The glow after the fires burned through Acton, California. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via the Guardian
VIENNA (Reuters) - Wild fires are likely to be bigger, more frequent and burn for longer as the world gets hotter, in turn speeding up global warming to create a dangerous vicious circle, scientists say.
..."An increase in fire may be the greatest early impact of climate change on forests," Brian Amiro from the University of Manitoba said late on Wednesday...Reuters 17-April-2008
Authorities, raising prices for public transport, hypocritically pretend that they are forced to do it, because no other choice. In fact, the situation is different: the oil tycoons and their associated business structures are not satisfied that received windfall from the sale abroad of oil, which, incidentally, was once a national treasure and because they received during the illegal privatization. They want to sell at a profit oil and the domestic market. And our state on behalf of the city government gives them this opportunity, raising prices for public transportation...
redeurasia via google translate
Austin Buses : Fare Hike Means More Traffic, Pollution
The average Austin household contributes $450 per year to Capital Metro. Most people don't ride the bus. So what is it that non-riders are paying for? The few altruistic Socialists believe that low income residents deserve mobility, but the rest of us are paying for two things: less traffic congestion and the cleaner air that should result from less cars on the road. A great value in an ideal situation. Unfortunately, our transit authority fails to deliver. When they raised fares at the beginning of 2009, it resulted in over 1,000,000 fewer trips in the first six months... RagBlog
Victor Bernace, City Council
Victor Bernace is running for the 7th Council District, representing West Harlem; parts of Washington Heights, Inwood, Central Harlem and Morningside Heights. NBCNewYork
Why should local and state governments subsidize public transportation -- or even pay the full cost so that people can ride for free?
Simply to ease the pressure to build more roads and streets, which cost a lot more than a few more buses and become congested almost as soon as the new asphalt is laid.
Buses, trains, trolleys and the like also foul the air less than personal automobiles on a per-passenger-mile basis. They burn less fossil fuel. The community's ability to attract new industry and create jobs is directly related to air quality and the community's standing with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Plus, the American Public Transportation Association says the average American commuter paying the full fare saves more than $9,500 per year by choosing public transportation over driving.
If the average West Memphis commuter saves anything close to that, it's no wonder rides on West Memphis routes average more than 20,000 a month.
Subsidies could make MST free public transit
This is about reconceptualizing "leading, advocating, and delivering quality public transportation" (the official mission of Monterey-Salinas Transit). In a typical public bus transit system there are costs attendant to the collection, security and accounting for fare receipt money, the maintenance of fare-gathering boxes, and the printing, selling and checking of passes, ID cards, etc. There is driver distraction also. These costs would not be incurred in a comprehensive transit system where the fare boxes were eliminated and anyone could ride free of charge. Our local Monterey-Salinas Transit would only need to be subsidized the final 28.2 percent, and not even that much would be needed!
The corresponding savings of all the passengers who would not be fueling cars and trucks would mean more transportation was being obtained for the amount of propane, gasoline and diesel fuel coming into the market area. Could anyone forward this idea toward where analysts could determine its feasibility?
-- Charles Wilson Monterey [CA] [letter toMontereyHerald]
Continuing on the success of various video contests related to the June "Dump the Pump" day, the American Public Transit Association has started its own contest ending September 18th. Click for details.
