Transport – Jan 31

January 31, 2009

Click on the headline (link) for the full text.

Many more articles are available through the Energy Bulletinhomepage


Airlines in financial crisis, aviation group says

Marilyn Adams, USA TODAY
Airlines around the globe are in their most widespread financial crisis since World War II, the world’s largest aviation trade group said Thursday.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 230 airlines worldwide, reported that December’s international air passenger traffic fell 4.6% year-over-year, and only about 74% of plane seats were sold. International air cargo volume fell an unprecedented 22.6% year-over-year, a sign of plummeting consumer spending.

“There is no clearer description of the slowdown in world trade,” said Giovanni Bisignani, the association’s CEO.
(29 January 2009)


Airlines report ‘shocking’ plunge in traffic

Kevin Done, Financial Times
The airline industry reported on Thursday an “unprecedented and shocking” plunge in global air cargo traffic.

Air freight accounts for 35 per cent of the value of goods traded internationally and the International Air Transport Association said traffic volumes had fallen by 22.6 per cent year-on-year in December.
(29 January 2009)


Empty Seat Travelling Reconsidered

Matthias Weber, PSFK Hamburg
With the economy in decline and peak oil in the back of our minds, many of us are rethinking the way we travel. While some are rediscovering the amenities of train travel, others are warming up to the idea of sharing their sacred car space with others, even if it means losing some convenience or privacy.

The system of ridesharing has a long history of its own in Germany, where the first national rideshare institutions were established in the 1950s. Over the course of time, posts within all major cities’ central stations and universities evolved where rideshares could be arranged on commission. The original “rideshare shacks” have mostly disappeared in favor of more appealing and flexible services available on the internet, such as market leader Mitfahrgelegenheit.de. With about 30 million visits and around 150,000 offered rides per month, the platform offers an easy and convenient way for people either seeking or selling ridespace to get in touch. It’s become one of the easiest ways to travel in Germany when you are on a budget (- and of course, it’s also more environment friendly than driving your own car).
(23 January 2009)


Peak Personal Automobile

Robert Blurton, Boise Sustainable Living Community
Right now, gas is cheap, and the motoring public is breathing a sigh of relief, but they are not driving more, and have almost stopped buying vehicles. What is going on?

The widespread use of personal automobiles exists due to several factors:

*Roads – Many roads exist, that are very smooth, going to places we need to visit
*Income – We have the income to spend on buying, maintaining, and fueling
*Fuel – Motor fuel is widely available and affordable
*Mobility – We need to visit distant places because we live in a sprawling infrastructure

If you remove any one of the above requirements, a person will no longer ‘need’ a car. Lets look at each of the things that are necessary for the existence of the personal automobile.

… Conclusions

Right now, people are afraid of losing their jobs, worried about their vanishing 401K and home values, and worried about the future, which translates into less spending on cars. This trend will likely get worse going forward. (…or better depending on your hatred of the personal automobile)

Widespread fuel shortages are very possible in 2009 and mobility needs are decreasing as people lose jobs and find ways around taking many car trips per day. Roads continue to deteriorate with not much real action to fix them because the cost was too high, and now the financial problems are too severe.

I wouldn’t bet my money on the future of the personal automobile; in fact, I’d short it heavily.

Food, not cars

President Obama, please do not spend the final wealth of America on roads that will be useless in the near future. We need to focus on creating millions of new farmers, growing food the old fashioned way, right where we eat it, not hundreds of miles away. Have the courage to show us the truth, and we will do the right thing.
(25 January 2009)


Tags: Transportation