Contra Costa sprawl choking county budget. #autosprawlsubsidy

bikewalnutcreek.org

ContraCostaTimes: "The board's unanimous action came as a relief to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, which has been working for more than a year on a half-percent sales tax measure that would generate $2.3 billion over 25 years for road and transit projects."

The drought is so bad in one California town that restaurants can’t wash dishes

Washington Post: "The emergency protocols bar restaurants from washing their dishes, force them to cut down on laundering napkins and tablecloths and require that water only be served to customers who ask for it. In addition, residents aren’t allowed to water their yards, wash their cars or wash any paved surfaces or buildings with city water."

California Lake Mysteriously Runs Dry Overnight, Killing Thousands Of Fish

Sacramento cbs: "FOLSOM LAKE (CBS13) — A Northern California reservoir ran dry overnight, killing thousands of fish and leaving residents looking for answers."

Technology comes from energy, not vice-versa

Resource Insights: "These dense, cheap sources of energy made it possible for many people to leave the increasingly mechanized and productive farm to seek employment in emerging industries powered by fossil fuels and pioneered by scientists and engineers who now had the luxury of time to work on inventions and refinements of previous inventions--rather than toiling in farm fields or mines. Energy first, technology second."

Bay Area commuters say they’d pay to improve public transit

SFGate: "But when it comes to public transportation, which ranks much lower on the list of regional concerns, they’re ready to open their wallets.
The poll showed particularly strong support for a $3 billion bond measure to improve BART, as well as for building a second Transbay Tube."

IVGID spending $15K to offer free shuttle service this summer

TahoeDailyTribune.com: "INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — For the first time ever, the Incline Village General Improvement District will provide locals and visitors with free weekend transportation this summer."

New bike racks debut on MST buses, around Salinas area

thecalifornian.com: "Bike to Work week is May 11-15. Too far to bicycle to work? Try a hybrid commute. No, no I do not mean driving a Prius; put your bicycle on the bus for part of the way.

Rack'em up: Monterey-Salinas Transit buses have bike racks at the front that flip down so you can lift and secure your bicycle. Most of the buses have racks that carry two bicycles, the limit by law until now. MST's new buses, four of which are in use, have racks that carry three bicycles. An MST bus driver can allow a bicycle inside the bus if the outside bike racks are full. Hybrid means part one thing and part another; a hybrid commute part way by bicycle and part way bus."

Podcast: Most Roads Don't Pay for Themselves

The Overhead Wire: "Kevin DeGood of the Center for American Progress joins the podcast this week to discuss a recent report that reminds us no transportation pays for itself, even roads. We talk about the study, how 5.5% of the roads get 55% of the travel, and what's going on in DC."

California's New Era of Heat Destroys All Previous Records

Bloomberg Business: "The chart below shows average temperatures for the 12 months through March 31, for each year going back to 1895. The orange line shows the trend rising roughly 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, just a bit faster than the warming trend observed worldwide."

About the San Francisco Transit Riders

SFTRU: "Although San Francisco is often on the cutting edge, our transit system has fallen behind that of other major cities. We are frustrated with the delays, slow travel times, and lack of funding for better service.

San Franciscans have consistently supported transit, and they deserve a reliable, robust, and 21st-century transit system. SFTRU is delivering that change. Please become a member to join our community and support our work."

It's The End Of March And 99.85% Of California Is Abnormally Dry Already

Zero Hedge: "With summer around the corner, the US Drought Monitoring service reports today that a stunning 99.85% of California is "abnormally dry," and 98.11% of the state is in drought conditions leaving over 37 million people in harm's way."

Oil companies are dumping waste into California’s remaining drinkable water sources

Salon.com: "California has a drinking water problem on top of its drinking water problem. Oil companies, with the permission of state officials, have been injecting their wastewater into clean aquifers, according to a damning new report. The practice goes back decades, and is now threatening water quality at a time when the drought-plagued state needs every drop it can get."

3.3 billion metric tons of C02 generated to produce food that is thrown away

How Reducing Food Waste Could Ease Climate Change: "The water wastage alone would be the equivalent of the entire annual flow of the Volga—Europe's largest river—according to a UN report. The energy that goes into the production, harvesting, transporting, and packaging of that wasted food, meanwhile, generates more than 3.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. If food waste were a country, it would be the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind the U.S. and China. (Read about the author who's waging a war against global food waste.)"

SFMTA unanimously approves free Muni for seniors and people with disabilities

San Francisco Examiner: "Low-income seniors and people with disabilities will soon ride Muni for free."

A good list of transportion services in Napa Valley for Seniors, some free

Seniors get to their destinations without disruption : St. Helena Star: "This trolley is an on-demand, door-to-door transit service in the town of Yountville. The trolley is wheelchair-accessible, runs seven days per week, and is free-of-charge.

No Napa Valley destination needs to be out-of-reach for local seniors … there are definitely ways to get there with a little planning and a lot of dedicated folks behind the wheel."