Davis (California)

Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. Davis is known for its liberal politics, for having many bicycles and bike paths, and for the campus of the University of California, Davis. Davis is internally divided by two freeways (Interstate 80 and State Route 113), a north-south railroad (California Northern), an east-west mainline (Union Pacific) and several major streets. The city is unofficially divided into six main districts made up of smaller neighborhoods The city of Davis is certainly the most successful example of green city that hosts since the 70s, an alternative community that has succeeded in creating an entirely eco-friendly neighborhood of over two hundred houses with almost no cars and plenty of space for sidewalks, public parks and cultivated areas. Bicycling has been a popular mode of transportation in Davis for decades, particularly among the University of California Davis students. In 2010, Davis became the new home of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.Bicycle infrastructure became a political issue in the 1960s, culminating in the election of a probicycle majority to the City Council in 1966. By the early 1970s, Davis became a pioneer in the implementation of cycling facilities. As the city expands, new facilities are usually mandated. As a result, Davis residents today enjoy an extensive network of bike lanes, bike paths, and grade-separated bicycle crossings.

Portland (Oregon)
The City of Portland has been referred to as one of the most environmentally friendly or "green" cities in the world. The city and region are noted for strong land-use planning and investment in light rail, supported by Metro, a distinctive regional government. The city has been known as "The City of Roses" with many rose gardens like the International Rose Test Garden. Portland was the first city of USA to introduce a comprehensive plan to reduce CO2 emissions and it has also strongly supported the initiatives of ecological construction. It also manages a great system of light rail, bus and bicycle paths to reduce circulation of cars, and then it boasts 35,000 hectares of green space and more than 100 miles of trails for hikes, walks and bike races. The city is proud of its parks and its legacy of preserving open spaces. Parks and greenspace planning date back to John Charles Olmsted's 1903 Report to the Portland Park Board. In 1995, voters in the Portland metropolitan region passed a regional bond measure to acquire valuable natural areas for fish, wildlife, and people. Ten years later, more than 33 km of ecologically valuable natural areas had been purchased and permanently protected from development. Forest Park is the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States, covering more than 20 km. Portland is also home to Mill Ends Park, the world's smallest park. Washington Park is just west of downtown, and is home to the Oregon Zoo, the Portland Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden. Portland is often awarded the "Greenest City in America", and ranks among the world's top 10 greenest cities. Portland is often cited as an example of a city with strong land use planning controls; This is largely the result of statewide land conservation policies adopted in 1973 under Governor Tom McCall. The Urban Greenspaces Institute, housed in Portland State University Geography Department's Center for Mapping Research, promotes better integration of the built and natural environments. The institute works on urban park, trail, and natural areas planning issues, both at the local and regional levels. In October 2009, the Portland City Council unanimously adopted a climate action plan that will cut the city's greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.