Singapore • COE for small cars drops to historic low of S$2
November 19 • Channel NewsAsia • Charging & Pricing
The COE price for small cars, 1,600cc and below, dived by S$10,453 to a historic low of S$2 in the latest bidding exercise. The next biggest fall was seen in the Open Category COE (used mainly for cars), which dropped S$3,601 to S$6,889. For motorcycles, the new COE price stood at S$1,012 - down S$497 from the previous bidding two weeks earlier.
USA • Unsold foreign cars hogging space at a California port
November 18 • New York Times • Vehicle Industry
Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Nissan want to lease space from the US's second largest port to park unwanted imported cars.

Photo: New York Times
China • Facing a slowdown, China’s auto industry presses for a bailout from Beijing
November 18 • New York Times • Vehicle Industry
After 6 years of 20% or more annual growth, Chinese vehicle sales were flat or slightly negative over the last few months, a shock to an industry that had bought in to bogus extrapolations based on unsustainable growth rates. Guangzhou Auto, one of China’s largest carmakers, says that the industry needs the government to help consumers become enthusiastic again about buying cars, by reducing taxes and fuel prices.
Hong Kong • 10 buses provide free wi-fi for three-month trial in HK
November 18 • China Daily • Information & Amenities

Hangzhou • 4 dead, 17 missing from subway tunnel collapse
November 17 • Xinhua • Rail Mishaps & Disruptions
Guangzhou • 100,000 Guangzhou Honda cars exported to Europe since 2005
November 16 • People's Daily • Vehicle Industry
In the first half 2008 24,000 cars were exported from the Honda JV plant in Guangzhou, accounting for 18% of China's total exports of passenger vehicles; 29% by export value.
Jakarta • Parks agency aims to convert aging gas stations into parks
November 14 • Jakarta Post • Public Space
Singapore • 31 new rain shelters for motorcyclists by end-2009
November 13 • Channel News Asia • Motorcycles
The Land Transport Authority is building 31 more motorcycle shelters from rain under expressway flyovers. Costing S$2.58 million and due for completion by the end of 2009, this will bring the total number of such shelters to 60. The space in the 60 shelters can accommodate some 1000 motorcycles.      Singapore's tropical climate results in frequent brief but heavy downpours.
USA • Facilitated growth: innovative bicycle facilities
November 11 • Urban Velo • Bicycle Facilities
Urban Velo provides a brief history of cycling in US cities, and outlines new methods for making cities cycle-friendly.
Sydney • Sydney congestion toll
November 11 • Sydney Morning Herald • Charging & Pricing
In an Australian first, the NSW Government will by February introduce a congestion toll on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Harbour Tunnel. Charges will vary by time of the day, rising to $4 during peak periods.      Seoul has long applied a similar charge at the Namsam tunnel to successfully reduce traffic into the city centre and generate funding for public transport.
USA • European tram makers stand to gain from U.S. streetcar push
November 10 • International Herald Tribune • Rail Industry & Financing
European companies like Siemens of Germany, AnsaldoBreda of Italy, CAF of Spain and Skoda of the Czech Republic are eager to supply new streetcars, now tagged light rail vehicles, for one of the few fast-growing markets for trams: North America. Competition from elsewhere comes primarily from Bombardier of Canada and Kinki Sharyo of Japan.
Mexico City • Cyclists speed up transportation changes
November 10 • IPS • Bike / Pedestrian Policy
Ahmedabad • Information on your fingertips at Gujarat bus stations
November 09 • Express India • Information & Amenities
Gujarat is letting a company install advertising-supported public transport information systems at bus stops.      If it's anything like Shanghai or Bangkok, the advertising will function perfectly but the public transport information will never quite work...
Jakarta • City plans to reorganize Transjakarta
November 08 • Jakarta Post • Institutions
Jakarta • Owners overlook vehicle roadworthiness test
November 07 • Jakarta Post • Health & Air Pollution
Middlemen take the pain out of vehicle inspection and maintenance in Jakarta.      As expected, the city's system of decentralized inspection and maintenance facilities announced to much fanfare a couple of years ago is an abject failure.
[Global] • Urban regeneration and retail therapy
November 05 • Glass on Web • Land Use & Housing
Modern shopping centres have become citadels of retail therapy – serving a whole range of social and economic purposes.
Penang • Gerakan urges board to facilitate RapidPenang’s effort to improve services
November 05 • New Straits Times • Institutions
Malaysia's Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, as ever wallowing in ignominy, has blocked an attempt by Penang to improve bus services to outlying areas.
Malaysia • Civil servants can change cars faster
November 05 • New Straits Times • Institutions
Car industry champion and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is 'helping Malaysians cope with the sluggish economy' by making it easier for officials to buy cars. Top officials can now apply for a car loan of up to RM70,000 ($20,000) from RM60,000 previously. Support staff, meanwhile, can now apply for a loan of up to RM55,000 from the previous RM45,000.
Singapore • Eunos Link ERP kicks in
November 03 • New Straits Times • Charging & Pricing
A new Electronic Road Pricing gantry went live on Monday along the westbound Pan Island Expressway. Motorists have to pay $2 from 7am to 7.30am, and $1 from 7.30am to 8am.
Beijing • Driving people mad
October 30 • China Daily • Vehicle Restrictions
According to a Greenpeace China poll, 54% of car owners want car restrictions implemented during the Olympics to be retained 'to keep Beijing's air clean'.      The real reason why car owners support the restrictions is that even with the odd/even car restrictions in place the roads were still fairly heavily congested.
Hong Kong • Pedestrian facility upgrades backed
October 30 • HK Govt [PR] • Pedestrian Facilities
Hong Kong's government is taking steps to improve the atrocious conditions for pedestrians in Causeway Bay and other congested commercial areas, with the focus on elevated and underground walkways.
Brisbane • BrisConnections delays and slashes dividend
October 29 • Courier Mail • PPP Financing
Another PPP project in dire straits.
Ahmedabad • Electrotherm's bike division posts Rs 20 crore revenue
October 28 • The Hindu • E-bikes
Penang • More buses and routes for Rapid Penang soon
October 28 • Asia One • Routing & Operations
By the end of the year RapidPenang will add 200 buses and 14 routes to its current 150 buses, 33 routes and 46,000 daily riders.
Bangkok • Another BRT delay on cards
October 28 • Bangkok Post • BRT Financing
The Department of Special Investigation says City Hall should suspend its BRT project until it concludes inquiries into alleged irregularities in the 300 million baht purchase of 45 buses. The buses cost nearly 7 million baht (around $200,000) each. A former city clerk says the market price was around 4 million baht, and that the contract allowing the BMA's commercial arm Krungthep Thanakom to operate the BRT project is suspect because the company has no experience in public transport matters.

Photo: Sarot Meksophawannakul, Bangkok Post
Jakarta • New gas-powered Transjakarta buses ready to hit the road
October 26 • Jakarta Post • BRT Vehicles
TransJakarta operator Lorena has provided 34 standard and 13 articulated CNG buses which are currently undergoing final routine inspections by officials. All of the standard buses and 6 of the articulated buses are ready, with the rest undergoing final bodywork. The articulated buses will operate along busway Corridor 5, linking Kampung Rambutan in East Jakarta to Ancol in North Jakarta. The standard buses will operate along Corridor 7 in East Jakarta.
[Global] • General Motors, driven to the brink
October 26 • New York Times • Vehicle Industry
G.M., like other American automakers, tied its fortunes to the S.U.V., a product line that may be the industry’s undoing.
China • Massive rail spending to boost economy
October 25 • China Daily • Rail Industry & Financing
After the 1997 Asian financial crisis the government invested billions in the national highway network as a way of boosting the economy. Now it's the railways.
Singapore • New ERP e-payment option by credit card
October 24 • Land Transport Authority [PR] • Charging & Pricing
From 5 November motorists will have an alternative mode of payment for ERP charges via Visa/MasterCard credit cards.
Guangzhou • New policies on easing parking pressures by encouraging vertical lots
October 23 • Guangzhou City Govt • Parking

China BRT ITDP-China Photo Library