Brave Greenpeace needs to address demand side

GreenPeace shuts down Tar Sands Operation

There is no question that Greenpeace activists are brave. There is no doubt that they are bringing attention to environmental destruction. But addressing the supply side of the problem is a losing proposition. As long as there is demand, suppliers will find a way. You, dear reader, can address the demand side by fighting for free public transit in your town or city, or by contacting us to be a blog contributor.

Demise of U.S. Empire will not save human race

The U.S. Empire is sinking and will fall a surely as the tides come and go. But if you are counting on that to save the biosphere from carbon saturation, do not get your hopes up. The international auto industry, though back on its heels at the moment, is still strong and poised to grow exponentially in numbers of sold units.

The auto system is based on waste and subsidy. It cannot exist otherwise.

If we do not stop subsidizing the auto-system of transport, we will continue with waste, pollution, and energy wars until there is no human race.

Flood and drought, drought and flood

Climate disruption in the Phillipines

Climate disruption in Australia

[see also the new blog: Fare-Free Australia]

Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day marks an unfortunate milestone: the day when humanity begins living beyond its ecological means. Beyond that day, we move into the ecological equivalent of deficit spending, utilizing resources at a rate faster than what the planet can regenerate in a calendar year. GlobaFootprintNetwork

The human race is using up the resources necessary for its own survival. This is bad enough. But worse, most of that use is just waste. So-- wouldn't it be nice if there were a low-tech, immediately available, practical, politically palatable way to reduce waste? It just so happens that there is. Take the fares off urban public transportation. This will gradually eliminate the private auto and at the same time make efficient urban living more pleasant. You should join us and become a free public transport advocate.

Changzhi County, China - Buses are now free

...the public free of charge by bus Changzhi County, is to enter the market operating mechanism framework, the government subsidy is only rated only. "Free Bus" Although the increase in government spending, but the development of a good public transport system, the ultimate aim is not profit, but rather to provide convenient services to carry social responsibility. Public transport industry has a clear public interest functions...Xinhuanet-SourceJuice
also - ChinaReviewNews

It is simple math in Sydney, Australia

...Glazebrook estimated that the real cost to the community of Sydney’s reliance on private transport was more than $41 billion in 2006. About half of this was borne by the user — $18 billion was borne by the public.

Glazebrook puts the real cost of car use at 86 cents per passenger-kilometre, when all externalities are factored in. The real cost of train travel is only 47 cents for the same distance, said a study he published on March 19.

Replacing each passenger trip by car with train travel saves society almost half the resources and creates half the pollution. But how do we encourage people to make the switch?

In 1996, the Belgian city of Hasselt made public transport free. Between 1996 and 2006, usage of public transport increased by as much as 1300%.

In Sydney, making public transport free would cost the state government about $1 billion a year.GreenLeftAustralia

[see also the new blog: Fare-Free Australia]

How to save the biosphere - Free Public Transport

In celebration of the World Carfree Day and the European Mobility Week we are today very proud to present our first English report. Travel doesn’t have to cost the earth is a translation of a report we released in Swedish last November. The report presents five concrete steps towards a climate-smart and fair transport sector in Stockholm.Download the full report here [.pdf] .

Survey: Majority want free public transit

A majority of people would like to see public transport funded entirely by taxes, meaning individual users wouldn’t have to buy tickets.
That’s according to a new survey, commissioned by the magazine Reader’s Digest Suisse, whose editors said they wanted to test the perception that most people wouldn’t go so far as to back so-called ‘free’ public transport.
The study found that 51 percent of people overall thought using taxes to fund buses, trams, trains and boats would be a good move.
Supporters of the idea argue that public transport already gets two thirds of its funding from public funds, so why not all of it? Opponents say wealthier people would have to pay more while poorer sections of the population would be the ones to benefit. WorldRadioSwitzerland

Today is World Car-Free Day

Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society.Link

"Buses Should be Free" - New UK youth group

Buses Should Be Free is a campaign group on Facebook based on trying to make buses free. We are here to stand up to what we believe in, and that's making buses free for certain age groups and some other members of the public.

We stand for making buses free for:

Kids (Under 16)
Students (Over 16, in full-time education)
People who have been made redundant within 12 months
Old Age Pensioners (OAP's) that are living only on their pensions
and The Disabled (Wheelchairs, blind, Exec.)

Website  Twitter

Poland - Campaign for free public transport

Sept. 16 was the official start of the campaign for free and good public transport initiated by the local section of ZSP in Wroclaw. Hundreds of leaflets were given out and signatures were collected on a petition. Many people, including transport workers, stopped to discuss and debate the ideas. A-infos

If you are involved in this please contact us with more info - info@freepublictransit.org or post your link in the comments, thanks.

Hasselt bans cars for mobility week (think about it)

This is the eighth year in a row for Mobility Week and Hasselt has been an avid participant since the idea's inception.
Since 2002, Hasselt has banned cars for the duration of Mobility Week and has fallen back instead on its well-developed bus system. But Hasselt is different from other municipalities in Belgium and elsewhere because, since 1997, this city of 70,000 has been offering public transportation free of charge to anybody wishing to use it – and not just during Mobility Week. deutsce-welle

Center for Public Integrity investigates the transportation lobby

On Wednesday, September 16th, The Center for Public Integrity will begin to release a series of reports detailing the inner workings of the transportation lobby, and profiling the interests, industries, and constituencies seeking to influence transportation policy. CPI

Fossil-fuel trolls do master's bidding in Senate

Do you need any proof that public transit is the achilles heel of the fossil-fuel industry? Just watch as their trolls in the U.S. Senate go to work to try to stop the least of trickle of public transit investment. While both political parties can't throw money fast enough at highways, auto companies, and oil wars. for more see Transportation for America.

The U.S. Federal government is too easy for a corporate cabal to control. The best way to fight back is to implement free public transit in your local home town.

Cars cause unnecessary trade fight

The U.S. economy is being dragged down by autosprawl waste. Now, a completely unnecessary fight ensues with China over tires and auto parts. It is time to stop subsidizing the autosprawl system and invest in public transit. The U.S. has a choice, cars or people, what will it be? [story in Wall Street Journal]

South Salt Lake - Lack of service unfair to handicapped

It very Frustrating that I cannot take a Bus to the only Fabric Store in the City of South Salt Lake, also can't take a Bus to the only Post Office and Drug Store.

Utah Transit Authority has good bus service in down town Salt Lake City, in the Avenues and at the University of Utah. UTA has Flushed the Bus System down the Toilet in the rest of Salt Lake City County.

I wish Elected and People running for Election would take time to care about the Disabled and Elderly and Individuals that do not have a Vehicle.


There needs to be Accessible Vans and Small Buses to go into Neighborhoods to the Main Bus Routes and to Trax. Increase the Frequency of Buses and Lower Fares and also Charge for Parking at Park and Ride Lots, to Help Increase Ridership on Buses.


This would Help reduce COSTS and NEED for Paratransit. This would Help reduce Traffic Grid Lock. This would reduce Traffic Grid Lock. This would be Transportation for all. Also Help out our ENVIRONMENT.


I am Paratransit approved I only use it went I really need it, I want Paratransit to be affordable for the individuals that need all the time. I enjoy the regular bus system it give Freedom and I like making new friends. CatmeowTransit

Public Transit Saves Lives

...when compared to the number of fatalities on America’s roads, public transit appears to wrap passengers in bubble wrap. For a culture that is obsessed with safety, it is unfortunate that public transportation discussions do not more frequently cover safety.... TheTransitPass

Acidentes de trânsito são a principal causa de mortes de jovens entre 10 e 24 anos, de acordo com um estudo realizado por pesquisadores da Austrália, Grã-Bretanha e Suíça a pedido da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). BBCBrazil

How much health-care could we buy if...

We stopped wasting money on the private auto.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumers in the Cincinnati Area spent $7,318,876,000.00 on transportation in 2003.
Transportation spending is more than consumer spending on:
Health Care; . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . $2,357,387,000.00
Entertainment; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,091,539,000.00
Apparel and Services; . . . . . . . . . . . $1,635,368,000.00
Education; . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . $ 786,467,000.00
Life and Other Personal Insurance . . . . . $ 324,254,000.00
Combined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,195,015,000.00

...By investing in increased public transportation we can help our region’s working families get the transportation and access to jobs they need while spending less. CincyStreetcar Blog

Victor Bernace - Free Mass Transit

Colomiers, France - 38 Years of Free Public Transport

In 1971, the City of Colomiers innovated and astonished by offering a service transit free. 37 years later, Colomiers claiming more than ever its commitment to the principle of free transport. And if the buses are also appreciated by the people is that the service has adapted to the needs of users and the changing city.

...With 7 lines and one million passengers each year, the Department of Transportation Colomiers has become over the years a real bus network structure, which covers most of the urbanized area of the town.

Ville de Colomiers

Watauga County, NC free bus system growing

Written by Adam Hicks - Wednesday, September 02 2009 GoBlueRidge.com

Watauga County’s free public transportation system, AppalCart, reported a 15 percent increase in overall ridership from August of 2008 to August of 2009.
According to AppalCart’s director, Christopher Turner, the addition of a second bus on the Orange Route this year made the biggest difference. The second bus added 2,437 passenger trips and 739 miles of service. The Express Route and the POP105 Route experienced the largest increase in ridership last month. Updated route information is available at www.AppalCart.com.

We can no longer afford to charge for public transit

Can we afford to provide all this free to everyone? Of course we can, it is merely a question of political priorities. Besides which, given the worsening effects of climate change and its threat to all of humanity - can we afford not to? read more...