Or, go for it in the comments section.  Here's what we'd like to know:

• What goals are you/your group trying to accomplish?
• What tech tools are you currently using to further those goals? (to organize, recruit, mobilize, lobby, publicize, etc.)
  
• Of those, which have been the most useful? The least?
• What functionality do you NOT have that you would most like to have?
  

Thanks!

Planning to do something fun this Saturday at Summer Streets? Let us know! 

We'd like to help facilitate the planning of ad-hoc events along the route. Did you realize that most of the side streets adjacent to the route are also closed? So there's plenty of room to, say, organize a game of stickball. 

We've started a Livable Streets Group: "Summer Streets 2008."  There's a discussion going there, so join the group, sign up for the mailing list and toss around ideas with other readers, or post ideas for activities on the wiki.

If, for example, you're interested in stickballing with TOPP staff and Streetsblog editors, meet at Union Square by the Gandhi Statue at 10 a.m.   We've also heard of demand for more kids activities, so if you know of anything, add it to the list.

We hope to see you out there!

Photo of Robert Burghardt mural: wallyg/Flickr

As Aaron has mentioned, we're hard at work on a redesign of Streetsblog, slated for release this spring. Coming up soon, we're going to offer all Streetsblog readers a sneak preview; in the meantime, we're looking for some early feedback from a smaller group of testers.

To start, we'd like to invite a few interested readers into our offices this week for short user testing sessions. Basically, we'll sit you down in front of the new site and ask you to do a few common tasks, then observe your experience and ask for feedback. The whole thing should take about an hour.

We're looking for three volunteers to come in this Wednesday, 2/27. If you are interested and available, please contact Bryan Lence at help [at] openplans [dot] org to schedule a time.

Thanks! 

Photo: myoldmac.net

You may have noticed the new tab at the top of Streetsblog and StreetFilms with a link to NYCstreets. If you haven't checked it out yet, it's worth a look. NYCstreets is a place where people interested in improving New York City's streets and public spaces can find online tools, resources and, most importantly -- other people -- to help get organized and make change happen.

NYCstreets is part social network, part directory of local Livable Streets initiatives and part project management tool box for civic groups. It is the latest  example of the open source community-building tools being developed by Streetsblog's non-profit, parent organization, The Open Planning Project.

Here is what you can do on NYCstreets:

• Join an existing Livable Streets project: There are already a bunch of Livable Streets initiatives up and running. Find one in your neighborhood or area of interest, join up and get involved.
  

• Create a new project: Write up a description of a project that you would like to get done in your own neighborhood and use NYCstreets tools -- wiki pages, blogs, mailing lists, and a collaborative to-do list -- to organize your campaign.
  
• Sign up and create a profile: Simply join New York City's growing community of Livable Streets advocates by creating an a profile on NYCstreets. In 2008 we'll be launching a redesign of Streetsblog and StreetFilms that will integrate NYCstreets member profiles. When you leave a comment on Streetsblog, for example, it will link back to your NYCstreets profile and the various projects you're involved in.
  

More on the way: We're busy adding new features to NYCstreets, and will be rolling them out steadily over the coming months. One feature to look out for is our forthcoming NYCstreets Map. Do you need a wider sidewalk, traffic-calming device, improved bike lane or have an idea for how Brooklyn's entire bus network should be re-routed? You'll be able to pin your concept to the NYCstreets Map and get the conversation started.

As I'm sure you've noticed, we've been making a few changes around here. Today we are introducing the Comments Archive. You can find a permanent link to the Comments Archive over in the sidebar at the bottom of both Hot Topics and Recent Comments.

We think that those who enjoy reading and participating in conversations on Streetsblog will find the Comments Archive to be another useful way to track ongoing discussions across the site. For now, the functionality is pretty simple -- it is basically just a running list of reader comments in chronological order. We'll probably be fancying things up a bit in the near future, adding searching and sorting.

As always, chime in if you have any suggestions about this or anything else...

We're beginning to roll out some site updates and new features here at Streetblog, with more on the way.  Today's treat: Compact Archives.  Take a look at archives listing for a category or month, and you should find them more scan-able.  We've also updated our search results with the same goal in mind.  Boy, have we written a lot on congestion pricing.

We at Streetsblog have been thinking about ways to improve the site, so, true to our stated philosophy on these issues, we thought we'd reach out to you, the readers.

We'd love it if you could take a few moments and send in your comments / suggestions about the site - how you use it and how we might be able to make it better.  Here are a few questions to guide your thoughts:

1. What do you like best about Streetsblog?
   
2. What could we do to  improve Streetsblog for you?
   
3. What's one thing we absolutely SHOULDN'T change?
   
4. Name one thing another website does well that we should copy emulate?
5. How often do you visit Streetsblog?

Of all the comments posted, we'll randomly select one to receive a brand spanking new Streetsblog t-shirt!  (No, these don't exist yet, but I've decided to force the issue)

Ok, we're looking forward to hearing what you have to say.  Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Photo: amortize on Flickr

Last week, I visited Munich for work, and found that the cycling culture there is strong, particularly as measured by the excellent bike parking facilities.  They seem to be in all the right places:

Outside the subway:

Instead of car parking spaces:

In front of shops:

Even outside of suburban supermarkets:

Overall, the bicycling atmosphere is so comfortable, a ride to school doubles as a great time for a nap:

The Guardian reports that China is suddenly rediscovering the joys of urban bicycle transportation after a decade of motor mania:

The construction ministry announced on Thursday that any bike lanes that have been narrowed or destroyed to make way for cars in recent years must be returned to their original glory. This followed orders on Tuesday that all civil servants should cycle to work or take public transport to reduce the smog that chokes most city streets and urban lungs.

(Via Walk and Bike for Life. Post title courtesy of Ben Fried)