The European Parliament approves report on reducing urban traffic
The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, has approved a new report that looks for new and old formulas to reduce urban traffic, and consequently, its environmental impact. According to this report, reducing traffic is very important because in 2005, transport was responsible of 25 percent of the pollution in the EU, urban transport is responsible of 40 percent of transport-related pollution and traffic jams eat up one percent of Europe's GDP. Convinced?
The Parliamentarians approved up to 27 measures to reduce the CO2 urban traffic produces, such as telecommuting, walking and cycling more, improving mass transit systems, creating car sharing and car pooling systems. However, they also spoke about tolls in both highways and cities (that is, congestion charges), as well as making all car tax systems in Europe based on emissions. A proposal to limit the maximum speed to 130 km/h (80 mph) didn't make it through.
[Source: Agencia EFE via Econoticias]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 7:37PM (3/13/2008)
These measure are guaranteed to hurt the working poor most of all.
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Karl-Uwe Strunzen 8:03PM (3/13/2008)
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/information/how-to-use-the-data-tables.asp#petrol
the greenest cars in this list are some of the most inexpensive cars on the market in Europe. the high-emission vehicles easily cost around 60000 to 100000 euros!
tax them! tax them! tax them till the cows come home!
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Andrew 6:44AM (3/14/2008)
@Tim
Well, now, you see in most European countries there's actually this thing called public transport - and it actually works. Most workers can actually take a train or bus and avoid the hassle.
I love my country's rail system; new trains, frequent departures, extensive network and most of the time *on time*. Of course the cost to the government is high - public transport is not a profit making business. Then again it's virtually pollution free and very good for society in a socioeconomic context. Infrastructure is the most valuable thing a country can have except for an educated workforce.
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Tim 9:31AM (3/14/2008)
Andrew, you’re a good comrade/progressive/liberal/socialist.
You "help" others by taking away their independence and you "help" the environment by taxing driving so much that it becomes unaffordable so the working poor are forced to ride the bus.
Then you "help" the “rich” employers with a graduated income tax so they can pay for the working poor's transportation. Of course, the more you tax the "rich" employers, the fewer workers they can afford. NOW these unemployed can get MORE social benefits paid for by the "rich" employers.
Where exactly is the bottom of this pit, comrade? I’m sure you miss the good old USSR.
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