Jenson Button & Lewis Hamiton put together a F1 car
The 2 Mclaren drivers put together the F1 car. Working together they take on the challenge.
Link to Daily Telegraph video
Handle with care - vintage WPA poster from Congress Library
The Missouri W.P.A. Art Project, commisioned this poster in 1943, promoting safe driving showing a traffic signal and a steering wheel. The simple graphic style of the silkscreen print really packs a punch.
Many more and varied posters can be seen on the Congress Library website.
Link to Congress Library
Village traffic calming and rural roads
Traffic calming at the village school
Clifton village in Cumbria is on the major trunk route of the A6. It is used by large farming vehicles and is an emergency route alternative for the M6.
The low cost calming scheme has slowed traffic through the village and restored the village rural quality. Simple and low cost methods include planters, reduced white lines and built out kerbs. Drivers are encouraged to slow and the character is enhanced with soft landscaping and simple signage at the village entrances.
The scheme complies to Department for Transport Guidance and is featured in their document, LTN 1/08 'Traffic Management and Streetscape' Link: www.dft.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/ltnotes108.pdf
Friends of the Lake District website: www.fld.org.uk
Link to scheme overview
Andy Murry Tennis Street Magic in London
The British No. 1, Andy Murry, prepares for Winbledon in London's streets. We hope he carries that
You can download the song for free at www.head.com/tennis.
Bike Wallpaper - Simple Stylish Sustainability
Simple images for your desktop or iphone.
Download from, Push Me Pull You Design
Drinking fountain renaissance
London is seeing a renaissance of water fountains in public spaces, with both new and old styles.
Hyde Park’s is a sculptured piece of modern art by sculptor David Harber. The 1.2m sphere of polished marine steel with copper petal design and varied height drinking points. The parks 5 million visitors will be able to have a drink of water with the additional benefit of no cost or packaging. Hyde Park water fountain: images and details
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The City of London’s St Laurence fountain (left) was erected in 1866 by Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association. Then was dismantled during the 1970's redevelopment of the Guildhall but never replaced. Now it will be sited on a major pedestrian route between St Paul’s and Millennium Bridge. City of London, St Laurence fountain web page
Link to BBC clip
50 Ways to Greener Travel by Sian Berry
A book with the aim of putting travel choices in context. It gives alternatives to the car for the every day journeys to work, school and shops.
While looking at the benefits of walking and cycling for towns and cities with cleaner air, thriving communities and improved levels of fitness.
ISBN-13: 978-1856267755
Cycle Superhighway - London's new radial cycle network
The Cycle Superhighway will form a safe and fast network that is both a continuous and convenient way of getting by bike from Outer London into Central London. Cyclists will also be able to hire bikes from on street docking stations. A similar scheme works well in Paris.
Opening summer 2010, are
CS3 - Barking to Tower Gateway on A13
CS7 - Merton to City on A24 & A3
What do you think? If you are cyclist using this route let us know what you think.
For map of the routes, opening dates and more info click here: Cycle Superhighway
NYC's Park in the sky - High Line
The High Line is one of New Yorks newest parks created by transforming a disused railway line.
See Inhabitiat's great video explaining how it all happened.
More video's go to: www.inhabitat.com
High Line info: www.thehighline.org
National Geographic- Amazing Chicago at night
The national geographic photo gallery has the stunning image of Chicago's street lights from the air. Photo is by Jim Richardson.
The light shines up and around rather than down where it is only really needed.
Light polution may make a beautiful photo but can affect plants, animals and people.
View this and more stunning images by following the link to: National Geographic Magazine website
Biodiversity Day in Paris: Champes-Elysees goes green
Paris's Champes-Elysées was transformed into a green prairie on 22/24 May for World Biodiversity day.
The monumental work has been devised by street artist Gad Weil with visual artist and landscape artist Laurence Medioni. It will start at the Arc de Triomphe and cover 3 hectares.
The avenue will be closed to traffic and Parisians will be able to enjoy peaceful green space. After the event the plants will go on sale to the public.
Istambul is to be the next green project. He is also keen to turn his sights to somewhere in the UK. Saying to the Independent, "I would be delighted if Boris Johnson approached me to work with British farmers to similarly transform Oxford Street into a green space,"
www.naturecapitale.com
Iconic London at your finger tips
Some of London's most iconic landmarks are now available as acrylic rings deigned by Soop.
Also available:
Red London Bus, Big Ben, London Eye, Black Cab and Gherkin.
Available from: www.shop.tfl.gov.uk
They also have querky transport T-shirts and mugs.
Every care is taken to design most cycle lanes...
...but some may just slip through the gap.
Cycle lanes are best when they relate to their surroundings.
Maybe Einstein, seemingly a keen cyclist, could have developed a 'relativity' theory to help?
Notion of speed speedometer
hmmm...
This made us think - ...
...speed is a movable concept!
Pavement art with a punch
Pavement art taken to the extreem with a large icy crevasse.
Excellent fun for East Pier in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, as part of the town's Festival of World Cultures.
The art only works from one view point but get it right and the impact is huge.
Lost London - 1870-1945
Lost London is a fascinating look at how London has evolved. More than 500 images of streets, buildings and the people are a rich resource. Lost churches, shops, inns, villages within the city and sad sight of ruins are shown. Included are curious places known to Dickens, which you can see for yourself.
Lost London 1870-1945
Philip Davies, English Heritage
Transatlantic Press
ISBN: 978-0-9557949-8-8 Available to order from the Sunday Times Bookshop - 0845 271 2135
Streetfilm.org Documenting livable streets world wide See some fantastic short movies of how urban streets are becoming more people focused.
Here's a few we liked and there's lots more to inspire on the website.
A SEE
• Paris Traffic calming
• San Francisco Improving Market Street
• London 100 Public Spaces Programe
• New York Time Square public space
Orla Kiely - Tripp collection of bags
Now a classic for all with an eye on the world of transport.
Laptop bags ideal for meetings.
Joyful trees
Trees in streets have a calming effect. The beauty of these trees is enhances by the gentle motion.
Finger post sign covering every option in old Nairobi airport has a beauty of its own.
A new approach is needed to deliver high quality public realm. Current professions are segmented and often required to argue for opposing/conflicting needs of street users.
Urban Engineering is a new discipline evolving from within the professions working on the Public Realm. It combines a broad understanding of the practicalities of traffic and highway engineering as well as the opportunities of urban design.
Large schemes are designed by multi-disciplinary teams but smaller schemes don’t have this luxury. They may be carried out to answer single issues such as road safety, street lighting or adjustment to public transport. They are too small to warrant the expense of multi-disciplinary teams but they have a huge cumulative impact on the public realm.
The IHIE, English Heritage and PRIAN have joined together in a unique training course seeking to produce the new generation of Urban Engineers. They are supported by a number of like minded institutions and organisations as well as leading industry experts.
Street signs with a twist
Where signs and public art meet with a splash of humour for good measure.
For more go to: http://www.jenbekman.com/dariusdowney/
Shop Fronts
Every shop front tells a story. Most multiples present the same well washed and brushed, yet bland face to every high street.
Here are some characterful independents: a little rough around the edge yet fiercely individual. Inside, you can imagine there is real human interest.
