Free Public Transit: Humans Using Resources & Emitting Waste "52 Percent Faster than the Earth Can Sustain"

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Humans Using Resources & Emitting Waste "52 Percent Faster than the Earth Can Sustain" - CleanTechnica

Humans Using Resources & Emitting Waste "52 Percent Faster than the Earth Can Sustain" - CleanTechnica: "Humanity is using resources and emitting waste (particularly carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning) at a rate 52 percent faster than the Earth can sustain according to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2012.
The report was launched from the International Space Station on the 15th of May by André Kuipers, a European Space Agency astronaut.
WWF International Director General Jim Leape said with the current trend of consumption, two planets will be needed by 2030 to support not just the human race but every living creature in it as well."

'via Blog this'

Free is Cheaper

How is free transit cheaper? Don't you have to make up for lost fare revenue? The answer is that your city will save so much money in other areas, and quality of life will improve so much that you will get back much more than the lost fares. Some examples are listed below. If you want to see specific numbers, see our spreadsheet here.

Increased return on investment. Public transit involves large fixed costs. When fares are gone, there are more riders per vehicle, getting more value from the investment.
Reduced parking costs. With free transit, fewer people will park downtown. City parking authorities can cost $180 million a year, paid by fines, which are just a tax on customers and delivery services.

Reduced traffic congestion. Studies have shown that the time lost in traffic costs urban economies hundreds of millions of dollars.
Less money exported for gasoline. A medium sized city can export 1 million dollars a day in gasoline money for cars. Free buses will reduce this considerably.
Better quality of life, priceless. In Hasselt, Belgium, when fares were removed, people in hospital started receiving more visitors.