Urban Transport News

Transport news

Singapore ● COE for small cars drops to historic low of S$2 ● 19-Nov ● Channel NewsAsia 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 ● 18-Nov ● New York Times Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Nissan want to lease space from the US's second largest port to park unwanted imported cars.
China ● Facing a slowdown, China’s auto industry presses for a bailout from Beijing ● 18-Nov ● New York Times 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 ● 18-Nov ● China Daily
Hangzhou ● 4 dead, 17 missing from subway tunnel collapse ● 17-Nov ● Xinhua
Guangzhou ● 100,000 Guangzhou Honda cars exported to Europe since 2005 ● 16-Nov ● People's Daily 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 ● 14-Nov ● Jakarta Post
Singapore ● 31 new rain shelters for motorcyclists by end-2009 ● 13-Nov ● Channel News Asia 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 ● 11-Nov ● Urban Velo Urban Velo provides a brief history of cycling in US cities, and outlines new methods for making cities cycle-friendly.

Singapore ● COE for small cars drops to historic low of S$2 ● 19-Nov ● Channel NewsAsia 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 ● 18-Nov ● New York Times Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Nissan want to lease space from the US's second largest port to park unwanted imported cars.

China ● Facing a slowdown, China’s auto industry presses for a bailout from Beijing ● 18-Nov ● New York Times 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 ● 18-Nov ● China Daily

Hangzhou ● 4 dead, 17 missing from subway tunnel collapse ● 17-Nov ● Xinhua

Guangzhou ● 100,000 Guangzhou Honda cars exported to Europe since 2005 ● 16-Nov ● People's Daily 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 ● 14-Nov ● Jakarta Post

Singapore ● 31 new rain shelters for motorcyclists by end-2009 ● 13-Nov ● Channel News Asia 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 ● 11-Nov ● Urban Velo Urban Velo provides a brief history of cycling in US cities, and outlines new methods for making cities cycle-friendly.