Taiwan to spend more on rail than roads - intelligent place, Taiwan

Rail transport in Taiwan is streaming ahead 

as a result of ROC government policies promoting greener

and more sustainable transportation systems. (CNA)

Taiwan Today: "According to the CEPD, government investment in 2013 rail track construction, as a percentage of all major public infrastructure projects, will break the 30 percent mark for the first time. At the same time, the proportion set aside for road construction will drop below 20 percent."

Thailand discussing expansion of free buses

Govt won't pay for free bus rides | Bangkok Post: news: "Mr Chadchat was reacting to Pheu Thai Party candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen's campaign pledge to make all non-aircon bus services free of charge if he becomes governor.

Pol Gen Pongsapat has said his free bus fare scheme would be jointly subsidised by the Pheu Thai-led government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Currently, services on certain routes are free thanks to a government subsidy. The bus services are operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority under supervision of the Transport Ministry."

'via Blog this'

Pacific islands drop diesel for 100 percent solar power - AlertNet

Pacific islands drop diesel for 100 percent solar power - AlertNet: "
The island nation of Tokelau switched on the third and final installment of its new solar energy grid last week, earning praise around the world as the first country to become entirely solar-powered—except it’s not a country.

...Though its economy runs almost entirely on the sale of fishing licenses and Internet domain names and the atolls boast “at most” five motor vehicles, Tokelau still imported over 2,000 barrels of diesel per year at a cost of $1 million New Zealand dollars ($825,000)  to provide electricity to its approximately 1,400 people."

'via Blog this'

Taiwan can jump ahead with free transit

The automobile is dragging down economies all over the world. The traffic jams, wasted space, noise, and collisions are just part of this tremendously wasteful method of moving people.

Taiwan should make public transit fare free. Start with city buses. Then gradually start banning cars from some streets. Eventually the cities can be car-free.

The elimination of this waste will mean cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, and much less money exported for oil. This will leapfrog the Taiwan economy and create a quieter, more beautiful island.

Don't like noise? Make buses fare-free, reduce traffic

BBC News - Taiwan's noise pollution dilemma: "Some of the noise is typical of any developed country - jackhammers, drills and car alarms. But some are telling of Taiwan's lifestyle: herds of scooters - they're cheaper than cars and easier to park, but louder."

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The U.S. created the car-culture, now Asia is paying the price

Torrential rains batter Taiwan, 14 dead in Philippines | CP24: "Packing sustained winds of 118 kilometres (74 miles) per hour and gusts of 155 kph (97 mph), Saola's slow speed -- only 12 kph (7 mph) -- made it a virtual certainty that the heavy rains inundating northern Taiwan for the past 48 hours would continue through the weekend. That raised the prospect of potentially devastating flooding in areas that have already absorbed more than 1,000 millimeters (39 inches) of rain since Tuesday.

Authorities ordered offices and businesses closed throughout northern Taiwan, including in Taipei. Normally busy streets in the capital were deserted during the morning rush hour, as cleanup crews laboured to clear them of hundreds of trees and branches felled during the night by Saola's ferocious approach."

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Rain falls at 3.5 inches per hour. This is #climatechange.

Waterfall-like rain eases in southwest Japan, but 27 dead, thousands of homes damaged - The Washington Post: "The rain was concentrated in certain spots in a sprawling region of southern Japan, extending as far north as the ancient capital of Kyoto, where rainfall exceeded 90 millimeters (3.5 inches) per hour — a condition in which rain cascades down in such torrents that seeing ahead becomes impossible."

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