THE MAN WHO LIVED ON HIS BIKE

December 17, 2013 at 12:01 am

See on Scoop.itTransportation Today

I love being on a bike. It helps me feel free. I get it from my dad.

Andy Palanisamy‘s insight:

Anyone see this, yet?  -> The Man Who Lived On His Bike:

See on vimeo.com

Avec Uber, Google Ventures réalise son plus gros investissement unique

December 16, 2013 at 11:50 pm

See on Scoop.itTransportation Today

Google Ventures vient d’investir 257,79 millions de dollars soit environ 194 millions d’euros dans Uber, un service de réservation de chauffeurs privés via des smartphones et des tablettes et qui concurrence les taxis.

Andy Palanisamy‘s insight:

Google Venutures hit on a gold mine  with Uber.. a cash cow that is poised for exponential growth..

See on www.zone-numerique.com

Did You Know Eating/Drinking (Even Water) While Driving is Illegal in Cypress? Infograph: 50 Insane Driving Laws From Around the World

December 16, 2013 at 6:04 pm

Image via Barrington Freight

Also, who knew that one can be fined for driving a dirty car in Russia?  Oh well, there are so many such crazy driving laws around the world and Barrington Freight got 50 of them in one awesome infograph.. Check it out

Image Courtesy: Barrington Freight via Huffington Post

Job Alert: Research Analyst II/Policy Associate – National Conference of State Legislatures @ Denver,CO

December 16, 2013 at 8:35 am

JOB TITLE: Research Analyst II/Policy Associate
PROGRAM: Environment, Energy and Transportation Program (EET)
SALARY: $3,245-3,667 per month depending on qualifications
FUNDING: 100 percent grant funds

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

NCSL’s Transportation Program is seeking a Research Analyst II or a Policy Associate to perform legislative research, analysis, writing and program planning. This person will assist with providing quality, unbiased information to state legislators and legislative staff through publications, legislative tracking, meetings and other efforts. The Research Analyst II/ Policy Associate will answer information requests from state legislators, legislative staff and other policy stakeholders on transportation issues
such as revenues for infrastructure, public transportation, aviation, ports and waterways, driver’s licensing, commercial vehicles, traffic safety and other transportation topics.

The Research Analyst II/Policy Associate will also update online bill-tracking databases, draft publications, coordinate meetings, give presentations, compile and summarize legislation, and complete research for program projects including publications, NCSL meetings and off-site trainings and presentations . This professional position requires demonstrated competence in research, writing,
communication, public policy and analytical skills. This position is funded for one year from outside grants and contracts and continuation of the position is subject to the acquisition of additional grant and contract funding.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Typical duties may include some or most of the following:

1. Collects, monitors and analyzes data on legislative actions and state and federal programs using  a range of research skills including legal research, original surveys, in-depth interviews and specialized library resources.
2. Prepares prompt, concise and accurate written responses to legislative requests for information.
3. Under supervision, plans programs and organizes background materials in closely related subject areas for research projects, meetings, conferences and technical assistance workshops.
4. Plans, researches and writes for newsletters, issue briefs, short research reports or articles though most written products are subject to close review and editing by more senior staff.
5. Provides substantial content management and data entry support to the NCSL Transportation Funding and Finance Database, the NCSL Transportation Access and Mobility Database and/or other bill-tracking databases.
6. Develops and delivers presentations to a variety of audiences based on original research on transportation policy topics.
7. Undertakes research and writing for grant and contract proposals.
8. Under supervision, may interact directly with grant and contact project officers and undertake some project management responsibilities.
9. Assist as required with the staffing of relevant NCSL committees, task forces and meetings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years of relevant work experience, including at least one year of general policy research, legislative or state government experience. Relevant professional level work experience or graduate level can be substituted on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree is preferred but not required.
• Skill and competence in a range of research skills and tasks.
• Experience with state transportation policy research and analysis.
• Skill and competence in writing clearly and communicating orally.
• Skill and competence to work effectively with legislators and legislative staff.
• Skill and competence to work independently and to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. This includes the ability to balance and prioritize numerous projects at once, to meet deadlines and to effectively communicate how this is happening to supervisors of said projects.
• Able to maintain bi-partisanship, confidentiality and handle politically sensitive work.
• Skill and competence in working cooperatively and professionally with a variety of people, often under pressure.
• The willingness and desire to learn from multiple supervisors.
• Attention to detail and the ability to problem solve and think critically is essential.
• Is well-organized, efficient, flexible and a team player with a positive attitude.

Reply:

Send cover letter and resume by Friday, January 3, 2014, to:
National Conference of State Legislatures
Personnel/AT
7700 East First Place
Denver, CO 80230
Email: hr@ncsl.org

NCSL is an equal opportunity employer.

Calls for Proposals under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program

December 11, 2013 at 6:55 pm

Image Courtesy: Delegation of the European Union to the United States (EUintheUS.org)

The European Commission presented for the first time today calls for projects under Horizon 2020, the European Union’s 80 billion euro research and innovation program.  Worth more than 15 billion euros over the first two years, the funding is intended to help boost Europe’s knowledge-driven economy, and tackle issues that will make a difference in people’s lives. International cooperation is a priority in Horizon 2020 with the program open to participation of researchers from across the world, including the United States.

“It’s time to get down to business,” said European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. “Horizon 2020 funding is vital for the future of research and innovation in Europe, and will contribute to growth, jobs and a better quality of life. We have designed Horizon 2020 to produce results, and we have slashed red tape to make it easier to participate. So I am calling on researchers, universities, businesses including SMEs, and others to sign up!”

The European Union Ambassador to the United States, João Vale de Almeida, highlighted the strong science cooperation between the EU and the United States. “Our economic, research and innovation relationship is of vital importance and this strategy will further strengthen transatlantic cooperation,” he said. “We have some of the best researchers in the world on both sides of the Atlantic and it makes perfect sense to bring them together to tackle the common challenges that we face.”

For the first time, the Commission has indicated funding priorities over two years, providing researchers and businesses with more certainty on the direction of EU research policy. Most calls from the 2014 budget are already open for submissions as of today, with more to follow over the course of the year. Calls in the 2014 budget alone are worth around 7.8 billion euros, with funding focused on the three key pillars of Horizon 2020:

  • Excellent Science: Around 3 billion euros, including 1.7 billion euros for grants from the European Research Council for top scientists and 800 million euros for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships for younger researchers (see MEMO/13/1123).
  • Industrial Leadership: 1.8 billion euros to support Europe’s industrial leadership in areas like ICT, nanotechnologies, advanced manufacturing, robotics, biotechnologies and space.
  • Societal challenges: 2.8 billion euros for innovative projects addressing Horizon 2020′s seven societal challenges, broadly: health; agriculture, maritime and bioeconomy; energy; transport; climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; reflective societies; and security.

For background and more information, please see:

MEMO/13/1085: Horizon 2020 – the EU’s new research and innovation program

Horizon 2020 website

Participant portal

Job Alert: Federal Policy Manager – Safe Routes to School National Partnership @ Washington, DC

December 11, 2013 at 6:22 pm

Image Courtesy: Safe Routes to School National Partnership

Position:  Federal Policy Manager

Program:  Safe Routes to School National Partnership

Institution:  Bikes Belong Foundation

Employment and Classification:  “At will” employment status; full-time salaried position

Location: Your home office within the Washington, DC metro area

Applications: Applications are due on January 6, 2014 and must be sent to hr@saferoutespartnership.org. Specific details on application requirements are provided below. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as there will be rolling interviews.

Start Date: Late January or early February

Summary: Join the Safe Routes to School National Partnership (National Partnership) and use your professional talents and personal passion to advocate for safe walking and bicycling to and from schools, and in daily life, to improve the health and well-being of America’s children and to foster the creation of livable, sustainable communities.

Image Courtesy: Safe Routes to School National Partnership

The federal policy manager plays a critical role in representing the Safe Routes to School National Partnership on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies. The federal policy manager will regularly meet with Congressional offices and key federal agencies to convey the needs and importance of having Safe Routes to School and to advocate for policies and funding levels that are supportive of Safe Routes to School, active transportation and multi-modal transportation options. This position is also responsible for tracking the implementation of the recent MAP-21 transportation bill, researching and writing policy reports and papers on Safe Routes to School and related topics and producing blog posts and web content. The federal policy manager will collaborate closely with national and state coalition partners to advance active transportation policy and funding. The federal policy manager reports to the deputy director. 

For more information about the federal policy manager position, please see the detailed job description.

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of four to five years’ proven experience in legislative or government affairs, with a strong preference for experience with federal transportation policy.
  • Track record of analyzing and developing federal legislation and legislative campaigns.
  • Experience in building coalitions and working with allied organizations to achieve policy change goals.
  • Knowledge of Safe Routes to School programs or active transportation a plus.
  • Effective public speaker comfortable presenting in front of large groups or one-on-one.
  • Strong writing skills, including writing for legislative and non-legislative grassroots audiences.
  • Ability to travel to group meetings and conferences as required. Anticipated travel to be approximately two to four out of state trips a year and regular travel (without overnight stays) in the DC region. Occasional work in the evenings or weekends to attend receptions or events.
  • Ability to work from home, to work independently (self-starter) and as a team member with minimal supervision.
  • Self-motivated, organized, strong attention to detail, creative and energetic.
  • Ability to follow-up in a timely manner and to work under tight deadlines/schedules.
  • Proficient with PCs and with MS Office software.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.

Background:  The Safe Routes to School National Partnership was founded in 2005 and is a network of more than 600 organizations. Its mission is to advance safe walking and bicycling to and from schools, and in daily life, to improve the health and well-being of America’s children and to foster the creation of livable, sustainable communities.  The National Partnership is hosted by the non-profit Bikes Belong Foundation.

Annual Salary:  This “at will” position offers a starting annual salary of $48,000 to $60,000/year, depending on experience, plus health insurance benefits, paid time off and optional participation in a deferred compensation plan. A PC computer, telephone and internet access will be provided. All Safe Routes to School National Partnership personnel are employees of the Bikes Belong Foundation and work from home offices.

To Apply: Interested applicants should submit (via email) a cover letter, resume and three writing samples in one PDF file to hr@saferoutespartnership.org. The PDF file shall be named as follows:  [LastName]_FederalPolicyManager.pdf.  Ensure that the subject line of your email includes the text “Federal Policy Manager.” We are not accepting email or telephone call inquiries.

Receipt of applications will be acknowledged with an email reply.  Applications will be accepted until January 6, 2014.  Applications must be submitted in the format indicated in order to be considered.  Applying soon is encouraged as the position will be open until filled, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Visit www.saferoutespartnership.org for more information about the Safe Routes to School National Partnership

Job Alert: Executive Director – Pittsburgh Bike Share @ Pittsburgh, PA

December 11, 2013 at 5:35 pm

PITTSBURGH BIKE SHARE seeks a professional who is passionate about urban mobility and the potential transformational impact of bike share on community livability. The Executive Director will provide the leadership for the fundraising, planning and implementation of tasks necessary to launch the bike share program in 2014.  Access/download full announcement below.

[gview file=”http://www.transportgooru.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Pittsburgh-Bike-Share-ED-Job-Description.pdf” width=”599px” save=”1″]

Good luck.

 

 

 

Job Alert: Program Director (Bike Share Manager) – Chicago Bikeshare Program (Divvy Bikes) @ Chicago, IL

December 11, 2013 at 5:25 pm

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) recently launched the Divvy bikeshare program, which is operated by Alta Bicycle Share.  The program is contract-operated and requires dedicated staff to actively manage the program and administer the contract.  The Program Director (bike share manager) will supervise the contractor operating the bicycle sharing program and manage the day-to-day operations of Divvy for CDOT.

For consideration, all applications must be submitted electronically through the City’s Human Resources system (http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dhr.html).  Paper or other submissions will not be reviewed.  Please note that the deadline for applications is December 18th so please share this ASAP. See full announcement below.

[gview file=”http://www.transportgooru.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Program-Director-posting.pdf” width=”590px”]

Job Alert: Associate Staff Analyst – MTA New York City Transit @ New York City, NY

December 9, 2013 at 5:02 pm

MTA New York City Transit is the largest public transportation agency in North America and one of the largest in the world. The subway has a daily ridership of 5.4 million and an annual r

English: The New York City Transit Authority (...

English: The New York City Transit Authority (MTA New York City Transit, a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of NY) provides local bus, express bus, subway, bus rapid transit, and paratransit service in the City of New York. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

idership in 2012 of roughly 1.7 billion. If you wish to learn more about the inner working of the largest agency, and have fun while doing it, then you should apply for an opening for a full time Associate Staff Analyst position with the Capital Planning and Budget group at MTA New York City Transit. Check out the job description for more information on Qualifications and Selection Methodology.

The responsibilities include assisting in the preparation, planning, analysis and milestone review of NYC Transit’s multi-billion dollar, five-year capital program and evaluation of capital project proposals. The Analyst will support the economic cost-benefit analyses of selected capital projects and will participate in the preparation of the Twenty Year Needs Assessment as well as funding considerations within the five year capital program.

Interested candidates must apply by December 23, 2013 by going here and selecting Job ID # 77783.

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This funniest parking note also doubles as an advocacy flier for transit!

December 4, 2013 at 9:20 pm

Funniest parking note I’ve seen to date..

LOL – via Reddit

And you buy this parking card (a set of 25) for $4.95 at Etsy.com

And you can buy 25 of these at Etsy.com for just $4.95.. may come in handy when you are on the road. :)