We need better public transport, not bicycle paths

Hindustan Times: "This is not say that we should not demand better conditions for bicycle users. However, given prevailing social attitudes, this cannot be the answer to environmental problems. What we need is better  — far better — public transport facilities, and, to cast a challenge to the bicycle-as-leisure brigade to use these and become genuinely involved in public life.

This, however, will require a great change in the way we think about social life."

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Coal supply problems in India show how fossil fuels require massive infrastructure

India and Coal Economy Collapse | The Energy Collective: "To understand the depth and extent of the Indian coal bubble you have to first understand the country's unique problem: Despite sitting on the world’s 5thlargest supply of coal it can't secure affordable coal supplies. That's because the country can't mine coal fast enough, and has failed to expand transportation infrastructure (largely railways) to move coal where it needs to be (the power plants). The resulting supply crunch is so acute that power plants operators and Coal India have fought for years over 'Fuel Supply Agreements' while scores of coal plant developers have moved to India's coastline to bypass domestic supply problems in favor of expensive imports. In sum, this supply crunch is structural, and it's not going away anytime soon."

Fossil fuels are only profitable with huge fixed asset investment in infrastructure to support them. This infrastructure locks us in to fossil fuel usage and creates a crash when they peak.

Global #climatechange punishes India. U.S. politicians still denying it.

(Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) phtograph shows Tropical Cyclone Phailin over the Bay of Bengal. Photo credit - AFP)

Bikas Das/Associated Press

NYTimes.com: "At least five people were killed in the coastal city of Gopalpur because of heavy rain and high winds before the storm made landfall, officials said. The storm was expected to drop up to 10 inches of rain over the next two days in some areas."

Bad #publictransit forces people to burn fossil-fuels in private vehicles

Salvation lies in mass transportation | Business: "In fact, the main reason behind the rise in the number of private vehicles such as bikes and cars in the Kathmandu valley is lack of good public transportation. Valley dwellers have no other option than to take the inefficient and uncomfortable service or buy a vehicle of their own. The government has also implemented a code of conduct for operation of public vehicles; however, it has not been effective."

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Fuel is rationed by price and power

Free fuel for mantris: At 700 litres a month, a Delhi babu burns Rs 52,000 - Firstpost: "Austerity is for the common people, not the high and mighty babus and ministers. Especially so, when it comes to fuel because nobody exactly knows for sure what the government’s fuel bill is."

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India, slammed by oil price, car dependency, seeking desperate measures

India oil minister slammed for plan to shut gas stations at night | Reuters: "Moily first floated the idea on Saturday, saying he was working on the details as part of a plan to save $25 billion from the oil import bill and strengthen the rupee.

"We are going through difficult times. We need to discipline ourselves. People will have to tighten their belt and some austerity measures have to be taken without affecting economic activity," he said in comments to the Indian Express newspaper.

In letters sent to the prime minister and the finance ministry, Moily proposed a series of measures, such as a $2.6 million public relations campaign, including "street theatre", to promote lower fuel usage."

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‘Bus Day’ to promote use of public transport

Deccan Chronicle: "Kochi: Kochi city witnessed another edition of Bus Day on Thursday as the district administration joined hands with the Vyttila Mobility Hub Society and the bus operators in an attempt to promote the use of public transport system.

The season ticket system for regular long distance bus travelers and seat reservation service was also launched during the inauguration function held at Vyttila Mobility Hub in Kochi on Thursday. The observance of bus day also saw 6,000 persons availing the free bus journey on Thursday."