Autos wield power in German government

Angela Merkel's wrecking of EU car emissions deal risks her reputation | Hanna Gersmann | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "Stories such as these are indicative of the unholy alliance between Germany's political class and the car industry. Few sectors wield such power in the Bundestag as Daimler and co. "

Lugoj, Romania adopts free public transport

Fare-Free New Zealand: "Lugoj became the first city in Romania which adopted a "free of charge" policy to the citizens using public transportation. The measure comes to encourage people to ride in buses, as well as to decrease the number of cars circulating in the city."

Brazil people demand: Free public transport, No tax cuts, Stop treating protesters like criminals

Brazilian protests delegates unsatisfied with President Rousseff’ proposals — MercoPress: "They also express disagreement with the removal of taxes as demanded by the transport companies and that Brazil must invest eleven more times in individual transport with major public works and credit policies for the consumption of vehicles, than on public transport”.
“Giving up taxes means losing power over public monies, awarding blindly resources to the transport mafias, with no transparency or controls”, points out the letter from the Free Fares movement that was started in 2005, in the framework of the World Social Forum held in Brazil.
Finally the group rejects the criminalization and repression of the demonstrations “which, after all are the only reason why the Presidency has invited us.
“This meeting with the president was forced by the people in the streets, who dared to advance despite tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and all sorts of pressures and police resources."

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Brazil group urges free transport for all

Oman Observer: "SAO PAULO — The Free Pass Movement (MPL) that sparked Brazil's nationwide street protests urged President Dilma Rousseff to boost investments in public transport and grant free transport for all. In an open letter to Rousseff posted on its website, the MPL's Sao Paulo branch said the movement accepted the president's invitation to join talks in Brasilia later Monday to improve shoddy public services and fight corruption.
"Transport should be treated as a social right... We are campaigning for a free pass (free transport) for all," the group said. While all state governors in the country have pledged to give priority to collective transport, "in reality Brazil invests 11 times more in individual transport, through road works and credit policies aimed at encouring car purchases, " MPL said. "Public money should (instead) be invested in public transport"."

Imagine theres no cars, wonder if you can. Bristol car-free Sunday closes roads

BBC News: "Baldwin Street, King Street and Corn Street are among the roads shut to traffic in Mayor George Ferguson's Make Sunday Special initiative.

Some people claim Mr Ferguson - who was closing the roads from 09:00 to 18:00 BST - is anti-motorist.

But he has hailed the day a great success and said he is not concerned about the critics.

Shale gas won't stop peak oil, but could create an economic crisis

Nafeez Ahmed | Environment | guardian.co.uk: ""These shale oil and shale gas resource estimates are highly uncertain and will remain so until they are extensively tested with production wells.""

Free Fare Movement - Brazil - Don't come to the World Cup

A demonstrator holds a banner during one of the many protests around Brazil's major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013. (REUTERS/Nacho Doce)

Free Fare Movement - Brazil: " The movement came about centered around the struggle to reduce the public transportation fares, supplemented by the fight for free fare andthe right to the city. Those are the causes the Free Fare Movement stands for, as they have been developing for a decade, with demonstrations that vary in size along those years."

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Free bus travel for teens curbs road traffic injuries and benefits environment

Free bus travel for teens curbs road traffic injuries and benefits environment: "Free bus travel for teens helps curb road traffic injuries and benefits the environment, reveal the results of an analysis of the free bus scheme in London, published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health."

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Desperate to visit dying wife, but no public transport on Sunday, 88 yo man crashes car

Crash on visit to dying wife - Crime and Courts - Bury Free Press: "AN 88 year old man told magistrates he had ‘no intention’ of driving again after an accident in which his car made another spin off the road.

Joseph Frederick Moore of St Nicholas Walk, Brandon, told Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court on Wednesday the only reason he was driving was that there was no public transport on a Sunday and he had to visit his sick wife, who has since died, at a care home in Mildenhall. He thanked a police woman who drove him to the home afterwards."

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Riga to seek "loop hole" to authorize free rides on public transportation on snow days

The Baltic Course: "The Riga City Council's spokesman Ugis Vidauskis said yesterday that the municipality will do everything it possibly can to find a legal "loop hole" to continue the free rides on public transportation for car drivers on snow days next winter, informs LETA."

Raising #publictransit fares because of energy costs is a misunderstanding of how systems work

ArmeniaNow.com: "A decision to raise the fares would be conditioned by the increase in natural gas and electricity tariffs expected next month. The price of natural gas for individual consumers will go up by 18 percent and of electricity by 27 percent beginning on July 7. "

£2.8 Million to be wasted on cars in town of 25,000 people.

Redhill gets £2.8 Million grant to help ease congestion | This is Surrey: "SURREY County Council has won more than £2.8 million of government funding to tackle congestion and boost economic growth."

Don’t take public transit? You may be more likely to catch the flu

Yahoo! News Canada: "Presenting their findings at the Cheltenham Science Festival on Thursday afternoon, researchers Alma Adler and Ken Eames discussed the results of an online survey of 6,000 UK commuters, which showed that taking public transportation didn't increase your chances of getting the flu. In fact, people who didn't take public modes of transportation reported a slightly higher rate of infection."

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Mayor should improve public transport first

This is Bristol: "I believe that much improved public transport including a tram service must be in place before implementing the "no choice parking tax and restrictions".

I would even be happy to donate a sum towards this if business had to. I suggest £500 from every business and I think most of them would agree. Just an idea ?"

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