A Better Plan | Rethink the Link

website : "Instead of freeways, governments should be investing in improved and expanded public transport, rail freight and other sustainable and economic freight solutions."

Public transport key to ease Perth congestion

The West Australian: "The commuter survey, done last month and early this month, found seven of 10 car commuters used a car because it was more convenient and quicker.

But about two-thirds of respondents said congestion was a big frustration and getting worse. About one-third were frustrated by roadworks and one-quarter by road rage."

'Something has to give': Car-free day for Melbourne CBD proposed by city councillor

theage : "He pointed to major cities around the world - "like Paris, Bristol and even Buenos Aires - a city of around 14 million people" that had trialled a day without cars with "great success"."

Climate change slams global economy, study from Stanford and Berkeley shows

jpratt27: "Climate change could cause 10 times as much damage to the global economy as previously estimated, slashing output by as much as 23 per cent by the end of the century, a new research paper from US universities Stanford and Berkeley finds."

Free public transport beneficial and affordable for watching car races, but not for going to work?

v8supercars : "Motorsport fans are being encouraged to use the G:Link to travel to the Castrol Gold Coast 600 next weekend, with FREE public transport providing the perfect way to get to and from the race safely."

Under TPP, International corporations will be able to sue your national government if it tries to protect the environment

TPP agreement slammed as 'betrayal' of environment, boon for fossil fuels : Renew Economy: "“The TPP is a ticking time-bomb for climate policy,” said Friends of the Earth International Economic Justice Coordinator, Sam Cossar-Gilbert, “because it further cements the unfair… mechanism that enables foreign corporations to sue governments for protecting the environment.

“Many government policies needed to address global warming will be subject to suits brought before biased, not transparent and undemocratic international investment tribunals.”"

Sydney councils push to retain cheaper public transport

smh : "Councils and community organisations have defended the relatively cheap cost of travelling long distances by public transport in Sydney and surrounding areas, as the state government mulls major fare reform."

Public transport is not about ideology, it is about ending public welfare for #autosprawl

smh : "Infrastructure Australia forecasts in its audit this year that between 2011 and 2031 demand for public transport will rise by 55 per cent in Sydney and an average of 89 per cent across all capital cities.

"In 2011, the cost of delays on roads in the six largest capital cities was $13.7 billion," Infrastructure Australia estimates. "This figure is projected to grow by around 290 per cent to $53.3 billion in 2031, in the absence of appropriate strategies including integrating land use and transport planning, new road construction, additional public transport investment and the introduction of demand management measures"."

Congestion is just one of many costs that are borne by society in general, while auto, sprawl, and oil profits make profit. This called externality. And when society pays the cost, it is called subsidy.

Kerbside car parking should be banned in Melbourne CBD

theage : "Rather than banning cyclists, curb-side parked cars should be excluded on most of the city's main roads. These parked cars cost everyone, in time and money, and  in environmental damage."

Seniors travel for free this weekend

Ipswich Queensland Times: "IN CELEBRATION of Seniors Week, Ipswich seniors will be able to travel free on public transport this weekend."

People of Melbourne show how much they want #freetransit

Herald Sun: "INTRODUCING free tram services in the CBD has led to a 22 per cent spike in patronage, with the Melbourne City Council concerned about overcrowding on vehicles and at stops."

Same as in US, #publictransit funds in Australia held hostage to billionaire agenda

The Guardian: "Trad warns creeping congestion and over-capacity will cost the Queensland economy about $3bn a year by 2020.

Only a combination of better public transport and better roads will ease the pressure, she says, and the commonwealth should chip in for both without strings attached."

What we have is well and truly broken

Toowoomba Chronicle: "Every time people are consulted about living in Toowoomba the lack of public transport is raised as an issue.

The system we have at the moment is a fig leaf hiding the naked reality that what we have is well and truly broken, if it ever worked at all."

NSW election: western Sydney councils call for public transport boost

smh : "A week out from the election western Sydney councils representing a third of the city's population have hit the state government with a multi-billion-dollar wish list for public transport.

In a "State election issues brief" the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) says its residents are "chained to roads" because the region's rail network has remained largely unchanged since the 1930s."

Enjoying the free tram rides in Melbourne

The Star Online: "THE Australian city of Melbourne is now more accessible and tourist-friendly than ever with the inclusion of free-of-charge trams around the Central Business District (CBD)."

Free public transport is the solution to parking headaches

ABC News: "Perth's freeways may be the place where commuters feel the squeeze of congestion on workdays but on weekends it is coastal car parks that are driving some beachgoers to despair."

Oh no! Overcrowding! What a disaster!

We can't make buses free, because they will be overcrowded. Wait, what? That is the point! People want public transit, they are willing to pay for it through taxes. They vote with their seat by getting on free buses. So the buses are crowded. So put out more buses. It is what the people want. The government serves the people, right?



Free buses are a disaster for some people. Subsidized autosprawl profiteers. They don't want car welfare to be exposed and ended. Their argument about crowding just proves that fares are for rationing, not revenue.

Free Melbourne tram ride may lead to overcrowding warns transport group: "Free tram travel in Melbourne's city centre could encourage so many people to jump on board it will lead to serious overcrowding issues, a transport users group and the Greens have warned."

Melbourne free tram good for business

the age : "Melbourne's new free tram zone delighted passengers on Friday with tourists saying they could see more of the city in one day and locals using the trams to get around quickly in the summer heat.

Tourists from Sydney, Mahnaz Khan and Rana Mohiuddin, decided they would visit Victoria Markets after spotting a map showing they could get there for free from the top of Collins Street.

"We wanted to go to Victoria Markets, but we were not sure if we could because it is a 20-minute walk. But then we saw this, so we are going there now," Ms Khan said.  "