A BNSF coal train. (ecowatch.com)
Energy companies’ plans to export coal to Asia is at the heart of an ongoing debate in the Pacific Northwest, with proposed shipping terminals and coal trains prompting a public outcry that pits environmental concerns against economic interests.
KAIST
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has successfully launched a bus powered by wireless electricity in Gumi, South Korea. Unlike electric cars or trains that need to plug-in for charging or get power from overhead wires, respectively, Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) technology allows vehicles to drive and charge freely.
The Millennial generation, which I describe as people born between 1985 and 1995, has long been heralded as a game-changer in urban issues. Apparently we want to drive less, text and share more, and live closer to everything, and extrapolating these trends into the future means good things for urban centers and the establishment of the Millennials as a major demographic. An unscientific survey I conducted through social media sites mostly confirms these trends, though they are not as pronounced as contemporary discourse would have one believe.
The South Lake Union Streetcar. (Wikipedia Commons)
Seattle, long known for its progressive tendencies, is only now starting to embrace a 21st century transportation network. Two freeways cut through downtown and the one-third of commuters face potential bus service cuts, but optimistically there is an increasing amount of people walking and biking to work.
Well, this is awkward. By some miracle you have accidentally stumbled upon this corner of the Internet or reluctantly submitted yourself to my shameless self promotion. But I’m glad you’re here, and regardless of your origins, welcome.
The Northwest Urbanist 