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News clippings related to transit, mobility and quality of life
MoveNews #107 for the week of June 27, 2010
Regional
CCSE & SDG&E Receive Toyota Prius Plug-In Vehicles for Worldwide Demo Program
California Center for Sustainable Energy, June 29, 2010
The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) have received three Prius plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHV) from Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., kicking off a 12-month worldwide demonstration program to assess the vehicles performance in real-world driving conditions. ...
"San Diego is a national focal point for electric car deployment and SDG&E is committed to getting our electric infrastructure ready to serve the needs of customers who choose to invest in clean, efficient transportation ... This demonstration project will help us prepare the electric grid for that day in the very near future when these vehicles are commonplace on our roadways and freeways. Plans are under way to deploy more than 1,500 commercial and public electric vehicle chargers throughout San Diego."
Cubic Catches Australia Mass Transit Deal
San Diego Business Journal, May 11, 2010
Cubic Corp.'s Transportation Systems Division said May 10 it signed a contract valued at $370 million to provide electronic smart card ticketing services to the Sydney, Australia mass transit system. Cubic said it expects to draw heavily in the design and development of the Sydney system on the knowledge it has in developing the electronic ticketing system for London, which began in 1998 and continues today. It also provided automated smart card systems to the cities of Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. Because of additional payments associated with commuter usage, Cubic said the value of the entire contract through 2024 could reach between $500 million and $600 million.
Next Stop: A National Summit on the Future of Transit
Federal Transit Administrator Peter M. Rogoff, May 18, 2010
We are all here to talk about the future of public transit. When I speak about the future, I like to start with the most fundamental question: Why is public transit important?
President Obama has given his answer. He's made clear that public transit systems are critical to the nation's ability to
- lower greenhouse gas emissions,
- reduce our dependence on foreign oil,
- and put America back on the path to sustained economic growth.
As he said last year, "Global climate change and our reliance on foreign oil have also created tremendous national security challenges. To solve these problems and create new economic opportunities, we must make our transportation system cleaner and more efficient."
As President Obama's Federal Transit Administrator, that charge requires me to approach my job every day with the basic question: What must public transit systems be and do to help the nation reach the President's goals?
CDC Recommendations for Improving Health through Transportation
Centers for Disease Control
There is a growing awareness across communities that transportation systems impact quality of life and health. ... The current U.S. transportation infrastructure focuses on motor vehicle travel and provides limited support for other transportation options for most Americans.
- Physical activity and active transportation have declined compared to previous generations. The lack of physical activity is a major contributor to the steady rise in rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other chronic health conditions in the United States.
- Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of injury-related death for many age groups. ... Many Americans view walking and bicycling within their communities as unsafe because of traffic and the lack of sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle facilities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified transportation policies that can have profound positive impact on health. CDC supports strategies that can provide a balanced portfolio of transportation choices that supports health and reduces health care costs.
Transportation policy can:
- Reduce injuries associated with motor vehicle crashes
- Encourage healthy community design
- Promote safe and convenient opportunities for physical activity by supporting active transportation infrastructure
- Reduce human exposure to air pollution and adverse health impacts associated with these pollutants
- Ensure that all people have access to safe, healthy, convenient, and affordable transportation
Centers for Disease Control Transportation Recommendations
http://www.cdc.gov/transportation/
Innovation
The YikeBike: A Fascinating New Form of Urban Transportation
Inhabitat, April 2, 2010
Two-wheeled urban transportation has never been so effortless, portable, or head turning. Hitting streets in carbon-fiber black, the YikeBike, provides an electric drive train that allows users to sit up and take in their commute. The YikeBike can go as far as 9-10km (around 6 miles) in one charge and comes with its own carrying bag weighing in at a total of 10kg (22lbs). If you have a longer commute and are worried about your ride home, you'll be happy to know that the bike charges to over 80% in less than 20 minutes.
Fast Facts
30 percent of California ninth graders are overweight or obese.
Source: The Hidden Health Costs of Transportation
MoveNews #107 was edited by Carolyn Chase and published by Move San Diego, Inc. as a service to our members. You may subscribe, unsubscribe, or send article suggestions by sending an email request to: info@movesandiego.org
NOTE: if there is no link provided to an item, then there is no additional content on that item. All links were current as of the date of publication.
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