===================================
-- -- -- -- CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN -- -- -- --
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CAR BUSTERS Magazine and Resource Centre - Krátká 26, 100 00 Praha 10,
Czech Republic - tel: +(420) 2-7481-0849 - fax: +(420) 2-7481-6727
<carbusters@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>
………………………………………………………….
Monthly edition no. 34 - May 2002 - English version
....................................................................……….....
Car Busters is a magazine and resource centre
for the world car-free/anti-car movement.

NOTE: If this bulletin is formatted poorly for your browser, you can view
the bulletin at <http://www.carbusters.org> as an HTML page. It will be
uploaded in a day or two.

For sending messages to Car Busters use <carbusters@...>.
Please do NOT just hit "reply."

CONTENTS:

WORLD NEWS
    1- BUSH ENERGY POLICY CRITIC OUSTED AS HEAD OF CLIMATE
CHANGE PANEL
    2- EUR 200,000 PER PAGE: WAS ANYONE EVER PAID MORE TO
IGNORE NATURE?
    3- FORD MANUFACTURING PLANT WILL SPOIL CZECH FARMLAND
    4- US SENATE ADOPTS "CONSERVE BY BIKE" AMENDMENT
    5- NO MONEY FOR US RAIL TRANSIT?
REPORTS FROM PAST EVENTS
    6- ASIA REPORT ON EARTH CAR-FREE DAY 2002
    7- END OF THE ROAD GATHERING IN UK
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOBS
    8- THREE REASONS TO VISIT OUR WEB SITE THIS MONTH
    9- NEW GRAPHICS BOOK
    10- CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE #14 IS HERE!
    11- NEW ISSUES OUT: CARFREE TIMES & TRANSPORTATION
ALTERNATIVES
    12- JOB POSTING: TORONTO, CANADA
    13- ERRATA: MEXICO CITY CORRECTION
UPCOMING EVENTS
    14- BIKE SUMMER 2002 IN PORTLAND
    15- STREET SHARING IN BRUSSELS
    16- AGAINST THE RETURN OF TRUCKS IN MONT-BLANC TUNNEL
DISCLAIMER
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WORLD NEWS

1) BUSH ENERGY POLICY CRITIC OUSTED AS HEAD OF CLIMATE
CHANGE PANEL
[submitted by Todd Edelman - source:
<http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=286964
v>]

The Bush administration was accused of pandering to the oil industry on
April 19 after an outspoken critic of America's energy policy was voted out
of his job as chairman of the world's premier scientific body on climate
change. In a secret ballot held at a meeting in Geneva, the UN-sponsored
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change elected the India delegate,
Rajendra Pachauri, as its chairman. He beat the current chairman, Robert
Watson, the US delegate, by 76 votes to 49.
      Controversy had mired the meeting since it was revealed the US State
Department was supporting Pachauri over Watson, who has criticised
Bush's energy policy. That controversy turned to outrage when
environmental groups uncovered a memo from the US oil corporation Exxon-
Mobil – a major contributor to Bush's election campaign – asking the White
House to unseat Watson, who it considered had an "aggressive agenda."


2) EUR 200,000 PER PAGE: WAS ANYONE EVER PAID MORE TO IGNORE
NATURE?
[submitted by CEE Bankwatch Network]

The Italian company SPEA Ingegneria Europea received EUR 394,000 from
the PHARE CBC (Cross Border Cooperation) programme to investigate and
develop alternatives for the construction of the "Struma" highway outside
the Kresna gorge in Southwestern Bulgaria. As a result, a two-page
description and several maps were produced. Completed within a weekend,
this "file" is used to argue that it is impossible to find a feasible
alternative
and the highway must go through Kresna gorge, thus destroying the
landscape, killing plants and rare species (some of the rarest in the world)
and doing irreversible damage to this outstanding natural value in Bulgaria.


3) FORD MANUFACTURING PLANT WILL SPOIL CZECH FARMLAND
[submitted by Friends of the Earth Czech Republic]

Thirteen Czech environmental groups sent a letter to Ford Motor Company
today demanding that it stop placement of a manufacturing plant on prime
agricultural land in the Czech Republic. Ford is founder and 25 percent
owner of NEMAK Co., which recently broke ground on the facility with an
expected annual output of 1,600,000 engine heads. The facility's operations
are expected to release toxic substances such as heavy metals and dioxins
in the middle of the last remaining farmland in this part of North Bohemia —
one of the most environmentally devastated regions in both the Czech
Republic and Europe overall.
      The US Environmental Protection Agency deems aluminium processing
plants such as the planned NEMAK facility a significant source of dioxin
pollution. By locating a dioxin source in the heart of tilled land, NEMAK's
facility would make a bad situation worse, creating an additional
contamination risk for farm soil and products, and as a result, for food.
NEMAK chose a greenfield site despite the availability of nearby
brownfields in the district where the environmental impact would be much
lower. ''Investors like greenfields. There are brownfields [in the district],
but
why would we build a factory in the middle of a former coal pit?'' NEMAK
spokesman Pavel Kucera told the media. ''They would have to pave the
roads with gold for us to go there.''
      Eight legal actions have been brought against NEMAK's project, and
more are in preparation. ''The former East-bloc states are racing to the
bottom in their efforts to attract foreign investors,'' says Pavel Franc from
the Environmental Law Service, a Czech public interest law organization,
''and thus these investors dictate the terms. Details are available at
<http://www.i-eps.cz/eng/index.html>.


4) US SENATE ADOPTS "CONSERVE BY BIKE" AMENDMENT
[submitted by Todd Edelman - source:
<http://www.bikeleague.org/mediacenter/medprs041202.htm>]

During the April 11 debate on the energy bill, the United States Senate
adopted an amendment that would promote energy conservation through
bicycling. The Conserve By Bike Amendment establishes within the
Department of Transportation a Conserve By Bicycling pilot program. This
program would oversee up to ten pilot projects geographically dispersed
across the US designed to conserve energy resources by providing
education and marketing tools to convert car trips to bike trips. In addition,
the projects would encourage partnerships between stakeholders from
transportation, law enforcement, education, public health, environment, and
energy fields. The Department of Transportation is also authorised to
conduct a study on the feasibility and benefits on the conversion of car
trips to bike trips. The amendment authorises $5.5 million for the pilot
projects and the study. The full energy bill is slowly making progress
through the Senate, but debate on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge has yet to occur.


5) NO MONEY FOR US RAIL TRANSIT?
[submitted by Ken Avidor]

The enemies of rail transit always say there isn't enough money for light rail
and intercity rail....but high above the Earth, it's another story:
      "CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - Astronauts sent the international space
station's new railcar down a short stretch of track today in the inaugural run
of the first permanent railroad in orbit. But they soon encountered a snag,
prompting NASA to interrupt the test. The solution for this is probably
going to involve a lot of manual commanding from the ground,'' Mission
Control informed the astronauts. Space station resident Carl Walz got the
railcar rolling this morning by sending computer commands from inside. The
empty flatcar crept along at less than two-tenths of an inch per second, then
sped up to four-tenths of an inch per second as it travelled 17 3/4 feet and
then stopped, on cue, at a designated work station. The $190 million railcar
eventually will be used to transport the space station's robot arm from one
end of the outpost to the other for construction work."
      Seventeen feet of track at four-tenths of an inch per second and
computer snags for $190 million of taxpayers' money...

REPORTS FROM PAST EVENTS

6) ASIAN EARTH CAR-FREE DAY 2002
[submitted by Eric Britton, Ecoplan - source: Reuters]

In Singapore, a campaign to get people to use public transportation fell flat,
prompting "Car Free Day" organisers to complain it would take years for the
city-state to go green. Penelope Phoon, executive director of the Singapore
Environment Council (SEC), estimated around 5,000 car owners gave up
using their cars to mark Earth Day — a little over one percent of the 403,000
private and rental cars.
      In the Philippines, thousands of cyclists took to the streets of the
capital
Manila to press for more bicycle-friendly streets and to protest against the
city's horrendous air pollution. The ride, covering 50 km (31 miles) through
seven cities in the greater metropolitan Manila region was also held to
highlight the plight of fireflies. The Firefly Brigade, a volunteer citizens
action group that organised the cycle ride, claims the city's fireflies have all
fled Manila because of the high level of toxins in the air.


7) END OF THE ROAD GATHERING
[Thanks to Adam and Eleanor]

The conference to mark the resurrection of the road-protests in the UK was
a great success, attended by between 50-100 people from all other the
country and beyond. Strategy meetings laid down the blueprints for future
campaigns, training events and networks. Obviously we can’t tell you too
much, but look out for a newsletter appearing for the network sometime
soon.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOBS

8) THREE REASONS TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE THIS MONTH
[Submitted by Richard Lane, Car Busters]

ONE: to find out what's going on with the World Car-Free Days in  our
discussion forum, to get copies of the WCFD logos in various languages
and to register your group (new improved form! now works!)
TWO: to register your group in our directory which will soon become a
huge, heaving, comprehensive worldwide catalog of transport activism.
THREE: because we've got a hit counter now and we want to see some big
numbers there. SO, OFF YOU GO!


9) NEW GRAPHICS BOOK: LAST CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
[submitted by Cat Busters]

We’re putting the final touches on the new Car Busters Graphics Book and
CD-ROM. This is your last chance to submit any graphics to us for
consideration, preferably as 72-dpi JPEG or GIF files, or paper originals. (If
we decide to include your graphic in the Graphics Book, we’ll ask for a
higher-resolution version later.) Basically we’re looking for high-quality
transportation-themed graphics that can be made available for free reuse by
activists and campaigners around the world, for their fliers, posters,
newsletters and other graphic materials. Please send them as e-mail
attachments with the subject headline ”Graphics Book Submission,” by
June 1.


10) CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE
[submitted by Car Busters, surprise!]

Get your copy of Car Busters magazine #14, featuring:
Travels on a Time Bike: Pedalling Backwards Against the flow of Time
Exploring Medieval Urbanism in Fes, Morocco
The Politics of Urban Form
Exciting World News, Action! and Industry Watch sections
and much, much more.
If you are a subscriber, your April-June issue of the magazine is in the mail.
The magazine is also distributed around Europe and North America. To find
out where you can pick up a copy nearest you, see
<http://www.carbusters.ecn.cz//magazine/index.htm>.

Submission deadline for magazine #15
Magazine #15, exploring Visions of Future Cities, is already under way.
Don’t be shy: If you have a vision of what future cities should look like —
whether detailed or dream-like, professional or poetic, textual or artistic —
you have until May 31 to send it in (along with your action reports,
graphics, letters, announcements, and whatever else).


11) NEW ISSUES OUT: CARFREE TIMES AND TRANSPORTATION
ALTERNATIVES

Carfree Times: Issue 25 of the quarterly on-line newsletter was released
April 16: <http://www.carfree.com/cft/i025.html>
Transportation Alternatives: The Spring issue of this New York City-area
magazine includes news on bicycle, pedestrian and sensible transportation
issues, features and much, much more. View the Table of Contents or
request a copy: <http://www.transalt.org/about/current.html>.

12) JOB POSTING
[submitted by Jacquelyn Hayward, Black Creek Regional Transportation
Management Association]

Executive Director
Black Creek Regional Transportation Management Association
Toronto, Canada
The Black Creek Regional Transportation Management Association seeks
Executive Director for a one year term, with possibility of renewal. Duties
will include recruiting new corporate and government members to the
association; running trip reduction programs to promote a shift from driving
alone to options such as transit, carpooling, cycling and walking; acting as
media spokesperson; and general organisational administration. Excellent
opportunity for motivated individual looking to work proactively to make a
difference to local traffic and smog woes. Deadline is May 13th, August 1st
is potential start date. E-mail <info@...> for more information and a
full job description.


13) ERRATA: MEXICO CITY CORRECTION

Bulletin reader Rilme Suterwalla spotted an error in last month’s story on
Mexico City. The story stated that “the 42 millions of litres of petrol burned
daily in Mexico City produce 2,100,000 tons per year of toxic emissions.
With the second level's increase of speed the emissions could be reduced
*to* 5,292 tons/year.” The story’s author has confirmed with us that it
should have read “...could be reduced *by* 5,292 tons/year.” If you still
don’t understand what all this really means, don’t worry; you are not alone.


UPCOMING EVENTS

14) BIKE SUMMER 2002 IN PORTLAND
[submitted by Ayleen Crotty]

Bike Summer is a month long festival of bike-related activities to celebrate
cycling and encourage more folks to bike. It started in San Francisco, USA,
in 1999. Since then it has been held in Vancouver, Canada; and Chicago,
USA.  This summer it will blast off in Portland, Oregon, USA.  From Bicycle
Ballet and Bike Polo to workshops, actions, lectures and more, Bike Summer
2002 will be an incredible month. For more information, check out
<http://www.Bikesummer.org> or e-mail <bikesummer@...>.


15) STREET SHARING IN BRUSSELS
[submitted by Max]

Following the December 18, 2001 debate around the city‘s mobility policy, a
new Street Sharing action is on its way. On April 15, members of the
Pentagone Neighbourhood Committee, along with other members of Street
Sharing, addressed the City of Brussels’ communal council about the
mobility policy in the Pentagone quarter. On May 5 action replaced words.
The Street Sharing platform and petition are available at
<http://www.collectifs.net/streetsharing/>.

More action coming up:
Sunday, May 12: Dring Dring bike parade: Departure from Cinquantenaire at
5 pm <www.provelo.org>.
Thursday, May 16: Dring Dring demonstration at 8.30 am, place Stéphanie,
in front of Cabinet Chabert.
Thursday, May 16, 6 pm: Apéro-vélo. Meet at Maison des Cyclistes, rue de
Londres 15.
Friday, May 17, 5 pm: Demo on  rue de la Loi before the Dring Dring closing
ceremony, (to be confirmed) Rusted Nail Award ceremony.
Saturday, May 18: Closing action of Dring Dring with Fietsersbond. Meet at
  Gare du Nord at 2 pm <www.fietsersbond.be>.
Friday, May 31: fourth 2002 Critical Mass ride. Meet at 6 pm, Place de
Namur, Square du Bastion. <http://placeovelo.collectifs.net>.


16) DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE RETURN OF
       THE TRUCKS IN THE MONT-BLANC TUNNEL
[submitted by Renate Zauner, Initiative Transports Europe]

Chamonix-Courmayeur, May 13: Support the locals in their fight against
trucks. Prior to this demonstration the Chamonix valley population so
vehemently asked for 0 trucks that even the government got frightened
(especially in the light of upcoming elections of course) and the French
transport minister offered to only allow 19-ton lorries back in the tunnel.
This compromise was accepted by the population and these trucks thus
returned on April 8. However, the French transport minister later changed
his mind and announced that there would be two more phases: trucks with
up to four axles on May 13 and opening to all kinds of traffic by June 25.
      Let's stop those trucks: 9 pm: La Vigie, Chamonix, France, where the road
leaves for the Mont Blanc tunnel; 9 pm: Courmayeur, Italy. As of midnight,
people on both sides of the tunnel will be on the watch-out for trucks.


DISCLAIMER:

There is no disclaimer this month. Car Busters feels completely responsible for
every letter, word and
paragraph in this bulletin. And we will take responsibility for anything that
might happen to readers while
reacting to the bulletin. It’s all our fault: if you drop your toast butter side
down while reading, blame it on us;
if your pants get caught in the fence while escaping from a factory at night,
please accept our humble
apologies; if a limping, five-legged duck from the nuclear plant next door
randomly attacks children
  in your neighbourhood... well, that one was Auto-Free Times’ fault.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAR BUSTERS Magazine and Resource Centre
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
Tel: +(420) 2-7481-08-49 ; Fax: +(420) 2-7481-67-27
<carbusters@...> <http://www.carbusters.org>

For sending messages to Car Busters use
carbusters@... , please. Do NOT just hit ”reply.”

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

===================================
-- -- -- -- CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN -- -- -- -- --
===================================
Edition no. 35 - June 2002 - English version
.....................................................................
CARBUSTERS Magazine and Resource Centre
Kratka 26, 10000 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 2-7481-0849 ; fax: +(420) 2-7481-6727
<carbusters@...> - <www.carbusters.org>

WORLD NEWS
     1) INDIA'S SUPREME COURT CLOSES ISOLATED JARAWA
TRIBE'S 'ROAD OF DEATH'
     2) ICELAND GOING OVER TO HYDROGEN
     3) PROPOSAL TO BAN CARS FROM PICTURESQUE DUTCH
REGION

CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS
     4) WORLDWIDE CONTACT DIRECTORY
     5) AUTOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

OTHER ANNOUCEMENTS
     6) MONT BLANC LASTEST: NEW DAY OF ACTION
     7) BIKE ART COMPETITION
     8) BOYCOTT GENERAL MOTORS AND WIN A CAR
     9) TWO RISING TIDE UK TOURS
     10) "CITIES WITHOUT FOSSILS" ON TOUR IN POLAND
     11) UN-CORPORATE: JUNE 10-16
     12) SMOGBUSTERS WAFTS OUT OF EXISTENCE

POSITIONS VACANT
     13) RISING TIDE POSITION VACANT
     14) REMEMBER BLISS NEEDS VOLUNTEER

DISCLAIMER

--------------

WORLD NEWS

1) INDIA'S SUPREME COURT CLOSES ISOLATED JARAWA
TRIBE'S 'ROAD OF DEATH'
[submitted by Miriam Ross, Survival International]

The Supreme Court of India has issued an unprecedented order
which at a stroke removes three of the biggest threats to the
isolated Jarawa tribe on India's Andaman Islands. On May 7, the
court ordered the closure of the Andaman Trunk Road and removal
of settlers from tribal reserves, for which Survival has been calling
for years. The order - issued in the face of strong political
opposition - gives the Jarawa, a nomadic hunter-gatherer tribe who
number an estimated 250-300, and the other tribes on the islands
their best chance of survival for generations.
   Survival Director Stephen Corry said, 'This is excellent news for
the Jarawa and the other tribes of the Andaman Islands. The road,
loggers and encroachers on their territories brought them death and
disease for 30 years... We must now see that the order is
implemented properly.'
    More information is available from <mr@survival-
international.org>.

2) ICELAND GOING OVER TO HYDROGEN
[submitted by Niklas Vainio, from Yahoo News]

Next year the first hydrogen powered buses will be on the streets
of Reykjavik. Nine other European cities including Madrid and
Amsterdam, will also start using hydrogen fuel cells in public
transport, but Iceland hopes to bring the Oil Age to an end,
converting all vehicles and fishing trawlers over to hydrogen in 30
years time. At the same time, Iceland will be using geothermal
electricity to generate the hydrogen, and hopes to be the first
country with carbon-neutral transportation.
    Backing this scheme are DaimlerChrysler (car manufacturer),
Norsk Hydro (mining and refining) and Royal Dutch Shell (oil
company), all enormous multinationals, and the government. The
government is currently on a drive to expand the country's industrial
base, with plans to opening a new aluminium smelter which would
double aluminium production in the nation. If the Iceland
experiment is successful, these companies can look forward to
secure investments in the turbulent post-oil markets of the future,
and we can all look forward to the same level of auto consumption
that we know and love.

3) PROPOSAL TO BAN CARS FROM PICTURESQUE DUTCH
REGION
[submitted by Frank van Schaik, ASEED Europe]

The regional decisionmakers of the southern part of the Dutch
province Limburg (the only Dutch area with at least SOME hills and
natural beauty), has wisely made an impressive proposal to BAN
THE CAR (& other private motorised vehicles) from a large part of
the area between Maastricht and Heerlen. The area is about the
size of the city of Amsterdam. The local population and
"enterpreneurs" (including the predominant tourism industry) still
have to agree, but there is a good chance it will be possible to walk
and cycle for miles in this beautiful part of The Netherlands without
having to get out of the way for a noisy vehicle.


CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS

4) WORLDWIDE CONTACT DIRECTORY
As keen readers of past bulletins may have deduced, we're
compiling a soon-to-be-comprehensive directory of groups around
the world working on transport issues. It will be available as an on-
line searchable database, and eventually, in print form. To help us
make this happen, please take a few minutes to register your
group at <www.carbusters.org/directory>, and spread the word to
other groups as well (by request, we will send a paper version of
the registration form by mail).

5) AUTOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Car Busters announces our forthcoming secular 12-step
programme for self-professed car addicts, to be carried out during
World Car-Free Days 2002. Participants will sign a Car-Free
Pledge and take steps toward car-freedom throughout the two-
week period, weaning themselves off the car - with the hope and
intention of continuing car-free beyond the dates of the event.
Those with ideas and especially with experience in substance
abuse and self-help are encouraged to get in touch and help us
shape this project. And Autoholics willing to test out the
programme are encouraged to step forward.


OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

6) MONT BLANC LASTEST: NEW DAY OF ACTION
[submitted by Renate Zauner, Initiative Transports Europe]

After a successful blockade on May 13, the continuing controversy
over the reopening of the alpine tunnel to freight continued in the
European Parliament. The next day of action is scheduled for June
25, the day of the lifting of the last restriction on freight traffic. Meet
8:30 am at Chamonix rail station. More details from
<ugatza@...>.

7) BIKE ART COMPETITION
[submitted by Rachel Hibbard]

On The Road is a bike based correspondence art competition held
by Orlo, Oregon's environmental arts nonprofit. Artists are invited to
submit work that explores any facet of bicycling or bike-based
travel. Each postcard-sized work will be displayed at the Orlo
gallery in Industrial NW Portland in August 2002, in celebration of
Bikesummer.
    Work must be received by July 29, no bigger than 8.5" x 5"
(about 21cm x 13cm), but you can use both sides of the
"postcard." If you want your work returned, send a self-addressed
stamped envelope. If your work is for sale, indicate the price and
send a self-addressed stamped envelope. (Orlo keeps a 50%
commission on all sales of art in its nonprofit gallery).
    Send your thoughts and images on or in postcard form to Bike
correspondence art, Orlo, P.O. Box 10342, Portland, Oregon
97296. More info from <www.orlo.org> or <dirh@...>.

8) BOYCOTT GENERAL MOTORS AND WIN A CAR
[submitted by Juho Vuori from the other side of the Car Busters
office]

Sign the boycott pledge to reform General Motors into a caring,
environmentally conscious organisation and you get entered into a
draw to win a hybrid Honda Civic car. No, we're not joking. See
<www.moveon.org/saveGM>. We'd be very happy if whoever won
this declined the car. And by the way, if you want to boycott the
company independently, that's OK by us.

9) TWO RISING TIDE UK TOURS
[submitted by Dhara Thompson and Jo Hamilton]

The Wonky Weather solar generator is on tour in the UK, having
visited York, Newcastle and Maidstone. Catch it on June 1 at the
Halifax Green Fair, June 8 at the Strawberry Fair in Cambridge, or
June 15, Llanwy'n Codi - Rising Tide North Wales, Bangor. For
more information (perhaps you'd like to see them at your event)
contact <caldervalley@...>.
    Meanwhile Rising Tide is also touring with its climate change
exhibition. The next tour event is in London, Thursday, June 13 at
6.30 pm to launch and raise funds for a new climate action group in
London. Venue: London Action Resource Centre, 62 Fieldgate
Street. If you'd like to see Rising Tide in your area, give them a
shout at <weathersave@...>.

10) "CITIES WITHOUT FOSSILS" ON TOUR IN POLAND
[submitted by Piotr Bielski]

The Citizen's Environmental movement from Lodz and Krakow's
Green Federation have put together an exhibition "Cities Without
Fossils" showing Poland's possible transport futures. During April
the exhibition was presented in the city council of Lodz, now it's in
the city council of Warsaw and it should be exhibited in the
Parliament. In the next several months it's going to another four
cities and afterwards it will be available for the local groups to
present it in their cities. The exhibition shows how our cities could
look like (good examples of Dutch, Danish or French cities leading
to sustainable transport policy) and how our cities are going to look
like if the transport policy stays the same (traffic jams from Paris or
Rome and US highways - the dream of our decidents). Despite the
horrible economic situation of our country and a budget deficit of
some US$15 billion, our government is about to spend some
US$20 billion on the economically idiotic and envrionmentally and
socially harmful highway building programme.
    The Citizen's Environmental movement is also the organising
group for the Polish Bike+10 tour. For more information about the
exhibition or this, please contact Piotr at
<pbielski@...>.

11) UN-CORPORATE: JUNE 10-16

ASEED are calling you to a creative and active meeting in the
Netherlands to prepare for local events during the World Summit on
Sustainable Development taking place in Johannesburg. The
conference is taking place from August 26 to September 4, and
August 31 is to be a Global Day of Action against the corporate
influence on our lives. For more information see <www.aseed.net>
or contact A SEED Europe at <uncorp@...> to
receive booklets, fliers and other materials.

12) SMOGBUSTERS WAFTS OUT OF EXISTENCE
[submitted by Rachel Carlisle]

Australia's national transport and environment network has been
put on ice until new funding can be found. Their Walk to School
resource for car-free commuting to classes is still available at
<www.waytoschoolkit.infoxchange.net.au>, and makes worthwhile
reading for anywhere in the world.

13) RISING TIDE POSITION VACANT
[submitted by Rising Tide UK; please circulate this notice]

The Rising Tide grassroots climate change campaign network
seeks an office worker. More information on Rising Tide is available
on the website <www.risingtide.org.uk>. Responsibilities include
answering general enquiries, sending out materials, planning and
implementing a programme to promote the network, paying bills,
banking donations, maintaining accounts, and general organisation
assistance.
    We are looking for someone with good general writing and
communication skills and a strong commitment to working against
climate change. Previous experience in environmental campaigning
is preferred but not vital. The position will be based at Oxford Rising
Tide, working alongside two experienced campaigners. Training
and personal support will be provided. At this stage Rising Tide is
still largely voluntary, paying expenses of 10 pounds per day. If
needed, we will help any successful applicant to find additional
sources of income (including state benefits) and cheap
accommodation. Applicants from outside the UK may be eligible
for a maintenance salary through the European Voluntary Service
programme.
    To apply please send a one page c.v by June 14 to: Oxford
Rising Tide, 16B Cherwell St., Oxford OX4 1BG, UK, tel. 01865
241 097, e-mail: <weathersave@...>.

14) REMEMBER BLISS NEEDS VOLUNTEER
[submitted by Jason Meggs]

Volunteers are needed for outreach and web design. The
international Remember Bliss campaign was formed for the 100th
anniversary of the first-known recorded death by automobile in
North America, Henry H. Bliss who was killed on September 13,
1899 (see <www.carbusters.org/carfreeday> for more information).
The goal was to commemorate and bring attention not only to this
death but the millions that have followed it, as well as remember
the forms of bliss which existed before the tyranny of the
automobile. This project has tremendous potential and we
encourage anyone who would like to see it revived who could
commit at least a little time consistently over the year to it, or even
just to hold some kind of public event of any size around that day
of September 13 (during the World Car-Free Days), to get in touch
with us c/o Jason Meggs, <jmeggs@...>.  No
more years of death by automobile!
    See also the web site <www.rememberbliss.org>.


DISCLAIMER

If you have any problems with the information in this bulletin then
we suggest you consider hydrogen as a solution. Hydrogen. The
wise man's gas. For a cleaner future. Hydrogen. The gas that
gives. Hydrogen. Highly explosive. For the next generation of
tanker accidents.

A major public consultation exercise on the City of Edinburgh Council's
New
Transport Initiative has been lauched today (June 12) and will run until
July 31st. The University of Westminster is assisting the Council in
this
consultation through the EC's PRoGRESS Project. The consultation targets
members of the public and stakeholder groups in south east Scotland, and
is
based around a consultation leaflet that presents three options for a
future transport strategy, two involving congestion charging schemes.

Further details and response mechanisms are available at:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/traffic/HYS/index.html

Feedback / comments on this consultation exercise are welcomed.

Alasdair Cain

Moving the Economy and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) are
pleased to present valuable new online resources related to cities in the
developing world - Mobility in the Developing World and Sustainable
Transportation Live!

Visitors to the new site - at www.movingtheeconomy.ca - will have the
opportunity to learn how cities in Africa, Latin America and Asia are taking the
lead in tackling congestion, pollution, goods movement, employment,
environmental quality, and more, through sustainable transportation.

The site, which is for visitors to access through the support of CIDA, breaks
new ground in providing vital and timely information, including:

- A database of 20 sustainable transportation case studies from the developing
world, with links to more detailed descriptions and contact information;
- Sustainable Transportation Live, featuring direct links to dozens of sites
that gather and share sustainable transportation/new mobility case studies;
- Common themes in urban transportation - a brief on the elements of urban
transportation that are shared by growing cities around the world, and how
cities are using transportation solutions to address poverty, job creation,
quality of life, infrastructure, and pollution!

Follow this link to visit Mobility In The Developing World and Sustainable
Transportation Live: www.movingtheeconomy.ca

Moving the Economy and CIDA acknowledge the help and support of UN-Habitat and
the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives in the development
of this project.


MOVING THE ECONOMY
590 Jarvis Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON, M4Y 2J4

Tel: (416)-338-5088
Fax: (416)-392-0071

Email: mte@...
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/mte

Did you think this bulletin was free?!... Well it is, at least
grudgingly. But please remember that Car Busters is supported by
memberships and donations. Your contribution is always welcome. See
<http://www.carbusters.org/subscribe/> for details.

_________________________

      CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN >>>
      _____________________________

Edition no. 39 - October 2002 - English version
...............................................
Car Busters, Kratka 26, 10000 Prague 10, Czech Rep.
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727
<carbusters@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>

This month's bulletin is brought to you by Ivana Jakubkova and our
new staffer from Bordeaux, Aude Vidal. Bienvenue, Aude!

To avoid various unexplainable formatting problems, view our bulletin
at <http://www.carbusters.org/subscribe/ebulind.htm>.


Thought for the month:
"Does one bum [butt] need four wheels?"
- slogan on a banner displayed to motorists by two guys on the
Magistrala Motorway, Prague, September 25


CONTENTS

World News
- SAN FRANCISCO CRITICAL MASS IS TEN YEARS OLD
- PRO-BIKE/PRO-WALK CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
- DON'T JUMP ON THE MAGLEV TRAIN BANDWAGGON

Announcements
- THIRD "BREAK THE GRIDLOCK" CONFERENCE
- CALL TO ACTION AT BIRMINGHAM MOTOR SHOW
- SUPPORT POLISH ANTI-ROAD ACTIVITIES
- JOB OPENING: COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ITDP
- A NEW CAR-FREE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE USA?
- SEE WHAT YOU'RE BREATHING

Car Busters Announcements
- WORLDWIDE CONTACT DIRECTORY HAILED AS SUCCESS
- WORLD CAR-FREE DAYS: HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
- A CALL OUT FOR CAR BUSTERS CORRESPONDENTS
- "HI, MY NAME'S JANE, AND I'M AN AUTOHOLIC"
- TRANSLATORS STILL WANTED

Things To Read
- BICYCLE RESEARCH REPORT
- TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Disclaimer

_______________

      WORLD NEWS >>
      __________________


SAN FRANCISCO CRITICAL MASS IS TEN YEARS OLD
[a round-up by Paul VanDeCarr]

Car traffic was jammed up worse than usual in San Francisco,
California on September 25, thanks to a profusion of bicycle traffic.
The tenth anniversary of Critical Mass drew an estimated 3,000 to
5,000 riders, which put the ride among the biggest Critical Masses in
the city’s history.
    Police reports put the ride at 40 blocks long at one point. As
smaller groups splintered off, the overall ride got shorter, but the
variety of different routes people took (about three or four major
splinter rides at most) made for more traffic chaos and rider
excitement! As splinter rides rejoined each other at a given
intersection, and perhaps reformed and splintered off again, riders
in each group cheered each other, as if they were long-lost siblings
rejoining each other after a battle!
    Attitudes of and about the riders varied sharply with some riders
seeing drivers as potential allies and others seeing cars as war-
causing, stress-producing pollution monsters that have to be stopped.
Car drivers were perhaps more unified in their views than were
bicyclists, namely that Critical Mass is a pain in the ass —
specifically, the one they’re sitting on while waiting for thousands
of bicyclists to pass by! One driver I saw got out of his car and
started screaming at riders "You’re all assholes! I just want to get
home for dinner! Assholes!" Other drivers seemed to take it in
stride, sitting on the hoods (bonnets) of their cars and watching the
parade pass by.
    Earlier in the day was the city’s first official "Car-Free Day,"
in which a portion of a downtown street was closed to traffic for the
afternoon, making way for bicycle activities, mime artists, and other
eco-friendly fun. The day wasn’t entirely car-free, as it turned out;
the mayor showed up in an electric car, amending it to be
"alternative transportation day."


PRO-BIKE/PRO-WALK CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
[submitted by Andy Singer, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA]

As one who attended the 12th International ProBike/ProWalk conference
(September 3-6) here in St. Paul, I can say it was very inspiring.
Every two years, over 300 pedestrian and cycling advocates, traffic
engineers, cycling industry representatives and health department
professionals get together to figure out how best to get people out
of their cars. There are workshops on every subject imaginable:
creating better connections between bicycles and public transit;
effective statewide advocacy; using the media; where to get funding
for pedestrian and cycling projects; bike safety; etc.
    One major focus was on the "Safe Routes to Schools" programme and
the health issues surrounding it. The US Health Department and Center
for Disease Control (CDC) report a huge increase in obesity among
Americans, particularly children, with corresponding increases in
childhood diabetes. The cost of these kids for the US health care
system (as they become adults) will be enormous. In addition to
increased use of television, video games and sedentary lifestyles,
researchers blame cars. In the 1970s, 75 percent of kids got to
school by foot or bicycle. Now the number is down to less than 15
percent!
    So the CDC has made some money available to US communities to
start "Safe Routes to Schools" programs to encourage kids to walk or
ride bikes to school. What form these programmes will take is hard to
say, but cycling and pedestrian advocates see this as a possible
springboard for larger biking and walking campaigns. One statistic
from these discussions that stuck in my head was that "on average,
the typical American walks just 300 yards [metres] per day!"
    Another issue widely discussed was the reauthorization of the (US)
Transportation Efficiency Act, dubbed "TEA-3." This law allows for as
much as a third of federal gas tax revenues (US$50 billion) to be
used for non-automotive purposes. Many at the conference have
observed that highway departments are increasingly misusing TEA money
for off-ramps and other highway projects and calling them
"pedestrian" or "safety" improvements. So advocates are urging a
tightening of the rules and regulations for how TEA-3 money can be
spent. Ellen Vanderslice, president of America Walks, dubbed these
proposed reforms "GREEN TEA." The Surface Transportation Policy
Project has more information on TEA-3 on its website:
<http://www.transact.org>.
    The next conference will be held in two years in Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada. Check it out!: <http://www.bikewalk.org>.


DON'T JUMP ON THE MAGLEV TRAIN BANDWAGGON
[submitted by Evert Hassink, Friends of the Earth/Milieudefensie
Groningen, The Netherlands]

Sorry, last month we stopped campaigning on cars because our
government has found a means of transport that might beat the car in
stupidity. It is called the Magnetic Levitation (maglev) train, which
is sold by Siemens under the name Transrapid.
    The Dutch government reserved EUR 2.7 billion and regional
authorities are looking for another EUR 1.1 billion for buying a line
between Amsterdam (Schipol Airport) and the cute little town of
Groningen where we live. The project is sold as a sound way of
investing in the regional economy, and an environmentally friendly
way of public transport.
    But the energy consumption of maglev transport per passenger is
comparable to that of a luxury car and the price will be double that
of a normal railway ticket. The travelling time will be halved, which
will make the train useful for the "time is money" guys.
    The major problem with this fast train is that it creates its own
market [induces demand]. Models show that those who will use this
train would not travel if there was no fast transport. Many people
will move to towns farther away from their work. The train causes
dispersal of social and economical networks. This means not only
extra train transport, but also extra car transport.
    You can find out more (mostly in Dutch) at
<http://www.milieudefensie.nl/verkeer/>.

__________________

      ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
      __________________


THIRD "BREAK THE GRIDLOCK" CONFERENCE

Saturday, October 12 in Chicago: This is your opportunity to meet the
leaders in Chicago's burgeoning activist community and contribute to
making your city a model for a sane and sensible (and car-less)
transportation policy. More info at
<http://www.breakthegridlock.org>.


CALL TO ACTION AT BIRMINGHAM MOTOR SHOW
[submitted by Karen Leach, Birmingham, UK]

On October 23, world leaders gather in New Delhi to talk about
climate change. On the same day in Birmingham, with no sense of
irony, a motor show will celebrate car culture with its profligate
waste of fossil fuels. There, Friends of the Earth (FOE) Birmingham
will organise an action against car culture and hypermobility - and
for walking, cycling and public transport.
    To take part in the action, contact Birmingham FOE at
<beep@...>. Accommodation available if required.
More info at <http://www.greenbirmingham.com/footwork>.


SUPPORT POLISH ANTI-ROAD ACTIVITIES!
[submitted by Frank van Schaik, A SEED Europe]

In August, the Polish parliament began to work on bills that will
make it easier to build motorways and freeways in the country. A
number of Polish groups have been circulating a petition to urge the
Parliament to drop its intention to build more motorways. This
petition will be presented to the speaker of the Polish Parliament on
the occasion of a demo on October 10 in Warsaw.
    Polish activists hope to also apply pressure at the European
level, so they request Western European groups and individuals to
sign their petition and attend the demo.
    For support and information: Piotr Bielski
<pbielski@...>.


JOB OPENING: COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ITDP
[submitted by Paul Steely White, ITDP, <mobility@...>]

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy's New York
office seeks a Communications Director to manage ITDP media,
including Sustainable Transport Magazine (annual), Sustainable
Transport e-Update (quarterly), and in cooperation with ITDP's
webmaster, ITDP.org. The Communications Director will also
collaborate with other ITDP staff to devise and circulate regular
press releases, manage the annual year-end fundraising letter, and
perform other communications and fundraising tasks as needed.
Application deadline: November 1. See <www.itdp.org> for the full job
announcement.


A NEW CAR-FREE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE USA?
[submitted by Jeffrey Rosenblum]

Between Cambridge, Charlestown and Somerville, Massachusetts lies an
area known as North Point. For over a century, it has been the site
of railyards and other industrial uses. Now, this area, the largest
remaining undeveloped parcel in Cambridge, is proposed for complete
redevelopment. Being advised by Joel Crawford, author of the book
"Carfree Cities," a group of residents propose North Point to become
a car-free neighborhood. For more info or to get involved, check out
<http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/~rauch/northpoint/>.


SEE WHAT YOU'RE BREATHING
[submitted by Margot Brinn]

Have you heard of <http://www.scorecard.org>? It ranks counties in
the USA by pollution level and provides analysis of sources of the
pollution. For example, our county, Tompkins, is in the top 40
percent of polluted counties and most of it comes from mobile
sources. How are your county's lungs doing?

______________________________

      CAR BUSTERS STUFF >>
      ________________________________


WORLDWIDE CONTACT DIRECTORY HAILED AS SUCCESS
[submitted by Richard Lane]

The international community has been unreserved in its praise for the
Car Busters Worldwide Contacts Directory, up and active on the web
and currently hovering at 253 entries. Leading thinkers and world
leaders have rushed to heap praise upon the tool, and so far the
banana offered as a prize for breaking it remains unclaimed. Register
your group today, and see it there a few days later. Despite glowing
tributes from Nelson Mandela, the Dali Lama, and Gandalf out of Lord
Of The Rings, we're still interested in your opinions about it. Let
us know. This remarkable piece of work is at
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory/>.


WORLD CAR-FREE DAYS: HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
[also submitted by Richard Lane]

We hope you've got your breath back after this year's worldwide call
to action. So far we've been told about events which took place in 40
cities on four continents. It's all up there on
<http://www.carbusters.org/carfreeday/events.htm>. Action reports are
beginning to slowly trickle in. Please, if you've been involved in a
World Car-Free Days action, let us know how it went! And if you saw
any news about it appearing in the media, we'd like to know about
that to. We'll have a run-down of the world's activities in our next
magazine (no. 16), and on our website before too long.


A CALL OUT FOR CAR BUSTERS CORRESPONDENTS
[submitted by Randy Ghent]

Do you have your finger on the pulse of transport(ation) news and
action in your country or region? Do you have skills in
writing/journalism, research, art/photography, communication, or at
least newspaper clipping? If so, you may be exactly the sort of
person we're looking for...
    We at Car Busters Central want to involve people in the wider
movement (that means you) more directly in our projects, and a
network of formal correspondents is among the ways this will happen.
Correspondents will be given clear guidelines - in addition to the
writers' guidelines now at
<www.carbusters.org/magazine/guidelines.htm> - on how to best be our
eyes and ears around the world. They will contribute material for our
monthly bulletin and especially our quarterly magazine, where they
will be listed with impressive-sounding titles such as "The Honorable
Royal Liechtenstein Correspondent."
    In addition to an official gold-plated car-busting mallet and the
glory of it all, we will offer correspondents regular contact and
journalistic feedback. Correspondents should, at the minimum,
contribute useful material at least once every three months.
    Anyone interested in becoming a correspondent should contact
<carbusters@...>. Act now and you may (or may not) receive a bonus
set of seven stainless-steel Ginsu steak knives. This is a volunteer
position, by the way.


"HI, MY NAME'S JANE, AND I'M AN AUTOHOLIC"
[also submitted by Randy Ghent]

We've got grand ideas for starting a light-hearted, good-humoured
recovery programme for car addicts - and we want to recruit all of
you car-free and car-lite former car addicts to join us.
    Autoholics Anonymous will consist of two parts: a secular 12-step
recovery programme and an information clearinghouse providing
resources on how to become car-free or reducing one's car use (plus
how to encourage broader change at the community level).
    Autoholics.org, which we've already purchased, would be the
virtual headquarters of this network, and it could eventually be
linked to independent national Autoholics Anonymous websites that
would provide country-specific information. We envision "up-close-and-
personal" profiles of former car addicts (with their names and
photos), explaining how they kicked the habit or "began the lifelong
recovery process." We imagine an on-line forum where people can get
advice and support from those who are already car-free. Some of it is
just providing things our existing Resource Centre should provide,
but putting it in a different "package" - one with more humour and
less perception of being oriented towards confrontation.
    So we're looking for former car addicts and recovering car addicts
- basically anyone who used to drive but has cut way back or "gone
cold turkey" - to step forward and tell us your story at
<carbusters@...>. Then we need national or regional AA contact
people. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we need people willing
to contribute time and energy to building the web site and the
recovery programme. So now's your chance. It all depends on you!


TRANSLATORS STILL WANTED
[submitted by Petr Kurfuerst]

We are still looking for volunteers that can help us make our website
as open to people as possible. We have created a short summary about
Car Busters which is currently being translated into as many
languages as possible. This brief basic info will be put onto the
website and will require no updating. It is about 2,700 words
altogether. We already have French, German, Italian, Spanish, Czech
and Esperanto under control. We are still looking for translators
into Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Polish, Dutch and
Romanian. So if you want to help us with this, please let us know and
we'll send you a short Word file with the text for translation. The
above are priority languages, but if you feel like doing any other,
let us know. Deadline: ideally October 20, but a little later is
still okay. Thanks.

___________________

      THINGS TO READ >>
      __________________


BICYCLE RESEARCH REPORT

The European Cyclists' Federation produces a month publication called
Bicycle Research Report. In the latest issue (September), you can
find a report on "Research and experimentation on the strategies
adopted by urban cyclists." Check out <http://www.ecf.com>.


TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute has posted an on-line edition
of
"Transportation Cost And Benefit Analysis: Techniques, Estimates and
Implications." It's a comprehensive study of transportation cost-
benefit
analysis and a guidebook for applying this information in planning
and policy.
To be found at <http://www.vtpi.org/tca>.

___________________

      DISCLAIMER >>
      __________________

Anyone happen to know of a shelter for a few hundred toads named
Fluffy?
Please, our office is heaving with them! We can't hear a word in here
because
of all the noise they make, can't move without bumping into a dozen
and, most importantly, we can't see what we're typing through all the
schmutz on our screens...

[end]
____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 2-7481-0849 - fax: +(420) 2-7481-6727
<carbusters@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>
____________________________________________

Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now:
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory>

See the following chapters in our Online TDM Encyclopedia:

Taxi Transport: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm78.htm
Transportation Regulation Reform: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm53.htm
Shuttle Services: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm39.htm


Best wishes,
-Todd Litman


At 03:03 PM 12/23/2002 +0100, Eric Britton wrote:

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Footlickers@... [mailto:Footlickers@...]
>Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 1:55 AM
>To: postmaster@...
>Subject: Taxis
>
>
>
>My name is Robert. I own a taxi in Canberra Australia. Our local
>government is trying to convince our taxi company that deregulation is
>good. We have yet to be persuaded. Do you have any information on
>deregulation with regards the Spanish experience especially in Madrid and
>Barcelona. I'm also interested in the shortcomings or good points relating
>to the taxi radio system and how it can be improved. Perhaps you could
>email me at your convenience? If I have contacted you by mistake and you
>cannot help me, could you possibly pass my request on to the relevant
>person with a CC to me? Thanks Robert
>
>
>
>
>
>Paris, Monday, December 23, 2002
>
>
>
>Dear Robert,
>
>
>
>The best I can do for you today is to forward your request for help to
>several groups with background in these matters.  Which I am doing with
>this note.
>
>
>
>Less usefully perhaps, I can also offer you the following brief comments
>based on some years of studying and working with taxi issues, always in a
>broader overall transport and community context.  And often with an eye to
>what we can do with better information and communications technology.
>
>
>    * When you hear the word deregulation, you do well to reach for your
> evolver (sorry).  Not least because enough of the experience with
> deregulating transport over the last decade-plus has been extremely
> disappointing, for a variety of reasons.
>
>    * As much as anything else, I would say that the problem resides in
> the fact that all too often the approach taken is simplistic,
> mechanistic, rhetoric-driven, and rushed. The results have largely born
> this out.
>
>    * I have looked in taxi operations in a couple of dozen places over
> the years and on just about all of the continents, and I have to say that
> upon reflection one of the words that comes not at the top of my list is:
> flexibility.  Not that the taxis themselves are not flexible and indeed
> this should be included in one of the underlying targets of anything we
> do to change their guiding framework, i.e., more and not less flexibility
> --; rather that the structures of ordinances and laws within which they
> perform their functions tend to be stodgy and unnecessarily constraining.
>
>    * So, the goal has to be not to deregulate, but to improve, to create
> (and how I hate the expression) win-win situations in which the owners,
> drivers, their clients and the community all come out with big
> gains.  And indeed it is possible (though that has to be the topic of
> something a bit more substantial than this off the cuff reply).
>
>    * The key to successful transportation policy is, has to be, deep
> analysis and dialogue.  Moreover, in the case of a public service
> function such as taxis, the entire process of dialogue needs to be
> inclusive, broad and probably slowish.  This can prove irritating for
> go-getting politicians and administrators looking to hold up the bull s
> ears and tail, but hey we are looking at one of the older professions and
> in many cases the ordinances governing them stretch back a couple of
> centuries, including, ironically, in cities that have themselves not been
> around that long (as a result of copycat regulation in the first place).
>
>    * You gotta know what you want as the bottom line.  To me it seems
> pretty simple: more taxis, more people in them, better wages for drivers,
> increased earnings for the industry, greater accessibility for all,
> higher priority in the traffic stream, better driver safety and working
> conditions, more versatility, greater flexibility, and a greater
> contribution to the community as a whole.
>
>    * One real enemy to avoid is that of sub-optimization on any
> score.  This has been the bane of transport policy and practice in the
> past, sector by sector, and has almost invariably led to a situation of
> feeding further decline and future problems, usually at enhanced scale
> and impact.
>
>    * One barrier we find in many places is that it is next too impossible
> to organist demonstration or pilot projects to test out and prove new
> approaches and principles.  SO, if one of the handmaidens of so-called
> deregulation is that the new context will permit more and better trial
> projects, then someone is starting to do something right.
>
>    * Finally, let me share an opinion with you as to what is quite
> possibly one of the worst ways of setting a new policy in this area:  And
> this is to hand the job over to some consultants (hey! I am a consultant)
> who then work with vigor, timeliness and gratifyingly under the whip of
> their public sector and political masters to come up with the answer
> package.  Oops.
>To conclude: You have to know what you want.  And process is all.
>
>
>Hope that helps.
>
>
>
>Eric Britton
>
>
>
>The Commons __ technology, economy, society__
>
>Le Frene, 8/10 rue Joseph Bara, 75006 Paris, France
>
>Day phone: +331 4326 1323 Mobile: +336 80 96 78 79
>
>24 hour Fax/Voicemail hotline: +1 888 677-4866
>
>http://ecoplan.org/   IP Videoconference: 81.65.50.132
>
>Email: ecoplan.adsl@...    URL www.ecoplan.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>The Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice
>Consult at: <http://wTransport.org>http://wTransport.org
>To post message to group: WorldTransport@yahoogroups.com
>To subscribe:  WorldTransport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>To unsubscribe:  WorldTransport-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
><http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.


Sincerely,
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
Email: litman@...
Website: http://www.vtpi.org

Cheers Todd
I attach a paper on Land Value Taxation which may be of interest to anyone
trying to fund transport infrastructure projects from a sustainable tax
base.

Dave

Dave Wetzel
Vice-Chair,  Transport for London
Windsor House. 42-50 Victoria Street. London. SW1H  0TL.
Tel:  020 7941 4200.      Fax: 020 7941 4748


-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Alexander Litman [mailto:litman@...]
Sent: 23 December 2002 22:28
To: WorldTransport@yahoogroups.com; Footlickers@...
Cc: utsg@...; WorldTransport@yahoogroups.com;
NewMobility@yahoogroups.com; 'DL - Alt-Transp-Nomail Mailing List!';
Mmurga@...
Subject: Re: [WorldTransport] Taxi deregulation



See the following chapters in our Online TDM Encyclopedia:

Taxi Transport: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm78.htm
Transportation Regulation Reform: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm53.htm
Shuttle Services: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm39.htm


Best wishes,
-Todd Litman


At 03:03 PM 12/23/2002 +0100, Eric Britton wrote:

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Footlickers@... [mailto:Footlickers@...]
>Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 1:55 AM
>To: postmaster@...
>Subject: Taxis
>
>
>
>My name is Robert. I own a taxi in Canberra Australia. Our local
>government is trying to convince our taxi company that deregulation is
>good. We have yet to be persuaded. Do you have any information on
>deregulation with regards the Spanish experience especially in Madrid and
>Barcelona. I'm also interested in the shortcomings or good points relating
>to the taxi radio system and how it can be improved. Perhaps you could
>email me at your convenience? If I have contacted you by mistake and you
>cannot help me, could you possibly pass my request on to the relevant
>person with a CC to me? Thanks Robert
>
>
>
>
>
>Paris, Monday, December 23, 2002
>
>
>
>Dear Robert,
>
>
>
>The best I can do for you today is to forward your request for help to
>several groups with background in these matters.  Which I am doing with
>this note.
>
>
>
>Less usefully perhaps, I can also offer you the following brief comments
>based on some years of studying and working with taxi issues, always in a
>broader overall transport and community context.  And often with an eye to
>what we can do with better information and communications technology.
>
>
>    * When you hear the word deregulation, you do well to reach for your
> evolver (sorry).  Not least because enough of the experience with
> deregulating transport over the last decade-plus has been extremely
> disappointing, for a variety of reasons.
>
>    * As much as anything else, I would say that the problem resides in
> the fact that all too often the approach taken is simplistic,
> mechanistic, rhetoric-driven, and rushed. The results have largely born
> this out.
>
>    * I have looked in taxi operations in a couple of dozen places over
> the years and on just about all of the continents, and I have to say that
> upon reflection one of the words that comes not at the top of my list is:
> flexibility.  Not that the taxis themselves are not flexible and indeed
> this should be included in one of the underlying targets of anything we
> do to change their guiding framework, i.e., more and not less flexibility
> --; rather that the structures of ordinances and laws within which they
> perform their functions tend to be stodgy and unnecessarily constraining.
>
>    * So, the goal has to be not to deregulate, but to improve, to create
> (and how I hate the expression) win-win situations in which the owners,
> drivers, their clients and the community all come out with big
> gains.  And indeed it is possible (though that has to be the topic of
> something a bit more substantial than this off the cuff reply).
>
>    * The key to successful transportation policy is, has to be, deep
> analysis and dialogue.  Moreover, in the case of a public service
> function such as taxis, the entire process of dialogue needs to be
> inclusive, broad and probably slowish.  This can prove irritating for
> go-getting politicians and administrators looking to hold up the bull s
> ears and tail, but hey we are looking at one of the older professions and
> in many cases the ordinances governing them stretch back a couple of
> centuries, including, ironically, in cities that have themselves not been
> around that long (as a result of copycat regulation in the first place).
>
>    * You gotta know what you want as the bottom line.  To me it seems
> pretty simple: more taxis, more people in them, better wages for drivers,
> increased earnings for the industry, greater accessibility for all,
> higher priority in the traffic stream, better driver safety and working
> conditions, more versatility, greater flexibility, and a greater
> contribution to the community as a whole.
>
>    * One real enemy to avoid is that of sub-optimization on any
> score.  This has been the bane of transport policy and practice in the
> past, sector by sector, and has almost invariably led to a situation of
> feeding further decline and future problems, usually at enhanced scale
> and impact.
>
>    * One barrier we find in many places is that it is next too impossible
> to organist demonstration or pilot projects to test out and prove new
> approaches and principles.  SO, if one of the handmaidens of so-called
> deregulation is that the new context will permit more and better trial
> projects, then someone is starting to do something right.
>
>    * Finally, let me share an opinion with you as to what is quite
> possibly one of the worst ways of setting a new policy in this area:  And
> this is to hand the job over to some consultants (hey! I am a consultant)
> who then work with vigor, timeliness and gratifyingly under the whip of
> their public sector and political masters to come up with the answer
> package.  Oops.
>To conclude: You have to know what you want.  And process is all.
>
>
>Hope that helps.
>
>
>
>Eric Britton
>
>
>
>The Commons __ technology, economy, society__
>
>Le Frene, 8/10 rue Joseph Bara, 75006 Paris, France
>
>Day phone: +331 4326 1323 Mobile: +336 80 96 78 79
>
>24 hour Fax/Voicemail hotline: +1 888 677-4866
>
>http://ecoplan.org/   IP Videoconference: 81.65.50.132
>
>Email: ecoplan.adsl@...    URL www.ecoplan.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>The Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice
>Consult at: <http://wTransport.org>http://wTransport.org
>To post message to group: WorldTransport@yahoogroups.com
>To subscribe:  WorldTransport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>To unsubscribe:  WorldTransport-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
><http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.


Sincerely,
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
Email: litman@...
Website: http://www.vtpi.org



The Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice
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Thank you very much.

Land Value Taxation is one of the strategies discussed in the "Smart Growth
Market Reforms" chapter of our Online TDM Encyclopedia at
http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm95.htm. Also see the "Land Use Evaluation"
chapter at http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm104.htm which provides information on
the higher social costs associated with urban sprawl. Please let me know if
you have any specific information to add.

Best wishes,
-Todd Litman


At 03:26 PM 12/24/2002 +0000, Wetzel Dave wrote:
>Cheers Todd
>I attach a paper on Land Value Taxation which may be of interest to anyone
>trying to fund transport infrastructure projects from a sustainable tax
>base.
>
>Dave
>
>Dave Wetzel
>Vice-Chair,  Transport for London
>Windsor House. 42-50 Victoria Street. London. SW1H  0TL.
>Tel:  020 7941 4200.      Fax: 020 7941 4748

Happy New Year (whichever you're on according to your
calendar)!

Car Busters hope you've had a nice winter festive
season, enjoying occassional snowflakes or ignoring the
constant rainfall in certain places. Now it's time to work
off some of the extra fat you gained by munching on all
those delicious Christmas cookies - sit down at your
computer and send us whatever car-free/anti-car stuff
you've got that could be interesting and useful to your
fellow bulletinoes by January 12.
You'll be delighted to hear that according to the latest
study of the Nauru Institute for Holistic Humanity sharing
one positive piece of news or announcement burns 1,000
calories and the more you share the more you get rid of
until eventually you thin out completely and coalesce with
the universe.
Well, no need to go that far but surely you'll feel better on
this diet rather than on eat-only-once-a-week one. So
send us whatever useful, up-to-date information you
have on how to make this world a better place without
cars or what you're doing about it. Thanks a lot in
advance, happily yours

Car Busters


____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727
<info@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>
____________________________________________


Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now:
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory>

Towards Car-Free Cities III Conference
Hosted by Car Busters, March 17-22, 2003, Prague
<http://www.carbusters.org/conference>

Hi Todd,

As usual, great stuff comes out of your area. I enjoyed scanning through
it. While i have no information to add, may I ask if I could propose
your involvement as follows:

Tomorrow, Richard and I are meeting with the Chair of GO Transit who
also happens to chair a sub panel on transportation gridlock for the
Smart Growth Panel looking at all of South Central Ontario. His job is
to develop a vision for transportation in this large area. Richard and I
will propose to him that the CST could well be of value in identifying
principles or strategies (or some other like approach) for consideration
in developing this vision and recommendations. If he agrees, you would
be a good addition to the team that we could pull together.

This is all very speculative at this time but I thought we would share
that for now.



Todd Alexander Litman wrote:

> Thank you very much.
>
> Land Value Taxation is one of the strategies discussed in the "Smart Growth
> Market Reforms" chapter of our Online TDM Encyclopedia at
> http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm95.htm. Also see the "Land Use Evaluation"
> chapter at http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm104.htm which provides information on
> the higher social costs associated with urban sprawl. Please let me know if
> you have any specific information to add.
>
> Best wishes,
> -Todd Litman
>
>
> At 03:26 PM 12/24/2002 +0000, Wetzel Dave wrote:
>
>>Cheers Todd
>>I attach a paper on Land Value Taxation which may be of interest to anyone
>>trying to fund transport infrastructure projects from a sustainable tax
>>base.
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>Dave Wetzel
>>Vice-Chair,  Transport for London
>>Windsor House. 42-50 Victoria Street. London. SW1H  0TL.
>>Tel:  020 7941 4200.      Fax: 020 7941 4748
>>
>
>
>
> The @New Mobility Forum is permanently at http://newmobility.org
> To post messages to list: NewMobility@egroups.com
> To get off this list: NewMobility-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>


--
Al Cormier
President & CEO/ Président-directeur général
The Centre for Sustainable Transportation/
Le centre pour un transport durable
15-6400 Millcreek Drive, Suite 309
Mississauga, ON Canada L5N 3E7
Tel: 905 858 9242
Fax: 905 858 9291
Email/Courriel: transport@...
Web site/Site Internet: www.cstctd.org

Hi,

Gus Yates and I are working to try to get a carfree
city established in North America. Because of interest
you have shown to me regarding this subject in
conversations we have had, I think that you would be a
valuable participant in our group, that will work to
make this our goal.

I think you may want to consider joining this new
group:

	 BuildaCarFreeCity

at:

	 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuildaCarFreeCity/

This group is working to create a CarFreeCity in the
U.S./ Canada.  It works in conjunction with the
website www.carfreecity.us   It is for individuals who
want to work to create a society that is not dependent

on the private automobile and that will take advantage
of the benefits of not dedicating huge amounts of
resources to it.

I hope that you will help us make a CarFreeCity a
reality.

Regards,


David Ceaser





__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
http://mailplus.yahoo.com

No winter sales but still a pretty good bargain on car-free
propaganda you simply must have at
<http://www.carbusters.org/resources/>.

_________________________

      CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN >>>
      _____________________________

Edition no. 42 - January 2003 - English version
...............................................


This bulletin was compiled by Ivana Jakubková. Thanks
to everyone for their submissions and sorry if yours didn't
make it in here: it's probably too good to be shared.

Contents:

World News
- JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR ASTHMA
- UK: CYCLING'S DEAD, LET'S BUILD MORE ROADS!
- "DEBUNKER" OF GLOBAL WARMING FOUND
DISHONEST
- ALPS TUNNEL UPDATE

Announcements
- ROAD PROTEST IMAGE GALLERY
- STUDY OF CAR-FREE AND MOBILITY-MANAGED
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
- (IF YOU MUST DRIVE) MAKE YOUR OWN
BIODIESEL
- WALK21 IV CONFERENCE: HEALTH, EQUITY &
ENVIRONMENT
- BIKE WISE WEEK 2003
- JOB OPPORTUNITY AT EYFA
- BUILDING A NEW CITY TOUR

Car Busters Announcements
- TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III: REGISTER NOW!
- CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE NO. 16 RELEASED
- IVAN ILLICH MEMORIAL MAGAZINE (NO. 17) - CALL
FOR SUBMISSIONS

Things to Read
- HIGH AND MIGHTY

Disclaimer


_______________

      WORLD NEWS >>
      __________________


JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR ASTHMA
[from the latest Carfree Times at
<http://www.carfree.com>]

A group of Japanese asthma sufferers has won
US$638,000 in a suit against the Japanese government
alleging that road-related air pollution in Tokyo either
gave them asthma or exacerbated existing asthma. The
plaintiffs live within 50 metres of major roads and
highways in central Tokyo.
    The court cited the failure of the national government,
the Metropolitan Expressway Public Corp., and the
Tokyo metropolitan government to properly build and
manage Tokyo's roads. "The extent of the violation is
very serious. The large volumes of exhaust that are
continually released have caused and exacerbated
bronchial asthma, which can endanger a person's life,"
the court said.


UK: CYCLING'S DEAD, LET'S BUILD MORE ROADS!
[spotted by Peter Day on BBC News, Dec. 12 and Dave
Morris in The Observer Dec. 22]

The biggest road-widening programme in 20 years has
been outlined by the UK government as part of a plan to
improve transport. Notorious bottlenecks on the M1 and
M6 motorways are to get an extra lane, taking them to
four lanes wide. The transport package is worth L5.5
billion for England's roads, rail and bus infrastructure, but
at about the same time the government admitted that
road congestion could worsen by a fifth over the next
decade.
    Unlike environmental and public transport groups,
motoring groups welcomed the plan. The RAC (Royal
Automobile Club) said it was "a realisation that an
integrated transport policy includes road building."
    Shortly after this announcement, The Observer
newspaper published an extensive article on the decline
of cycling in the UK. Fewer people are using bikes to get
to work or school than ever before: on rural roads and for
primary school children the level is so low it has officially
fallen to 'zero percent of trips' in national statistics.
Overall, only two percent of trips are now taken by
bicycle in the UK, compared with 85 percent by car. This
represents a decline in cycling by 25 percent and in
walking by almost 30 percent since 1990.
    The government has spectacularly failed with its goal
of increasing cycling levels four-fold to reach eight
percent of all trips by 2012, which would have matched
the level Germany was at in 1996. Instead, it will now try
to triple cycling by 2010, which still looks like wishful
thinking, although the government is putting in record
levels of funding. It has just begun a nationwide
assessment of all councils' performance on cycling to
find out why it is still declining.
    One senior consultant to ministers said: "Some places
are great. But the prevailing attitude in most authorities is
that the car is king, money is for road building, bikes are
at best an afterthought and at worst a threat to road
safety and traffic flow. The government simply has not
had the balls to get to grips with this because they are
afraid of the motoring lobby and now they are off
spending billions widening roads again."
Read the full version of the article at
<http://www.observer.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,864328,
00.html>.


"DEBUNKER" OF GLOBAL WARMING FOUND
DISHONEST
[spotted by Jason Kirkpatrick in the Guardian, January 9]

Bjorn Lomborg - the director of Denmark's Environmental
Assessment Institute and a leading would-be debunker
of mainstream scientific opinion on issues like global
warming and overuse of natural resources - has been
found guilty by a Danish government committee of
"scientific dishonesty" after a year-long investigation.
    The committee was appointed to look at four
complaints against Lomborg's book "The Skeptical
Environmentalist," which argues that life for humankind
had never been better, pollution levels were falling, and
there were enough resources for current levels of
prosperity to continue. It also claims that the "colossal
sums it is planned to deploy on reducing global warming
will be money ill spent."
    Professor Lomborg's contrarian views made him a
favourite of the rightwing establishment after the book's
publication. On its election in March last year, Denmark's
rightwing government made him the director of its
Environmental Assessment Institute.
    "This is the very message of the book: children born
today - in both the industrialised world and developing
countries - will live longer and be healthier," the book
concludes. "They will get more food, a better education,
a higher standard of living, more leisure time and far
more possibilities - without the global environment being
destroyed. And that is a beautiful world."
    The complaints: "Lomborg is accused of fabricating
data, selectively and surreptitiously discarding unwanted
results, of the deliberately misleading use of statistical
methods, consciously distorted interpretation of the
conclusions, plagiarising of others' results or
publications, and deliberate misrepresentation of others'
results."
    However, the committee is not quite so harsh in its own
conclusions, accusing Professor Lomborg of not
comprehending the science rather than intending to
mislead or being grossly negligent.


ALPS TUNNEL NEWS
[submitted by Anne Lassman of Initiative Transport
Europe <www.ite-euro.com>]

Since the reopening of the Mont Blanc Tunnel on June
25, 2002, in an alternating system for vehicles over 3.5
tonnes (one hour in one direction, then one hour in the
opposite direction) a lot of things have happened and
demonstrations have taken place. Here's a brief outline
of important events both past and future:

* October 2002: Michel Charlet, Mayor of Chamonix, was
charged in connection with the tunnel fire in 1999. He
has always been outspoken about road transport and the
threat posed by the tunnel and his investigation is viewed
in Chamonix as a punishment for his non-compliance
with orders and pressures from the French authorities.
This tactic was used on Charlet in 2001, when he was
charged for an avalanche tragedy (the first time a mayor
will be tried in France for a natural disaster!).

* December 14, 2002: A big demonstration in Chamonix
protested against the likely removal of the alternate traffic
system. Protesters were removed from the road by
police.

* January 3: A demonstration was held in Courmayeur
for the same reason. A large turnout surprised the police
and showed signs of Italians' growing committment in the
fight against road freight. The new president of the Aoste
Region is campaigning alongside environmental
organisations to keep truck traffic down and to retain the
alternate system, which has kept the traffic well below
the pre-closure average. Despite that, legal pollution
levels in the very narrow Chamonix Valley are already
being reached. Any increase in traffic will push many
pollutants above accepted thresholds.

* January 17: The Somport Tunnel opens in the
Pyrenees. A sad day for mountain lovers all around
Europe. Another success for the road and the oil lobbies.
A demonstration is planned that day at Bedous, from
12:00 onwards.

* January 20: Bruno Rebelle, President of Greenpeace
France, and Eric Lanoë, President of Réagir (Maurienne
Valley, Fréjus Tunnel) are on trial in Albertville following
the October 2001 occupation of the motorway leading to
the Fréjus tunnel, by 1,000 demonstrators and 20
environmental organisations. Protesters are faxing letters
to the courthouse and a demonstration will take place in
Albertville on the day to support Rebelle and Lanoë.


_____________________

      ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
      _____________________________


ROAD PROTEST IMAGE GALLERY
[submitted by Road Alert]

Just thought you would like to know we have uploaded
some of our picture archive online. If you visit
<http://www.roadalert.org.uk> and click on the gallery link
you can view 93 pictures from M11 Leytonstone and A46
Batheaston protests. If you require any of the images for
publishing, send an e-mail to <info@...>
with the image number and we will send you the full size
version.


STUDY OF CAR-FREE AND MOBILITY-MANAGED
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
[submitted by Dr Jan Scheurer, formerly of Institute for
Sustainability and Technology Policy, Australia]

A full illustrated version of my PhD thesis, titled 'Urban
Ecology, Innovations in Housing Policy and the Future of
Cities: Towards Sustainability in Neighbourhood
Communities' is now available online at
<http://www.istp.murdoch.edu.au/publications/projects/ja
n>. The dissertation contains the first international
empirical comparison study of carfree and mobility-
managed housing developments, discussed in a broad
policy context.


(IF YOU MUST DRIVE) MAKE YOUR OWN BIODIESEL
[submitted by Low-Impact Living Initiative]

On February 7-9 Low-Impact Living Initiative (LILI) is
organising a course on "How to Make Biodiesel" in
Redfield Community, Buckinghamshire, UK. Cost: L150
waged, L100 unwaged. Discounts for 'Friends of LILI'. All
meals and accommodation included.
    This A-Z course covers everything from what biodesel
and its environmental benefits are, its cheap and safe
production, including practical sessions: plant design and
construction using readily-available materials; making
biodiesel
For more details contact LILI at tel/fax: (01296) 714184
or check out their website <web: www.lowimpact.org>.


WALK21 IV: HEALTH, EQUITY & ENVIRONMENT
[submitted by Ellen Vanderslice]

The 4th International Conference on Walking in the 21st
Century (May 1-3, Portland, Oregon, USA) will bring
together activists, practitioners, decision makers and
academics in public health, transportation, and
community planning. Together we will explore how
walking is integrated into our infrastructure, our
institutions, and our daily lives.  We will rethink the
context for walking and refine the tools we use in our
work. Please join us in Portland, May 1-3, 2003!
Registration for "Walk21 IV: Health, Equity &
Environment" is now open. Best rates are before
February 1.
    Register at <http://americawalks.org/walk21/> or check
out <http:// www.walk21.com>.


BIKE WISE WEEK 2003
[submitted by Robert Ibell of Cycling Advocates Network
of NZ Inc.]

February 15-23; New Zealand
National Bike Wise Week aims to lift the profile of cycling
and encourage more people to take up the activity as an
integral part of an active lifestyle. The aim is to see an
increase in the number of cyclists and increasing
numbers of New Zealanders enjoying healthy lifestyles.
At <http://www.bikewise.co.nz> you will find resources to
help you organise events to celebrate cycling, e.g. How
to Run a Bike Day, Planning a Bike to Work Day, Being a
Cycle Friendly Employer, The Commuter Challenge and
Planning a Bike to School Day.
    You'll also find details of the nationwide Bike Wise
Business Battle. It aims to encourage employers and
employees to use their bike as a means of transport.
National trophies will be awarded by business sector and
there are plenty of other prizes, awarded on the basis of
number of participants and distance travelled.


JOB OPPORTUNITY AT EYFA
[submitted by Eyfa]

Eyfa, a European-wide network of individuals and
grassroots groups active on social and environmental
issues, is looking for a creative, inspired and energetic
person to come in January 2003 to join the core team in
the Amsterdam office. They need a new person that will
manage the European Voluntary Service project, work on
networking and approaching new groups and persons,
and take part  in general administration of grants,
reports, our network committee, organising meetings,
developing our web page etc.
    For more information, please send an email with
subject heading: "eyfa core-team job application" to
EYFA as soon as possible at < eyfa@...> or
phone: +31.20.6657743.


BUILDING A NEW CITY TOUR
[submitted by Paul White of ITDP <www.itdp.org>]

Within three years, Enrique Penalosa, former mayor of
Bogotá, Columbia, transformed his city from a congested
and dangerous mess, where many citizens did not have
access to transport, into the world's leading model for
sustainable urban design.
Now, on the Building a New City tour, Penalosa will share
this inspirational story and describe how Africa's leaders
can follow "The Bogotá Model" for livable cities.
    The two-week tour, organised by the Institute for
Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), begins
January 15 and will bring Penalosa to four of Africa's
leading cities: Dakar, Senegal; Cape Town
and Pretoria, South Africa; and Accra, Ghana. Traffic
congestion, inadequate public transport, poverty and
poor access to jobs and services are increasingly
problematic in each city and local leaders have asked for
help in replicating Bogotá's success.
    Under Penalosa's leadership from 1998-2000,
innovative transport strategies such as a successful
busway, bicycle paths and restrictions on private car use
were used to equalise all citizens' access to mobility and
began to relieve the traffic congestion and air pollution
that was choking Bogotá. His administration also built
parks, planted trees and promoted the use of public
space.


______________________________

      CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
      __________________________________


TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III: REGISTER NOW!
[Hosted by Car Busters, March 17-22, Prague, Czech
Republic]

You've heard all about this conference in past bulletins; if
not, see the link below. Officially the registration deadline
for participants is January 31. Please register as soon as
possible to ensure there's space for you:
<http://www.carbusters.org/conference>.


CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE NO. 16 RELEASED

"We shape our tools and they in turn shape us" - and
some of the shapes people are now becoming look
decidedly unwieldy. Issue 16 of Car Busters Magazine
looks at a phenomenon that Ken Avidor (artist, author of
"RoadKill Bill") calls "Automorphism," and sees how our
minds, bodies and culture have been affected by
decades of growing car dependence.
    The issue also includes all the usual lively, hard-hitting
sections you've come to expect — Industry Watch, World
News, Car Cult Review, Book Reviews and more - albeit
with a much later release date than normal.
    To get a copy, see
<http://www.carbusters.org/resources/magazine.php>, or
to subscribe, see <http://www.carbusters.org/join_us>.
The submissions deadline for issue 17 is February 31.


IVAN ILLICH MEMORIAL MAGAZINE (NO. 17) - CALL
FOR SUBMISSIONS

Following on the December 2 death of radical
philosopher Ivan Illich (author of "Energy and Equity"
among many others), we at Car Busters have decided to
devote part of issue 17 of our magazine to his life and his
thoughts on transport(ation). Therefore we'd now like to
send out a call for letter-to-the-editors-length personal
accounts of how his ideas have influenced our readers.
Please send them as soon as possible, and by February
31 at the latest.


___________________

      THINGS TO READ >>
      __________________


HIGH AND MIGHTY
[submitted by Daniel Swartz]

High and Mighty - SUVs: The World's Most Dangerous
Vehicles and How They Got That Way; by Keith
Bradsher; 468 pages; ISBN 1586481231

Bradsher, a correspondent for the New Your Times,
investigates the politics behind the rise of SUVs and
provides a lot of well-researched data on how dangerous
they are. You probably already know that SUVs (or 4x4s)
are classified as light trucks so that they don't need to
comply with the 1990 Clean Air Act's rather stringent
standards, and that's why their mileage is so appalling.
But did you know that Ford Explorer's pricier cousin, the
Lincoln Navigator, is considered a truck for the purposes
of calculating the 10 percent luxury tax the 1990
Congress slapped on cars with price tags of $30,000 or
more? That law, like many others, exempted "light
trucks", in this case those with a gross weight over 6,000
pounds. The Navigator grew to that size as Ford added
luxury features but included in the price no luxury tax
because it's not a car, stupid, it's a kind of luxury truck.


___________________

      DISCLAIMER >>
      __________________


Grrr, Bradsher has stolen from us a brilliant title of Car
Busters' next publication! Unfortunately we hadn't
trademarked it in advance so now we'll have think of
another name for our thrilling bestseller-to-be about the
excitements of our e-mail bulletin production. Oh, yes,
the influx of your submissions gets us high and the
selecting and editing process gives us a sense of might.
We are all addicts and regularly have fierce fights over
this task so you'd better keep filling us in or we'll all die of
withdrawal. The next bulletin is coming soon 'cos we
want to get back to the first-week-in-a-month scheme
and we hope you won't let us down.
____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727
<info@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>
____________________________________________


Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now:
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory>

Towards Car-Free Cities III Conference
Hosted by Car Busters, March 17-22, 2003, Prague
<http://www.carbusters.org/conference>

Hi Everyone,

I am a graduate student at Tufts University in the department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning in Boston.  I am focusing my studies on sustainable transportation issues and am looking for a summer internship with sustainable mobility as the theme. 

I speak French, Spanish, and a little bit of German and am willing to travel just about anywhere.  I either have taken or will take courses in economics, statistics, land use planning, sustainable transportation planning, and international environmental negotiations.  Besides being a full-time student I am also a Research Assistant for an economist at the Global Development and Environment Institute.  In the spring, I will be attending Carbuster's Towards Car-Free Cities conference in Prague. 

If anyone needs a summer intern please let me know and I will send you my resume. 

Thank you,

Gabrielle Hermann

_________________________

      CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN >>>
      ____________________________________

Edition no. 43 - February 2003 - English version
...............................................

Hello. This is the news. I always wanted to say that. My
name's Edward and I'm the new guy in the office. So if
anything goes wrong with this bulletin I have a cast-iron
excuse.
    I hope to be seeing some of you at the Towards Car-
Free Cities III Conference and in the rest of my space
here would to take the opportunity to say a big thanks to
the unpaid stars translating this into Czech, Esperanto,
French, and German.
    Ready then? Let's roll...

Contents:

World News
- NUCLEAR POWER "SAFER" THAN DRIVING
- HIGHWAY TO THE ANTARCTIC
- STUDY TOUR CHANGES L.A. TRANSPORT POLICY
- WASTE OF CYCLING FUNDS LOOKS LIKELY
- SCHWARZENEGGER LIKES TO DRIVE A HUMMER

Announcements
- PROTEST FOR CAR-FREE PEACE
- SUMMER BIKE TOUR IN EASTERN EUROPE
- EVERY EURO COUNTS FOR DUTCH RADICAL
BOOKSHOP
- NEW BIKE FUN ORGANIZATION

Car Busters Announcements
- CAR BUSTERS STILL OFFERS HONEST LIVING
- TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III UPDATE

Things to Read
- HOW TO ROCK AND ROLL

Disclaimer


_______________

      WORLD NEWS >>
      ____________________


NUCLEAR POWER "SAFER" THAN DRIVING
[lifted from The Prague Pill, a free bi-weekly newspaper]

Southern Bohemians are more likely to be killed driving
than by a nuclear winter. This brilliant statistic is part of
the propaganda push surrounding the unveiling of an
evacuation plan for the Czech rural county containing
Temelin, one of the continent's largest nuclear power
plants. The state report concludes that an accident at
Temelin presents less of a threat to people than Czech
road intersections and even winter sports stadiums -
which might emit ammonia in an explosion.


HIGHWAY TO THE ANTARCTIC
[compiled from New Scientist (Jan. 23) and The
Guardian (Jan. 28)]

American engineers in the Antarctic have begun work on
a highway from the giant US coastal base at McMurdo
Sound to the South Pole - a distance of 1,600 km. The
road is expected to reach the US Scott-Amundsen base
at the pole within two years, according to Bill Spindler, a
scientist at the base and editor of South Pole News.
    Once completed the road is likely to become a
permanent fixture. The Scott-Amundsen base is only
currently accessible by air, which places limits on cargo
and relies on good weather. The road could be open to
heavy traffic for up to 100 days a year during the
austral summer. Scientists say the road will allow
overland transport of the increasingly heavy loads of
scientific equipment being taken to the pole.
    "With the road will come tourism and pollution," says
the British Green Party's international spokesman, John
Norris. Currently around 20,000 tourists visit Anarctica
each year, but currently few make it as far as the South
Pole. Despite the lure of the gift shop at the research
base.


STUDY TOUR CHANGES LOS ANGELES
TRANSPORT SYSTEM
[based on The Los Angeles Times]

Using high-tech sensors to cut the times of trips, Rapid
Buses are helping to break gridlock across Los Angeles.
Two routes were recently added by the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority, complementing the pair of
successful lines established in 2000. Two dozen more
routes are planned.
    This is thanks to a study trip made by then-Mayor
Richard Riordan and county supervisors Yvonne
Brathwaite Burke and Zev Yaroslavsky to Curitiba, Brazil,
a city of 1.6 million people with a spoke-like network of
dedicated busways. As in Curitiba, the Rapid Buses
come equipped with sensors that keep lights green at
intersections and with low floors for fast boarding. They
make fewer stops and were driven by operators told to
travel their routes as fast as possible rather than to follow
a strict schedule.


WASTE OF LONDON CYCLING FUNDS LOOKS
LIKELY
[from the Greenwich Cyclists newsletter]

South East London boroughs have so far spent less than
10 percent of the money allocated to them by Transport
for London for developing the London Cycle Network
Plus (LCN+), a report to the Association of London
Government has revealed. LCN+ is a streamlined
version of the London Cycle Network.
    The Mayor of London has this year allocated GBP 6
million to boroughs to build safe, high-quality and high-
capacity facilities that will make a real difference to the
numbers of people cycling. The 500-mile network is
expected to be most suitable for commuter and other
utility cyclists.
    Greenwich, Bexley, Bromley, Lambeth, Lewisham and
Southwark are singled out as the worst performing group
of London boroughs, spending just GBP 49,000 together.
    They have been warned that failure to spend the
money could mean it is returned to central government
coffers.


SCHWARZENEGGER LIKES TO DRIVE A HUMMER
[submitted by A.Y.Clarke]

If you've been keeping up on your Arnie News, you'll
know that last month Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Mr.
Universe turned acclaimed dramatic performer, helped
New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and General
Motors debut the new Hummer H2 SUT (sport utility
truck) in the heart of New York City!
    At the event, Hummer also announced its $13 million
sponsorship of the Inner-City Games Foundation (ICGF).
"The Inner-City Games and Hummer both share a
passion for excellence. The fact that ICG helps kids
strive for excellence and personal achievement is
something the Hummer team is proud to support," said
Hummer Marketing Director, Michael C. DiGiovanni. The
H2 SUT shares the same passion for excellence
[allegedly - ed.].
    Arnold also recommends bench-pressing a Hummer
SUT twice a day!
    More propaganda at
<http://www.schwarzenegger.com>.


___________________

      ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
      __________________________


PROTEST FOR CAR-FREE PEACE
[stolen from Rising Tide]

On February 4 there will be protests at petrol stations
around the world making a clear connection between the
proposed Iraq war and our addiction to fossil fuels. There
are already 160 demonstrations planned for the US
alone and the number grows daily.
    The coalition of groups supporting the protests in the
US includes most of the organisations campaigning at a
grassroots level against climate change and oil
companies. It also includes United for Peace and
Justice, a vast network with hundreds of independent
groups mobilising resistance to the war.
    Target Oil - the website for the US February 4 actions:
<http://www.targetoil.com>. Rising Tide:
<http://www.risingtide.org.uk/pages/no_war_for_oil.htm>.


SUMMER BIKE TOUR IN EASTERN EUROPE
[pinched from the A SEED Roots newsletter, Jan./Feb.]

Biketour is an annual international project for everyone
interested in environmentalism and community life,
cycling and sustainability. This year it will take place in
Poland and the Ukraine, ending up at the Ecotopia
festival in the Transcarpathian region of the Ukraine.
Possibly after the cycle tour will continue through the
scenic mountains of Slovakia.
    More info: <http://www.thebiketour.net>.


EVERY EURO COUNTS FOR DUTCH RADICAL
BOOKSHOP
[submitted by het Fort van Sjakoo, <sjakoo@...>]

Het Fort van Sjakoo, a Dutch radical co-operative
bookshop (and Car Busters distributor), is still hanging
on, but needs your support! Their housing association
has agreed that the rent will not be increased by 900
percent immediately. However, on January 1 the rent
was raised by 100 percent in the first annual adjustment.
    Het Fort has until mid-2003 to decide if they want to
buy the property for 60 percent of the market price. The
purchase will only be affordable if the good people at the
bookshop receive sufficient donations. They ask
everyone to break open their piggybanks!
    There are also plans for issuing bonds and interest-
free loans. If you are interested in these options let them
know at <fortaankoop@...>, or look at
<http://www.xs4all.nl/~sjakoo/>. The campaign "Stort
voor het Fort" (Contribute to the Fort) will use for the time
being the giro account of "Het Fort van Sjakoo" in
Amsterdam, giro number 393 26 16. The deposit should
be labelled as "Purchase Gift."
    Thank you for your interest and help!


NEW BIKE FUN ORGANIZATION
[submitted by Ayleen Crotty, in Portland]

BikeSummer 2002 was a thrilling time in Portland, USA
and when the month of activities was over, the
organisers and participants refused to let the fun end. So
they formed Shift, a communications network to
encourage people to host bike activities and to give them
the support they need to get the word out about the
event. From Breakfasts on the Bridges, a Christmas
lights ride, and carolling costumes at Critical Mass, Pub
Crawls by Bike, and more, Shift celebrates the fun to be
had on a bike in Portland. More info:
<www.Shift2Bikes.org>.
    BikeSummer 2003 will be in July, in New York City.
More info: <www.bikesummer.org>.


________________________________

      CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
      _______________________________________


CAR BUSTERS STILL OFFERS HONEST LIVING

We are looking for a "core" staff member to provide long-
term organisational stability by joining the collective for
two years or more.
    If you have a good number (but not necessarily all) of
the following attributes, then you could be among the
finalists: strong English writing and editing skills, a sense
of humour, publication layout skills, web design ability, an
activist perspective, communications/media skills,
campaigning experience, attention to detail, extensive
knowledge of transport(ation) issues, fundraising
experience, self-motivation/initiative, and a desire to pull
these all together to stir things up at the international
level.
    Please send us your resume (CV) and a cover letter
describing yourself and your relevant skills and
experience.
    The first test of your personal initiative will be to find
our address - please do not reply to the bulletin address.


TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III UPDATE

It's not yet too late to register! The conference will be
March 17-22, 2003, at the Toulcuv Dvur Ecological
Centre in Prague, Czech Republic. The conference is
especially intended for those already working on
transport, whether it be organising car-free days or
building the car-free cities of the future. Highlights will
include walking and biking tours of Prague, international
videos and slideshows, and a benefit concert with local
bands capping off a great week o' fun.
    The programme will balance presentations with round-
table discussions, strategy sessions and other
participatory activities. Our superstar presenters will
include: Joel Crawford (author of Carfree Cities, editor of
Carfree.com), John Whitelegg (editor of World Transport
Policy & Practice), and Lars Gemzoe (co-author of New
City Spaces and Public Spaces - Public Life).
    See <http://www.carbusters.org/conference> for more
information. This site will be continually updated in the
coming months.


_________________

      THINGS TO READ >>
      ______________________


HOW TO ROCK AND ROLL
- A City Riders Repair Manual by Sam Tracy
Black Kettle Graphics, paperback, ISBN 0967602602

I think I'm probably not the only one finding it hard to
motivate myself to use my bicycle in these cold winter
months - at this point those of you lucky enough to be
living in warmer climes can sit back and smile smugly.
    So reading Sam Tracy's guerilla cycle repair book was
a good way to remind myself about the trusty two-
wheeled machine locked away in the garage. You can
learn more than you ever need to know about bikes -
well, sewn-in tyres were new to me at least - but most
importantly you can get swept away by this man's
passionate and enthusiastic promotion of the bicycle as a
way of life.
    "This visionary prole hurls invective and epithets,
lampoons pretensions and sparks our imaginations,"
says Critical Mass pioneer Chris Carlsson. "Fix your
bike? Sure! Fix the world, too? Why not?"


_____________

      DISCLAIMER >>
      __________________


Just because Arnie has twelve Hummers it does NOT
mean that you need one too. Cars are not soft.
And if you read about the February 4 petrol blockade too
late, don't fret, just abstain from oil another day.

[end]




____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727
<info@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>
____________________________________________


Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now:
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory>

Towards Car-Free Cities III Conference
Hosted by Car Busters, March 17-22, 2003, Prague
<http://www.carbusters.org/conference>

Hardly have we gathered our wits together after the Towards Car-Free
Cities conference, then it is time to compile another monthly e-mail
bulletin. So please give us a shout on this address to let us know
what's been going on in your areas, and this address will shout back
to you very soon with all the latest transport news from this violent
and unseemly world.

Et maintenant, j'essai une traduction moi-męme....

Manquant le temps pour ranger nos cervelles aprčs la conférence Vers
des Villes Sans Voitures, il est l'heure de composer un autre E-
Bulletin Mensuel. Donc, s'il vous plait, donnez-nous un cri avec
toutes vos nouvelles de vos régions, et nous vous recrierons tres
bientôt avec toutes les nouvelles de transport les plus recentes de
notre monde violente et discourtois.

...et n'inquiétez pas, un vrai traducteur travaillera sur ce bulletin
soi-męme.

See you later / ŕ bientôt - Richard le Car Buster

____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727
<info@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>
____________________________________________


Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now:
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory>

Towards Car-Free Cities III Conference
Hosted by Car Busters, March 17-22, 2003, Prague
<http://www.carbusters.org/conference>

Sexy, strident and politically aware, the bulletin flashes onto
screens across the globe, fashionably late and impeccably trim.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Car Free Cities conference
and made it such a great event, more about this below.


_________________________

      CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN >>>
      ________________________________


Edition no. 45 - April 2003 - English version
.............................................................


Contents:

WORLD NEWS
-CAR COMPANY PROPAGANDA FOILED
-A TERRIBLE ROAD RAGE INCIDENT
-CRITICAL MASS NEWS FROM
   -NEW YORK
   -HAMILTON
   -BRUSSELS
   -SANTIAGO
-CORPORATE GREED THREATENS EUROPE'S UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS

ANNOUNCEMENTS
-CARNIVAL AGAINST WAR AND CLIMATE CHAOS
-HOW TO MAKE BIODIESEL
-CONNECTING THE CITY
-WALK21 IV: HEALTH, EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENT
-FANCY A CAR-FREE MEETUP?

CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS
-POST-CONFERENCE REPORT - TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III
-CZECH REPUBLIC LOSES RICHARD

DISCLAIMER


_______________

      WORLD NEWS >>
      __________________


CAR COMPANY PROPAGANDA FOILED
[spotted by Katie Sobush]

General Motors Canada has pulled an ad campaign suggesting that
transit buses are full of "creeps and weirdos". The company was
responding to a flood of complaints about an advertisement that ran
in Canadian newspapers touting the Chevy Cavalier as "an affordable
alternative" to riding the bus.
    Other ads in the campaign, which featured pictures of buses with
messages in their destination cards, suggested that riding the bus
exposed you to "Hours of Hell" and "Bacterial Stew."
"It's a pretty offensive ad", said Marion Town of Better
Environmentally Sound Transportation. She said the ads suggest that
"not only is the bus experience threatening, but it's long."
Strangely, they also promote GM's support for Vancouver's 2010
Olympic bid, which favours effective and environmentally sustainable
transportation like buses.


A TERRIBLE ROAD RAGE INCIDENT
[sent by Howard Peel]

When Stephen Kirwin waved his fist at Carl Baxter, after his bicycle
and trailer narrowly avoided being hit by the car Baxter was driving,
he triggered a terrible road rage incident. Baxter reversed his
Ranger Rover 200m at high speed, intending to run over Kirwin and his
daughter Emily (aged four) who was being towed in the trailer. Both
were seriously injured with Emily not regaining consciousness for six
days. Baxter fled the scene of the attack and already had previous
offences for a 'road rage' attack and reckless driving. He was given
two years in jail for assault and 15 months for dangerous driving,
plus only a two year(!) driving ban, with all sentences to run
concurrently.
    Local cyclists feel this sentence does nothing to protect
vulnerable road users and sends the message that even drivers who go
so far as to deliberately use their cars as a weapon can expect to
receive no more then a short ban.


CRITICAL MASS NEWS

Santiago, Chile
[received from Matthias Bauer]

A group of influential bicyclists have had enough of Santiago's foul
air. On the first Tuesday of each month, they clog the city's broad
avenues at rush hour with their pedal-powered machines and shout out
demands for bike paths, bike racks and respect from drivers of buses
and cars. Bicycles, they say, are part of the solution to Santiago's
smog.
    "The traffic gets annoying, but we have full control and it is
quite an empowering feeling that these manpowered vehicles can cause
such a scene," said Marion von Dehn, a member of the group,
Movimiento Furiosos Ciclistas. "Occasionally, cars honk in support."
    Reports in the Chilean press indicate the government has a sincere
interest in the Furiosos and is committed to making Santiago a better
and safer city. Bicycle friendliness, say the Furiosos, is vital to
the improvement of Santiago.

Peace Rally, March 22 - New York, USA
[based on a report submitted by Aaron Tarfman]

Over 100 people on bicycles created an unofficial parade as they
travelled through the streets while refusing to allow automobiles to
pass.  Chants of "Bikes not bombs!" and "No Blood for Oil" filled the
air.  Bells were ringing amid lots of hooting and singing. The ride
went north along Eighth Avenue and met the voluminous mass of people
moving down Broadway on the peace rally.  At every point where they
reached the march, they stopped and held up signs, or even bikes
sometimes. The ride moved up and down the streets crossing towards
the rally several times to show support. This was the longest running
Critical Mass ride in the group's history.

Pedal For Peace, March 28 - Hamilton, Canada
[based on a report by Randy Kay]

Making their way through wide, one-way streets lacking basic
infrastructure for cyclists, the Mass slows the pace of the city to a
calmer, saner, safer speed. As cities in Iraq are bombarded, some on
the ride equate the profligate burning of fossil fuels with the
burning of human flesh in oil wars. "No more oil/No more war/Time to
take our bikes out more!" goes the chant. From sidewalks, pedestrians
watch in amusement or disbelief as the group glides by.
A cyclist with a knack for alliteration shouts out: "For fossil fuel-
free fun/Bicycles are number one!" On his back a home-made sign "Burn
Fat, Not Fuel." The smiles of the cyclists give indication of just
how liberating a ride like this can be. The lack of safe routes in
the city acts as a deterrent to thousands of would-be cyclists, so,
for some, Critical Mass is their first positive experience cycling
downtown.

Fifth anniversary ride, March 28 - Brussels, Belgium
[sent by Stephane]

We were 130 cyclists in the town (a record for the CM in Brussels!),
ready for a trip to the centre of the city. We passed through five
years of bad and good transport improvements into the town, our
biggest problem being the paving stones, which seem to be the new
leitmotiv here. We finished the fair with the blocking of the Bourse
Square, which is a very central concourse. We stayed there for 20-25
minutes, the cops came but 15 minutes too late.
More info and also pictures can be found at
<http://placeovelo.collectifs.net>.


CORPORATE GREED THREATENS EUROPE'S UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS
[Sourced from CorpWatch and International Rivers Network]

The Icelandic government plans to construct a large hydropower
project in Iceland's Eastern Highlands, one of Europe's largest
remaining wilderness areas, in order to supply power to a US aluminum
smelter owned by Alcoa.
    The Kahranjukar Project involves building miles of roads, boring a
series of tunnels, diverting dozens of rivers to create three
reservoirs and erect nine dams, including one that is 630 feet tall
(Europe's highest).
    US-based Alcoa is the world's largest aluminum producer and is
moving to Iceland not to expand production, but to cut costs. It is
closing smelters in the US and moving to Iceland where the government
is offering dirt-cheap electricity. It's not just cheap power that
draws Alcoa to Iceland: Iceland's reliance on geothermal power has
given it an exemption from the Kyoto Protocol's fossil fuel
emissions, which would allow Alcoa's smelter to operate without
having to pay penalties for any carbon dioxide emissions.
    According to an independent analysis commissioned by Iceland's
Nature Conservation Agency, it will likely produce annual losses of
$36 million. The group has led a strong campaign against Karahnjukar
for several years.
    For more information, please visit <www.inca.is>.
    Also go to
<http://www.corpwatch.org/action/PAA.jsp?articleid=5828> to send a
free fax to Alcoa telling them to withdraw from their destructive
project.


_____________________

      ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
      _____________________________


CARNIVAL AGAINST WAR AND CLIMATE CHAOS
[a reminder from London Rising Tide <london@...>]

You are invited to be part of the carnival taking place outside BP's
Annual General Meeting at 10am, 24 April 2003 at the Royal Festival
Hall, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London. If you’re despairing over
the carnage this installment of the war on terror has wrought, don’t
forget how close we came to preventing it. Countless people across
the world have seen the war machine stripped bare for the first time,
seen the intimate connections between the military, government, big
oil and capitalism itself. And instead of staring dazedly at their TV
screens, they’re getting up and getting active, which is a cause for
celebration in the midst of all the darkness. The Carnival Against
Oil Wars and Climate Chaos will be another sign of that spirit of DIY
resistance.
    There will be a Critical Mass bike ride as part of the day’s fun
and games, meeting at 9.30am at BP’s new headquarters - 1, St. James’
Square, SW1 - and ending up at the Carnival.


HOW TO MAKE BIODIESEL
[Low-Impact Living Initiative <www.lowimpact.org>]

May 12-14 2003 at Redfield Community, Buckinghamshire
Cost: GBP 150 waged, GBP100 unwaged. Discounts for 'Friends of LILI'.
All meals and accommodation included.
    Learn how to produce your own cheap, carbon-neutral diesel - no
need for alterations to your engine. This course covers everything
from a small home-made plant, to commercial-scale biodiesel
production.
    Low-Impact Living Initiative (LILI) is dedicated to helping
protect the global environment by promoting sustainable alternatives
to various aspects of everyday life. Contact us to find out more
about our installations, courses, presentations and manuals.
Contact: LILI, Redfield Community, Buckingham Road, Winslow, Bucks,
MK18 3LZ tel / fax: (01296) 714184


CONNECTING THE CITY
[picked from the Planum Newsletter <news@...>]

The Fifth Biennial of Towns and Town Planners in Europe will be held
in Barcelona in April 10,11 and 12, 2003. It will explore the spatial
impacts of transportation and other networks supplying resources such
as information, materials or energy and the challenges they create
for spatial planning.
    More details on <http://www.planum.net/archive/bie-barcelona.htm>


WALK21 IV: HEALTH, EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENT
[sent by Ellen Vanderslice]

The 4th International Conference on Walking in the 21st Century will
be held May 1-3 at the Portland Marriott Downtown in Portland,
Oregon. Featured speakers include the Surgeon General of the United
States Dr. Richard Carmona, Jan Gehl and many others. Wednesday,
April 9, is the last day to register for the conference at the
regular rate of $385 ($325 for NGOs/non profits, $250 students). For
registration information, visit
<http://americawalks.org/walk21/registration>, or e-mail
<register@...>. More about the conference can be found online
at <http://www.walk21.com>.


FANCY A CAR-FREE MEETUP?
[from Laura Craft <laura@...>]

Meetup creates real-world group gatherings about anything anywhere.
They've built a technology and a network of venues (cafes, bars,
etc.) that can help any interest group easily organise local monthly
meetups in over 545 cities across 34 countries. Meetup with other
local individuals interested in plotting the removal of the
automobile from your city!
    People interested in car-free cities worldwide are invited. 11
have signed up so far.
Click to <http://carfree.meetup.com/>.


_________________________________

      CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
      ______________________________________


POST-CONFERENCE REPORT - TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III

Sixty participants from across Europe and beyond descended on Prague
April 17-22, a week packed with presentations, round-table strategy
sessions, a press conference and official public day, a walking tour,
a bike ride, and finally, a big closing party and concert.
    Featured presenters included J.H. Crawford (author of "Carfree
Cities" and publisher of Carfree.com), Oscar Edmundo Diaz (organiser
of the now-famous car-free days in Bogota, Colombia), Lars Gemzoe (co-
author of "New City Spaces" and "Public Spaces - Public Life",
Copenhagen, Denmark), Kirstin Miller (of Ecocity Builders, Berkeley,
USA), and John Whitelegg (Professor of Environmental Studies, author
and transport consultant, Lancaster, UK).
    Above all, the high-energy, productive week resulted in the
forging of invaluable interpersonal contacts and collaborations and a
strengthening of the international Car Busters network. The network,
it was decided, will hold a Towards Car-Free Cities conference
annually in Central Europe - with TCFC IV to be held in July, August
or September 2004, possibly in Berlin or somewhere in Poland. The
network will use the name Car Busters in some situations, but also
gain flexibility by utilising a second, more conservative-sounding
name where appropriate. That second name is still undecided but could
be something like Car-Free International or the Towards Car-Free
Cities Network (suggestions welcome).
    Aside from the continuing conference series, a number of
collaborative projects were prioritised for the coming year and the
long-term, such as a website aimed at officials and planners, and the
founding of a Car-Free Institute based in Venice. The conference also
wrote a proposal for a coordinated global World Car-Free Days
programme, which was then delivered in person by Oscar Edmundo Diaz
to the European Union in Brussels and the United Nations in New York.
    Discussions are continuing with vigour on
<carfree_conf3@yahoogroups.com>, which is open to anyone working on
issues of transport and urbanism. Following discussions, a second
list,  <carfreeecovillages@...>, has been created for
those interested in establishing one or more explicitly car-free
ecovillages in Europe or elsewhere.


CZECH REPUBLIC LOSES RICHARD

Today, with tear-pricked eyes we watched Rich as he lazily cycled
down Kratka for the last time. We'll miss his rapier wit and awe-
inspiring culinary skills around these parts. All the Car Busters
family wish him the best of luck in York. May your next homebrew be
the best one yet Rich, we the citizens of Prague salute you.


___________________

      DISCLAIMER >>
      __________________


Despite the gloomy nature of some of the news items here and the
continuing terror caused by the US industro-military complex
worldwide, life goes on. And life is great. So you're not alone, keep
on doing what you're doing, stay on smiling, be nice to people, these
are the most revolutionary things we can do.


[end]


____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727
<info@...> - <http://www.carbusters.org>
____________________________________________


Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now:
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory>

Study Announcement

If you are a wheelchair user who sits in your wheelchair while
riding public buses, and you can complete a survey on the Internet
or have a family member or personal assistant help you complete it,
we have an opportunity for you!  The University of Pittsburgh is
investigating the real-world usage patterns of wheelchair
transportation safety equipment on public buses, and we would like
your input.

To participate in the study, you must:
• Be eighteen years or older
• Sit in your wheelchair while riding public buses
• Have access to the Internet
• Live in the United States of America

If you would like to participate or would like more information
about this study, please point your browser at
http://www.wheelchairnet.org/survey/bus.html

----- Original Message -----
From: "World Carfree Network" <info@...>
To: <info@...>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 2:50 PM
Subject: Towards Carfree Cities IV - July 19-24, 2004 - Berlin

[one-time e-mail / please circulate widely]

Conference announcement:

TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES IV
19-24 July, 2004 - Berlin, Germany
www.worldcarfree.net/conference/

Towards Carfree Cities IV will bring together people from across Europe
and beyond who are promoting practical alternatives to car dependence -
walking, cycling and public transport, and ultimately the transformation
of cities, towns and villages into human-scaled, pedestrian environments
rich in public space and community life. The focus will be on strategy,
collaboration and exchange, assisting the practical work of conference
participants - whether it be organising car-free days, promoting urban
cycling, or building the carfree cities of the future.

The conference is being organised by World Carfree Network in
partnership with BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany), Green City,
Autofrei Wohnen, Autofrei Leben!, ITDP Europe, UMKEHR and Carfree.com.

Early registration discount available until 19 March. Discounted fees
are 170 EUR (full rate) and 100 EUR (NGO/student rate). On-line credit
card payment available.

All details including programme and registration can be found at
www.worldcarfree.net/conference/. Contact: info(at)worldcarfree.net.

  Other announcements:

- The 14th annual Ecotopia Biketour will ride from Vienna to The
Netherlands from 1 July to 9 August, with a stop-over at the Towards
Carfree Cities IV conference in Berlin. Details at www.thebiketour.net.
Contact: kuijperroeland(at)yahoo.com.

- World Carfree Network offers an on-line searchable Contact Directory
of organisations around the world promoting alternative transport.
Register your group in the directory today at
www.worldcarfree.net/directory/.

- Our monthly e-bulletin, World Carfree News, is available for free in
four language versions (English, French, German and Czech). To sign up,
go to www.worldcarfree.net/bulletin/.

[end]

  ________________________________________________

WORLD CARFREE NETWORK Kratka 26, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic tel:
+(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727 <info@...> -
<http://www.worldcarfree.net>
________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: sustran-discuss-bounces+ecoplan.adsl=wanadoo.fr@...
Behalf Of Robert Cowherd - robert_cowherd@...
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 4:19 PM
  Subject: [sustran] Re: feeder systems in other cities

Alan and others,

Here are some responses to your questions on the Jakarta BRT:

1. Operation: The Jakarta Busway opened (in haste) on 15 January and
was free for two weeks. Fares of Rp2500 (US$0.30) have been charged
since 1 February.

2. Capacity: The private and public buses running along the Jl.
Thamrin-Jl. Sudirman corridor from Blok M in the South to Kota in the
north used to carry an estimated 60,000 passengers a day sharing the
three fast travel lanes. Officially these bus routes have been either
cancelled or rerouted so that no competing routes overlap for more than
a short segment of the 12.9 kilometer busway route. Still, even in the
initial excitement of the no-fare period, only an estimated 20,000
passengers a day used the busway.

One factor is Indonesian public transportation culture: Bus riders are
used to being picked up and dropped at any point along a bus route, a
privilege they have come to count on dressing for the air-conditioned
office not a long walk in the equatorial sun. I have seen bus
passengers request (and get) buses to stop less than ten meters from
where the last passengers got off. In contrast, busway shelters are
spaced an average of two thirds of a kilometer apart along the
corridor. Undisciplined drivers reverting to smoking and eating have
also been cited as a significant factor.

Jakartans have become incensed at the folly of being stuck in the jams
of the remaining two free travel lanes while the busway sits empty
except for the half-empty BRT buses coming by every 3 to 4
minutes--thus the planned "minor adjustment" of adding back the lost
free travel lane via road widening by taking space from the planted
medians and sidewalks. The road widening is scheduled to start in
March--perhaps a new record in acknowledging failure of a public
transportation project. Jakarta Gov. Sutiyoso is no Penalosa.

3. Feeders: Of the 17 identified feeder bus routes many are located too
far from Busway shelters and with inadequate sidewalk access to be
practical in the context of Jakarta. The Jakarta Post reports
widespread confusion, inconsistent implementation, and reluctance by
drivers and conductors to accept the joint feeder bus ticketing system.
The Blok M-Kota busway is the first of 14 planned busway corridors with
the next four planned for implementation by 2007.

4. Sources: I know of no useful website but was able to get some
information from newspapers with web archives. The Jakarta Post is the
best English language source (<www.thejakartapost.com>). There have
been two studies released recently that deal in whole or part with the
busway that might be available for acquisition. These are from the
Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and one from
Pelangi/Intrans, (I thought that Pelangi was an active Sustran
participant).

I hope you find this of interest,

Robert Cowherd
Cambridge, USA

>  One of the biggest difficulties we face when trying to improve
> public transport is finance.
>
>  A London property developer, Don Riley, in his book "Taken for a
> Ride", has estimated that the Jubilee Underground Line extension in South
> and East London has raised land values by Ł13 billion within 1 km radius
> around the ten new stations on the line.
>
>  The line only cost Ł3.5bn to build.
>
>  If this value were collected by means of a Location Benefit Levy
> then there would have been enough income to pay for three new lines
> without any resource to taxes on trade or higher fares.
>
>  Happy to send more information personally to anyone requesting it.
>
>  Dave
>
>  Dave Wetzel
>  Vice-Chair
>  Transport for London
>  42-50 Victoria Street. London.
>  SW1H 0TL.  UK
>
>  Tel: 020 7941 4200
>


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