In this issue of WCFN…

QUOTATION OF THE MONTH

WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Invitation to Contribute to Carbusters Magazine
- Coming up in Carbusters 38!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Urban Transportation 2009, Abu Dhabi, UAE (April 26-29)
- Bike Summit, Toronto, US (May 28)
- Great Places, Great Cities 2009, Glasgow, Scotland (June 4-5)
- 58th UITP World Congress, Vienna, Austria (June 7-11)
- Congress for the New Urbanism 17, Colorado, US (June 10-14)
- Ecotopia Bike Tour 2009
- Bicycle Music Festival Plans European Tour

IN THE NEWS

- General Motors Fear’s Liquidation
- US Public Transport Use Highest in 2008
- Scrap Car Scrapping Schemes
- India Tax Cars to Buy Buses
- Bikes for Everyone in South Africa
- UK Worst for Traffic Pollution
- World’s Cheapest Car Hits the Road
- Cardiff First Welsh Sustainable Travel Town

REPORTS

- Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision Making
- Cycling in the Netherlands

MEDIA & NETWORKING

- Google Earth Offers Bird’s Eye View of US Emissions
- Running on Empty
- Zambikes in Africa
- Carfree Cities
- Car Free Journey Column

CURIOS

- Avoid Rush Hour, Earn Money
- Human Powered Forklift

SUPPORT WORLD CARFREE NETWORK

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QUOTATION OF THE MONTH

“The nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.”

U.S. President Barack Obama during his first speech to a Joint Session of
Congress that America must not abandon its automobile industry.

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WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Invitation to Contribute to Carbusters Magazine
Do you have carfree-related information you’d like to share with Carbusters?  Or do you have a burning issue you’d like to see covered in the magazine? We welcome new and existing volunteer contributors. It is important that contributions correspond with the objectives and topics of Carbusters and World Carfree Network. We invite you to send letters, article proposals, artwork and photos to:

[email protected]

The deadline for submissions is July 10th, 2009

- Coming up in Carbusters 38!
The next Carbusters magazine is coming up and is looking like a great issue! It features a new column by Joel Crawford on carfree conversions; a special on carfree activities in low-income countries; an interview with Andy Kunz, a well-known urban designer on the importance of New Urbanism for creating pedestrian-friendly cities; and a world news update on the decline of the car!

Subscribe to Carbusters magazine:
https://store.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=8WP&&    
Follow Carbusters online:
http://www.carbusters.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carbusters-magazine/15367218301?ref=ts

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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Urban Transportation 2009, Abu Dhabi, UAE (April 26-29)
This event is entitled “Creating integrated, sustainable and cost-effective urban transportation” offers workshops and a forum to discuss the key issues, challenges and solutions for creating world-class, integrated and sustainable urban transport. 
http://www.iqpc.com

- Bike Summit, Toronto, US (May 28)
Join leading thinkers, practitioners and decision-makers who are on the fast track to creating bikeable communities. Topics include: sharing international and Canadian best practices and perspectives of cycling; how to address barriers and implement bicycle-friendly policies; and recent best practices in
bike parking and bike stations.   http://www.torontocat.ca/main/bikesummit2009

- Great Places, Great Cities 2009, Glasgow, Scotland (June 4-5)
This two-day conference features a robust program of themed presentations, study tours, workshops and a range of keynote speakers. The wide range of topics will include discussions on green infrastructure, transforming cities through people-focused spaces, and the role of civic leaders and communities in
delivering sustainable cities.  http://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/default.asp?page=482

- 58th UITP World Congress, Vienna, Austria (June 7-11)
The International Association of Public Transport holds its 58th World Congress and the theme of this edition is “Public transport: making the right mobility choices”, which aims to help stakeholders to develop public transport.   http://www.uitp.org/vienna2009/

- Congress for the New Urbanism 17, Colorado, US (June 10-14)
The 17th annual gathering of New Urbanists provides an opportunity for education, collaboration, and networking. Participants from around the world will discuss development practices and public policies, as well as explore new initiatives to transform our communities.  http://www.cnu.org/cnu17/

- Ecotopia Bike Tour 2009
The 19th Ecotopia bike tour will take place this summer during July and August. This year’s route covers Western Balkans: Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. With the UN summit in Copenhagen ahead of us, this years’ bike tour will focus on climate change and energy. So besides cycling through beautiful landscapes and scenery, the bike tour will try to act upon important environmental issues that occur in the regions travelled through. They are currently looking for national coordinators for Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. More detailed information:
http://btwiki.ecobytes.net/Checklist_for_national/local_organisers and
http://btwiki.ecobytes.net/National_Coordinator
Read about the upcoming bike tour and subscribe to participate at:   http://www.ecotopiabiketour.net

- Bicycle Music Festival Plans European Tour
A band that has biked to Mexico and San Francisco is now planning 10 bicycle-based music festivals in European cities this summer. The Pleasant Revolution will travel city to city by bike with the Ginger Ninjas and four additional acts. The Revolution will provide a human powered sound system on their bicycles, which allows the band to play anywhere. This is truly self-sufficient bicycle touring: the band’s most recent tour avoided generating close to 60,000 pounds of CO2, or 95% of what a similar sized band creates in a
similar tour.   http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dd5qsvs2_87dgz7nhww

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IN THE NEWS

- General Motors Fear’s Liquidation
General Motors (GM) auditors have announced a “substantial doubt” over the ability of the firm to stay afloat, following ongoing losses and the struggle to generate cash flow.  2009 will be a “challenging” year for GM the auditors added. GM has already posted a US $30.9 billion loss for 2008 and plans to cut 47,000 jobs this year, as well as admitting that it might need another US $22.6 billion government loan to survive. GM also fears the possible bankruptcy could lead to a reluctance of consumers willing to buy bankrupt carmakers’ vehicles.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7926258.stm 

- US Public Transport Use Highest in 2008
2008 was an incredible year for public transportation in America. The American Public Transportation Association figures show that there was nearly 10.7 billion trips using public transportation in 2008, the highest level since 1956, and that public transportation use increased 38 percent since 1995. These are record numbers, which indicate that people are looking for cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient ways to travel.   http://t4america.org/blog/archives/724

- Scrap Car Scrapping Schemes
Many of Europe’s politicians are following the trend of providing financial incentives to “vehicle scrapping schemes”, which encourage people to replace old cars with new ones. The schemes are touted as environment-friendly, despite evidence that it can do more harm than good. Germany initiated a scheme whereby car owners are being paid 2.500 Euros to scrap any vehicle over nine years old and replace it with a new model. The scheme has been hailed as an economic success with record sales in February 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7936697.stm

- India Tax Cars to Buy Buses
The city council of Kolkata, India has committed to continue raising road tax rates of cars and motorcycles - while phasing out tax on buses. The state finance minister Asim Dasgupta has stepped on the gas to mop up revenue from owners of private cars and motorcycles by hiking the tax rates by nearly 100%.  The promise to hike tax is part of a stimulus package, which would enable the state to receive funds to assist the purchase buses by June 2009. The urban development ministry has approved 1,300 buses for the cities of Kolkata and Asansol, West Bengal, India.  http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73269.html

- Bikes for Everyone in South Africa
A project that aims to provide a bike for everyone in South Africa has gained support from the Johannesburg Department of Transport. The Shova Kalula (Bicycles for Everyone) project seeks to establish a bicycle manufacturing plant in South Africa to produce one million bicycles by 2014. The project forms part of government’s action programme and is expected to contribute to government’s anti-poverty strategy and second economy interventions. This is a great scheme promoting the use of non-motorised transport, especially for low-income households.
http://www.bike-eu.com/news/3337/south-african-bike-factory-in-new-phase.html

- UK Worst for Traffic Pollution
Britain has been named the worst country in Europe for road pollution in a study of local authorities. According to figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), UK levels of dangerous traffic fumes, caused by congestion and high population concentrations, are placing people’s health at risk. The government report stated that some stretches of road break EU air pollution laws in 95% of British cities and regions, compared with just 21% in France.
http://www.ciltuk.org.uk/pages/industry-news/article?DD4757DC-B1E0-4674-8553-B96224890893

- World’s Cheapest Car Hits the Road
Six years after the idea was hatched, the world’s cheapest car - the much-hyped Tata Nano - has been launched in New Delhi, India. The Nano has been nicknamed “The People’s Car” because its starting price of just US $2000 which makes it more accessible than any other new car on the market. With its 11.8-inch dinner-plate-size wheels and a single windshield wiper, the Nano has already drawn some unflattering comparisons to kitchen appliances and garden tools. The launch of the Nano is expected to revolutionise the auto industry and turn around automakers fortunes suffering from the financial crisis.  However, some car experts are unconvinced the Nano will succeed as is built to Indian safety specifications, which would not serve all markets, like Europe and the US.  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510196,00.html

- Cardiff First Welsh Sustainable Travel Town
Cardiff has been selected to become Wales’ first “Sustainable Travel Town” by the assembly government. The scheme worth UK £28.5 million aims to provide free cycle hire, bus travel around the city centre, and improved bike and walking routes. The council hopes extend the project to other areas of Wales once an initial two-year plan is complete.    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7936127.stm

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REPORTS

- Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision Making
This report describes the physical, operational, cost, performance and potential benefits of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. Its intended audience includes urban transportation professionals and officials involved in developing and evaluating high performance public transport systems. This report is the updated version of 2004 report. Read more at:   http://www.nbrti.org/CBRT.html

- Cycling in the Netherlands
This fine publication published by the Dutch Ministry of Transport outlines the important role cycling has as daily transport in and around cities. It covers everything from bicycle policy to recreational cycling with excellent examples throughout. Certainly worth a read:
http://www.fietsberaad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/CyclingintheNetherlands2009.pdf

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MEDIA & NETWORKING

- Google Earth Offers Bird’s Eye View of US Emissions
Google Earth has launched a new interactive map that provides an overview of the carbon footprint of different streets and buildings in the US. The new application allows users to view carbon emissions from factories, power plants, roads and residential areas in order to compare different regions performance.  One of the aims of this application is to help encourage businesses and individuals to take action to cut emissions.  http://www.purdue.edu/eas/carbon/vulcan/GEarth/

- Running on empty
Road transport is not paying its full costs. This is especially true for freight transport that does not pay for the environmental and health damages, accidents and congestion it causes. In order to raise public awareness about this problem, the Clean Air Action Group, Hungary prepared a short film showing that putting right the prices of road freight transport will lead to more sound economic decisions. http://www.levego.hu/kamionstop/eng/run_on_empty.swf

- Zambikes in Africa
This movie “Turning Africa Around, One Bike at a Time” highlights the many benefits of bikes in Africa and more particularly in Zambia. Zambikes is a Zambian company (established by American missionaries) that builds bicycles suited to the local conditions. The movie shows the creativity of this project through many different possible uses of a bike.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1P7tCsdHok

- Carfree Cities
Tramway, bicycles and people walking everywhere: streets are living places, and this black and white movie is a good testimony to life before the rise of car culture and is inspiring for a carfree future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJdwzY1o7k8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.copenhagenize.com%2F&feature=player_embedded

Transportation Alternatives, a New York-based advocacy group, has released also a documentary called “Contested Streets” exploring the rich diversity of life in New York’s streets before the introduction of automobiles. View a short version at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4Q2badOng&feature=related

- Car Free Journey Column
Steve Atlas, a member of the World Carfree Network, writes a monthly column, “Car Free Journey” for the monthly online newsletter: Ecocities Emerging.  The column spotlights options for carfree living and vacations minus a car in the United States. You can subscribe and view past columns at:  http://www.ecocitybuilders.org

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CURIOS

- Avoid Rush Hour, Earn Money
Drivers are being encouraged to avoid motorways during rush hour with the offer of cash incentives by the city council of Amsterdam, Holland. The scheme starting at the end of 2009, will offer up to 100 Euros per month to drivers who avoid the main highways during peak traffic times. The cars of participating drivers will be fitted with technical apparatus that register when they make use of the motorway. The aim of this project is to reduce the number of cars on the road, a council spokesperson reaffirmed “We hope people
will leave their cars at home more often, choose another means of transport or work from home”.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/03/amsterdam_to_pay_drivers_to_av.php

- Human Powered Forklift
Have a look at this interesting innovation coming from Japan. It is not specified which weight can be lifted with it, but it seems to work and deserves to be promoted. In addition, the movie is short and funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=JP&hl=ja&v=NlLLEdXUEWY

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SUPPORT WORLD CARFREE NETWORK

Our joint carfree vision is only as strong as the people who support us. By donating to WCN you’ll strengthen the voice of the movement that’s committed to defending our right to a sound, sustainable future.

For donating and joining as a member, please visit: http://www.worldcarfree.net/join.
Your support will make a huge difference.

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Bulletin #66 by Jane Harding and Marko Thull

World Carfree News - Monthly Newsletter
WORLD CARFREE NETWORK
http://www.worldcarfree.net/bulletin

World Carfree News is published once a month by World Carfree Network.
aad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/CyclingintheNetherlands2009.pdf.org/CBRT.html.com/ShowEvent.aspx?id=166586

Tags: Alternative Transportation, mobility, transportation costs, walkable