Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 49 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

The Dutch Reach: A No-Tech Way to Save Bicyclists' Lives

Tanya Mohn

October 05, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts

A retired doctor in Massachusetts created a project to push for more places to adopt the robust culture of cycling and motorist safety from the Netherlands by training everyone in the “Dutch Reach.” Two states have it in their driver's manuals and the move greatly reduces the chance of cyclist injury by car doors because the driver uses his/her far hand to reach across the body to open the door. It forces drivers to look in the side view mirror and over their shoulders to check for cyclists.

Read More
Go to Original Story
'For me, this is paradise': life in the Spanish city that banned cars

Stephen Burgen

September 18, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Spain, Pontevedra

Rather than attempt to change traffic flow, the city of Pontevedra cut straight to the source of their congestion frustrations; they eliminated cars from their streets entirely. The city center, which now fills to the brim with walkers and bicyclists each day, has seen a massive reduction in traffic accidents and carbon emissions since closing the streets to cars.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Minneapolis would like to cure your dockless bike-share skepticism

Eillie Anzilotti

September 17, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

In Minneapolis, the nonprofit behind the city's bike share system plans to expand with a dockless model that will bring bikes into more neighborhoods while addressing some of the issues that model has encountered in other cities with bikes left in haphazard locations. Nice Ride will work with neighborhoods and city officials to create designated drop off zones and use a GPS system to find missing bikes. This cuts down on the docking infrastructure cost and allows more rapid expansion.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This bike path is made from recycled plastic

Adele Peters

September 14, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Zwolle

What do you get when you combine the efforts of an engineering company with an energy company? In the Netherlands, you get a new type of environmentally sustainable roads. PlasticRoads, a piloted initiative in the city of Zwolle, uses discarded plastic to build bike paths that help cut down on plastic waste.

Read More
Go to Original Story
No helmets, no problem: how the Dutch created a casual biking culture

David Roberts

August 28, 2018 |

Vox |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Netherlands

Most people in Holland ride a bicycle every week thanks to a widespread public commitment to a biking culture and infrastructure where everyone feels welcome. That includes very visible dedicated bike paths designed for the most sedate cyclist, courses teaching children safe cycling skills, and connections to combine biking and transit. Most Dutch don't need helmets because rather than making bicyclists dress to confront danger, the country has made the environs safer for cyclists.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Bicycle Deaths in New York Are a Problem. The Ghost Bikes Project Wants to Solve It.

Melissa Petro

August 14, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The Ghost Bike Project installs stripped-down bikes at the scenes of fatal accidents to raise awareness about the work still needed to ensure safety for cyclists. Project staff also work to correct narratives about bike accidents which are often commonly blamed on the cyclist without cause.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Equity Makes Bike-Sharing Work, and Other Bike-Share Guidelines for Cities

Rachel Kaufman

July 23, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Louis, Missouri

New guidelines to help cities manage bike-share programs, based on feedback from 60 cities, could be the key to success for dockless vehicles. The guidelines include recommendations about permits and fines, ways to consider equity programs, and a reference guide to what cities are currently doing in this space. The idea is that, by planning ahead and being deliberate, cities can maximize the benefit that dockless vehicles bring to their cities while regulating any negatives.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Copenhagen Mastermind Jan Gehl Isn't Sold on 'Smart' Cities

Annette Becker Lessano Negussie

April 30, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a highly livable city, thanks to policies that focus on making streets safe and convenient to walk. The bigger the city, the worse it is to design urban spaces only with cars in mind, says planner and architect Jan Gehl. His top advice is to gather data about people and their movements, making pedestrians as visible in city planning as automobile traffic.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Sharing the Road: How Can We End Bike Fatalities on Chicago's Streets?

Marisa Sobotka Jackie Murray

February 27, 2018 |

Logan Squarist |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago officials strive to make the city safer for bicyclists by looking for inspiration in other cities, adopting the "Vision Zero" initiative that aims for zero traffic-related deaths, and investing in education platforms. While the city has made progress in creating bicycle-only lanes on the road, local officials still move forward in implementing a more comprehensive plan for traffic safety.

Read More
Go to Original Story
As hundreds of golf courses close, nature gets a chance to make a comeback

Travis Wood

November 08, 2017 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

More golf courses are closing than are opening, allowing the rare opportunity to have open space in an urban environment. Restorations are becoming popular to allow wildlife and humans to make use of the natural space through the encouragement of different animals and plants to inhabit the same area as well as the development of parks and bike paths to foster human use.

Read More
Go to Original Story