tagged w/ Public Transportation
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A US company and its Chinese partner are piloting a bus powered by ultracapacitors in Washington DC. Ultracapacitors lack the capacity of regular batteries but are considerably cheaper and can be recharge completely in under a minute. Sinautec Automobile Technologies, based in Arlington, VA, and its Chinese partner, Shanghai Aowei Technology Development Company, have spent the past three years demonstrating the approach with 17 municipal buses on the outskirts of Shanghai. The executive director of Sinautec touts the energy efficiency of this approach: 'Even if you use the dirtiest coal plant on the planet [to charge an ultracapacitor], it generates a third of the carbon dioxide of diesel.A US company and its Chinese partner are piloting a bus powered by ultracapacitors in... more
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The regional rail agency is criticized for paying too little attention to safety -- including dangerous crossings -- on tracks it owns and uses.
By Doug Smith
September 25, 2009 | 10:45 p.m.
Although Metrolink safety lapses drew national attention last year when 25 people were killed in a head-on collision with a freight train, many more have died from commuter trains hitting automobiles and pedestrians.
Over the 15 years leading up to the deadly crash in Chatsworth, accidents involving trains running on Metrolink's system killed 218 other people, according to a detailed examination of accident records by The Times. Through September 2008, the number killed on the Metrolink commuter rail system was 244. Hundreds more people sustained nonfatal injuries.The regional rail agency is criticized for paying too little attention to safety --... more
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Shelley Pack and Sarah Norton break up with Carbon Dioxide, and ride public transportation to cut down on their CO2 emissions. Surviving the bus in Hollywood with short skirts and heels, can make saving the environment a true adventure.Shelley Pack and Sarah Norton break up with Carbon Dioxide, and ride public... more
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The Drive Smarter Video Contest (http://www.drivesmarterchallenge.org/contest/) invites anyone with a camera to submit a two-minute video illustrating one or more of the Drive Smarter Challenge campaign’s gas- and money-saving tips to compete for a $5,000 grand prize.
The goals of the campaign are to encourage people to drive smarter, reduce their gas consumption and drive fewer miles by combining errands, biking, telecommuting, walking, carpooling, or taking public transit.
The first 80 entrants whose videos meet the contest criteria will receive a $25 ExxonMobil Gift Card and a Car Care Council Car Care Guide. Once the contest judges select the finalists, the public will vote for the winners of these prizes:
• Grand Prize: $5,000
• Second Prize: Choice between one VIP NASCAR Race Package (two tickets and two garage/pit passes to a NASCAR race event) or one VIP Indy Racing League Package (two tickets and two garage/pit lane passes to an Indy race event, plus a ride in a specially modified Indy car driven by a pro driver);
• Third Prize: Whichever prize package hasn’t been selected by the second prize winner (either the VIP NASCAR Race Package or the VIP Indy Racing League Package);
• Fourth Prize: Transportation Efficiency Package: A set of 4 Michelin Energy Saver All Season Tires (or comparable tires for the winner’s vehicle), one-year AAA membership, and two Silver Spoke League of American Bicyclists memberships.
Get ready, get set, go!
Enter here: http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/contest/The Drive Smarter Video Contest (http://www.drivesmarterchallenge.org/contest/)... more
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Public Transportation Now.
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Finally, we are in the future -- Heathrow Airport is rolling out those driverless pod taxis it announced two years ago, and they look just as adorable as ever. The ULTra Personal Pod cars are fully automated battery-powered pods that zoom around at up to 25mph on a special road network, and can transport four passengers and their luggage between Heathrow's Terminal 5 and its business car parks. If, like us, you have a thing for retro-futuristic design, you'll do well to check out the gallery below, complete with interior shots, and there's also a video after the break. Enjoy!Finally, we are in the future -- Heathrow Airport is rolling out those driverless pod... more
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As many as thirteen people have been killed and three others critically injured after a train and a minibus collided at a level-crossing in the Romanian town of Iasi in the northeast of the country.
Police said the driver of the minibus failed to heed road signs. The crossing had no barriers.
Witnesses said that the driver was collecting fares from passengers when disaster struck. The train was travelling at around 80 kilometers per hour when the crash happened.
Romanian railway authorities said the accident is the latest in a series of 30 collisions on level-crossings this year alone.
CLICK FOR VIDEOAs many as thirteen people have been killed and three others critically injured after... more
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Several dozen people were injured when two San Francisco light-rail trains crashed Saturday afternoon at the West Portal Station, the authorities said.
Officials look over the cars that were damaged when a San Francisco Municipal Railway train rear-ended another near a boarding platform about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Forty-four people were taken to hospitals — three with what appeared to be severe injuries — when a San Francisco Municipal Railway L train rear-ended a K train at the boarding platform about 2:30 p.m., officials said.
Deputy Chief Pat Gardner of the San Francisco Fire Department said 20 people suffered moderate injuries. Chief Gardner described 21 more people as “the walking wounded.”Several dozen people were injured when two San Francisco light-rail trains crashed... more
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Honolulu Police are looking for Moanalia Falealili, a woman who robbed two kids at a bus stop.
Last year in February, she approached two girls who were sitting at a bus stop in front of Salt Lake Shopping Center.
"Moanalia Falealili sits next to them like she's at the bus stop, next thing you know she stands up, punches one of the victims in the face demands her purse takes her purse, turns to the second victim and searches her pockets removing some keys. falaalili is seen getting into a maroon suv with several other people and they flee", explained Kim Buffett of Crimestoppers.
Falealili was caught several hours later.
She pled guilty to two counts of robbery...and she's now wanted on a $20,000 warrant for not complying with the terms and conditions of the HOPE Probation.
Moanalia Falealili is 19-years old, 5-feet-6 inches tall, and 150 pounds.
If you have any information on her whereabouts, call Crimestoppers at 955-8300.Honolulu Police are looking for Moanalia Falealili, a woman who robbed two kids at a... more
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Kepano
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added this
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4 months ago
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Saving Fuel, Cleaning Up the Air, Reducing Traffic
Six new hybrid double deck buses will provide service on Route 141 in London. The B5L Hybrid Double Deck is made by Volvo and uses the company's I-SAM (Integrated Starter, Alternator, Motor) technology, which was developed for use across the whole group's heavy vehicles. No specific figure yet on fuel economy, CO2, or NOx emissions, but a Volvo 7700 Hybrid Single Deck in Gothenburg has been showing better than expected fuel economy (around 30% improvement). London might show even better results since the stops are closer to each other.
Green Car Congress wrote this in 2007 about the Volvo hybrid tech: "The I-SAM (Integrated Starter, Alternator, Motor) parallel hybrid system comprises a starter motor, drive motor and alternator fit between the clutch and the I-Shift automatic transmission. It supports regenerative braking; electric launch and assist; electrification of power steering, air compressor and airconditioning; and idle avoidance."
The hybrid bus can move up to 12 MPH in all-electric mode, and over that the diesel engine kicks in. One of the main benefits of the hybrid system in an urban area will certainly be the reduced smog-forming emissions. We hope that Volvo will update us soon with those numbers.
How About Natural Gas Hybrid Buses?
But to go even farther in that direction - short of an all electric battery or fuel cell bus - would be to have a CNG (compressed natural gas) hybrid bus. Such a bus (they exist) would certainly have very low PM and NOx emissions compared to even diesel hybrids, which is crucial in urban areas. And if the natural gas could be sourced from methaned captured in a landfill, it would even be close to carbon neutral. Are you listening, Volvo?Saving Fuel, Cleaning Up the Air, Reducing Traffic
Six new hybrid double deck buses... more
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I dream of a world without cars.
(as an ex smoker, I've come to appreciate and revere fresh air)I dream of a world without cars.
(as an ex smoker, I've come to appreciate and... more
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San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about the higher fares on MUNI. The question was submitted by BK2. Newsom spoke to changing MUNI routes, transit budget cuts, California budget crisis, solar bus shelters, incentive programs, incentivising transit use, public transit, electrifying the grid, switch stations, electric vehicle fleets, and car share programs.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is interviewed by Current Green's Leah Lamb about the... more
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leahl
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added this
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5 months ago
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On an unusually hot afternoon this spring, the streets of Barcelona are filled with bicyclist commuters -- university students zipping down wide avenues, business men in slim-cut suits, and the elderly, navigating a busy intersection on two shaky wheels.
Many of these users have just picked up the sport thanks to the city's Bicing program, which after only two years, has evolved from a novelty to a force of change, affecting the flow of traffic across the entire city.
While the United States continues to dither with small-scale programs in Washington DC, San Francisco, New York and Denver (Denver has 50 bikes, DC has a program & SF says they'll have a pilot program), Europe has nailed down the shared-bike program cold.
France's Vélib, with 20,000 bikes, may be the world's largest initiative, but Barcelona's Bicing is touted as one of the most successful.On an unusually hot afternoon this spring, the streets of Barcelona are filled with... more
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For years, Los Angeles has been waiting for a six-mile extension of the lightly traveled Gold Line to East Los Angeles, a neighborhood with a 95% Latino makeup. In a seeming effort of good faith, Supervisor Gloria Molina insisted that the extension be referred to exclusively in its direct Spanish translation, "la linea de oro."
However, most Spanish-speaking Angelenos refer to rail lines in English, aka "el red line." So why insist on translating the name? I think a certain county supervisor wants to make herself look good for her upcoming election...
Gotta love mass transit in Los Angeles.For years, Los Angeles has been waiting for a six-mile extension of the lightly... more
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At the risk of getting rust in the eye, eight lawmakers gazed Friday at the rougher edges of the Chicago area's mass transit network—a corroded metal roof at the Cicero Metra station; a decrepit, century-old 'L' platform and a cluster of beater-looking cars used on the Electric District line.
The participants called the Cicero station and other scenes of rust-streaked decay "eye-opening" and vowed to push their Springfield colleagues for a multibillion-dollar program to maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities.
If it doesn't happen, Chicago could lose its world-class stature and would be unworthy of the Olympic Games, said state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) who led the tour of four Metra and CTA stations.
Follow link to full story by By Richard Wronski for the Chicago TribuneAt the risk of getting rust in the eye, eight lawmakers gazed Friday at the rougher... more
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President Obama today put federal support behind a national high-speed rail plan than has been years in the making. Initial funding of $8 billion was included for high-speed rail projects in his stimulus package — to be spent over two years — and an additional $1 billion a year is being budgeted over the next five years.
According to the New York Times, the stimulus money has yet to be allocated to specific projects, but the key projects identified so far include:
- a northern New England line;
- an Empire line running east to west in New York State;
- a Keystone corridor running laterally through Pennsylvania;
- a southeast network connecting the District of Columbia to Florida and the Gulf Coast;
- a Gulf Coast line extending from eastern Texas to western Alabama;
- a corridor in central and southern Florida;
- a Texas-to-Oklahoma line;
- a California corridor from San Francisco to Los Angeles (already approved by CA voters)
- and a corridor in the Pacific Northwest.President Obama today put federal support behind a national high-speed rail plan than... more
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Thursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In today's show :
She's not a whore !
Watch out where you put your glass of water.
Sawing in the morning.
Nurses.
Clearing the throat.
Evacuated.
Proposed to.
Hold on to your boyfriends.
A fake fur.
Is one of my eyes bigger ?
Son's & Dad's.
Miserable poeple.
"I like big women".
Someone at the door.
A gadget arrives.
Gwen on the phone.
Leave her alone.
Carry on films.
Lots of visitors.
Unsung Angels.
Does the man across the road listen ? I do hope so.
She talks over me !
Belushi's.
The Victory Parade.
Traffic wardens.
Don't hire a car.
A good girl.
The paper work takes priority.
Experiences on public transport.
Street parties.
Today's show in video :
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTALK.CO.UKThursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT... more
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Sure, we can always take public transit -and be limited to bus schedules- or why not ride our bike to work - and arrive all sweaty to our board meeting. These are not so much attractive ideas after all. This is where this new website comes handy.Sure, we can always take public transit -and be limited to bus schedules- or why not... more
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"It’s late at night and you’re waiting for a train. You’ve had a couple of drinks and you’ve read all the graffiti, which, since eleven hundred M.T.A. workers were laid off, has spread to cover every inch of wall space along the platform. Twenty minutes pass. You observe the rats. You imagine all the folks upstate who, having driven home from their parties on state-funded highways, are snug in their beds, watching television, with no concern for their carbon footprints. With the money you spent this year on transportation, you could perhaps have bought some sort of hand-held video device on which to watch “Beat Street.”
Looks like you’re stuck with a secondhand book. Thankfully, the inability of state and city to set aside their differences and craft sustainable legislation on the transportation issue has been amply addressed in print. The first to come to mind is Robert A. Caro’s Pulitzer Prize-winning take-down, “The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.” Since you are currently living in Moses’s fallen city, this offers catharsis. Or there’s the equally enraging “Power Failure: New York City Politics and Policy Since 1960.”
Or perhaps you’re in the mood for something that will make you feel a little more grateful to be standing on the platform. “The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City” should do the trick...""It’s late at night and you’re waiting for a train. You’ve had a couple of... more
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![Metrolink system's toll: 244 [deaths]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/856/16/WF9671_60x45.jpg)
