Private auto transport system is unjust

Cooperative Justice and Free Public Transit - Urban transportation is a central issue for theories of urban justice. The current car culture is unjust because it discriminates against those who cannot afford to be a part of it, and it is inefficient because it creates a collectively disadvantageous situation. In this paper, I will first argue that public policies should encourage a modal transfer from car to public transit. Drawing on a theory of cooperative justice, I will then argue that free public transit is mutually advantageous and can be defended from both the perspectives of equality and efficiency. Patrick Turmel in the Candadian Association of Research Libraries

Invest in transit - Stop Gateway

2006 - Scientists predict climate change will cause earthquakes

Climate change could cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, scientists say

"What happens is the weight of this thick ice puts a lot of stress on the earth," says Wu. "The weight sort of suppresses the earthquakes but when you melt the ice the earthquakes get triggered."

When a quake happens under water it can cause a tsunami. Wu said melting of the Antarctic ice is already causing earthquakes and underground landslides although they get little attention. He predicted climate warming will bring "lots of earthquakes." U.S. Climate Emergency Council

Climate emergency threatens mass extinctions this century

...What needs to be done? Right now it is fairly impossible to do anything — the biggest step in many cities has been to ban plastic bags. But if people were really convinced that this is an emergency — that this is a race against time to save billions of people — many measures would come to mind.

Here’s a short list: Eliminate non-essential goods and services and implement fair distribution of the basic necessary supplies of non-renewable energy, food, water, shelter, health care, in terms of peoples’ needs and not their wealth; expand public goods such as libraries, parks, community rec centres, museums, education; reduce work-time; implement massive income redistribution; ration personal use of air travel and restrict carbon intensive aviation and shipping to essential services (no mangos in winter); introduce free public transit; [our emphasis] halt the tar sands operations; massively expand renewable energy supplies; restore agricultural land and utilize urban space for farming; protect watersheds; retrofit existing buildings; and globally, convert the carbon intensive military complex to a civilian conservation corps....ecosocialism Canada

see also http://canadiandimension.com/articles/2677/

Save up to $5,000 a year!

It costs around $10,000 per year to own and drive a car for 18,000km (according to the Canadian Automobile Association). Which means that transportation eats up a huge and often unnecessary part of your income!

And with rising gas prices, it's not going to get any cheaper.

Now, imagine if you could get rid of a car -- go car-free if you live downtown, or shed a car if you have several cars in the suburbs. Actually, you still get to drive a car. You just don't have to pay all the costs of owning one!

We can save you $5,000 a year, just by matching the best transportation options to your needs! You'll also find you'll spend more time shopping locally, meeting neighbours, and helping your local economy. GreenOntario

Edmonton - Intelligent discussion of free public transit

If the main reasons to have a transit service are:

1. To provide an alternative to the automobile
2. To provide a service to those who choose not or cannot drive  
3. To reduce traffic congestion
4. To be more green compared to other transportation modes

Free transit would:

1. To provide an alternative to the automobile at lower than current costs to the taxpayer  
2. To provide a service to those who choose not or cannot drive without cost to who are often least able to pay  
3. To reduce traffic congestion, higher ridership means less cars on the road  
4. To be more green compared to other transportation modes, higher ridership and a transit system used at a higher capacity is more green

Edmonton PRT on the Forum

What if?

Canada should lead

Toronto - TTC Fare hike sparks outrage, organizing

I am sick of paying more for less. It's time people got together to voice their displeasure or rage - whatever it takes to get some attention by TTC management who continue to make ridiculous decisions. It's like they're giving the people of Toronto reasons not to take the TTC. In the meantime, I am fortunate enough to live and work downtown and walk almost everywhere. The other thing that gets to me is why I have to pay the same as someone traveling a far greater distance. Like, when the weather's bad and I just want to hop on and hop off. I almost obligated to go to Kipling or Warden and back just to get my money's worth. K.L. Commenting on TTCRiders Facebook

More links:
http://www.ocap.ca/node/825
http://www.ttcriders.ca/
http://ttcriders.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/ttcriders

Canada an obstacle to climate progress

...So here I am, watching the astonishing spectacle of a beautiful, cultured nation turning itself into a corrupt petro-state. Canada is slipping down the development ladder, retreating from a complex, diverse economy towards dependence on a single primary resource, which happens to be the dirtiest commodity known to man. The price of this transition is the brutalisation of the country, and a government campaign against multilateralism as savage as any waged by George Bush...George Monbiot - Guardian

Kawartha Lakes, ON - Week of Free Transit Proposed

Dean Bolton, manager of fleet and transit, has written a report that proposes the public ride free for that week in an effort to promote the city's transit system. He writes that it is common practice in other municipalities to offer free service at various times during the year.

The city's transit advisory committee initiated the request, Bolton indicates. He said if ridership is increased, then the municipality will qualify for more gas tax funding from the province. The Lindsay Post

Stop Tar Sands

London: Set the fares at Zero!

...All London ratepayers (through local taxes and transfers from the federal and provincial levels of government) should pay the full cost of public transit, whether they use it or not. That would create the meaningful disincentive that’s needed to get people out of cars and into buses.

In addition to the elimination of the costs that are associated with the procurement and maintenance of fare boxes, the production/sales & distribution/operating costs of the various forms of fares, the reduction of cars on our roads would have a HUGE positive impact on costs like assessing, creating, maintaining, widening, and extending roads. And what HUGE value should be attributed to the reduction that would take place in the amount of toxic emissions that are currently polluting our atmosphere? Especially if the LTC and the City would take a serious look at LRT (light rail transit)?... Greg Fowler, London, Ontario

What are we thinking?

Do we really need scientific data to know that the tar sands projects are wrong?
photo from Enviralment

"Even No One Care of Us..."

350.org  via greenfyre

“‘Even No One Care of Us, We Can start to Care Each Other and Nature First.’” – from the children of Sidhi Astu Orphanage House, Tuka, Bali, Indonesia, Climate Day of Action