CARFREE TOKYO

- a collection of notes and reflections on urban living from the perspective of a family of five in Tokyo. My epiphany was many years ago, but being hit by a motorbike and seeing my life flash before my eyes caused a sudden change that slowly made me reflect on whether American style auto-centric urban transportation of the Roosevelt era really is a capital G "Good Idea" for civilized modern cities in the 21st Century. This blog explores the good and the bad in urban planning and design, here and elsewhere. The goal is simple - not "death to all cars," just more walkable communities, quiet tree-lined streets, good public transport, traffic calming, Velib style bicycle sharing and a bit of common sense. The bolg is mostly theraputic, so I don't go wanting to throttle every dangerous driver I come across, but partly also out of a real desire to see positive change. This blog explores how it can be done, the people who do it, and how, in many small ways, this very old idea may at last have found its zeitgeist. Comments and suggestions welcome.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

US Fed bails out more than just mortgage lenders

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119125337620144994.html?mod=rss_Today's_Most_Popular
I wonder if other people also get the feeling that the Automotive industry is in massive denial about its future prospects. I have a sneaking suspicion that the more Asian car manufacturers gain the upper hand in US sales, the more Americans will turn away from the postwar "autopia" suburban model in search of greener lifestyles. Ironically, they will probably look to Japan and other Asian nations, as well as Europe for examples of how large populations can live more sustainably together without giving up the sophistication of urban living, just as Japan, Korea and China hope to consolidate their position at the top of the Auto heap.
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