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Attachment 2 <br />A- VA Sustainability <br />r/ Newsletter <br />07109,V <br />SUSTAINABILITY <br />Contact Us: <br />Noelle Bakken <br />2660 Civic Center Dr. <br />Roseville, MN 55113 <br />651-792-7057 <br />Email Us <br />Find us Online! <br />Inside this <br />issue: <br />Sustainability Tip <br />Green to Go <br />Bike Plan <br />Household Hazardous <br />Waste <br />Upcoming Events <br />Good Climate News <br />MAY/JUN 2024 <br />Public Works & <br />Engineering Division <br />IBAGBA of AMABICAN BICYCLISTS <br />M�+e- <br />BIKE, <br />M <br />rI <br />Sustainability Tip Green to Go Roseville Bike Plan Household Hazardous <br />of the Month— Waste <br />Lessons from Japan <br />Sustainability Tip of the Month —Lessons from Japan <br />This spring, I had the great privilege to travel to Japan. It was an incredible experience <br />that I'm still processing, and will continue to process over the next several months. While <br />I was there, I couldn't help but notice different details surrounding sustainability every- <br />where we visited, and I thought others might be interested in reading my reflections (all <br />photos are my own). <br />The first thing you'll notice when arriving in Japan <br />is how dense its urban areas are. Streets are <br />narrow, cars are smaller, and shops, restaurants, <br />and residences are smaller than western stand- <br />ards. One building might have a tiny ramen shop <br />that seats 7-8 people on the first level, maybe an- <br />other restaurant or store on the second level, and <br />maybe even an apartment above that. However, <br />density is notably offset by added greenery <br />View of residential Himeji from the castle wherever possible in urban areas, squeezing <br />trees on street corners and in tiny backyard gardens. While urban areas are dense, cities <br />are also sprinkled with parks, and rivers and canals offer peaceful walkways lined with <br />trees. <br />Because space is at a premium, car ownership is <br />a challenge in Japanese cities and it's much more <br />convenient to walk, take transit, or bike to your <br />destination - you see many people walking and <br />on bikes throughout Japan, including many <br />parents with young children on cargo bikes! <br />Bike parking is abundant, and some areas even <br />included overhead cover from the elements. <br />There were many bike lanes (some protected, <br />some not) and numerous pedestrian -only shop- <br />ping streets. <br />A street in Osaka crowded with parked bikes <br />I can't go to Japan and not talk about trains. Japan's public transportation system is <br />one of the best in the world, and we never felt the need for a car to get to any of our <br />destinations. I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up bullet trains (called Shinkansen)—it's an <br />unbelievably cool way to get around, and feels like you're flying along the ground! I can't <br />overstate how easy it was to get around on foot and by train or bus in Japan. <br />Article continues on page 4 <br />Page 13 of 115 <br />