2012 schedule of Ride to the Rockies Games July 01, Aug 05, & Sept 02. All games are Sunday Day games. Over the course of 20 games this season the Rockies along with media partners ROOT SPORTS, 850 KOA and The Denver Post will once again be enlisting players and fans toward making a positive impact on the environment through the 2012 Games of Green initiative. NEXT BIKE TO THE GAME! WHEN: Sunday, July 01, for the game against the San Diego Padres. Bike lot opens at 11:30 a.m. and closes 10 minutes after the game ends.
WHERE: Coors Field, the special Bike to the Game secure parking lot at 21st and Blake St., across from Gate C.
WHAT: Check in at the Bike to the Game Tent at the entrance to the bike lot at 21st and Blake to enter a drawing for great prizes, like a Rockies Batting Practice experience, Rockies tickets, autographed items and more.  >Lakewood, Sunday, June 10, 12-6pm.
Lakewood's celebration of the Arts week. Click here to learn more >Denver, Tuesday, June 12, 2012. The City of Denver will hold a discussion of the Decatur-Federal Station build out concept titled: "Creating Places; What Will Make the Future Bright?" Food provided & Win Prizes; Children welcome with parents; Interpreters available in Spanish, Somali, & Vietnamese. Mile Hi Station, 2027 West Lower Colfax Ave, 5:30pm to 7pm. >Lakewood, Wednesday Jun 13, 7:30am to 8:30am. Ward 2 Lakewood City Councilors, Cindy Baroway & Scott Koop will hold their monthly outreach meeting with ward residents and considerate guests. The light rail line runs along the NW section of their ward. In the West Colfax Business Improvement Office, 7125 West Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO. 80214 >Lakewood, Saturday June 16th, 9am to 10:30am. Ward I Lakewood City Councilors, Karen Kellen & Ramey Johnson will hold their monthly outreach meeting with ward residents and considerate guests. The light rail traverses east and west along the northern section of their ward. In the West Colfax Business Improvement Office, 7125 West Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO. 80214 The very popular RTD West Corridor bus tours are back!! All tours will be from 9am to 11am on the 3rd Friday of the month (June thru Sept). Each reservation that is made is for one seat only; please sign-up all attendees individually. You will receive e-mail confirmation within one week of your registration. Click here to register
AUGUST 20-26th, 2012
SEPTEMBER 21-23RD, 2012
Denver Union Station
Construction Cam
Golden Jeffco Station
Construction Cam
Wish You Could Find an Apartment/Condo near a Light Rail Station? As part of TBF's continuing efforts to bring TOD's to the West Corridor & elsewhere, this link from Walk Score.com will now be a permanent feature. Thanks. |
|
Things You Need to Know Around the Region
| 
>What is the Better Block?
The "Better Block" project is a community revitalization effort that temporarily demonstrates how to improve a street with pedestrian and public infrastructure mixed with art, culture, pop-up businesses and street life. For one day, the project will fill vacant storefronts, create pedestrian seating areas, provide landscaping and street furniture, redraw the street, provide live music, and more. Better Block aims to create quick, inexpensive, high-impact changes that lead to permanent solutions for areas in Denver.
>Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Bike to Work Day in the Denver Region Get set to win prizes for individual and business challenge categories.
Pedal to Work instead of driving the old burdenmobile.
Remember: A bicycle burn fat and saves you money
A Car burns money and makes you fat. Click here to learn more. |
|
|
|
|
| The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of William A. Spriggs and no one else. |
|
|
|
|
|
