Everything's up-to-date in Kansas City

A proposal by Mayor @QuintonLucasKC would make @RideKCTransit busses free.
Councilman @EricWBunch supports the idea.

If approved, it would make KC the largest city to offer free public transportation.

📹@giovanniggarcia

📺@41actionnews pic.twitter.com/FSixHxNGHn

— Nick Starling (@NickStarlingTV) September 13, 2019

Must-read Q&A from @nephologue who established Garrett's constant #physics

From where comes the statement that we would need to build approximately 1 nuclear power plant (1 GW?) every day in order to (just) stabilize CO2 emissions?

The current annual rate of growth of global energy consumption is 2.3%, or a few hundred GW. In a fossil fuel economy, CO2 emissions rise with energy consumption. It is often advocated that increasing energy efficiency can stall energy consumption growth. What I have shown is that this is only true locally. Globally increasing energy efficiency accelerates growth through a generalized version of Jevon’s Paradox. This leaves switching to non-carbon fuel sources as the only option for meeting the goal of stabilizing emissions while growing the economy. Divide a few hundred GW annual growth by the number of days in a year and one obtains the figure of 1GW of non-carbon energy per day. That’s roughly one nuclear power plant per day.

Click here to read more...

What's wrong with organizing fare strikes?

We need a mass movement to win fare-free public transit. Young people are impatient and are urged by provocateurs to charge ahead without thinking.

The people do not need to be "radicalized." They are already so. They are keeping their heads down and trying to survive. They do not want to get arrested and lose their job. They will come into the streets only when they see a chance of success.

Greenhouse gas level rise accelerating

Indeed, the rise in greenhouse gas levels appears to be accelerating, despite pledges made under the Paris Agreement to holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

http://arctic-news.blogspot.com/2019/11/accelerating-greenhouse-gas-levels.html 

Beware of provocateurs

If you are participating in activities to promote free public transit please watch out for provocateurs.

Keep in mind that the oil, auto, and sprawl industries have billions in profits at stake. Any increase in public transit use is a direct threat to them. They have a lot of money and plenty of influence in government.

They will send out "super radicals" to get you in trouble. Beware of people who call for extreme action. Stay away from anyone who looks as if they intend violence or vandalism.

Click here for more.

#renewables just add to the fire because of #jevons

Electricity demand in the country rose 36% in the seven years to April 2019 while coal-fired generation capacity during the period grew by 74% to 194.44 GW, according to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

http://news.trust.org/item/20190731133649-zkxm6/

India growth and plans for more growth will mean that any renewables added will not reduce fossil fuel use. They just add to the fire. Renewables promote growth. As long as there is demand, efficiencies are subsumed. Jevons principle.

Wow! Kansas City Mayor spills the beans on subsidy and racism!

Quinton Lucas: A few years ago in Kansas City, we brought back our streetcar system. It’s a short route that runs into downtown. We made all rides free. The area where the streetcar is is a higher-income, majority white, gentrified area. That started the talk of why are we subsidizing free rides to people making good money, but the clientele on the bus system in the largely black parts of town are still forced to pay?

...Lucas: Fares cover about $8 million a year, but we lose $1.5 million in collecting fares. The shortfall is about $6 million, and we can find that in the budget. The streetcar took $2 million from buses to [get the project started]. It was necessary startup funding in 2014, but in 2019 and 2020 it’s not.

The other step is improving how we spend money to stimulate economic development. After the recession, national firms came to us and said we’ll invest in downtown, but in exchange we need real guarantees and asked us to subsidize parking-garage costs. [In the last 10 years] taxpayers spent about $100 million subsidizing parking garages for these companies. 

...Lucas: We’ve crunched the numbers. Finding a few million in a large city budget is not that hard. We can wax poetic about fairness and equity in workforce opportunity, but there’s nothing more clear to me than saying, “Let’s help people, for many of whom $2,000 will make a world of difference.”

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/ask-an-expert-kansas-city-is-exploring-free-transit-should-seattle/ 

Will Scotland tip the scale for fare-free #publictransport?

An independent Scotland can establish itself as a global leader in climate action, the Scottish Greens will insist today as they launch their manifesto. 

The party, standing in more than 20 Scottish seats, will put climate change, free public transport and revamping region deals at the heart of their appeal to voters.

They will commit to rolling out free public transport, which would be paid for by the doubling of vehicle excise duty on high polluting cars and scrapping the freeze on fuel duty.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/18057359.independent-scotland-can-climate-leader-say-scottish-greens/ 

Free Public Transport: an obvious way to address #climate and many other problems

China energy/emission going up, up, up.

China’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement production grew by an estimated 4% in the first half of 2019, analysis of preliminary data suggests. 

Power-sector emissions, which had driven the rebound in overall emissions since 2017, flattened off. However, there was a surge in real estate and infrastructure construction that saw emissions from steel and cement expand rapidly. 

Estimates based on preliminary data for the first half of 2019, compared to the same period last year, indicate that:

• China’s coal demand increased by 3%;
• Oil demand was up 6%;
• Gas demand rose by 12%; and
• Cement production increased by 7%.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-why-chinas-co2-emissions-grew-4-during-first-half-of-2019? 

China plans to start/restart 148 GW of coal-fired energy

China has enough coal-fired power plants in the pipeline to match the entire capacity of the European Union, driving the expansion in global coal power and confounding the movement against the polluting fossil fuel, according to a report. 

The nation has almost 148 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity under active construction or likely to be resumed after being suspended, Global Energy Monitor, a non-profit group that tracks coal stations, said in the report Thursday based on plant-by-plant data. That’s almost equivalent to 150 gigawatts of existing coal fleet capacity in the EU and more than the combined 105 gigawatts under construction in the rest of the world, it said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-11-20/china-set-for-massive-coal-expansion-in-threat-to-climate-goals? 

Private Equity vultures already feeding on shale corpse

PE is seeking to take advantage of depressed or under-appreciated asset valuations in a buyer’s market where, for strategic reasons, sellers are looking to release capital.

https://www.woodmac.com/news/the-edge/private-equity--big-buyers-of-oil-and-gas-in-the-downturn/ 

Cambridge, MA, city councilman calls for fare-free #publictransit

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. ― As New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority moves to hire $250 million worth of new transit cops to stop a supposed $200 million worth of fare evasion, this Massachusetts city’s newly elected socialist councilman has an entirely different proposal: Make transit free.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mbta-free-transit_n_5dd2e1d6e4b01f982f06b00c?se5 

Kansas City, MO, takes another step toward fare-free #publictransit #freetransit

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Free public transit throughout all of Kansas City moved a step closer to becoming reality after a city council committee endorsed the idea on Wednesday.

Of course the trolls are screaming that free transit will be too expensive. But we can show that it will save much more in reduced car costs -- parking, congestion, health, etc, than what is lost in fares.

FREE IS CHEAPER

Offshore oil will peak soon, shale is ending, Brazil auction fails

(Bloomberg) -- Offshore oil production is expected to hit a peak in 2020 before joining the shale industry in a slowdown that could dramatically rewrite market supply predictions.

https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/offshore_oil_to_peak_in_2020_then_slow_down-12-nov-2019-160308-article/?

It was billed as the largest oil auction in history, one expected to produce a windfall. But analysts say a high signing bonus scared away bidders.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/world/americas/brazil-oil-auction.html

A few high-profile shale executives say the glory days of shale drilling are over.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/the-drilling-frenzy-is-over-for-u.s.-shale-2019-11-07?

How should we interpret this. There is a temporary glut of oil, but the long term is shortage. But there is no proper price because any price is too low for producers and too high for consumers. This is why there is such an attack on public transportation. Oil companies are producing on borrowed money and are desperate for customers. Meanwhile wars for oil are raging. 

Cities can no longer ignore the benefits of free public transit - Metro Magazine

There are many benefits of switching to a fare-free service. In addition to the significant ridership increases and more efficient operations by reducing dwell times, other benefits include: a significant drop in funding subsidy per passenger; reduction in administrative expenses related to fare collection; community recognition and pride; increased support from bus operators; and most importantly, going fare-free makes transit service equally available to everyone regardless of income.

https://www.metro-magazine.com/blogpost/735928/there-are-too-many-benefits-linked-to-free-fares-for-transit-to-ignore 

#Freetransit reduces depression, improves cognitive function

We found that free bus travel significantly increased public transportation use but, in addition, it led to improvements in cognitive function – particularly, improved memory. 

In another study, we found that increased public transportation use also reduced depression and feelings of loneliness. It increased participation in volunteering activities and contact with older people’s adult children and friends. These findings show how a simple policy has had unintended positive consequences. It led to significant improvements in older people’s cognitive function and mental health – potentially by influencing social well-being.

https://theconversation.com/how-simple-policy-changes-can-help-us-age-better-and-prevent-cognitive-decline-126314? 

Town of Maricá, Brazil, free system has 17,000 passengers per day, now adding 9 buses

Since 2013, when it was created, the EPT fleet has made over 15 million trips. Per day, the system carries 17 thousand passengers.

  
https://www.marica.rj.gov.br/2019/11/13/novos-vermelhinhos-entram-em-operacao-na-proxima-sexta-feira-15-11/

Trolls posing as bicycle advocates -- how to recognize

The oil, auto, and sprawl industries recognize that social media is important. On Twitter they have many paid trolls and volunteer wannabe trolls.

We have taken the wind out of the sails of the simple ones who post things like "who will pay?" by simply showing how oil, autos, and sprawl are heavily subsidized.

But they have clever trolls who pose as bicycle advocates. Here are some characteristics.

• anti car-owner - they exacerbate division between car owners and bike/ped
• accounting framing - they try to put public transit funding into an accounting box
• eclectic timeline - their timeline is a mishmash of unrelated eye-catchers
• LGBT provocation - they promote division over such matters
• anything but free transit - they promote everything except fare-free as a solution
• sea-lioning/non-sequitur/logical fallacy - standard troll practice

We recommend giving them one response, and then mute.

Candidate for US Congress calls for fare-free #publictransit

I unequivocally support free public transit and getting more funding for public transit for repairs and more lines of service to accommodate the increase in demand that will come from making our public transit free.https://t.co/yWFL82mLTD

— Jonathan Munitz for Congress (@Munitz4Congress) November 13, 2019

Qatar using air conditioning to cool outdoor areas

Cooling units along walkways and outdoor seating areas in Qatar's cities make it possible for people to stroll or relax in the evening without danger of overheating. Qatar is also engineering ways to cool entire open-air stadiums to make them bearable for spectators.

http://resourceinsights.blogspot.com/2019/11/air-conditioning-outsidereally.html 

How much can #freetransit save your city in gasoline costs

US consumption of gasoline [petrol] is 1.2 gallons per person per day average.

If your city has 1,000,000 people, the people are paying $3.6 million dollars per day for gasoline.

Most of that money goes out-of-town.

How much could your city save with fare-free public transit?

US needs $3.2 Trillion to make infrastructure safe #autosprawlmeltdown

Which city in US will be first with fare-free #publictransit? Denver?

No major American city has opted for completely fare-free public transportation. But a growing number of transit advocates in Denver and elsewhere are embracing the idea as a way to reduce road congestion, improve air quality, tackle climate change and more. In Salt Lake City, where several mayoral and city council candidates endorsed free citywide bus service earlier this year, a poll found that voters favored the proposal by a three-to-one margin.

https://www.westword.com/news/could-free-service-solve-denvers-transit-problems-11541316 

Daily TarHeel Op-Ed calling for #freepublictransit

dailytarheel 

It’s time for public transit in the Triangle to be fare-free. Climate change and traffic are two challenges that our rapidly growing Triangle region needs to tackle — now. And while each is complex with no simple solution, there is one action that our local governments can take that would help both: adopting fare-free public transit.

Dunkirk, France. #Freetransit is a huge success

The French city of Dunkirk has been offering free public transport to its citizens for a year, and results are spectacular. The number of passengers has grown by 65% during the week and 125% at the weekend, for an average of +85%. Mayor, citizens, and shop-owners all rejoice of the positive outcome.

https://newmobility.news/2019/11/05/dunkirks-free-public-transport-it-works/ 

#freetransit is good for everyone

As a person who drives out of necessity (lot's of tools & materials to transport)....

I would be PERFECTLY happy to pay more for gas to subsidize FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, which I'd almost never use....

...but would reduce traffic substantially.

— Peabianjay (@peabianjay) November 4, 2019

So far, this fall, 19 candidates for office are calling for #freetransit

https://fptpols.blogspot.com/

Racist terror in NYC

In case you’re wondering how an arrest in NYC goes down. The guy has made absolutely no indication that he would flee or fight and wasn’t trying to hide.

If you can’t see, the reason everyone moved was because all the police had taken out their guns and aimed at him. pic.twitter.com/dAstrtMntz

— Elad Nehorai (@PopChassid) October 25, 2019

We are being misled on how public transit is funded

The oil industry and sprawl profiteers would like us to think that fares are an indispensable part of funding public transit. For this reason, fares are reported as a percentage of operating costs. Capital costs, usually equal or greater than operating costs, are not included.

So if they are saying "fares provide 20% of the cost of public transit" it is more likely that the true number is 10%.

Another myth is that small system can afford removing fares while big systems cannot. Actually the opposite is true. For small systems, the fixed costs are a higher percentage of totals costs. So the per rider cost is higher. By removing fares, small systems hope to increase usage and thereby lower the cost-per-rider. This would work even better for large systems because the marginal cost of adding a rider is smaller.

The biggest lie of all is the framing of public transit funding. It is treated as an accounting of one department of government. The costs of the other departments are not considered. What if removing fares in the transit department lowered the costs of the the parking department for example. This type of thing is kept out of the framing.