Nice Ride Minnesota, is an initiative to spread bike-riding throughout the state, and the Twin Cities. Other cold-climate cities in Europe such as Copenhagen have pioneered these bike-riding schemes, and they are now spreading throughout the U.S.A.

What is the real reson transport isn’t improved in Victoria, Australia? And how should we align politicians incentives to make sure it is done faster?

Electricity efficiency is the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of sustainability in cities, and LED street lights (and traffic lights) are one of the solutions appearing on the streets of cities like Ann Arbor, Michigan.

An often over-looked application of renewables in communication infrastructure is being addressed – renewable energy mobile phone base stations and networks. Read more…

The recent International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) conference in Cairo, quoted World Bank research linking each 10% increase in internet to a 1.3% increase in economic growth.

Japanese district of Fukoaka are marching ahead in their plans to upgrade water infrastructure. What is your city doing?

COMMENT. Global. – Here are 7 things to love about trains.
And why 2thinknow view a Rail Renaissance as likely.
1. Speed.
German ICE trains are faster than air over 1000km. Around 4 hours CBD to CBD.
2. Clean.
Environmental impact around 10% of cars over the distance, according to numerous environmentalists.
3. Safe.
Mid-distance trains, in developed countries, are a generally safe transport option. Especially applicable for solo travellers.
4. Work-time.
Unlike cars or planes, rail work-time is increased. Work-time on planes is limited due to take-off, landing & wait.
Eurail working times in first-class are excellent, due to …

COMMENT. Global. – Trains, and rail is a resurgent transport platform.
For some great examples of trains, check out this slide-show on slideshare.
Safe, Cleaner, Practical.
Despite increasingly shrill voices on the right-wing think-tanks, calling for less public transport, rail has clear benefits, visible to all.
Most countries around the world can see the benefits. China, Japan, France, Austria, all are investing in rail. Why do you love trains?
Here at 2thinknow, next are 7 reasons why global trends support a rail renaissance.

COMMENT, Melbourne — Yesterday, April 2nd 2008, the Eddington plan for Melbourne & Victoria was released. Like many before it, he calls for more freeways and roads and more money.
$18 Billion Australian dollars, (about USD $16 billion) before the inevitable incompetence, corruption and budget overruns at the implementation stage.

And like so many large projects, political jockeying may lead to a White Elephant. Yet we do have a choice…
Eddington ran airline BA, and is a respected business figure, but perhaps the questions he was asked do not reflect the questions he …

ANALYSIS, Germany — Train travel, after an unfashionable period in the 1970s-80s, is emerging again as an environmentally-friendlier, and practical way to travel to and from work.
Well, this is true, in Germany, and much of Europe.

The ease of implementation of the Deutsche Bahn (D-Bahn) system, allows for the enquiry into, and booking of complex train routes.
Whilst no mechanical system is perfect, those with some human knowledge of conditions on the ground in Germany, can plan and map routes across Europe using the German website for D-Bahn.
German Trains Worldwide Benchmark
In public …

COMMENT, Melbourne — Let’s face it privatized public transport has failed.
It’s not the same elsewhere in the world — where Public Transport is clean, reliable and safe.

Public transport succeeds in similar towns in Germany.
But not in Australia. Public transport can work, but does not now work in Melbourne & Victoria. There are issues in the approach of the State Government, private contractors and the various ideologically-driven desperadoes on this issue.
The biggest issue is the ideological gunfight set-up by far-Right gunslingers like Alan Moran, of the disingenuously-titled ‘Institute for Public Affairs’.
And …

ANALYSIS, Global – At one stage, the world of global shipping ran on steam.
But before that shipping and cargo ran on sailboats. Ships like the clippers ferried goods around the world, although their cargo was often human.

Sailing ships have a bright future once again. Because of climate change.
Why not create lighter weight sailing ships, and use light-weight sailcloth technologies. And light-weight shipping containers.
An innovation would be sailing ships. A further innovation would be light-weight freight ships powered by sails and solar sun energy. There are many recent scientific inventions that …

COMMENT, Melbourne – Yet another Yarra Tram crash today. 4 people injured.
At the same time, on 3 occasions today I have seen ticket inspectors, and been asked for my ticket.
What may I ask are we paying for?
Unsafe, unclean and unreliable transport.
The woman behind me had the same idea. She told the ticket police, why did we have to have tickets, given the trams weren’t running this morning again?
Melbourne’s citizens are getting increasingly hostile to the transport inspectors, and the failling of another tram.
We the citizens of Melbourne, need a …

COMMENT, Melbourne – 3 Breakdowns in 1 hour in a 2 kilometre stretch of the busiest tram route in Melbourne, St Kilda Road, as of 10.15 am today.
There was a recent crash on St Kilda Road on Monday, in the same spot 3 breakdowns occured in one hour today.
This is happening very frequently, almost EVERY day, so as a majority of people who catch a tram to work are or meetings, study or family are inconvenienced every day.
It is seriously impacting lives, and forcing people to drive even …

[ratings]COMMENT, Melbourne — Yet another traffic accident. See the Age here: here’s a tip: Drivers will be blamed again. Yet more proof the current state government do not have the ability to deliver decent public transport.
As Sylvester would say
“Thufferin’ Thuccotash ! we need a Bracks-yard Britz! to fix the Thystem!”

COMMENT, Melbourne – In Melbourne broadsheet paper The Age, today there was a neat reminiscence on ‘trains’ from staff writer, Peter Hanlon.
“WE’RE on our way home for Dad’s funeral, his grandson and I. It’s good that we’re going by train; Dad worked 35 years for the railways, back in the days when human beings sold tickets, and machines that accepted only correct change were a dream for the future.”
He goes onto say…
“Whoever wins the next tender to run the state’s public transport would do well to acknowledge that there …

ANALYSIS, Melbourne –I loved rail as a kid. That trip from the small town I lived in to the ‘big smoke’ always took a 5 hour bus and a train trip.
And there was something inspiring about the rattle of that train.
Nostalgia aside, railways now are once again are on their way to leading the innovation zeitgeist in transport.
Railways – Back-to-the-Future Innovation
In cold hard fiscal terms railways have a bright future with some caveats.
Most importantly, trains have a very long-term future mainly due to the fact that trains carry more passengers …