Carfree by Choice's topics - tribe.net

CLEAN-TEA

mike — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:14 GMT

There is a petition on the Rails to Trails website with the Clean Low Emmissions new Transportation Act (CLEAN TEA). Wich would set aside 10 percent of any climate bill toward bicycling and walking. Their website is www.railsto trails.org. Click under get involved then under take action.

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

Rail and DC representation

david — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:12:18 GMT

This may not seem manifest at first, but a proposal pending in Congress could have a positive effect on America's rail future. The proposal is to give the District of Columbia it's first true voting representative ever. (Which in itself is long over due.) The bipartisan balance calls for additional Rep from Utah for the undercounted missionary population. Now the obvious is that DC will bring a Democrat and Utah will bring another Republican. What's not so obvious is that not only do Democrats tend to support rail, but that Utah is witnessing the benefits of lightrail in Salt Lake City, and the new Utah Republican might not be so anti-rail after all.

Please consider supporting the bill currently waiting for a vote:

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=1800377

Thank you,
david

posted in Carfree by Choice - 2 replies

taking public transit to far-flung places?

honey_b_licious — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 22:08:08 GMT

A post in another topic on this tribe inspired me to start this thread: What are people's favorite public transportation ways to get out of town? Any good stories about this?

I recently went to Guerneville on the bus. I took a Greyhound to Santa Rosa and then a local bus to Guerneville, and got dropped off right in the middle of town. Any good California (or anywhere) trips where it's possible to get there without a car?

Recently I've been wanting to take a trip to a beach town (I mean the wave-crashing, sandy, ocean type of beach) , but I can't figure out where to go since Santa Cruz has some bad connotations for me and the only bus to Stinson Beach seems seasonal, and plus it would take something like 4 hours and 3 buses even if it was running. Any ideas?

posted in Carfree by Choice - 20 replies

A Guide for the Would-be Car-free Citizen?

darkchoqlit477 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:47:11 GMT

What if you were approached by someone who is completely "clueless" about using public transportation, or more deeply and significantly, living the car-free lifestyle. What would we tell this person?

Humor me for a moment and let us, then, compile a sort of guide for the would-be car-free citizen. Of course, there are all sorts of books out there, but we'd like this one to be gleaned from our own experiences, as well as those very books that we've read. I'll begin with one "to-do" for our car-free-living guide.

1) If you live in an area where going car-free is not popular or is frowned-upon, be prepared to develop a "don't-care" attitude.

Who's next with Number Two?

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

"How do you get around!?"

Rachel — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 21:46:01 GMT

I heard that last night at a dinner party when a friend of mine said she doesn't have a car. I had to chime in and say that we get around very well. I was amazed at the complete disbelief in the questioner's voice when we said that. ("Really!?")
Wow.

posted in Carfree by Choice - 9 replies

Another Great Story of Living Auto-Free

darkchoqlit477 — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 22:05:03 GMT

Hi guys this article just warmed my heart, so I thought I might share it with you guys...Enjoy!

http://babiestoday.com/resources/articles/autofree.htm

posted in Carfree by Choice - 3 replies

Buy One Ticket, Get One Free Ticket Amtrak Deal

amy — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:39:11 GMT

In honor of National Train Day, Amtrak is offering a buy one ticket, get one free ticket deal. Tickets are available for sale only on April 4th for travel on May 10th only. Visit the website for full list of restrictions http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Hot_Deals_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1178294134016&ssid=224

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

How do you get around?

honey_b_licious — Mon, 02 Feb 2004 19:07:39 GMT

I mostly walk (gives me a a great ass, without any gym dues!) and take the bus or BART. Although I had to wait in the pouring rain for 30 minutes today for the darn bus, while 4 busses went past me going in the OTHER direction (Grrrrr.)

posted in Carfree by Choice - 29 replies

This tribe is so Cool. Or should I say Hot!

Alchemy Elixir — Mon, 07 May 2007 20:54:50 GMT

For years my friends and family have all tried to convince me to drive. The risks for me outweigh the benefits, pollution, accidents, fossel fuels ect. But yet I have been turned down for certain jobs due to the fact I o not have a license, / drive. Iv felt so judged by my approach to life in what I thought was a realistic concern, thanks for the great Carfree by choice tribe guys.:)

posted in Carfree by Choice - 5 replies

Bikes Outnumber Cars on Market Street in San Francisco

amy — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:35:23 GMT

May 17th was Bike to Work Day in San Francisco, CA. Between 8:00 am and 9:00am bikes accounted for 54% of the traffic on Market Street. More info and pics at http://www.sfbike.org/

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

Now

david — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:39:13 GMT

The momentum is on our side.

On January 3, 2007, both legislative bodies of the US will change from rail-hostile hands to rail-friendly. Jim Oberstar will become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he wants to increase passenger rail capacity and start high speed rail outside the NE corridor.

San Franciscans please don't let Nancy Pelosi forget that Blue people in Red states are starving for rail transit. Many of us have fought hard uphill battles to convince local leaders and populace to start projects (AZ, CO, NC, TX) only to find the federal government has "limited" recourses, yet funneling tons into highways and bridges to nowhere. The projects may have stalled, but the successful referenda prove that statements of “people love their cars” and “everyone wants the suburban lifestyle” are ignorant if not passé. They are ready for a change.

If anything, we should encourage transit reformation in Red states. Extend high speed corridors: Acela into Virginia, and start new ones: Dallas to Houston. If Mr. Carlover watches a jettrain pass him on the highway at 150 mph, three times as fast and with one third the energy per passenger, we'll make some converts. If Red states join Blue states in reducing energy consumption, we might just save this planet.

Championing hydrogen, ethanol, and hybrid cars is a joke. It still takes EIGHT BARRELS of oil to make a car. Cars still carry one person on average - 20% efficiency with five seats. Every car still needs at least two parking spots (home and work) and highways galore leading to an immense acreage of toxic asphalt regardless what the damn things run on, enough already, STRIKE THREE. Moreover, the new technology is playing right into the hands of the automobile manufacturers. It’s called planned obsolescence.

We ALREADY have the technology: lightrail, streetcar, walking, jettrain.

We have the tools, we have the Chairmen, we just need the inertia, that’s you, and the time: now.

Lovingly always,
Mother Earth

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

Describe Your Ideal Bus stop/Transit hub/Train station...

darkchoqlit477 — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 21:10:27 GMT

What should it have? Is it already in existence? If so, do you have photos of it? Let's see and hear it! Let the creative juices flow!

posted in Carfree by Choice - 10 replies

Video: automobile society

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 12:50:33 GMT

It's a 40 min documentary featuring the problems of a society addicted to the automobile
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6074963638921413349&hl=en

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

Energy / Environment discussion group

Michael — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:19:58 GMT

New American Independent Party - Energy / Environment discussion group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanIndependent_Energy-Environment/

posted in Carfree by Choice - 1 reply

Anti road protest in the Netherlands

Harmen — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 11:18:21 GMT

Through the environmental movement i have been involved in many actions to stop the building new roads and/or expansion of airports.

The latest protest involves expansion plans of the highway near Amsterdam ring the so called
A6 – A9 right through a beautiful area.

Here are some links, they are in dutch but the pictures tell more than a thousand words.

http://vroegevogels.vara.nl/portal?_scr=article_4&id=189675

http://www.milieudefensie.nl/verkeer/activiteiten/fotogalerij/a6a9-2005/photoalbum_photo_view?b_start:int=0

http://www.vechtvoordevecht.nl/

www.tegena6a9.nl

http://www.weesptegena6-a9.nl/

http://www.natuurmonumenten.nl/a6-a9/van_onschatbare_waarde/van_onschatbare_waarde/06070510_ijzersterke_argumenten_voor_natuurbehoud.htm

Is there also an anti road protest in your area? I am interested (language does not matter).

Greetings Harmen

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

Carfree Network USA

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:16:47 GMT

Hey folks.

The US chapter of World Carfree Network is just filing paperwork to become a full-fledged non-profit. In the meantime we have set up a blog to collect cool stories and inspirational news about living carfree lifestyle in the USA.

Come visit http://carfreeusa.blogspot.com/

And if you have any suggestions or contributions, please send them to...

usacarfree@yahoo.com

posted in Carfree by Choice - 2 replies

Bush Lies & The Environment

darkchoqlit477 — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 16:38:07 GMT

Well, fellow posters:
The Bush Administration is, once again, up to no good, what with its double speak, confuse-the-public tactics, and flat-out lies.

The New York Times article, linked below, details how one of the country's most respected scientists on global warming, Dr. James Hansen, is being silenced by officials at NASA and elsewhere because of his stance on how emissions, particularly from motor vehicles, are negatively affecting our planet's environment.

What was brow-raising to me is how whenever any Bush loyalist is caught, he or she, is usually so quick to deny everything. I studied public relations, and that is certainly NOT the way you cover things up. You would think with all the spin this administration practices each day, it would have mastered that aspect of their spinology by now. Jeez!

At any rate, folks, this is what we're up against, and no wonder many consumers just give up and make decisions that hurt the environment. It's bad enough that many of them don't care, but when you have, what should be, authorities on a given topic muddling the information and politicizing something that has already been proved shows that we have a lot of work to do.

www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29...limate.html

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

Is the carless living only an urban thing?

Batiste — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 21:33:39 GMT

I've been living the carless lifestyle forever but, unlike most pedestrian, I do not live in a city.

I live away in the canadian Arctic, cuz' I just cannot stand pavement and urban life.

For a few years now, I've work on promoting the carless lifestyle in rural communities. And, honestly, most people I tryed to convince just don't get it. Most claim they NEED a car. Sadly, a lot of them are right.

Is the carless living only for urbanites? Or is there still hope?

posted in Carfree by Choice - 2 replies

write something for my public transportation zine!

honey_b_licious — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:24:38 GMT

I'm putting together a public transportation zine of fiction and nonfiction pieces that have something to do with buses, trains, planes, etc. They can be scathing social commentary, personal essays,fictional stories,interviews, rants, funny, sarcastic, true, heartwarming, whatever. I'm also looking for art (that will look good photocopied in b&w) and cover art (color) on this theme. The deadline for the first issue is Feb. 1, 2006. Send 'em all on! Message me if you have any questions, etc.

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

Just say no...to cars!

honey_b_licious — Mon, 02 Feb 2004 19:05:57 GMT

from http://www.culturechange.org/

Fact Sheet #3 - compiled 1998
Why Transportation Shouldn't Be Cars
Modern History Isn't Very Pretty

Approximately one million animals per day are killed on U.S. roads. Cars are the leading cause of death of endangered species such as the mountain lion in Southern California. Source: Auto-Free Times, Spring 1996
Sixty-five percent of all carbon monoxide emitted into the environment is from road vehicles, which besides being fatal, contributes to global warming by removing hydroxyl radical from the air, allowing buildup of methane (a powerful greenhouse gas). Source: Greenpeace’s Environmental Impact of the Car, 1992

In African communities cargo transported on the (usually a woman’s) head or back is on average 17 kilograms. One could comfortably carry 50 kg on a bicycle; 150 kg with the attachment of a trailer. Unfortunately, cultural mores discourage women from using bicycles. Source: Bikes for Africa; Institute for Transportation and Development Policy

Countries like Brazil, Turkey, India and Kenya are spending from 30 to 50% of their foreign exchange on oil imports. The South is responsible for 45% of the annual increases in fuel emissions causing global warming and creating serious health problems. Much of this can be attributed to the growth of private car use, expected to double by the year 2010 from the current fleet of 500 million cars. Source: Michael Replogle and Walter Hook, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, in Race, Poverty and the Environment, Fall 1995 (Earth Island Institute)

Each year, more than 500,000 people die in road accidents. Seventy percent of these deaths are in “developing countries.” Two-thirds of deaths involve pedestrians, of which one-third are children. In Africa, between 60 and 80% of urban dwellers use some form of public transport, walk, or use bicycles. A similar situation exists in Asia. Source: The World Bank, The Urban Age, Fall 1993.

Public transport trips represent about 25% of all urban trips in Europe, but only 4% in the United States. Source: ibid

The first large scale urban streetcar abandonment’s were orchestrated by General Motors in 1925. GM went on to bankroll National City Lines (buses), which began buying up streetcar companies, and, with Standard Oil of California (Chevron), Phillips Petroleum, Firestone Tire and Mack Truck tore out the tracks in eighty-five American cities. Source: Martha Olson, in Race, Poverty and the Environment, Fall 1995

Traffic calming-utilizing speed bumps, narrower streets and [reduced field of vision]-have contributed to a 50% reduction in pedestrian vehicle accidents in Europe. Canadians imported a Danish program, Safe Routes to Schools, installing traffic calming to slow speeds on key streets and reduced accidents by 85%. Source: ibid

From 1960 to 1990, U.S. auto travel increased 198% in miles traveled; there were 133% more registered cars; 126% more fuel was used; licensed drivers increased by 91%, while the nation’s population went up 39%. Whereas 69.5% of Americans commuted by car in 1960, 86.5% did so in 1990. Commuting by public transit decreased from 12.6% of all commuters to 5.3%, and walking decreased from 10.4 to 3.9%. Those working at home decreased from 7.5% to 3%. Source: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Dept. of Energy (San Francisco Examiner’s Nov. 26, 1995 edition)

In 1994 U.S. drivers motored 2.3 trillion miles, up from “only” 603 billion miles in 1955. Source: ibid

Increasing congestion on U.S. Interstate Highways has been measured by the percent of roads at or near capacity at rush hour, from 1975 when it was 41%, to 1993’s 69%. Due to funding new-road construction, pavement worsens on the Interstates to the point that 58.4% of these highways need repair now or will in the very near future. Source: ibid

Every minute, the U.S. loses three acres of productive farmland to urban sprawl, via road building and car/truck dependence. Since the first Earth Day, 1970, we have lost more than 40 million acres of farmland to development. In Lodi, Calif., rich soils 40 feet deep were covered recently by a Wal-Mart lot. Source: American Farmland Trust

In American cities, close to half of all urban space goes to accommodate the automobile, leaving more land devoted to cars than to housing. Nearly 100,000 people a year are displaced in the U.S. by new highway construction. Sources: Michael Renner, Worldwatch Paper #84 (1988); Jeremy Rifkin, Entropy: Into the Greenhouse World (Bantam, 1989). Reproduced in Getting There: Strategic Facts for the Transportation Advocate (Advocacy Institute, 1996)

posted in Carfree by Choice - 1 reply

Walk SF

pepperella — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 15:50:31 GMT

I just visited the website for Walk SF http://www.walksf.org/

If you scroll down to the bottom and click on "Flyers" you can print flyers to put on cars that park on sidewalks, fake tickets, etc.

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies

xcar tribes

ashton — Mon, 02 Feb 2004 21:16:20 GMT

Carfree by Choice
An Automotive tribe
A tribe for those of us who don't have cars and don't want cars.
Talk about how to get around, carless adventures, the trials and
tribulations of being self-propelled!
http://carfree.tribe.net

Cars Suck
An Automotive tribe
We all hate cars.
http://carssuck.tribe.net

Carmageddon
An Automotive tribe
They look real purdy when their burnin' !

Public Transportation (Anti-Cars!)
An Other tribe
This is the deal... This is for anyone who takes the bus,
trains, etc or has. If you got good transportation stories spit
em' out. Because we all know there are many weirdos that ride
these great beasts of man. Plus if you got any graffiti bus or
train stories hit it. Or if you want to complain and vent about
Wilma being too lazy and late on her route and you losing your
job go for it! Start showing them tokens and that bus pass
chief!

http://altconfig.tribe.net
No, Really.

posted in Carfree by Choice - 1 reply

Be Thankful For What You've Got

Sun, 12 Sep 2004 21:49:44 GMT

Be Thankful For What You Got
William Devaughn (1974)
(Covered by Massive Attack, 1991)

Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you've got

Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back

You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you've got

Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh-ooh-ooh

posted in Carfree by Choice - 0 replies