(Source: Autoblog; Photo: emrank@Flickr)

(Source: Jalopnik)

Pre-orders are officially being taken today for the Tata Nano in India at an MSRP of 100,000 rupees (just under $2,000). That makes the Nano officially the cheapest automobile in the world.

The on-road price will be a little bit higher, probably around $2,400, once you factor in excise duty, education fees and road tax, along with transportation cost, local taxes, insurance and registration fees and “a lifetime parking fee” (applicable in some locations).

(Source: NPR;  Photo Courtesy: Hans Splinter@ Flickr)

NPR.org, March 19, 2009 –  When I went to Europe, I loved to ride the trains, especially the French TGV and other high-speed trains. So President Obama’s goal of building high-speed rail in the United States sounded good at first.

Randal O'Toole is a Cato Institute Senior Fellow working on urban growth, public land and transportation issues. Courtesy of the Cato Institute

But when I looked at the details, I discovered that — while high-speed rail may be good for tourists — it isn’t working very well in Europe or Japan.

Japan and France have each spent as much per capita on high-speed rail as we spent on our Interstate Highway System. The average American travels 4,000 miles and ships 2,000 ton-miles per year on the interstates. Yet the average resident of Japan travels only 400 miles per year on bullet trains, while the average resident of France goes less than 300 miles per year on the TGV — and these rail lines carry virtually no freight.

Click here to read the entire “Opinion” of Mr. O’ Toole.  

Throughout the world and throughout history, passenger trains have been used mainly by a wealthy elite and have never given the average people of any nation as much mobility as our interstate highways.

(Source: Washington Post)

Targeting Cul-de-Sacs, Rules Now Require Through Streets in New Subdivisions

Virginia is taking aim at one of the most enduring symbols of suburbia: the cul-de-sac.

 The state has decided that all new subdivisions must have through streets linking them with neighboring subdivisions, schools and shopping areas. State officials say the new regulations will improve safety and accessibility and save money: No more single entrances and exits onto clogged secondary roads. Quicker responses by emergency vehicles. Lower road maintenance costs for governments.

(Source: BBC)

He has worked as a chauffeur for top businessmen in Pune and Mumbai – ferrying them around the country, to important meetings in big, fancy and expensive cars.

He has sat behind the wheels of dozens of cars, from an old British Morris to the Land Rover he’s driving now.  It’s been an honest, hardworking life – albeit austere.

The salary of a driver in India can only afford you so much. Mr Pandurang has worked hard to support his family – putting his children in English language schools, so that they would get opportunities he never had.

He’s never been the kind of man to want anything for himself, working night and day to feed his family instead. But throughout his life, he has had one dream: to own a car of his own.

Last January, Mr Pandurang and his family watched in awe and excitement as the unveiling of the world’s cheapest car was broadcast on television screens across India.

They were sitting in the living room of their modest flat when they first saw Ratan Tata, the boss of the Tata Group, announce on national television that the Nano would be sold for 100,000 Indian rupees – around £2,000 at the current exchange rate.

“I was shocked” says Rakhee, Mr Pandurang’s 24 year old daughter. “It was like God had answered our prayers – we could finally help to make dad’s dream come true.”

(Source:  FHWA Press Release)

Into Second Year, National Trend Tops 122 Billion Miles

New estimates released today show the decline in American driving continued in January 2009 with 7 billion fewer vehicle-miles traveled (VMT), or 3.1 percent less, compared to the same month a year earlier. This is the first “back-to-back” decline for January since 1981-1982.

The decline now exceeds 122 billion VMT, compared to the same 14-month period – December 2006 to January 2008 – a year earlier. A recent end-of-the-year data calibration adjusted the November 2007 data, revealing that the trend did not begin in November 2007, as originally reported, but rather in December 2007.

As it has since the trend began, the decline in rural driving in January 2009 outpaced urban driving.

Click here to read the entire press release.  Shown below is the USDOT’s report on Traffic Volume Trends Report for January 2009.

(Source: Yahoo Travel;  Photo Coutesy: TSA)

 TSA Adds a New Twist to Passenger Screening

To kick start the weekend in a nice way, here is a crazy, funny & very biased (depending on who is looking at this) compilation of some shocking videos that involve our women drivers.   Is this the reason why women are not allowed to drive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?  Can someone tell me how these women drivers on the video managed to survive on the roads and lived to make such a great contribution for the making of this video?  Also, I am now looking for a similar version featuring male drivers for comparision purposes.  Any insights into finding such a priceless gem will be really appreciated. 

(Source: Fast Lane, The offical blog of the U.S. Sec. of Transportation)

March 19, 2009