Greens promise free Brisbane bus travel for pensioners and seniors

brisbanetimes : "Seniors and pensioners would be able to travel free on off-peak Brisbane buses under a Greens election pledge announced on Friday."

Free public transport for seniors taking tens of thousands of cars off the roads each week

publicworks : "“Most activities of daily living – such as shopping and paying the bills – are conducted in the local neighbourhood and involve other forms of transport. However, public transport is often used for other life-enriching activities, such as volunteering, or civic and social engagements, going to the movies, visiting friends, or travelling to the city for a day out,” Dr Feist says.

“On average, we found that Seniors Card holders are making more than 150,000 rides on public transport in the Adelaide metropolitan area every week. This represents an extraordinary number of civic, social and community engagement opportunities for older people.

“It means that our public transport system is being well utilised during off-peak periods. It also means that tens of thousands of cars are off the roads each week,” Dr Feist says."

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.