Click on the headline (link) for the full text.
Many more articles are available through the Energy Bulletin homepage
California officials unveil plans to turn San Francisco into electric car capital
Bobbie Johnson, Guardian
Officials in California have unveiled ambitious plans to turn the San Francisco Bay Area into one of the leading centres of electric vehicles in the world.
If it succeeds, the strategy announced yesterday will see billions of dollars poured into a new power infrastructure that will turn the region away from fossil fuel and to renewable energy – and convince millions of people to switch to green technology.
The plan, which will see the Bay become the first region of California to switch its transport systems entirely away from traditional fuel, is being supported by local government as well as the state’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
… At least $1bn is expected to be spent on improving green infrastructure to make the Bay area – which encompasses more than 7.6m people in the cities of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose and throughout Silicon Valley – the leading centre for electric vehicles in America, and potentially around the world.
The scheme involves a number of ground-breaking proposals to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, including speeding up the installation of electric vehicle charging outlets on streets and in homes, and offering incentives for companies to install charging stations in the workplace.
(21 November 2008)
Some discussion at the Nov 21 TOD DrumBeat about the shortcomings of electric cars. -BA
Blueprint of railways development
Xin Dingding, China Daily
China has long had plans for laying 120,000 km worth of railways by 2020, but as the global economic slowdown begins to bite, it looks as though the money will be spent faster than planned to help speed flagging economic growth in China.
In September and October, the Ministry of Railways announced eight new railway projects in various parts of the country. Their investment has added up to 405 billion yuan, equaling 78 percent of the total investment that China poured into railway construction from 2003 to 2007.
… Though most of the investment was approved in 2007 when China’s economy was still in a double-digit growth mode, the projects could still be highlights of the government’s moves to spur domestic demand, he says.
(17 November 2008)
A better way forward for bicyclists
Fergal MacErlean, Guardian
If motorists were automatically held liable for collisions with cyclists, drivers might adopt more risk-averse behaviour
—
… In an ideal world, there would be separate lanes for cyclists. The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany lead the way here. However, this is only one factor in making the cycle option palatable. Driver awareness of cyclists’ needs is crucial. The Highway Code’s instruction to “reduce your speed when … sharing the road with cyclists and … particularly children” is routinely ignored. I’m regularly amazed, angered and frightened by vehicles passing me closely at speed. This fear deters many potential cyclists. I drive – in fact, I love driving – but I can’t imagine encroaching on cyclists at speed.
In the Netherlands, according to a Rutgers university study (pdf), your chances of suffering a fatal bike crash are more than three times lower than in the UK. This is because, in addition to safer provision for bicycle riders, many motorists are themselves cyclists. They understand how vulnerable cyclists are. Evidence also indicates that increased cycling levels lead to greater safety.
There is another important factor at work in the Netherlands and in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and several others European countries. It’s the principle of strict liability. This puts the onus of responsibility on drivers in civil compensation cases in the event of a collision – not on the cyclist or pedestrian as is the case here. It does not affect criminal cases. Furthermore, as Roadpeace reports (pdf), in several of these countries children and the elderly are deemed not liable for their actions in civil cases. As far as I can see, this is bound to focus drivers’ minds.
(26 October 2008)
Kunstler: Water transit (audio)
Duncan Crary, KunstlerCast
James Howard Kunstler responds to a listener question about the future of water transportation in North America. There is a fabulous inland waterway system in North America that is going to become very important again. But if we want to remain serious about trade in this country, we are going to have to rebuild the infrastructure for water and rail transportation. All of those waterfronts where we’ve been building theme parks, condominium clusters and picnic grounds in recent times will have to make room for the warehouses, piers and sleazy accommodations for the sailors that are required by water transit.
(20 November 2008)
