Free Republic

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood defended the pro-mass transit policies of the Obama administration today, and fired back at conservative writer George Will, who devoted an entire column to attacking LaHood earlier this week. "We have to create opportunities for people who want to ride a bike or walk or take a streetcar," he said. "The only person that I've heard of who objects to this is George Will." Will wrote a column in Newsweek magazine criticizing the secretary, whom he dubbed "Secretary of Behavior Modification," for supporting measures to wean commuters off automobiles. LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Illinois,...

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- It may soon be illegal for Vancouver residents to wash their cars in the driveway, according to a local newspaper report. The Oregonian article reports that the state of Washington wants Clark County to come up with laws that control what water goes into storm drains, including banning the soapy water from car washes at private homes. “Well it seems kind of strange forcing people to go through a car wash… Some people can’t afford to do that and would prefer to wash at home,” a woman told KGW as she waited in line for a professional...

Michael Munger of Duke University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Munger's recent trip to Chile and the changes Chile has made to Santiago's bus system. What was once a private decentralized system with differing levels of quality and price has been transformed into a system of uniform quality designed from the top down. How has the new system fared? Not particularly well according to Munger. Commuting times are up and the President of Chile has apologized to the Chilean people for the failures of the new system. Munger talks about why such changes take place and why they...

All new vehicles on sale in California will soon have to display their green credentials. This is a new scheme implemented by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). From January 1, 2009, stickers like the one seen here will carry information about the environmental performance of every vehicle they’re pasted into. There will be a ‘Global Warming Score’ (based on greenhouse gas emissions from driving and fuel production) and a ‘Smog Score’ (pretty much self-explanatory), both rated on a one-to-ten scale, with ten being the cleanest. And, similar to warnings on cigarette packets, they will say: ‘Protect the environment, choose...

Gordon Brown's futuristic eco-towns to fine residents for driving out of city limits Jill Sherman, Whitehall Editor Motorists living in Gordon Brown's futuristic green communities face fines for driving their cars out of town, under radical proposals being drawn up by ministers, The Times has learnt. Residents of the largely pedestrianised eco-towns may also be expected to park their cars at the outskirts and walk or cycle to their homes, up to ten minutes away. These are among possible ways being discussed with ministers to meet a government target to cut car use in eco-towns by half. Detailed planning proposals...

If one of the more extreme responses to global warming comes true, driving a sports car anywhere but on a racetrack might be relegated to history's dustbin. Fast, powerful cars within a few years may be outlawed in Europe, an idea that has been raised ostensibly because Ferraris and Porsches produce too much carbon dioxide. For those who abhor sports cars as vulgar symbols of affluence (along with vacation homes, furs and fancy jewelry), such a ban could be a two-fer: Saving the planet while cutting economic inequality. Who are these people anyway who decide on behalf of everyone what...

SARASOTA -- A circuit judge on Tuesday lowered the bail for a man accused of swerving his car toward U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris as she campaigned on a sidewalk a few days before her re-election in November. Circuit Judge Andrew Owens lowered the bail for 46-year-old Sarasota resident Barry Seltzer from $500,000 to $25,000. Seltzer's father had paid the bail with a $500,000 cashier's check, allowing Seltzer to stay out of jail while awaiting trial. His father will get his money back, minus the $25,000, attorneys said Tuesday. Seltzer, a Democrat, is accused of swerving his Cadillac at Harris, a...