Lord Norman Foster, renowned architect and founder of Foster + Partners, has proposed a massive network of elevated pathways for cyclists in London. Dubbed 'SkyCycle,' the cycling routes would follow London's vast suburban rail network for over 220 kilometers (136 miles), allowing cyclists to traverse the UK's capital without encountering cars or pedestrians.

SkyCycle would consist of a number of routes, most of which would connect with other lines at points. Each route would be able to accommodate 12,000 cyclists per hour. The network as a whole would serve almost six million people, half of whom live and work within 10 minutes of one of its 200 entrances. As the majority of London's rail network was created in the steam era, the tracks follow the path of least resistance, avoiding steep gradients and making them ideal routes for cycling.

 

“It's a really interesting idea,” says Matt Winfield of Sustrans. “We've done a lot of work along rail corridors and have had ideas about suspending bike paths along the edge of rail infrastructure at particular pinch points and crossings. But we haven't yet succeeded because of cost or funding deadlines not allowing enough time.”

Funding remains the big question hanging over SkyCycle, with the designers currently looking for backing to fund a feasibility study.

“We certainly don't want to take money away from making cycling safe on the roads,” says Martin. “That should remain the priority. But our ambition is to redirect some of the money spent by central government on rail and road expenditure. Those billions can be used much more efficiently.”

 

The Great California Cycleway opened in Pasadena around July of 1900. (Some sources say 1890, but its creator, Mr. Horace Dobbins didn’t start the Cycleway Company until 1897, and the only photos available of the cycleway date to 1900, likely when it was being shown.)

The project is reminiscent of the California Cycleway, an ill-fated plan to connect Los Angeles and Pasadena with a very similar elevated cycle path. Despite a partial opening in 1900, the Cycleway was never completed, as commuters flocked to take the Pacific Electric Railway instead. Now, a railway could enable Londoners to live the Californian dream over a century later.

The California Cycleway was an elevated wooden bicycle highway that was designed to go from Hotel Green in Pasadena down the Arroyo, past Highland Park and into Downtown Los Angeles, ending at the Plaza on Olvera Street. Part of the design was to be a completely uninterrupted path by bridging over obstacles like creeks, roads, train tracks, and maintain only the slightest of grades (no more than 3%) over the 9 miles of smooth wooden track over an elevation of 600 feet. The entire project would have cost an estimated $187,500 at the time, and included a casino called, “Merlemount” to be placed midway in Arroyo Seco Park. (On top of where Debs Park is today??)

 

When a traffic junction outside Eindhoven got too congested and dangerous for cyclists, the local authority took the radical move of lifting them off the ground altogether. The Hovenring is one of the most startling pieces of cycle infrastructure in the book, taking the form of a floating 70m-wide ring, suspended on tensile wires from a single pylon. Elevated embankments lead cyclists on to the hovering roundabout, which glows in a delicate halo above the junction by night.

 

 

What is an eClub? Rotary e-clubs are a lot like other Rotary clubs: they meet weekly, carry out service projects, support The Rotary Foundation, and socialize with each other.  It is Rotary meetings on your own personal schedule – when you want to meet, wherever in the world you want to meet, and a minimum of 30 minutes of an on-line presentation. E-club members use webinars, videoconferencing, message boards, instant messaging, or tools like Skype and Google Hangout to communicate. For example, a club member might post content online for that week’s meeting, then other members join the discussion throughout the week. Some e-club members also meet in person at service projects, social activities or the RI Convention.  Each e-club is based in a specific district but its members can be from anywhere in the world.

 

Members are encouraged to attend other Rotary clubs, attend social and or fundraising events provided by Rotary clubs, and, of course, to support our Rotary Foundation.    I attended the Rotary Club of Willowbrook's Super Bowl Party last Sunday to watch the biggest American football game of the year.  And this would count as a make-up meeting if I had missed my own club meeting online last week. Actually, makeups are allowed with a two-week window. 

 

An e-club could be right for you if you:

* Have limited mobility

 

Membership deadline has been extended and we have not yet sent our paperwork in to Rotary International.  We need more charter members.  If you want more information membership, please contact me or another member of our club.  If you were in another Rotary club previously, it will be helpful to have your Rotary ID member number to complete your application and insure that all donations accumulate under the same membership number. 

 

 

District 5890 i hosted its All Club Meeting February 20th 2014 with Rotary International President Ron Burton as the feature speaker.  The soon to be officially chartered Rotary e-Club of Houston was introduced and we had a table durng the EXPO held at the event which drew great interest.  DG Bob Gebhard planned a reception prior to the dinner for Rotary Foundation supporters and several awards were presented to major contributors.  The Master of Ceremony was Spencer Tillman who welcomed more than 600 Rotarians to the annual dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  Presentation of flags was done in our traditional manner by the Rotary Youth Exchange students, each carrying the flag of their home country.  They also greeted the audience in each of their native languages.  Congratulations to Steve Lufburrow on receipt of the Rotary International Vocational Service Leadership Award!  Rotary International President Ron Burton and his wife, Jetta, The First Lady of Rotary International took time for many photo ops and his speech was motivational to all in attendance.  In closing, the Youth Exchange students led singing the song "Let There be Pleace on Earth".  Job well done, Rtn. Michelle Bohreer, on assembling a great team for this event and for your dedicationa and commitment to service!

 

 

PDG Jon Eiche, District 5890 Representative to the US-Russia Intercountry Committee, reported that Rotarians from around the United States will converge on Houston on March 1, 2014, for a meeting to hear updates on Rotary International’s progress in strengthening Rotary in Russia.  This meeting is sponsored by the United States section of the US-Russia Intercountry Committee.

The Rotary in Russia Conference will be held on March 1, 2014 at a hotel, located close to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.  The conference fee of $25, received and paid before February 8, covers administrative costs of the conference and a luncheon.  Conference registration received after February 8 will be $40.  Registration Form and Press Release are available on the Rotary District 5890 website.l

MAIL COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM WITH PAYMENT TO : PDG Jon Eiche, 3519 River Bend Drive, Rosenberg, TX 77471 or FAX TO: PDG Jon Eiche at 832-595-1397 and send payment by mail.

The US-Russia ICC was chartered at Rotary Headquarters in 2007 with fourteen member districts from the United States and Russia.  Goals of the organization include helping young Rotary clubs in Russia to strengthen and forge partnerships with Rotary clubs in the United States.  These partnerships will promote Youth Exchanges between the two countries, professional and friendship exchanges, and work on joint Rotary projects.

An announcement of the meeting has been sent to all current Rotary District Governors and over one hundred past officers of Rotary International.  Governors are invited to come or send a district representative to the meeting and hear about the progress Rotary has made since the first Rotary Clubs were chartered in Moscow and St. Petersburg in 1990.

Author Sharon Tennison, CEO of the Center for Citizen Initiatives will be the featured keynote speaker.  Sharon has led this organization which has been responsible since 1983 for organizing hundreds of visiting teams of entrepreneurs from Russia to study business practices in the United States.  Recently returning from an extensive visit to Russia, Ms. Tennison will report on her impressions of the dramatic changes that have taken place in Russia as a result of her organization’s efforts over the last 30 years.  A highlight of Sharon’s presentation will be her assessment of the opportunities that Rotary has to improve the way of life in grass roots communities of Russia today.

Interested Rotarians in District 5890 are invited to participate in this one day conference and learn of the opportunities to develop relationships with one or more of the 80 Rotary Clubs in Russia. Governor Bob Gebhard has expressed an interest in organizing a friendship exchange with a Russian Club before the end of his year.  For registration information about the conference, contact PDG Jon Eiche at eichej1@comcast.net or by phone 713-702-2292.

“If you choose to not deal with an issue,
then you give up your right of control over the issue
and it will select the path of least resistance.”
― Susan Del Gatto