cars Archive

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  Wellington’s unpopular new tunnel still going ahead

  
  
  
  Wellingtonista quickly summarises the protest this morning about the City Council’s plans to go on a massively expensive road building spree from Ngauranga to Wellington airport. The plans include a Basin Reserve flyover and further car tunnels under Mount Victoria and The Terrace (just as we enter a financial crisis, peak oil and the need [...] read more
  October 31, 2008 3:57 pm - 13 Comments
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  A will but no way

  
  
  
  Today’s Shape New Zealand poll asked respondents a series of questions about what actions they have taken personally in the past year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help manage climate change.  Some of the transport answers are: Used alternative everyday travel options rather than use a vehicle – 25% Walked (rather than using the car) – [...] read more
  October 15, 2008 11:23 am - 5 Comments
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  Subsidising the oil burning industry

  
  
  
  George Monbiot has this story from the northern hemisphere about ‘the other bail out’: Last week, George Bush agreed to lend $25bn to US car manufacturers. It’s a soft loan, which will cost the government $7.5bn (1). Few people noticed; fewer fought it. The House of Representatives approved the measure by 370 votes to 58. The [...] read more
  October 14, 2008 3:21 pm - 9 Comments
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  Donna Wynd on strict liability for drivers who hit cyclists

  
  
  
  There has been some debate among frogblog commenters here about the part of the Green transport policy which talks about introducing clearer criminal liability for crashes involving active modes so that motorised vehicles are liable unless the pedestrian or cyclist has been reckless. Or, to put it more simply, Jeanette said in her speech on [...] read more
  September 24, 2008 3:55 pm - 12 Comments
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  Transport policy – $1 off peak fares anywhere in your city

  
  
  
  Jeanette announced the Greens’ transport policy – ‘Smart Moves’ yesterday at one of Wellington’s Car Free Day events. She noted that the key elements of the policy were ‘more choices for commuters and protection from prices at the petrol pump.’ Here’s the problem: This year we are spending just under $2 billion on roading work, and only [...] read more
  September 22, 2008 3:31 pm - 53 Comments
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  Car Free Day – Wellington

  
  
  
  This photo below shows the space fifty people in cars take, and the space taken by the same amount of people in a bus.  It’s also supposed to show the space the same number of people on bicycles take up, but the cyclists seem to be mingling in sociably with pedestrians and and other gadabouts [...] read more
  September 22, 2008 12:21 pm - 19 Comments
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  The Emissions Trading Scheme: time for your thoughts

  
  
  
  Chris Trotter has a pleasingly simple view on the world sometimes.  If something is supported by Labour and opposed by National it is good.  This is his view of the ETS despite the fact that it risks very real inequities that could hurt ordinary New Zealanders at the expense of big business.  Hence his plea [...] read more
  August 21, 2008 3:06 pm - 70 Comments
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  Dirty ol’ Arctic

  
  
  
  According to the American National Science Foundation coal burning, primarily in North America and Europe, has contaminated the Arctic and is potentially affecting human health and ecosystems in and around Earth’s polar regions. Detailed measurements from a Greenland ice core showed pollutants from burning coal–the toxic heavy metals cadmium, thallium and lead–were much higher than expected. Luckily [...] read more
  August 21, 2008 11:07 am - 1 Comment
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  big cars

  
  
  
  Spareroom found this children’s guide for life online comic book: It’s a bit harsh. There’s a place for big cars but that place probably isn’t suburban commuting or grocery trips. read more
  August 8, 2008 2:42 pm - 16 Comments
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  I’m glad you asked

  
  
  
  I’m glad to see my post on the issue of vehicle fuel efficiency standards has provoked such interest. Here are a few answers to a few questions: Kevyn, – my briefing on the $148m saved on power bills since the MEPs came in was an oral one but you could write to EECA and ask for [...] read more
  July 30, 2008 12:16 pm - 11 Comments