I like riding the ferry BUT...

A plume of deadly diesel exhaust pours from the Blue and Gold Fleet Ferry service to Oakland Alameda. They do not use diesel particulate filters and the ferry manager said they do not have any plans to install them. An average of 900 people ride the ferry every day, including school children. The people who work on the ferry get the most exposure to it.

The company received roughly $1.5 million in Carl Moyer grant funding from Bay Area Air-Quality Management in 2006, including $677,531 for this vessel to be upgraded. They also raised their ticket prices for capital improvements. It seems that the vessel just "goes in for service" often, but no long-term air quality improvements are made. I usually enjoy riding the ferry, and the service and people who work there are great, but what's the point when you can't breathe fresh air? What is also concerning is that B&G claim to be clean, green and environmentally sound. I don't see any "green waves" here, do you?

I am looking forward to when this is really a clean, green commute. Until then, I think I WILL hold my breath.

Check out the California Air Resources Board, and the Clean Air Task Force public health information about Diesel Exhaust, which causes cancer and other health problems contributing to thousands of premature deaths per year.

Tags: air-pollution commute ferry transportation diesel san-francisco alameda oakland california

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act

H.R.2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 will give incentives for employees who bike to work:

SEC. 205. EXTENSION OF TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TO BICYCLE COMMUTERS.

...QUALIFIED BICYCLE COMMUTING REIMBURSEMENT- The term `qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement' means, with respect to any calendar year, any employer reimbursement during the 15-month period beginning with the first day of such calendar year for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee's residence and place of employment.

...APPLICABLE ANNUAL LIMITATION- The term `applicable annual limitation' means, with respect to any employee for any calendar year, the product of $20 multiplied by the number of qualified bicycle commuting months during such year.

Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.

Of course, the whole energy bill is much larger in scope and the incentive to bicycle commuters is only a tiny fraction of it, yet it is already being used as a tool of ridicule by Congressman Patrick McHenry, whose campaign coffers happen to be stuffed by the automotive and oil industry.

Critical Mass 15th Anniversary

Critical Mass 15th anniversary
Originally uploaded by luxomedia

15 years...a global movement! You'd think that by now, motorists would get it that *THE LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH IS GOING TO SUCK BEING IN A CAR DOWNTOWN*, but...it's amazing how they forget.


Carfree Day in Budapest