21st century or the dark ages?

How ironic that Prime Minister John Keys in Copenhagen claims that New Zealanders can't afford to reduce their greenhouse emissions, yet Transport Minister Steven Joyce can find $2.4 billion public money for expenditure on non-performing assets that load us with long term costs and harm... and more greenhouse emissions.  

John Keys and Steven Joyce could give us a real dividend if he were to follow the advice of town planning and health experts within the Transport Agency and the Lancet-UCL Commission and reduce our need for cars and trucks. 
Projects such as a high capacity light rail extension through the CBD to the Hospital and Airport, and dual rail tunnels from Pukerua Bay through to Paekakariki, could enhance the  public transport  network and take trucks off the road. 

Investment in cycle friendly infrastructure that persuaded one driver to shift from his car to cycling on a 5km commuter trip to work or to the public transport connection, brings potential $8,700 savings per year (NZTA). These come from capital and fuel cost savings, health benefits, savings on parking and parking freed up for others, increased safety to others, congestion relief (to others), network resilience and reliability, improved energy security and environmental benefits. 

Are we going to move into the 21st Century, or let ourselves be taken back into the dark ages?

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