When:
Saturday, May 15, 2010
10:30 to 12:30
Details:
Bryan Murphy, landscape architect with St. Paul Parks and Rec. will tour us through the woodland which is being restored as an outdoor classroom. The woodland currently contains an abundance of native trees, as well as historic remnants from works programs of the 1930's and the Como-Harriet streetcar line. We'll see what's actually there, and what the plans call for: native restorations, coniferous woods, display gardens, sedge meadow, tallgrass prairie, and more. Come join us for this informative (and low carbon) outing.
Directions:
Use Metro transit's trip planner, or cyclopath, for planning. Bus # 3A runs on Horton, near the woodland. We'll meet at Horton and Lexington Parkway at 10:20 am, to coordinate with the bus.
Contact Information:
North Star Chapter
RSVP Deb Alper - 651-699-9667
deb.alper@northstar.sierraclub.org
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Transit to Parks program in San Francisco: could we do this here?
http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/10/transit-and-trails-connecting-people-to-nature-on-public-transit/
http://www.transitandtrails.org/
Transit and Trails: Connecting People to Nature on Public Transit
By Deborah Fleischer | October 31st, 2009 Comments
Don’t own a car, but want to get out to one of the Bay Area’s hundreds of parks and trails? Or
perhaps, you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint and wondering how to get to your favorite hike without using your car?
Transit and Trails is a new resource for outdoor enthusiasts who want to leave their cars behind and easily get information on how to take the bus (or ferry) to reach Bay Area hiking trails and
campgrounds.
A project of the Bay Area Open Space Council (BAOSC), the new interactive website identifies hundreds of trailheads and 150 campgrounds to explore across the Bay Area’s 1.2 million acres of preserved lands. Just enter your starting location, and roughly how far you want to venture, and the site suggests possible hikes and featured trips. Once you decide where you want to go, it connects with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s 511 Transit Trip Planner to provide a detailed trip itinerary, complete with a map, transit times, fares and walking directions to and from the transitstop.
BAOSC a collaborative of more than 55 member organizations actively involved in permanently
protecting and stewarding important parks, trails and agricultural lands in the nine-county San
Francisco Bay Area. They are committed to connecting people to the land.
According to Bettina Ring, Executive Director of the BAOSC, “Transit and Trails is the first ever
trip planner focused on parks and trails…It brings all the needed information to your fingertips so you can easily plan your outing.”
The ROI of Not Driving
The site also calculates the cost of driving to your destination and estimates the pounds of carbon
you would save by using public transit, so you can calculate the ROI of leaving the car at home.
Wouldn’t this make a great iphone application?
Transit and Trails makes it easy for you to access all the amazing parks and open spaces in the Bay Area while minimizing costs (save on tolls, gas and parking) and reducing your carbon footprint. Give it a try! Since I live in Marin and can reach many trails from my front door (or if I need to travel, I have the dog along) I have not tried the service yet.
—
Deborah Fleischer is founder and president of Green Impact. She is a LEED AP with a Master in
Environmental Studies from Yale University and over 20-years of direct experience working on
sustainability-related challenges in both the public and private sectors. You can follow her at
@GreenImpact.9
http://www.transitandtrails.org/
Transit and Trails: Connecting People to Nature on Public Transit
By Deborah Fleischer | October 31st, 2009 Comments
Don’t own a car, but want to get out to one of the Bay Area’s hundreds of parks and trails? Or
perhaps, you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint and wondering how to get to your favorite hike without using your car?
Transit and Trails is a new resource for outdoor enthusiasts who want to leave their cars behind and easily get information on how to take the bus (or ferry) to reach Bay Area hiking trails and
campgrounds.
A project of the Bay Area Open Space Council (BAOSC), the new interactive website identifies hundreds of trailheads and 150 campgrounds to explore across the Bay Area’s 1.2 million acres of preserved lands. Just enter your starting location, and roughly how far you want to venture, and the site suggests possible hikes and featured trips. Once you decide where you want to go, it connects with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s 511 Transit Trip Planner to provide a detailed trip itinerary, complete with a map, transit times, fares and walking directions to and from the transitstop.
BAOSC a collaborative of more than 55 member organizations actively involved in permanently
protecting and stewarding important parks, trails and agricultural lands in the nine-county San
Francisco Bay Area. They are committed to connecting people to the land.
According to Bettina Ring, Executive Director of the BAOSC, “Transit and Trails is the first ever
trip planner focused on parks and trails…It brings all the needed information to your fingertips so you can easily plan your outing.”
The ROI of Not Driving
The site also calculates the cost of driving to your destination and estimates the pounds of carbon
you would save by using public transit, so you can calculate the ROI of leaving the car at home.
Wouldn’t this make a great iphone application?
Transit and Trails makes it easy for you to access all the amazing parks and open spaces in the Bay Area while minimizing costs (save on tolls, gas and parking) and reducing your carbon footprint. Give it a try! Since I live in Marin and can reach many trails from my front door (or if I need to travel, I have the dog along) I have not tried the service yet.
—
Deborah Fleischer is founder and president of Green Impact. She is a LEED AP with a Master in
Environmental Studies from Yale University and over 20-years of direct experience working on
sustainability-related challenges in both the public and private sectors. You can follow her at
@GreenImpact.9
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Photos - Battle Creek Regional Park
Take a moment to enjoy pictures from our latest outing- a snow-clad hike/ski through the scenic Battle Creek Regional Park.
On Saturday February 6th, eight brave souls ventured from around the metro to explore what Battle Creek had to offer in the way of fresh powder trails. Stay tuned for the full story!
-Andrea & Deb
On Saturday February 6th, eight brave souls ventured from around the metro to explore what Battle Creek had to offer in the way of fresh powder trails. Stay tuned for the full story!
-Andrea & Deb
Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Battle Creek Regional Park
When: Saturday, February 6.
How: #63 bus from the 5th and Minnesota bus stop in downtown St. Paul to the corner of McKnight Road and Upper Afton Road. Note: the #70 also gets you to this point but only runs east of downtown on Saturdays.
From where: People arrived at 5th and Minnesota from several places: Uptown in Minneapolis, Macalester-Groveland in St. Paul, south Minneapolis, and Mears Park in downtown St. Paul.
How long: The trip from downtown takes between 20 and 25 minutes. (Read below for an assessment of trips from individual starting points.)
Ease: Very easy. The bus stop on Upper Afton and McKnight puts you across the street from one corner of the park. All you have to do is cross the street and put on your skis or snowshoes and follow a short spur to the trails. The 63 runs every half hour on Saturday, so you do need to read a schedule and plan in advance. For the quickest trip the best starting point is clearly downtown or points east of downtown on the 63 route going toward the park. The further you are to the west, the longer it will take (for example: boarding the 63 at Snelling and Grand near Macalester College, your trip will take about 45 minutes.)
Worth doing: Yes. We had superb snow conditions for one thing, but even without them the park itself is a nice destination. It has woods, fields and hills and bits of swamp and ponds, all of which give you the feeling of being "out in the country" instead of in a suburb.
________________________________________________
Eight people joined this outing on the east side of St. Paul - actually in Maplewood in the east section of Battle Creek Park, just over the line from St. Paul. We had five skiers, two snowshoers and one walker on a cloudy day, but with superb snow and great trails. Since the park has two distinct sections separated by housing, it can be a bit confusing. The best map I found that shows its two major parts was at the Ramsey county website. Within the park people can chose from several different circular routes varying in skiing difficulty, though nothing is extreme. By doing the farthest circle, and perhaps including another round on a shorter trail, a person can cover about four to five miles here. A port-a-potty is located at a parking lot part way around the outermost trail. The park is good for walking and birding besides skiing - many in our group spotted an owl flying through the trees. If you are skiing don't forget your pass. And don't use your mountain bike: biking is only allowed on trails in the other, western, section.
As already mentioned, four people originated their trip with the #63 bus, the easiest trip being for the two living downtown. While they came to the 5th and Minnesota meeting point, they typically could access the 63 at their corner on 5th street, just outside their building, Galtier Tower. It's a surprise to have such an undeveloped, fairly wild park so accessible to the central city.
The two people who came from faraway Uptown used two different routes. Tom boarded the Lake Street work horse, the #21 about 9:10 am, then transferred to the #63 at St. Thomas on Summit Avenue. We joined him on the bus in downtown. Andrea opted for the #6 into downtown, then the 94 express bus to St. Paul. Both trips were long - ranging from and hour to an hour and a half each-way. Despite our outing taking place on a Saturday, this length of commute time between Uptown and downtown St. Paul is consistent with weekday trips. Luckily, Andrea can use her transit time to pursue her reading for the Urban and Regional Affairs program.
Returning to downtown after the outing gave us the chance to stop for lunch at the Bulldog, one of the St. Paul watering holes on Mears Park right on the bus line. Not a bad way to end a transit outing.
How: #63 bus from the 5th and Minnesota bus stop in downtown St. Paul to the corner of McKnight Road and Upper Afton Road. Note: the #70 also gets you to this point but only runs east of downtown on Saturdays.
From where: People arrived at 5th and Minnesota from several places: Uptown in Minneapolis, Macalester-Groveland in St. Paul, south Minneapolis, and Mears Park in downtown St. Paul.
How long: The trip from downtown takes between 20 and 25 minutes. (Read below for an assessment of trips from individual starting points.)
Ease: Very easy. The bus stop on Upper Afton and McKnight puts you across the street from one corner of the park. All you have to do is cross the street and put on your skis or snowshoes and follow a short spur to the trails. The 63 runs every half hour on Saturday, so you do need to read a schedule and plan in advance. For the quickest trip the best starting point is clearly downtown or points east of downtown on the 63 route going toward the park. The further you are to the west, the longer it will take (for example: boarding the 63 at Snelling and Grand near Macalester College, your trip will take about 45 minutes.)
Worth doing: Yes. We had superb snow conditions for one thing, but even without them the park itself is a nice destination. It has woods, fields and hills and bits of swamp and ponds, all of which give you the feeling of being "out in the country" instead of in a suburb.
________________________________________________
Eight people joined this outing on the east side of St. Paul - actually in Maplewood in the east section of Battle Creek Park, just over the line from St. Paul. We had five skiers, two snowshoers and one walker on a cloudy day, but with superb snow and great trails. Since the park has two distinct sections separated by housing, it can be a bit confusing. The best map I found that shows its two major parts was at the Ramsey county website. Within the park people can chose from several different circular routes varying in skiing difficulty, though nothing is extreme. By doing the farthest circle, and perhaps including another round on a shorter trail, a person can cover about four to five miles here. A port-a-potty is located at a parking lot part way around the outermost trail. The park is good for walking and birding besides skiing - many in our group spotted an owl flying through the trees. If you are skiing don't forget your pass. And don't use your mountain bike: biking is only allowed on trails in the other, western, section.
As already mentioned, four people originated their trip with the #63 bus, the easiest trip being for the two living downtown. While they came to the 5th and Minnesota meeting point, they typically could access the 63 at their corner on 5th street, just outside their building, Galtier Tower. It's a surprise to have such an undeveloped, fairly wild park so accessible to the central city.
The two people who came from faraway Uptown used two different routes. Tom boarded the Lake Street work horse, the #21 about 9:10 am, then transferred to the #63 at St. Thomas on Summit Avenue. We joined him on the bus in downtown. Andrea opted for the #6 into downtown, then the 94 express bus to St. Paul. Both trips were long - ranging from and hour to an hour and a half each-way. Despite our outing taking place on a Saturday, this length of commute time between Uptown and downtown St. Paul is consistent with weekday trips. Luckily, Andrea can use her transit time to pursue her reading for the Urban and Regional Affairs program.
Returning to downtown after the outing gave us the chance to stop for lunch at the Bulldog, one of the St. Paul watering holes on Mears Park right on the bus line. Not a bad way to end a transit outing.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Upcoming 2010 Outings
Join us for upcoming 2010 outings! Dates are listed below (these are subject to change, but should be confirmed by February). Please check back for updates and further details on our outings.
Thanks,
Andrea & Deb
April 17, 2010: Hike Wood Lake Park Reserve. Richfield, MN
May 15, 2010: Como Park walk. St. Paul, MN
June 19, 2010: Big Lake bike outing(via the Northstar!).Big Lake,MN
Thanks,
Andrea & Deb
Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer
April 17, 2010: Hike Wood Lake Park Reserve. Richfield, MN
May 15, 2010: Como Park walk. St. Paul, MN
June 19, 2010: Big Lake bike outing(via the Northstar!).Big Lake,MN
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Ultimate transit: Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Some far away places are easier to get to via transit than parks in the vicinity of our big cities. Take Iguazu Falls in northeastern Argentina for instance. In November 2009 we took a luxury bus overnight from Buenos Aires, about a 17 hour trip, (1288 kilometers) to the town of Puerto Iguazu, located where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet. After being served a meal with wine, we were able to completely recline for the night with pillow and blanket. The next morning we had breakfast,and then arrived around noon in the town. From here we took a bus to our hostel and settled in. The next day we walked up the driveway to the road and took the same bus the 20 kilometers or so to the national park. This local bus runs every half hour to and fro between the town and the park, picking up people along the way. The cost at this writing is 5 pesos, roughly $1.25. The falls at Iguazu and surrounding rainforests and wildlife are truly wonderful. Check them out for ultimate car-free travel. A word of warning though: watch out for the "pigeon poop scam" near the big bus station in Buenos Aires. Google it if you're curious - happy travels!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Mississippi Riverfront Outing
When: Saturday, November 7, 2009
How: Bus/Bike/LRT/walk/carpool. The group met at Gold Medal Park, located right along the Mississippi River in Downtown Minneapolis and conveniently adjacent to multiple transit lines.
From Where: Attendees arrived from all around the metro area: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal and Anoka.
How Long: Commute length was dependent on trip origin, mode and connections made.
Ease: The centrality of the outing location (downtown Minneapolis) made this outing one of the most easily accessible outings we have conducted. Downtown Minneapolis is well connected by frequent and proximate bus and light rail service- even on weekends! Further, trail connectivity for bikers and walkers enhanced the multi-modal accessibility for outing attendees.
Worth doing: Definitely; ease and frequency of transit services make the Mississippi Riverfront one of the most accessible green spaces to metro area residents and visitors. A plethora of trails, bridges, museums, historical structures, theaters and (seasonal) weekend farmer’s markets further enhance the downtown Mississippi Riverfront experience for visitors.
__________________________________________________
Nearly 40 people attended this outing- an attendance record for TTGS!
November 7th turned out to be a beautiful fall day that attracted bikers, walkers and transit riders to this outing. Our riverfront tour was graciously guided by Minneapolis Parks Commissioner Scott Vreeland. Commissioner Vreeland guided the group along the riverfront explaining area environmental, historical and economic significance. The river’s ecological habitat, water quality, power, industry and amenity values are so vast that we ran out of time for discussion after just making our way across the Stone Arch Bridge!
Our formal organized outing lasted for 2 ½ hours. Many people stayed after wards to enjoy the Riverfront or other amenities present in the area. When visiting, we recommend allotting for more time to take in are views, culture and the myriad of informational boards located through the Mississippi Riverfront area.
Outing attendees arrived via multiple modes.
Popular bus routes (the 4 and 6) brought attendees from South Minneapolis to the park. Windy and Rich each traveled from Anoka and then made their way through Minneapolis. Lynn rode the Hiawatha LRT over to the Metrodome Station and walked a few short blocks to join the group. A lot of attendees rode bikes- Tom receiving the distance award as he biked from Crystal. Ken took the opportunity to enjoy the fall weather and walked along the Mississippi Riverfront trails from the Prospect Park (Minneapolis) neighborhood. Finally, a group of students from Como Park High School carpooled to join us- bringing great insight and energy to our tour.
Overall attendees’ experiences in arriving at our meeting point were quite easy. Whether via bus or LRT transit, biking, walking or carpooling, the Mississippi Riverfront’s central location, high level of transit and trail accessibility and wide-ranging resource values made it our most widely attended and easily accessed outing yet.
We welcome your comments on experiences in accessing the Mississippi Riverfront and hope that you will join us in 2010 for more Transit to Green Space adventures!
How: Bus/Bike/LRT/walk/carpool. The group met at Gold Medal Park, located right along the Mississippi River in Downtown Minneapolis and conveniently adjacent to multiple transit lines.
From Where: Attendees arrived from all around the metro area: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Crystal and Anoka.
How Long: Commute length was dependent on trip origin, mode and connections made.
Ease: The centrality of the outing location (downtown Minneapolis) made this outing one of the most easily accessible outings we have conducted. Downtown Minneapolis is well connected by frequent and proximate bus and light rail service- even on weekends! Further, trail connectivity for bikers and walkers enhanced the multi-modal accessibility for outing attendees.
Worth doing: Definitely; ease and frequency of transit services make the Mississippi Riverfront one of the most accessible green spaces to metro area residents and visitors. A plethora of trails, bridges, museums, historical structures, theaters and (seasonal) weekend farmer’s markets further enhance the downtown Mississippi Riverfront experience for visitors.
__________________________________________________
Nearly 40 people attended this outing- an attendance record for TTGS!
November 7th turned out to be a beautiful fall day that attracted bikers, walkers and transit riders to this outing. Our riverfront tour was graciously guided by Minneapolis Parks Commissioner Scott Vreeland. Commissioner Vreeland guided the group along the riverfront explaining area environmental, historical and economic significance. The river’s ecological habitat, water quality, power, industry and amenity values are so vast that we ran out of time for discussion after just making our way across the Stone Arch Bridge!
Our formal organized outing lasted for 2 ½ hours. Many people stayed after wards to enjoy the Riverfront or other amenities present in the area. When visiting, we recommend allotting for more time to take in are views, culture and the myriad of informational boards located through the Mississippi Riverfront area.
Outing attendees arrived via multiple modes.
Popular bus routes (the 4 and 6) brought attendees from South Minneapolis to the park. Windy and Rich each traveled from Anoka and then made their way through Minneapolis. Lynn rode the Hiawatha LRT over to the Metrodome Station and walked a few short blocks to join the group. A lot of attendees rode bikes- Tom receiving the distance award as he biked from Crystal. Ken took the opportunity to enjoy the fall weather and walked along the Mississippi Riverfront trails from the Prospect Park (Minneapolis) neighborhood. Finally, a group of students from Como Park High School carpooled to join us- bringing great insight and energy to our tour.
Overall attendees’ experiences in arriving at our meeting point were quite easy. Whether via bus or LRT transit, biking, walking or carpooling, the Mississippi Riverfront’s central location, high level of transit and trail accessibility and wide-ranging resource values made it our most widely attended and easily accessed outing yet.
We welcome your comments on experiences in accessing the Mississippi Riverfront and hope that you will join us in 2010 for more Transit to Green Space adventures!
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