Christianne and Mae are in the city of Davis checking out some of the city's features.
Christianne is checking out the Transmedia Art Walk -- the first of its kind in the country. Following in the pioneering spirit of the Davis artists of the 1960s, Davis today has the participation of the community and the university to create one of the largest public art collections per square mile of any city in the nation. The art on the map designated with an asterisk are the "transmedia" pieces, each one embedded with RFID computer chip with interactive features. With a free cellphone app you can readily download, you can scan the chip to discover a wealth of information about the art on view, including interviews with the artists and discussions of the meaning and relevance of each piece. You can even leave your own comments on the chip to complete the circle of discovery.
Mae is getting a tour of the fleet of historic London doubledecker buses at the Memorial union parking structure. Unitrans is well-known for our fleet of historic London doubledecker buses, which in 2010 were joined by two modern doubledecker buses. The doubledeck buses run on six lines in regular service during the academic year, and their times are noted on the printed schedule. One of the doubledecks has been converted from a diesel engine to run on clean natural gas and probably the coolest part about these buses is that they are driven by students.
Christianne is outside getting a sneak preview of UC Davis' 102nd Picnic Day. The event is touted as the largest student-run event in the country. Watch the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! show off their skills in the Battle of the Bands, try made-to-order treats at the liquid nitrogen ice cream demos, or watch the dachshund and cockroach races. Free. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mae is at the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame Museum. Proudly known as the "Bicycle Capital of America" since as far back as 1964, Davis has long been a leader in getting around on two wheels for school, work, and play. Davis was the first city in the nation to legislate and implement standardized bike lanes, and today more than 100 miles of bike paths and trails wind their way all through town. In 2006, Davis became the first city in America to earn the coveted Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community Award from the League of American Bicyclists -- and is even working to achieve Beyond Platinum status