“When a city accepts as a mandate its quality of life; when it respects the people who live in it; when it respects the environment; when it prepares for future generations, the people share the responsibility for that mandate, and this shared cause is the only way to achieve that collective dream.”

-Jaime Lerner, Former Mayor, Curitiba, Brazil

This section will include resources on transportation, including car co-operatives, alternative energy powered vehicles, public transportation infrastructure, and light rail.

Transportation and oil go hand in hand. The rapid increase in car use, global travel and food miles all play in to the rising concerns linked to our over reliance on fossil fuels. The North American statistics on car ownership and dependency are staggering. Stand near any highway and count the number of single occupancy vehicles. Many people rely on a vehicle for work, shopping and activities. Some commute as many as four hours a day. Think of the hours in a year or a lifetime!

The need to reduce the consumption of energy resources and produce local transportation options is becoming increasingly evident, and as a result, research into alternative methods of transport is becoming more common and has engaged public dialogue.

Let us know about initiatives that are taking place near you.

Check out:

• Articles & Reports
• Books
• Websites
  • General Transportation
  • Car Co-ops and Carpooling
• Miscellaneous

Articles & Reports

Commuting in America III
The report was prepared by author Alan E. Pisarski under a joint project of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). Based on the latest census information available, it contains 155 figures, 79 tables, and some 100 “factlets” that tell the story of America’s commuting trends and patterns over the last ten years. This publication will be a valuable reference for the transportation community—practitioners, researchers, and decision makers—who wish to understand how individual behavior and public policies have affected, and will continue to affect, commuting patterns. A press release and factsheets on information contained in Commuting in America III is also available on the Transportation Research Board website.
[English - PDF, 2.1MB]

Community Action for Healthy Transport
Strategies, programs, policies and organizations promoting sustainable transport
by Christine Laurence

In 2002, Christine Laurence travelled to Zurich, Copenhagen, Stockholm, San Francisco, Washington DC and Toronto to talk to community groups working for sustainable transport. This report summarises what people shared with her, as well as lots of different ways people are advocating for healthier transport.
[English - PDF, 485kB]

Car-Free Development
(Module 3e of the "Sourcebook for Policy-Makers in Developing Cities," by Lloyd Wright, GTZ, 2005)

More than 170 pages covering a range of issues around car-free development, including an overview of worldwide car-free activities (e.g. car-free days, car-free housing, large-scale pedestrianisation), an outline of project implementation processes and a listing of car-free resources, including information resources and funding opportunities.

This document has been developed under GTZ's Sustainable Urban Transport Project and is part of the "Sustainable Urban Transport Sourcebook for Policymakers in Developing Cities." This and all other - at present - 22 modules of the Sourcebook are available from the GTZ SUTP project website at www.sutp.org after a quick registration process. Click below for the PDF version courtesy of the World Carfree Network.
[PDF, 16MB]

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Books

Divorce Your Car! Ending the love affair with the automobile (and live happily ever after!)
by Katie Alvord
Alvord, Katie. 2000. Divorce Your Car! Ending the love affair with the automobile. Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers.

Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities
by Timothy Beatley
Beatley, Timothy. 2000. Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Carfree Cities by J. H. Crawford with foreword
by James Howard Kuntsler
Crawford, J. H. 2002. Carfree Cities. Utrecht: International Books.

Moving people, goods, and information in the 21st century : the cutting-edge infrastructures of networked cities
by Richard Hanley and the New York Academy of Sciences
Hanley, Richard and New York Academy of Sciences. 2004. Moving people, goods, and information in the 21st century : the cutting-edge infrastructures of networked cities. London; New York: Routledge.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs
Jacobs, Jane. 1961. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. [New York]: Random House.

Asphalt Nation: How the Automobile Took Over America and How We Can Take It Back
by Jane Holtz Kay
Kay, Jane Holtz. 1998. Asphalt Nation: How the Automobile Took Over America and How We Can Take It Back. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence
by Peter Newman
Newman, Peter and Jeffrey R. Kenworthy. 1999. Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.

Smart Growth in North America: New Ways to Create Liveable Communities
by Bohdan S. Onyschuk, Michael G. Kovacevic & Peter Nikolakakos
Onyschuk, Bohdan S., Michael G. Kovacevic & Peter Nikolakakos. 2001. Smart Growth in North America: New Ways to Create Liveable Communities. Toronto : Canadian Urban Institute.

The Transit Metropolis: A Global Inquiry
by Robert Cervero
Cervero, Robert. 1998. The Transit Metropolis: A Global Inquiry. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.

The New Transit Town: Best Practices In Transit-Oriented Development
by Hank Dittmar & Gloria Ohland (Editors)with foreword by Peter Calthorpe
Dittmar, Hank and Gloria Ohland (Editors). 2004. The New Transit Town: Best Practices In Transit-Oriented Development. Washington, DC: Island Press.

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Websites

General

World Carfree Network – A hub of the global carfree movement. A collection of information from around the world on how to revitalize towns and cities and create a sustainable future
www.worldcarfree.net

World Carfree Green Pages – These car free green pages are a searchable database that allows individuals to search for transportation resources/information in most parts of the world
www.worldcarfree.net/greenpages

Coalition for Appropriate Transportation (CAT) – An educational charity working to improve mobility
www.car-free.org

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) – Promoting environmentally sustainable and equitable transportation policies and projects worldwide
www.itdp.org

America Walks – A national coalition of local advocacy groups dedicated to promoting walkable communities
www.americawalks.org

The National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW) – Helping to create bicycle-friendly and walkable communities across North America by encouraging and supporting the efforts of individuals, organizations, and agencies
www.bikewalk.org

Bike to Work – Resources for Bicycle Commuters
www.biketowork.com

Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) – A Vancouver, BC based organization working on all things related to transportation
www.best.bc.ca

Innovative Mobility Research (IMR) - A group of projects and researchers focused on exploring innovative mobility technologies and services that could improve transportation options, while reducing their negative societal and environmental impacts
www.innovativemobility.org

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Car Co-ops and Carpooling

CarSharing.net – An organization is a non-profit educational and promotional site, supporting the Car Sharing Industry in North America
www.carsharing.net

AutoShare – Toronto’s first car sharing network
www.autoshare.com

Erideshare – A free service for connecting commuters and travelers going the same way. Covers Canada and the US
www.erideshare.com

The RideShare Alliance – An 'event' based ridesharing system that allows anyone to easily get involved in ridesharing/carpooling anywhere in the United States and Canada for free
www.rideshare.us

The Co-operative Auto Network (CAN) – A not-for-profit co-operative venture based out of Vancouver, B.C., incorporated to foster car sharing as an alternative to the privately-owned automobile. They offer resources to help new groups get started.
www.cooperativeauto.net

Click here to download the PDF of CAN's document on getting new car sharing organizations started. The document outlines the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a for-profit, non-profit or co-operative organization.

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Miscellaneous

Carbusters Graphics Book
The Carbusters Graphics Book is now online, courtesy of the World Carfree Network, bringing together some of the best transport-related illustration. These images are available for use by local groups, for any non-profit use! If you also have some graphics to share, please send them to info@carbusters.org (and network@postcarbon.org).
Browse pictures

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Have resources that you'd like to share? Please send us an email.