Why we drive cars

General Motors streetcar conspiracy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "During the period from 1936 to 1950, National City Lines and Pacific City Lines—with investment from GM, Firestone Tire, Standard Oil of California, Phillips Petroleum, Mack Trucks, and the Federal Engineering Corporation—bought over 100 electric surface-traction systems in 45 cities including Baltimore, Newark, Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland and San Diego and converted them into bus operation. In 1946, Edwin J. Quinby, a retired naval lieutenant commander, alerted transportation officials across the country to what he called "a careful, deliberately planned campaign to swindle you out of your most important and valuable public utilities—your Electric Railway System". GM and other companies were subsequently convicted in 1949 of conspiring to monopolize the sale of buses and related products via a complex network of linked holding companies including National City Lines and Pacific City Lines. They were also indicted, but acquitted of conspiring to monopolize the ownership of these companies."

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USA is broke? Oops, Corporate Media commentator loses it and spills the beans. Nobody contradicts him.

Car Racing in #Bahrain adds insult to injury

Bahrain Grand Prix is 'force for good', prince says, as cancellation calls grow | World news | The Guardian: "Bahrain's showcase grand prix came under heavy pressure on Friday as tens of thousands of anti-government protesters confronted police during the final preparations for Sunday's race and calls grew for it to be cancelled."

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Electric cars just another excuse for #autosprawl subsidy

  How to Get Free Money - Death by Car: "Lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems Inc. has received an extension on its $249.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. A123 received $127 million of the DOE grant by the end of 2011, according to the filing. The grant requires the battery maker to match each dollar used from the grant. The extension is designed to allow A123 to use the funds before they expire."

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Tallinn to host conference on free public transport in autumn

bbn.ee - Tallinn to host conference on free public transport in a: "The announcement was made by Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar during a meeting with Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen on Friday.

"Helsinki is certainly welcome to join," Savisaar told his Finnish counterpart.

The two mayors also discussed Tallinn's plan to adopt electronic bus passes in September which would be compatible with passes used in Helsinki, Riga and St. Petersburg in Russia."

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Riga City Council approves free public transportation for school children

Riga City Council approves free public transportation for school children: "RIGA - During the session of the Traffic and Transport Affairs Committee on April 10, Riga City Council members supported Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs’ (Harmony Center) motion to introduce free public transportation for school children in grades 1-12 as of Sept. 1, 2012, reports LETA.

The opposition, however, emphasized that vocational education students should also be able to use Riga public transportation free of charge.
"

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Traffic jams waste gas, 1.9 billion gallons – USATODAY.com

Traffic jams waste gas, 1.9 billion gallons – USATODAY.com: "As Americans pay about $4 per gallon for gasoline, they're wasting 1.9 billion gallons of it annually in traffic on congested roads, a new Treasury Department report says."

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BBC News - German drivers offered free public transport

BBC News - German drivers offered free public transport: "Motorists in the German city of Leipzig are to be offered free public transport this week in a bid to cut congestion.

The authorities' decision comes amid concerns over commuting times and lengthening traffic jams.

The hope is that motorists will be persuaded to leave their cars at home permanently."

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TWU and #occupy; a nightmare for the oil #trolls

Occupy Transit! Transit Workers & the Occupy Movement Team Up

Daily Kos: Occupy Transit! Transit Workers & the Occupy Movement Team Up: "Calling mass transit “a genuine civil rights issue,” the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which represents transit workers across the nation, joined with the Occupy Movement, community organizations and transit riders to demand a revitalization of our transit systems. Citing such problems as “older vehicles, deferred maintenance and longer wait times for overcrowded buses and trains,” the ATU was also critical of service cuts and higher fares which have hit working class riders the hardest."

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