Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Government uses false data to justify autosprawl welfare

The Latest - APTA - Advocate: "These inaccuracies need to be addressed, because the forecasts inform lawmakers’ level of ”needed spending,” and could spur overbuilding of infrastructure to support car travel, draining funds from other investments like public transportation, where ridership actually increased in 2013. While funding public roads and highways remains crucial for all forms of transportation, the rising ridership of public transit should trigger increased investments."

Road traffic kills 1.2 million people per year

Afghanistan: The country reports 1,612 traffic deaths per 100,000. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
weather.com: "But in the developing world, traffic deaths are on the rise. Across all countries, traffic kills more than 1.2 million people a year — a number set to triple by 2030, The Washington Post reported, based on the most recent Global Burden of Disease study."

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

How we subsidize the car -- cost of road collisions

NRMA has analysed the economic cost of road crashes on a number of major highways in NSW. Deaths
and injuries on our roads cost the community on average $2.8 billion each year. The total cost of road crashes over the five-year period was $13.8 billion. The NRMA believes that the cost of deaths and injuries caused by road crashes is a crucial issue that needs greater consideration when addressing road safety in NSW.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Fossil Fuel Subsidies at $2 Trillion, Despite Global Condemnation

mintpress : "WASHINGTON – Global tax breaks, incentives, and various other consumption and production subsidies for the fossil fuel industry are likely topping $2 trillion each year, amounting to 2.5 percent of total gross domestic product for 2012.

After a dip in the immediate aftermath of the global financial recession, these figures have risen in recent years, according to a new report from Worldwatch, a Washington-based think tank. Incentives for renewable energy sources remain tiny by comparison, estimated at just $88 billion for 2011."