One word: Microplastics

More evidence for people still not convinced that our plastics get into the oceans:

American researchers study microplastic debris in Clayoquot
By Yasmin Aboelsaud, Special to the Westerly News September 22, 2011

University of Washington Tacoma researchers collecting microplastic debris in Clayoqout Sound found more polystyrene in the surface of the water compared to areas in Puget Sound, Washington.
...

Music On Rails!

This week the news again comes from south of the big river. Yesterday evening Portland celebrated a decade of streetcars in the Rose City, with a mobile music festival of eight bands. Hey, Seattle should do that too -- except each set would be over in about 10 minutes. We have to pay for more miles of track if we're serious, Seattle.

Think before spraying

Even in environmentally-conscious Seattle, there are still chances to witness bonehead moves. My turn came today while passing by this block near Carkeek Park:


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These are known as Outcomes

The esteemed emeritus Prof. Jerry Schneider recently posted a link in the Transport-Innovators group to a piece by the editorial board of the Oregonian newspaper in Portland. Here it is in full:

September 05, 2011
Binding the community together

The doors open. We step inside, a little groggy, newspaper tucked under an elbow, latte in hand.

Celebrate this fact, Portland: After 25 years, the MAX light-rail system is so integral to our lives that we don't stop and think about it very much.

We don't have to stop and think about it very much. That's the beauty of it. MAX is just there, moving quietly in the background from 3:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. -- 22.5 hours a day.