Friday, December 19, 2014

Cars not selling well in Japan

Car Lobby Admits "Sense Of Panic" | Zero Hedge: "
The head of Japan's auto lobby on Thursday said a "sense of crisis" hung over the industry, with unexpectedly weak domestic sales revealing the failure of government stimulus policies and currency turmoil hitting key export markets.
 
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) Chairman Fumihiko Ike said an April sales tax hike was only partly to blame for the domestic sales weakness, citing the government's failure to boost consumption.
 
"We are seeing continued weakness in domestic new car sales that go beyond a backlash to the April sales tax hike," he said, adding that new car sales were down by double digits after the tax hike.
 
Both Toyota and Honda cut their domestic vehicle sales targets when they announced their second-quarter results in November and October respectively."

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

City real estate too high, gasoline too cheap. Result: sprawl

First-time home buyers flee Greater Taipei - The China Post: "Statistics showed that a total of 7,811 people moved to Keelung — about a 20-25 minute freeway drive to Taipei — in the first nine months of this year, with 71 percent of them coming from either Taipei or New Taipei, the ring that surrounds the capital."

Friday, October 17, 2014

Instead of fighting over energy, why not just stop wasting it

RIGZONE - Taiwan Considers Permanent Armed Ships for Disputed South China Sea Island: "TAIPEI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan is considering stationing armed vessels permanently on a disputed South China Sea island, officials said, a move bound to renew friction in a region claimed almost wholly by China, with Vietnam already dismissing such a plan as "illegal"."

Monday, October 6, 2014

Taiwan Today - New Taipei breaks ground on Tamsui LRS

Taiwan Today - New Taipei breaks ground on Tamsui LRS: "A ground-breaking ceremony for the Tamsui light-rail system was held Sept. 3 in New Taipei City, underscoring local government efforts to enhance districtwide public transportation services."



'via Blog this'

Friday, August 1, 2014

Free Pre-Peak Commutes Decrease Rush Hour Crowds

psfk.com : "In a bid to ease the commutes of thousands bustling to use Singapore’s public transit during rush hour, the Ministry of Transport Singapore (MRT) has been offering riders free admission to the transit system early in the morning.

The program has been active for over a year, and has been proven as a success. "

Monday, July 28, 2014

試乘BRT 馬英九:速度與舒適度不輸捷運-旅遊新聞-新浪新聞中心

試乘BRT 馬英九:速度與舒適度不輸捷運-旅遊新聞-新浪新聞中心: "他形容BRT是開到路面來的捷運,因為它像捷運一樣有站外收費、有月台、有行車控制中心、可水平進出的特點;台中市購置54部BRT,尖峰時段3分鐘一班、離峰時段6分鐘一班,有效解決台灣大道塞車問題。"

New Taichung BRT is fare-free for one year

Taipei Times: "The system consists of articulated buses — whose sections are connected by a pivoting point — that can carry up to 120 passengers and, for the most part, travels in a dedicated bus lane.
For the next year, passengers using electronic travel cards such as an EasyCard or iPass can use the blue line for free."

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

台灣有很多公交車,其中包括許多免費的

為了讓台灣比美國更能面對為未來的涸油,有更充分的準備, 還有更多的事情可以做。退出“自由貿易”,並專注於開發當地資源, 慢慢地提高汽油稅,及降低公交票價。

現在已經有很多公共班車都不必收票。這應當擴展。

Friday, May 16, 2014

China's thirst for oil exposes weakness of globalization

Taiwanese steel plant in Vietnam attacked by rioters - media | Reuters: "May 15 (Reuters) - A steel plant owned by Formosa Plastics Group, Taiwan's biggest investor in Vietnam, was attacked by rioters overnight, Taiwanese media reported on Thursday."

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Senior Citizens should be allowed to travel on public transport for FREE

The Real Singapore: "Why can’t the government, with all the surpluses (of taxpayers’ money) it has been accumulating every year provide a card for Senior Citizens that removes all encumbrances and allows free travel, renewable every two years?

I am sure that will not pose a problem to a cash-rich government like ours. Only then will it show that the government truly appreciate the sacrifices made by the Pioneer Generation, and the like, during the tumultuous years of the Fifties and Sixties. Only then will it move a few notches closer to the high standards (for Senior Citizens) set by our northern neighbours, who are not even a First World Country like us."

Friday, May 9, 2014

Singapore MRT, free early morning train rides extended another year

AsiaOne : "The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is extending free pre-peak travel on the rail network by one year to 23 June 2015. Commuters who end their journey before 7.45am on weekdays at 18 designated MRT stations in the city area will continue to enjoy free travel. Commuters who exit at these stations between 7.45am and 8am will continue to be given a discount of up to 50 cents off their train fare."

Monday, April 28, 2014

Japan finds the cleanest energy - saved energy

The Energy Collective: "These temporary measures have proven to have long term impact. They've dramatically increased the awareness of energy use and energy efficiency, with large companies running high-profile lasting programs. As a result, power consumption never rebounded despite GDP growth, as energy conscious practices became ingrained. More importantly, there is huge potential for technical measures to reduce energy usage even further - a resource that has only begun to be tapped into."

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Record high ridership on Taipei's tomb-sweeping buses

CNA ENGLISH NEWS: "Taipei, April 6 (CNA) Free buses for people heading to clean up ancestral graves in Taipei for Tomb Sweeping Day carried a record high number of 775,843 passengers this year, according to bus operators.

The buses, a measure meant to alleviate traffic as people flocked to public cemeteries, made 16,476 trips on March 22-23 and 29-30 and the three-day Tomb Sweeping Day weekend April 4-6."

Local labor groups voice concerns over free trade impact

CNA ENGLISH NEWS: "In a joint statement, the workers' union of top telecom provider Chunghwa Telecom and 16 other organizations argued that the capital flows and profits brought by free trade only benefit capitalists, not their low-level employees.

In terms of Taiwan's growth, for example, wages have actually decreased over the years as the economy has continued to expand, they said."

Friday, March 28, 2014

Taiwan should reject trade agreements and focus on #peakoil

So-called free trade agreements make banks free to enslave you with debt, and trade small business for corporate jobs and unemployment.

Taiwan does not need to give in to any of the big powers trying to force their way in. We should focus on reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Reduce the bus fares gradually to zero. Gradually increase motor fuel tax. Get away from sprawl and development and fix what we already have.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Global warming to hit Asia hardest, warns new report on climate change

The Observer: "People in coastal regions of Asia, particularly those living in cities, could face some of the worst effects of global warming, climate experts will warn this week. Hundreds of millions of people are likely to lose their homes as flooding, famine and rising sea levels sweep the region, one of the most vulnerable on Earth to the impact of global warming, the UN states."

Monday, March 10, 2014

People of Taiwan do not want nuclear energy - tens of thousands hit the street

Taipei Times: "Tens of thousands of people braved the rain yesterday afternoon to take part in nationwide demonstrations calling for an end to nuclear power plants in Taiwan.
The protests, staged three days ahead of the third anniversary of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster in Japan, took place simultaneously in Taipei, Greater Taichung, Greater Kaohsiung and Taitung."

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Philippine government admits that its public transit is so bad that government officials should not use it

Palace not keen on gov’t officials trying public transportation | Inquirer News: "MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said it will not prevent public officials from taking public transportation, but cautioned of the delays it may cause to services rendered to the public."

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Government will do more to promote #publictransit in Taiwan

Taipei Times: "The Directorate-General of Highways (DGH) launched a new Web site yesterday as part of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ campaign to encourage people to use public transport as much as possible."

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