Bangkok • B2bn bus scheme ready for April trial
February 06 • Bangkok Post • Bus Rapid Transit
Bangkok's 2-billion-baht Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, air-conditioned buses on dedicated lanes, is likely to open on May 15, after a trial starting in April. The system will stretch 15.9km from Chong Nonsi to the intersection between Ratchadaphisek and Ratchaphruek roads, and comprise 12 bus stops.
Yancheng • Zonda 18-meter BRT Run in Yancheng
February 04 • Chinabuses.com • BRT Vehicles

Hangzhou • Low-carbon life sweeps Hangzhou
January 29 • China Daily • Bike Sharing
Zhejiang's Hangzhou has been a leading city in promoting low-carbon lifestyles. On May 1, 2008, Hangzhou began a free public bicycle service to ease traffic jams and carbon dioxide emissions. By 2020, the bicycle system is expected to cover all eight city districts, involving 175,000 bicycles for rental.
Sydney • Wheel turns for notorious pub
January 26 • SMH • Bicycle Facilities
An inner-city hotel notorious for alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour is to be turned into the city's first designated cycling hub. Taylor Square Hotel off Oxford Street will soon be replaced by cyclists pedalling in to make use of a new bike repair centre, bike shop and a bicycle hire scheme. The city council took possession of the property yesterday. The council paid the owner $5.5 million for the building, and will now spend hundreds of thousands of dollars more on refurbishments, including an outdoor cafe, shower facilities and an office for companies specialising in cycling tours.
Beijing • Beijing seeks to revive cycling
January 24 • Xinhua • Bike / Pedestrian Policy
Beijing authorities aim to increase the proportion of cyclists on road from the current 19.7% to 23% by 2015 for a clearer sky and less traffic jams in the capital city. The city will restore bicycle lanes which were cut to make more room for cars and buses. It will also work to relieve a shortage of secure bicycle parking, and aims to have 50,000 bikes available for bikesharing by 2015.
Shanghai • Metro switched on to phone payments
January 23 • Shanghai Daily • Fare Collection
China Mobile users in Shanghai can now pay Metro fares using mobile phones equipped with swipe technology. The technology also means people can pay bills in 1,000 stores in Shanghai, including Starbucks and McDonald's.
Ahmedabad • Ahmedabad wins Sustainable Transport Award 2010
January 15 • igovernment • Bus Rapid Transit
The historic Indian city of Ahmedabad has won the prestigious 'Sustainable Transport Award 2010' for the successful implementation of Janmarg, India's first full bus rapid transit system. Janmarg carries 18,000 daily passenger trips.
Guangzhou • Bicycle Lease Network to Cover Guangzhou
January 14 • Life of Guangzhou • Bike Sharing
Within the next two years, there are plans for over 30,000 bicycles to be made available across the city to citizens as an alternative mode of transport. The bicycles shall be located at 1,000 leasing points near metro and BRT stations, commercial centers and large residential communities.
Jakarta • Out & About: Up, close and personal with my ‘Metromini’
January 12 • Jakarta Post • Public Transport

Kuala Lumpur • RapidBET bus system from KL to Kota Damansara and Sungai Long
January 12 • The Star • Routing & Operations
RapidBET (Bus Express Transit) utilises less congested highways to link heavily populated areas and the city centre. The service has limited stops and aims to get the commuters to work in half the time of the regular buses.      A catchy name, though no relation to gambling or to BRT.
Guangzhou • BRT暨大站全球最长公车站 单侧停12辆 (World's longest BRT station under construction)
January 12 • Xin Kuai Bao (in Chinese) • Bus Rapid Transit

India • Producers showcase high-capacity buses
January 08 • The Hindu • BRT Vehicles
With thousands of city buses to be purchased under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission by various State governments, major automobile manufacturers, including Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, Volvo and Eicher have showcased their high-capacity buses at the Auto Expo in Delhi.
Jakarta • S. Jakarta’s cycle lane plan affects several streets
January 06 • Jakarta Post • Bicycle Facilities
According to the City Traffic Police Chief, the lane will be 0.5 to 1 meter wide. From Jl. Lebak Bulus to Jl. Sisingamaraja, there will be a specially marked section on sidewalks. For areas with narrow sidewalks like Kuningan, the lane will occupy a space in the street.
India • More cars more deaths: India counts the cost of affluence
January 04 • SMH • Road Safety
Experts predict that more than 150,000 Indians will die in traffic accidents this year, the highest road toll in the world. Another 3 million are expected to be hospitalised as a result of crashes.

Photo: Reuters
Shanghai • All aboard as trams return after 30 years
January 01 • Shanghai Daily • Rail; Metro; LRT
A 10km, 15-station tram line will link the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park Metro Station on Line 2, major industrial sites and residential communities in the hi-tech park.
Europe • Passengers stuck for up to 18 hours in Channel Tunnel
December 21 • Telegraph • Rail Mishaps & Disruptions
Eurostar is facing tough questions about why its trains malfunctioned in cold weather, trapping 2000 passengers inside the Channel Tunnel for hours at the weekend, and throwing the travel plans of thousands more into chaos.

Photo: AFP
Guangzhou • New Formulas for Public Transportation Launched
December 17 • Life of Guangzhou • Fare Setting
Jakarta • South Jakarta to construct bicycle lane
December 14 • Jakarta Post • Bicycle Facilities
New York • Clearing a Path for Bikes in City Office Buildings
December 09 • New York Times • Bicycle Facilities
On Friday, a new bike access law takes effect in the city, stipulating that buildings with freight elevators must allow employees to use those elevators to take their bikes upstairs. Passed in July, the law aims to encourage bicycle commuting by eliminating worries about the security of street parking.

Travis Ruse, a photo director, and others who ride to work at Silverstein Properties in New York can park near their work stations. Photo: NYT
Ahmedabad • BRTS dazzles with star-studded ride
November 23 • Times of India • Outreach
More than 20 Gujarati celebrities with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials participated in the promotional tour of BRTS organized by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) authorities. They travelled from RTO to Chandranagar. The celebrities, impressed with the new mode of transport in the city agreed that with increasing traffic congestion due to expansion of the city, BRTS services seemed to be a well-carved solution to save time and fuel with smooth and efficient transport system.
Beijing • Heavy vehicles forbidden in city limits
November 13 • China Daily • Vehicle Restrictions
The traffic authority will extend a ban on heavy trucks from entering the Fifth Ring Road to 24 hours a day starting this Sunday. Only trucks carrying groceries for the city and which hold special transit permits will be allowed within the perimeter.
Nanjing • Electric Double-decker Buses to be Made in Nanjing
October 30 • Chinabuses.com • Bus Industry
Hong Kong • MTR spending $490m on Light Rail upgrade
October 29 • The Standard • Rail Industry & Financing
The Mass Transit Railway Corporation has spent HK$400 million to purchase 22 new Light Rail Vehicles with a further HK$90 million to be spent on modernizing the current fleet.
Jakarta • Rp 17 billion for two new air-quality monitoring stations
October 20 • Jakarta Post • Health & Air Pollution
Jakarta • Jakarta needs 25 air monitoring stations: Official
August 30 • Jakarta Post • Health & Air Pollution
Jakarta currently only has two functioning air quality monitoring stations, bringing into question the utility of years of work in this area by aid & development agencies.
Shanghai • Line 5 subway trains as cool as ice
August 28 • Shanghai Daily • Rail Mishaps & Disruptions
Air conditioning on metro line 5's trains will not be functioning until the end of October. Until then, authorities will put buckets of ice on the carriages to try to keep passengers cool.
Sydney • M5 East pollution harming asthmatics
August 28 • SMH • Health & Air Pollution
Pollution levels in Sydney's M5 East tunnel are so high that healthy motorists who use it daily could develop respiratory problems within two years, researchers have found. The 4km $800 million tunnel was last year labelled the world's dirtiest, with nitrogen dioxide levels up to four times higher than comparable tunnels around the world. Now a study has found motorists are exposed to ultrafine particulate matter - one of the deadliest air pollutants - at levels 1000 times higher than in suburban streets.
USA • Brewery buys commuter bikes for staff
August 27 • Mail Tribune • Bike / Pedestrian Policy
Ashland's Standing Stone Brewing Co. has bought new bicycles for all employees who promise to ride them to work at least 45 days a year.

Employees of Standing Stone Brewing Co. ride new bikes down Siskiyou Boulevard. The brewery owners purchased new bikes for employees who agreed to use them to commute to work.
Shenyang • Destroy your bike in order to save it
August 26 • Xinhua • Bicycle Facilities
A bike parking-related service in Shenyang, a city in which walkways are open to cars to drive and park on at will, offers to beat up new bicycles in order to deter thieves.
Shanghai • Rush hour slowdowns hobble 4 Metro lines
August 26 • Shanghai Daily • Rail Mishaps & Disruptions
Four Metro lines suffered separate breakdowns during morning rush hour yesterday.

China BRT ITDP-China Photo Library