Scotland selling car-free tourism

MNN: "A new guide, part of the Transform Scotland initiative, gives tourists all the information that they need to see the most popular attractions without having to drive at all. Dubbed “Car-Free Tourism,” the site focuses on 24 attractions and activities. Each has its own profile page with all the information needed to get there and back without a car."

Privatization not serving the public well in Scotland #publictransit

Daily Record: "The latest figures show that there are 425 million bus journeys and 86 million rail journeys each year in Scotland, demonstrating why public transport is such an important issue to people.

...Public services cannot be dictated by the amount of dividend that goes into the bank account of the company shareholders.

Margaret Thatcher sold off our bus services to be run by private companies in the 1980s. Thirty years later it’s time for Scotland’s politicians to re-regulate our bus services and hand them over to local control."

Second week of #freetransit in Athens means less money exported for petrol.

ekathimerini.com: "Alternate Minister for Transport Christos Spritzis on Monday extended for another week free public transportation in the Attica region, his ministry announced.

Buses, trolley buses, the Athens metro, tram and ISAP electric railway will be free through July 10, Spritzis said, extending a measure introduced last week to help commuters feeling the squeeze from capital controls."

Swiss cut public transport prices amid ozone spike

focus-fen.net: "Geneva. Regional authorities in Switzerland temporarily cut bus and train fares Saturday to encourage people to leave their cars at home, as a scorching heatwave sent ozone pollution levels soaring, AFP reported.
In Geneva, all public transportation was available at reduced rates, the regional environment department said, adding that the lower prices would continue until the ozone levels were back to normal."

Fortnight of free public transport for children -- Ireland

independent : "Holders of child Leap cards will be entitled to free travel on Dublin Bus, Luas, DART, short-hop commuter rail in Dublin and Bus Eireann city services in Dublin and surrounding counties, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
A number of private operators will also provide free travel in Wexford and Ashbourne, among other areas."

Dublin to make city centre car free, aims for 15 per cent cycling share

road.cc: "Dublin City Council is aiming to ban cars from much of the centre of the Irish capital and is also aiming for cycling to account for 15 per cent of journeys there by 2017."

Capitalists panicked over falling birth rate in Germany -- #degrowth

Catholic Online: "LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The average number of births per 1,000 populations dropped to 8.2 over the five years from 2008 to 2013, a study by the World Economy Institute in Hamburg (HWWI) found. Even Japan did slightly better birthrate at 8.4.

"No other industrial country is deteriorating at this speed despite the strong influx of young migrant workers. Germany cannot continue to be a dynamic business hub in the long-run without a strong jobs market," the institute warns.
"