EU transportation plan draws fire; Cash for Clunkers rolls on; kids are losing freedom to roam; $20/gallon gas; septuagenarian smashes cars in China; blog news; cool stuff.
– Oregon land use officials have voted unanimously against adding environmental protection to the state’s list of land use goals.
– After hard lobbying by the governor (and by Mayor Sam Adams), Portland is set to receive $2.4 billion in federal funds for building and promoting electric cars, as well as winning a contract with a major overseas car company to test its new electric product, beginning in fall 2010.
– Toyota has reported a $819 million loss in the last quarter.
– The European Commission has released its vision for the future of transportation in Europe, beginning in 2010, with a focus on technology and integration of modes. Environmental groups are already applying pressure to increase the plan’s focus on sustainability.
– Local media is still processing the Cash for Clunkers program — Sarah Mirk at the Mercury is pissed off, Leslie Carlson at BlueOregon thinks it should include bikes.
– A new sociological study reports that since 1929 children have gained considerable freedom (ie, in self-expression, chores) inside the home, but have become extremely restricted in their activities and movement outside of the house.
– Forbes has run a column positing that $20/gallon gas will make us “skinnier, safer.”
– In China, a 74 year old man has taken to “smashing cars” with a brick whenever someone runs the red light at a pedestrian crossing near his home. He’s posted a manifesto and gained a good deal of press. The Beijing Times interviewed him, and it’s well worth reading.
– Remember the firefighter in Asheville, NC who shot a guy in the head because he was angry with him for riding on the road with his kid? Murder charges have been dropped, leaving him to face a felony assault charge with a possible 20 – 25 months in prison.
– Here in Portland, on-street parking downtown is no longer free on Sundays.
– Like Portland, Chicago is experiencing setbacks trying to get a bike sharing system up and rolling.
– Vancouver, BC has put a hold on one of its major weekly carfree street fairs.
– Boston.com “reports” that people on bicycles don’t follow the rules of the road. Much commentary ensues.
– Baltimore, Maryland (we’ve covered their burgeoning bike scene) has its first ghost bike after a right hook fatality.
– Bus Chick, a Seattle columnist, has one major complaint about being carfree with a young child. The problem? Carseat logistics when they use rental cars or catch rides with friends.
– A Portland blogger has some suggestions for Amtrak on streamlining its processes for allowing bikes on board.
– A reporter from Vancouver, BC write a glowing feature about Portland’s bike-friendliness.
– A design student is getting set to produce a folding bike that collapses down to the size of one of its wheels.
– Worry about forgetting your bike lights, running out of batteries, all that? Check out this light-up bike frame.