Sensors on specially equipped bikes can collect information on trail accessibility and pavement conditions to prioritize maintenance projects.

Bicycles equipped with data collection devices are helping communities understand the conditions of their bike lanes and paths, reports Daniel C. Vock for Route Fifty.
“Local planning organizations have deployed them in Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts and Minnesota,” Vock adds. “The Des Moines area agency produces heat maps of where distressed pavement is located, which helps local governments identify the problem areas quickly.” In Des Moines, the city wants to map out all of the region’s pathways in two years.
Local governments can use this data to build more resilient trails and understand problem areas. Planners can use the information to prioritize areas for improvement when applying for grants and developing maintenance plans.
The technology isn’t without its challenges: “The devices on board also don’t record debris or the slope of the paths, which would also be helpful for devising maintenance plans. And they don’t capture branches growing over the path or other obstacles that could prevent cyclists from using the trail.”
FULL STORY: Rough ride? Data bikes chart the condition of bike paths in more cities

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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