Subway on wheels transports millions

Subway on wheels transports millions. (2014, September 22). Retrieved February 27, 2015, from CNN News website: http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2014/09/22/spc-future-cities-brazil-curitiba-transportation.cnn

 

In the Brazilian city of Curitiba, the subway on wheels is the most iconic way of public transportation. Curitiba’s bus system serves up to 2 million people per day and has transformed city travel. They have created bus systems that combine three buses in one to maximize the number of passengers it can hold (up to 250 people). The problem this city is facing is that the working class cannot access the buses because they cannot afford to live in the city and the upper class tends to lean towards owning private cars. The mayor of Curitiba has identified the issue of transportation and has vowed to improve the system for many years to come. He has also implemented a bicycle lane along side the car lanes to encourage people to use more environmentally helpful means of transportation.

 

This video relates to environmental science because it shows how bustling cities such as Curitiba, are pushing for more green, environmentally friendly ways of public transportation by offering an advanced bus system, and bicycle friendly lanes. This is most definitely a step in the right direction. This advanced bus system has increased the number of people using public transportation. The mayor of Curitiba is trying to improve and think of new ideas to offer his citizens.

Going green has benefits beyond being good for you and the planet

Click Green (Ed.). (2014, December 22). Going green has benefits beyond being good for you and the planet. Retrieved February 27, 2015, from Environmental News Network website: http://www.enn.com/agriculture/article/48119

 

The number of accidents due to everyday distractions is increasing and according to distraction.gov, statistics reveal that phones, radios, food, and sleepiness are causing them. Public transportation is proven to be significantly less dangerous and also helps the environment, such as biking, walking, or taking a bus or train. By taking a greener approach to everyday travel, it saves money, and can “also play a key role in reducing accidents” and the number of people on the road.

 

This article relates to environmental science because is shows how transportation is trying to go green, and reduce the amount of pollution from cars and overall safety of people on the road. According to this article it is statistically proven that there are less accidents with public transportation than by driving alone. With these odds I find it less comforting to know that the technological distractions of radios and phones are causing so many accidents. On top of saving the environment, it also saves money in the long run. I think it is imperative that people consider public transportation as their everyday means of travel.

Missing MH370: New plane tracking will be trialed after Malaysia plane mystery

The Associated Press (Ed.). (2015, February 28). Missing MH370: New plane tracking will be trialed after Malaysia plane mystery. Retrieved February 28, 2015, from NBC News website: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-jet/missing-mh370-new-plane-tracking-will-be-trialed-after-malaysia-n314981

 

The disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 last year catapulted a wide range of technological advances concerning the safety of planes. Since Flight 370 “vanished last year on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board,” Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia have begun a trial to “enhance the tracking of aircraft over remote oceans, allowing planes to be more easily found.” This new system of tracking will increase the rate at which planes are tracked from every 40 minutes, to every 15 minutes. The new technology will use “satellite-based positioning” onboard aircrafts to transmit the current position.

 

This article relates to environmental science because it shows how transportation is evolving to better the safety of people. In this case, Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia are fighting for another solution to better track planes to prevent another plane disappearance losing a large number of people. It’s about time that someone has stepped up to the plate and tried to come up with a plausible solution for increasing the safety of our planes. There should be stricter air safety regulations to extensively track planes from air traffic controllers and I think this is a step in the right direction.

 

Transportation

Shabad, R (2014, November 23rd) Ex-Transportation chief: US roads and bridges ‘on life support’

http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/225147-ex-transportation-chief-us-roads-bridges-on-life-support

 

Roads and bridges in the U.S are becoming in more and more need of repairs. Over 70,00 road and bridges in the U.S need to be repaired. Experts say there just isn’t enough money to take of all the damage. The last time we had enough money to do something big with our infrastructure, we had to raise the tax on gas and right now that’s the last thing politicians want to do.

 

This doesn’t directly relate straight to environmental science but when I found this article I automatically thought of a major way they relate. With roads and bridges that aren’t safe, how will we be able to achieve an efficient transportation system? After researching the topic of transportation, I’ve realized how essential it is and with more and more people we need to make it better for the earth. We need to have a good basic surface to evolve from.

Transportation

Gordon-Bloomfield, N (2014, November 18th) Nissan LEAF Leaves Home, Joins the U.S. Air Force For Largest V2G Study Yet: Transport EVOLVED

https://transportevolved.com/2014/11/18/nissan-leaf-leaves-home-joins-u-s-air-force-largest-v2g-study-yet/

 

The Nissan LEAF is the world’s most popular electric car. It was designed for suburban/family life, full of errands and basic daily activities. Recently, 13 LEAFs have moved from subruban life to the U.S. Air Force. These cars are joining in on the biggest vehicle to grid project in world history. Vehicle to grid technology has become a bigger deal after the disaster in Japan. The Air Force is using this as a backup source of power but also as basic transportation across the base.

 

This story relates to environmental science in a couple different ways. First, using electric cars in a busy area like an Air Force base saves a ton of gas and it is much better for the environment. Secondly, it allows us to have a backup or emergency source of power in case of a disaster. Personally, I thought this was a really cool idea and seems like it could really make a big difference if the trend spreads.

 

Coachella, Mecca get money for transportation projects

Newkirk, B. (2014, November 21). Coachella, Mecca get money for transportation projects. Retrieved November 22, 2014, from The Desert Sun website: http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/traffic/2014/11/21/coachella-mecca-road-work-money/19368383/

 

About $2.3 million has been dedicated to improving the sidewalks, safety at Grapefruit Boulevard and Fourth Street in Mecca. About $1.8 million is going towards “six miles of pathways connected to the proposed Coachella Valley Link path.” Coachella has many ideas for the use of this grant money, for example “bike lanes, sidewalk and other improvements along Avenue 50 and Avenue 52, which would feed into Coachella Valley Link.” It also plans to “fund improvements on side streets to better connect Avenue 50 and 52 schools.”

This article shows that more and more largely populated communities are actively trying to improve the streets and safety of the people living there. Lots of money goes towards transportation and encouraging more people to walk and bike rather than drive. I think this is a very smart way to get people out of their regular routines of driving. If the roads, sidewalks, and safety are improved around highly populated communities, I believe more and more people will be encouraged to walk, bike and utilize these improvements.