Young people have decided. Driving sucks.

Car-free by choice; young urbanites ditching wheels in record numbers | OpenFile: "Driving culture has shifted dramatically in the past decade. The percentage of teenagers with driver’s licences has fallen through the floor, and people in their 20s and 30s are fast following suit. Researchers expect falling driving rates to continue.

North Americans have fallen out of love with the automobile. Young urbanites spurred the breakup, while a swirl of social changes fuelled the antipathy."

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TTC seeks to increase service this fall as ridership climbs - The Globe and Mail

TTC seeks to increase service this fall as ridership climbs - The Globe and Mail: "A higher than expected increase in ridership has the TTC looking to add additional buses and streetcars to routes in the fall."

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It’s time to speak out for nature and democracy | Pembina Institute

It’s time to speak out for nature and democracy | Pembina Institute: "Through Bill C-38, the Harper government will repeal the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and replace it with a new law that allows cabinet to override the decisions of the supposedly arms-length National Energy Board, fast-track environmental reviews to speed up approvals of infrastructure projects and dramatically narrow the definition of ‘environmental effects’ to be considered in environmental reviews.

The net result is weaker standards for environmental review across the country and a reliance on a patchwork of less comprehensive provincial assessment laws. In other words: a huge setback for environmental protection. "

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How high priced oil is changing our lives - Moneyville.ca

Former CIBC World Markets economist Jeff Rubin sees persistently high oil prices changing our assumptions about economic growth. ( May 9, 20120) Nick Kozak

How high priced oil is changing our lives - Moneyville.ca: "we’re going to see tremendous public pressure for spending on public transit,” Rubin predicted "

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Toronto News: James: Fight for more transit or face failure - thestar.com

Toronto News: James: Fight for more transit or face failure - thestar.com: " “There’s an unprecedented transit deficit resulting from the past 25 years of inaction. (Metrolinx) has been talking (quietly) for four plus years. We must create a sense of urgency.”

Urgency and desperation. Growth and development gallop ahead, mobility needs increase, delays in transit improvements multiply and solutions stall on the pages of reports and visionary documents.

Meanwhile, TTC ridership is at record levels, approaching 500 million a year; GO Transit is at record pace, hitting 50 million passengers a year.

Gridlock is a daily reality, with commuting times now 81 minutes a day."

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