This week, #DamienTalks with Wesley Reutimann about the new plans for the postponed 626. Spoiler, prepare yourself for an open streets party in the SGV next March.

It's no surprise to anyone that listens to this podcast, or reads this website, that we were super excited for The 626. The mammoth Open Streets party that spanned the entire Gold Line Foothill Extension that opened this spring would have been a unique event, spanning many municipalities and nearly-doubling the route of the "Heart of L.A." CicLAvia.

Yeah, the 626 was going to be AMAZING. And then it was postponed because of the fires that were going happening the week of June 26.

But the 626 is back on the calendar! March 5, 2017! It's going to be awesome. See you there!

Find out how the 626 is returning and what to expect in this gigantic and unique Open Streets party.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Welcome back to #DamienTalks. Today, #DamienTalks with Chanell Fletcher, the associate director with Climate Plan. With the Californiawith the legislature passing and the governor signing new legislation this year, we discuss what's next for the movement to impact man-made global warming.

We try to cover both bases: what should be done from a policy perspective and what impact will existing laws have on people's day to day lives. Last we discuss what you and me can do to improve the environment and fight climate change in our own lives.

Good news! Smart transportation choices are a big part of the solution, both in terms of policy and in terms of what we, as individuals, can do.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

Today, #DamienTalks with Marisa Creter, the Assistant Executive Director of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. Our discussion mostly covers the excitement Creter, the Cog and other government officials and advocates have for the over 200-mile greenway plan.

Both BikeSGV and Creter refer to the plan as a "bike super highway" that criss-crosses the entire SGV with separated bike trails connecting residents to schools, businesses and the growing transit system.

BikeSGV has a google map of the proposal on their Greenway webpage. Creter notes that a large section of the Greenway Network, the Emerald Necklace, is already constructed and there are several smaller projects underway. There is also funding for the network in Measure R, should voters pass the initiative at the polls this November.

Creter is also one of the award winners at this year's Noche de las Luminarias, an awards program presented by BikeSGV. For more information, visit the event webpage.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

Thanks for listening. You can download the episode at the #DamienTalks homepage on Libsyn.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

It's been awhile since we recorded a #DamienTalks specifically for the California website, but now we're back with a good one. In this week's edition, Damien Talks with Michael Manville, a professor and researcher at UCLA.

Manville has hit a bit of Livable Streets fame with an article he wrote for the Journal of Transportation and Land Use outlining how laws requiring developers to invest in road widening to "mitigate" traffic created by their development. Almost nobody who understands transportation planning believes that these requirements do anything to improve traffic flow, yet these laws persist?

Manville doesn't only debunk the theory behind the laws, but also offers a solution...should policy makers heed his call.

You can read "Automatic street widening: Evidence from a highway dedication law" at the Journal of Transportation and Land Use here, and a summary of the article from Streetsblog USA here.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

This week, #DamienTalks with Claremont Mayor and Foothill Transit Board Member Sam Pedroza and Bike SGV Education Director Jose Jimenez.

The conversation with Mayor Pedroza is pretty wide ranging, but covers three major areas: teh expansion of Livable Streets in Claremont, the flexibility of Foothill Transit as it seeks to maximize the value of its service and this fall's transportation sales tax ballot measure, Measure M. 

Much of the discussion of Claremont focuses on a complete streets plan for Claremont's portion of the iconic Route 66. Doug Lewis wrote an in-depth story on the plan for Streetsblog earlier this summer. That story can be found, here.

You can give feedback to Mayor Padroza on his Twitter Feed at @CouncilmanSam.

Next, we talk with Jose Jimenez, the education director for Bike SGV. Jimenez provides an update the Bike Education Center in El Monte and some of the classes its offering this fall and winter. For more on the Education Center, visit Bike SGV's website.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

This week, Damien Talks with Wes Reutimann, the executive director of Bike SGV. The nearly-twenty minute interview covers a wide-range of topics from the Union Street protected bikeways plan, to an update on the 626 to, of course, Pokemon Go.

Union Street in Pasadena runs parallel to the more famous Colorado Avenue in Pasadena. The city decided not to put protected bike lanes on Colorado for fears it would create problems during the world-famous Rose Parade. Now, opposition is rising to the lanes on the still much-used parallel street.

As for the 626, the super open streets event will finally hit the street in 2017, after a postponement caused by the wildfires in June. A date hasn't been announced yet, but there is hope for February. Keep your calendar open.

To listen to the interview, click below. If you have any story ideas for us going forward, please contact me at damien@streetsblog.org or on twitter @damientypes

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Today #DamienTalks with Metro Board Chair and Duarte City Councilmember John Fasana. Actually, it's more like #DougTalks, as Doug Lewis completes his internship with us by conducting the majority of our interview with the Metro boss.

Earlier this week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors took the last step in placing Measure M on the ballot this November. If it receives two-thirds support from L.A. County voters, the current half-cent transportation sales tax passed by voters in 2008 will be extended until 2050 and a new half-cent tax will be added.

Fasana, who is known for being something of a transportation wonk, can barely contain his excitement for how Metro will be able to expand transportation options and improving the quantity and quality of Metro's services.

Doug and the Metro Chair also discuss access to parks and other public spaces. Yes, of course there's a discussion of the first-mile last-mile issues the agency is continually trying to figure out; but there is more the agency can do to provide access to our open spaces.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Welcome back to #DamienTalksSGV. This week, we're looking at a best practice from outside the SGV, a new pedestrian wayfinding signage campaign in Glendale. The campaign combines a traditional campaign with a call to action as Glendale develops a new pedestrian safety campaign.

Outreach for the campaign includes the signs, a social media campaign and outreach through traditional venues. Interestingly, the signs include information not just on how to be involved in the plan, but an invitation to join the conversation online by posting with the hastag #GlendaleWalks.

If you want talk with Amber Hawkes, who is overseeing the campaign on behalf of the City of Glendale, you can email her : ahawkes@heredesignla.com.

When #DamienTalks returns in July, we'll be returning to the "two interview" format with regular discussions with staff and volunteers with BikeSGV. We're also booking conversations with Metro Board Members and executives with Foothill Transit and the Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority to discuss the upcoming vote on extending and increasing Metro's transit sales tax. What will it mean to the San Gabriel Valley and its communities? We'll have a lot of different viewpoints in the lead up to the election.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Welcome back to #DamienTalks SGV. This week, #DamienTalks with Blair Miller, an organizer with the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition. Pasadena was scheduled to vote on an ordinance that would have reduced, and in some cases eliminated, parking requirements for new development near Transit Oriented Development on Monday, July 18. However, late opposition arrived, and the hearing was postponed until early September.

Miller explains how the proposal came out of the community plan update, how it's evolved, what it's goals are and why opposition sprung up at the 11th hour. Miller and the Complete Streets Coalition believe the region is moving away from car-dominated travel towards a more balanced system and want to be certain Pasadena has the planning in place to support this change.

In 2015, Jerry Brown signed legislation that reduced parking requirements near transit oriented development for lower income and market rate housing. Since then, communities around California have been expanding on that legislation to loosen parking requirements for other types of development.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Today, #DamienTalks with Sam Tepperman-Gelfant, a senior staff attorney with Public Advocates about Governor Jerry Brown’s legislative language to streamline the environmental process for certain types of housing development.

Public Advocates was one of the leaders in circulating a letter criticizing Brown’s language, charging that the governor’s stated goal won’t be met by his proposal. Instead, he charges that the language would do more decrease lower income communities from impacting development in their community than it will to dramatically expand the state’s affordable housing stock.

Two weeks ago, #DamienTalks featured Jason Islas, the editor of Santa Monica Next, explaining how he and many other advocates for increasing our state’s housing stock feel the legislation is much needed. However, many of the groups opposing the measure are affordable housing advocates from cities and communities from around the state.

Tepperman-Gelfant expects the legislation to be publicly debated next month. Get up-to-date on the progressive argument on both sides of the debate by listening to my interview with Tepperman-Gelfant below. If you missed it, the interview with Islas can be found here.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

Today, #DamienTalks with Jason Islas, the editor of Santa Monica Next. This podcast featured Islas a couple of months ago to discuss a proposal by Assemblymember Richard Bloom to make it easier to build more housing. 

This week, #DamienTalks with Laura Cornejo, the sustainability officer for Metro who is one of the agency's leaders for Open Streets events. Metro has been funding a series of Open Streets events throughout L.A. County, ending with this weekend's 626, the amazing 18-mile multi-jurisdictional car-free party.

If you're just joining us, 626 Golden Streets will be this Sunday, June 26. Metro, Bike SGV, seven cities and a host of other organizations invite you to explore ​18+ miles of open streets linking 6 Foothill Gold Line stations and 7 San Gabriel Valley cities ​stretching from South Pasadena to Azusa.

For more information, visit 626GoldenStreets.com.

After the talk with Cornejo, we are replaying our #DamienTalks from April 7 with South Pasadena Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Cacciotti. Cacciotti has been a critical figure in the effort to create the 626 both as an elected official and an advocate. As a fun bonus, the interview takes place on the Gold Line itself as Michael is heading home from work.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

This week, #DamienTalks with David Diaz (again), the Programs Director for Bike SGV about this weekend's two-city open streets event, Viva SGV!

The cities of El Monte and South El Monte have worked together to program a 5-mile open streets event that will run this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. While the event is not as large as the groundbreaking 626 open streets event in two weeks, it will be the largest event of its kind in the SGV to date.

Bike SGV has been working with both cities to create fun programs for the event, and Diaz outlines some of their efforts. The event will be easy to access with or without a car, as both Metrolink and Metro have stations at the north end of the route and Bike SGV is planning feeder rides from Baldwin Hill and Pasadena the morning of the event.

For more information, visit the Viva SGV Website.

We’re always looking for more show ideas. If you have any thoughts on the podcast, good or bad, please let me know. You can email me atdamien@streetsblog.org or tweet @damientypes.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit has been a leader in sustainable transportation for years. And now they’re committed to having a 100% electric bus fleet by 2030. To celebrate, Foothill Transit is giving away prizes and sharing facts about how their electric buses help clear the air. Visit Foothill Transit’s e-bus sweepstakes webpage to see how you can join in the eco-friendly fun!

This week, #DamienTalksSGV with Nancy Bond of Move Monrovia. Move Monrovia was originally formed to help the city plan for the Gold Line Station that opened earlier this year. However, the citizen's group has continued to grow and has become instrumental in pushing the city to embrace infrastructure improvements to create safer avenues for walking and bicycling.

And the city is responding. Monrovia has quickly completed the process of creating its Draft Bicycle Master Plan that could be approved as early as the end of June. The planning process began at the end of last year. But as Bond describes, the aggressive timeline did not leave advocates feeling as though they were shortchanged by the process.

The City of Monrovia Planning Commission will meet next on June 15, and is expected to vote on the Bicycle Master Plan at that meeting. Get updates on the meeting, here.

We’re always looking for more show ideas. If you have any thoughts on the podcast, good or bad, please let me know. You can email me at damien@streetsblog.org or tweet @damientypes.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit has been a leader in sustainable transportation for years. And now they’re committed to having a 100% electric bus fleet by 2030. To celebrate, Foothill Transit is giving away prizes and sharing facts about how their electric buses help clear the air. Visit Foothill Transit’s e-bus sweepstakes webpage to see how you can join in the eco-friendly fun!

This week, #DamienTalks with Dave Campbell of Bike East Bay. According to Melanie Curry, Bike East Bay runs the "biggest, baddest Bike to Work Day in the world."

Earlier this month, she wrote, "What’s indisputable is that Bike East Bay, then known as the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, kicked off its first Bike to Work Day in 1994 and, in the 22 years since then, the event has grown ever more popular amid a rapid increase in bike commuting. In Oakland alone, bike commuting has tripled in the last twelve years, according to the U.S. Census."

While Campbell was more than happy to talk about the history of Bike Month in the East Bay, he didn't use the words "biggest" or "baddest" in his interview. To hear more about  one of the best Bike Month programs I've ever heard of and its impact on bicycling in Oakland, Berkeley and beyond, check out this week's podcast below.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

Today, #DamienTalks with Colin Parent, the Policy Council for Circulate San Diego. Last week, Circulate released the first of a series of reports that look at how the city's policies support, or hinder, the city's efforts to meets its environmental goals. Read the report, here.

Last week's report looked at San Diego's parking policies and how they're hurting planning efforts around transit oriented development. For example, San Diego has a goal of making all trips near transit car-free by 2035. On the other, zoning requirements require two parking spaces for every housing unit built, even if its near a major transit hub.

Either the city is planning for a lot of empty car parking spaces, or it isn't serious about making its goals.

Parent gives a lot more detail than my one-liners. Give it a listen and let us know what you think in the comments section.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

This week, #DamienTalks with Wes Reutimann, the executive director of Bike SGV. With Bike Month nearly half over, it seemed as good a time as any to get an update on the state of bicycle advocacy in the San Gabriel Valley.

Of course we discuss the 626, but there's a lot of other exciting news on Open Streets. Of course we talk about all of the new infrastructure planned but we go into depth on 100 miles of planned greenways. And there's still time left to talk about the newly-passed bike plan in Duarte, which includes protected bikeways to and from the newly-opened Gold Line Station.

We're always looking for more show ideas. If you have an idea or feedback on an existing podcast, please let me know. You can email me at damien@streetsblog.org or tweet @damientypes.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit has been a leader in sustainable transportation for years. And now they’re committed to having a 100% electric bus fleet by 2030. To celebrate, Foothill Transit is giving away prizes and sharing facts about how their electric buses help clear the air. Visit Foothill Transit’s e-bus sweepstakes webpage to see how you can join in the eco-friendly fun!

Today, #DamienTalks with Genoveva Islas, the Program Director for Cultiva La Salud and the newest member of the California Bike Coalition (CalBike) Board of Directors. 

Because her work with Cultiva La Salud deals with access to food in the San Joaquin Valley, Islas both brings a public health perspective to the CalBike Board and serves as a champion on issues of cultural and geographic equity.

Apparently, there is a large part of California beyond the Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles area that could use some attention when it comes to creating safe and attractive spaces to move about and just be in the community. Islas wants CalBike to continue its great work in the state's urban population centers while doing a better job advocating for and representing the interests of the people who live somewhere else.

This interview is part of our bike month series focusing on bike issues throughout the state; but we ended up talking about a lot of things outside of two-wheeled advocacy. Check it out.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA. 

Welcome back to #DamienTalks!

Today, #DamienTalks with Roland Cordero with Foothill Transit. Did you know Foothill Transit was the first transit agency in the country to have a completely electric bus route? I didn't, it's kind of cool.

It may have taken eight episodes, but we finally got around to interviewing our sponsor

Foothill Transit has replaced its diesel-fuel buses with CNG coaches, installed solar arrays on the roofs of its operations and maintenance yards in Arcadia and Pomona. And now Foothill Transit is committed to having a 100% electric bus fleet by 2030.

In the interview, Cordero discusses the pro's and cons of converting from a diesel fleet to a partially electric fleet. Spoiler: there's a lot more positives than negatives.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit has been a leader in sustainable transportation for years. And now they’re committed to having a 100% electric bus fleet by 2030. To celebrate, Foothill Transit is giving away prizes and sharing facts about how their electric buses help clear the air. Visit Foothill Transit's e-bus sweepstakes webpage to see how you can join in the eco-friendly fun!

It’s Bike Month! Welcome to Bike Month!

Today, #DamienTalks with Tony Molina with the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition to kick off our Bike Month coverage. Fresno has a full complement of Bike Month events, some of which we talk about in our conversation and others we list below. To find out more, visit the two bicycle advocacy groups in Fresno’s webpages: Fresno County Bicycle Coalition and I Bike Fresno.

As excited as we are by Bike Month in the Central Valley, we’re hoping that their example will inspire advocates in other mid-size and small cities to program Bike Month events in their own communities. I started programming a Bike to School Day at my son’s school (which will be on May 16 if anyone is reading this that lives within a couple of blocks of my place). If you want to read a quick story on how we planned the first Bike to School event at my son’s school, click here.

But as we said, there are lots of great events in Greater Fresno this month. Here is a partial list for anyone interested in learning more:

Today, Clovis Bike Month Presentation

May 4, Mall to Mall

May 18, Clovis-Fresno Ride of Silence

May 20, Bike to Work Day

Streetsblog California will check back in at the end of the month to see how Bike to Work Day goes. In the meantime, we’ll have a full month of Bike Month podcasts here at #DamienTalks.

Parking placard abuse.

Arguing for reforms in the placard system is one of the few times parking reformers don't sound overly wonky to the larger car driving public. In California, one out of every eight drivers has a disabled parking placard, a number which doesn't correlate to data concerning how many drivers SHOULD have such a placard.

This abuse of the placard system creates a ripple effect of unsafe street conditions, a distorted view of our car parking stock, and worst of all undercuts the value of the placard to those drivers who are actually disabled.

Today #DamienTalks with Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-SFV) about AB 2602, his legislation that seeks to reduce placard abuse through two common sense reforms attacking the supply of and demand for disabled placards to those who don't really need them. Gatto's legislation sailed through committee last week. 

Also moving in the Assembly is Gatto's "Parking Bill of Rights" which takes a broader look at parking issues.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

As excitement builds towards the 626, the mamoth car-free festival spanning six cities on, you guessed it, June 26; #DamienTalks with Michael Cacciotti. Cacciotti is the Mayor Pro-Temp of South Pasadena and has been a critical figure in the effort to create the 626 and organize the half-dozen cities that are taking part as well as officials with the County, Metro, and the Air Quality Management District.

Want to know more about the 626? Click here.

I'll be honest, this is one of the more fun interviews I did. Cacciotti wasn't just one of the driving forces behind the 626, he was also a Board Member for the Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority. I conducted our phone interview while he was doing his evening commute home, and as a bonus he talked about how the Gold Line extension is working and how packed his rail car was. It was 9 p.m. at night. On a Wednesday.

New Gold Line extensions. The 626. Things are changing in the San Gabriel Valley, and they're changing for the better.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Welcome to this week's episode of #DamienTalksSGV, where we talk with Glendale Mayor and Metro Boardmember Ara Najarian and Bike SGV Executive Director Wes Reutimann about the proposed sales tax measure that Metro unveiled last week.

The measure extends the current county-wide half cent sales tax passed eight years ago and adds another half cent to the tax. If passed, there will be a full cent on the county sales tax dedicated towards transportation.

But it is not the tax itself that is interesting, but how it will be spent. Read more about the proposal at Streetsblog Los Angeles or visit Metro's webpage dedicated to the proposal to learn more. Also, we interviewed Najarian about what he would like to see in the proposal in January. You can here his answers, here.

In this broadcast, we see two different points of view that could dominate the discussion over the next few months as Metro and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors debate whether or not to put this proposal on the fall ballot. Najarian is effusive in his praise for the work Metro staff did. He is happy that his favorite project, the second phase of the Gold Line Foothill Extension, is included in the project list and that his least favorite project, the extension of the I-710, is not.

On the other hand, Reutimann is worried that such a long-term sales tax includes such a small slice for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects. While recognizing how the projects, especially more trains and buses running through the valley, could change regional transportation; Reutimann stopped short of endorsing the measure as it is.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Last week, activists from around California and the rest of the country gathered in Washington, D.C. for the national bike summit. During the summit, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) was honored for the "best winning campaign" of the past year for its work on getting the City of Los Angeles to pass and approve a progressive mobility plan.

Today, #DamienTalks with the LACBC's Executive Director, Tamika Butler, and Planning and Policy Director, Eric Bruins, about the campaign. The two discuss not just why it's important to have a plan that emphasizes creating safe places for people to walk, bicycle, take transit or just be outside; but also the importance of lasting coalition building.

To paraphrase a point that Bruins makes, it's not just about building a coalition for the plan; but creating meaningful dialogue with community partners about a shared vision of a more mobile, equitable, clean and just pleasant city. 

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.