Photo via Organic Bikes

Trial by fire is always the best way to go, right? Well...anyway. From September 20-25, I'll be putting one of the most interesting bamboo bikes on the market (as well as my body) to the test as one of 150 participating in climate awareness bike trip Brita Climate Ride.

We always say that streets are for people, but nobody works very hard to make them comfortable for people rather than cars. After all, cars get curved corners to make it easier to get around but humans, they have to make sharp right angles.

South African cyclist Aldren Muvhambe.

Photo: New Flyer

What's the Difference Between CNG and Diesel?
The Board of the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (the "MTA") has awarded New Flyer of America a contract for up to 475 buses. The contract is for 135 40-foot compressed natural gas ("CNG") heavy-duty transit buses with options for up to an additional 340 CNG buses.

Photo: Flickr, CC

Should Access for Regular Hybrids be Phased Out?
In California, vehicles that meet certain fuel economy and tailpipe emission criteria are granted special access to the high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV, aka the carpool lane).

Photo: GM

Hopefully It'll Have More Commercial Success than BYD EVs
China will be one of the initial markets to get the Chevy Volt PHEV, and today GM is announcing that the first drivable Volt has landed in the Middle Kingdom. "GM has made a long-term commitment to bringing our industry-leading technology to China," said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group.

Nissan LEAF batteries.

Photo: GM

A Significant Drop Predicted
It's all about supply and demand: According to Hideo Takeshita, an analyst at the Institute of Information Technology Ltd. in Tokyo, the price of lithium-ion batteries could drop by about 19% in 2010, while another analyst, Shiro Mikoshiba of Nomura Holdings, said that the worsening oversupply may push prices down as much as 25%.

Roads in Residential Areas Should be Safe for All
In residential areas, lowering the speed limit for cars not only reduces the number of accidents, injuries and deaths, but it also revitalises the neighborhood by encouraging more people to walk and bike. When people feel safe on the streets, they use greener forms of transportation more often.

Image: EPA

Making Guzzlers Stand Out Even More
One way to nudge people into making better decisions is to make it easier to compare different products and services. There are still many people out there who have no idea if 16 MPG is a good or bad, but if they saw a big red "D" on a sticker, they might be tempted to find a vehicle with a better grade.