Category Editorial
House of MacGregor Mardi Gras Masks
Super-chic milliner, and B.F.O.C. member, Cassandra MacGregor of the House of MacGregor has created these gorgeous limited-edition Mardi Gras masks designed to be worn over your eyes. They are made from sheer black horsehair with a smattering of festive rhinestones—no two are exactly alike. The wire loops slip behind your ear. Each is only $30 […]
Far North Dallas Suppressing People-First Developments in Oak Cliff
(An Oak Cliff open-air market which North Dallas reps seek to restrict) As Oak Cliff slowly shakes off the decades of neglect due to car-first planning which saw the dismantling of our streetcar system, destruction of historic structures in favor of parking lots, the creation of wide one-way thoroufares through the heart of our residential […]
Building a Complete Street in Oak Cliff
(Image from Copenhagencyclechic.com) When Google unveiled its new email platform Wave, the developers started from scratch, and decided to throw out preconceived notions of how people already communicate via email’s limited foundation, and built an entirely new platform combining the best features of email, social media, and more. A similar approach must be taken to […]
How Does our New Suspension Bridge Stack Up in Regards to Livability?
(Santiago Calatrava standing next to a model of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas. Photo by Daniel Driensky) The DJC in Oregon posted an article yesterday comparing Vancouver’s bridges with Portland’s, and the effect these structures have on their communitys’ livability. Since the Trinity Trust has hired Vancouver’s planner, Larry Beasley, this is a […]
How to Build a Livable Dallas (Part 3). Invest in the Local Community and the Identity of the Area.
In the first part of our “How to Build a Livable Dallas” series, we noted the need to set larger goals. In Part 2, we highlighted the need to challenge assumptions, take risks, and focused on Copenhagen’s effort to return bicycling to the forefront of their city. Today, we spotlight other areas city leaders should […]
How to Make Dallas a Livable City, Part 2
In our previous article, we challenged city leaders to set extraordinary goals and to think beyond what is currently the defeatist “Dallas is a car city” mindset. The above picture illustrates a comparison of attitudes towards Dallas city planning and Copenhagen city planning. You’ll notice Dallas looks like a moonscape filled with massive gray parking […]
Dallas Should Strive to Become the World’s Most Livable City
Stroget Pedestrian Plaza, Copenhagen, Denmark “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood…. Make big plans… aim high in hope and work.” Daniel Burnham, Architect of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair When Danish Planner, Jan Gehl, began his work to make the streets of Copenhagen pedestrian and bicycle friendly, what he […]
How to Build a Bike Friendly City Part 2
(A new bike lane in Times Square, NY by Flickr user denali2001) Several interesting articles have come out recently on bicycle culture, and more to the point, the move away from auto-centric planning. The New York Times published an article on Wednesday titled “Is Happiness Still That New Car Smell?”, where an auto industry expert […]
Build for Women, and Ridership will increase
(image from Copenhagencyclechic.com) We’ve noted this on multiple occasions here at BFOC, but this recent article in Scientific American goes into greater depth: “Addressing women’s concerns about safety and utility “will go a long way” toward increasing the number of people on two wheels.” Rutgers Planning Professor and bike scholar, John Pucher (who we’ve noted […]
Answers to most common talking points by those opposed to bicycle infrastructure
Dallas is the only major US city without on-street bike lanes. Bike lanes have proven to increase ridership and safety and most every major city in the US is currently undergoing major bicycle infrastructure build-outs. Below are answers to a few common debate points given by those opposed to building bicycle infrastructure: 1) Dallas isn’t […]
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff 