AAA Study: Cars, Congestion, Cost, and Carnage
The American Automobile Association (AAA) just published a remarkable study quantifying the economic impacts of both congestion and car crashes. The study looks at 85 metropolitan areas of various sizes across the U.S. Crash costs across the board dwarfed costs associated with congestion. The larger cities lost less to crashes, more to congestion – a ratio of 1.85 to 1 with the average person losing $962 to crashes and $523 to congestion annually…
The Great Car Commuter Challenge
If you’ve ever wondered how the other side lives, here’s your chance to find out. The Nova Channel, “the world’s first online television channel dedicated to transport,” challenged car commuters to use the passenger rail, instead of their cars, to get to work. Their short, documentary film follows Halifax commuter Julian McEvoy as he alternately uses the passenger rail and his car to travel to work. The side-by-side comparison of these two commutes is conclusive in its findings.
Foreclosures Rockin’ the Suburbs, Now “Slums”
Greedy developers have grubbed the last of the land that surrounds many sprawling “urban” centers, and countless Americans commute an hour or more to-and-from their suburban McMansions daily. However, with the real estate market turning ugly, developers seem to have slowed their progress. People, it seems, are starting to take the hint that living in the ‘burbs and beyond just isn’t sustainable—not for their planet or their lifestyle.
Californians on Low-CARB Diet in 2009
California is putting itself on a new low-CARB diet—and it’s not part of the Atkins Revolution. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is issuing new regulations and ratings on vehicle emissions, which require manufacturers to provide and display new global warming information on cars’ smog index sticker. The global warming information will debut in 2009.
Think an ethanol-fueled car is an eco-friendly and economic alternative to your existing gas guzzler? Not so. A recent report by Fortune magazine proves that investors who jumped on the ethanol bandwagon are already taking it in the cornhole. Construction on ethanol plants has halted as quickly as the alterna-fuel trend took hold.
PIRG Smacks Bush for his Highway Hijinks
As most of the world looks to diminish greenhouse gases and curb vehicle use, President Bush was more interested in transferring $3.2 billion dedicated to mass transit into the Highway Trust Fund. The U.S. federation of Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) voiced their displeasure in a recent press release.
Zero Emissions is Our Only Salvation
If we all got a collective carectomy and started walking and riding our bikes—beginning today—would there be hope for the planet? A paper recently published in Geophysical Research Letters says it might be the only way. Co-authors H. Damon Matthews and Ken Caldeira conclude that a change to zero emissions may be the only hope to stop climate change—and our carbon footprint—in its tracks.
Wisconsin Grad Student Divorces his Car
Since moving to Madison 3-and-a-half years ago, it became apparent that things were changing between David Zaks and his car. The car spends most of its time alone: the two have less in common, and have apparently grown apart.
Zaks has announced his impending divorce on his website and is looking for donations to help send his newly-single vehicle off to a better and more productive life.
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