California needs money. We need less traffic. And cleaner air. Put a camera on the Sunset Bridge (whichever side remains up) to implement pay to "play" for folks driving in and out of the Westside. This would encourage car-pooling and public transportation just like it did in Sweden with Stockholm's Congestion Tax. Do the same for folks entering downtown. The Los Angeles Congestion Tax. What do you think?
The majority of people in Sweden and Denmark seem to care more about protecting the environment than Americans if you consider how they vote and where they put their money.
Denmark gets 1/5 of its electricity from wind power, and its nearby island Samso gets 100%, which means, clean air and bad hair days.
Plus Denmark partnered with BetterPlace to implement electric cars and charging stations.
Sweden succeeds in combating what happens to be my #1 frustration in Los Angeles (contributing to our nations worst air pollution) big, black, and ugly traffic.
Denmark and Sweden's civic leaders and transportation departments rock. Our Department of Transportation writes reports, and okays projects like the demolition of Sunset Bridge and the widening of 405 freeway because here in Los Angeles we encourage the flow of cars.
Not discourage 'em.
Now if only the California Department of Transportation would listen to me, Los Angeles would reduce its traffic by emulating Stockholm's Congestion Tax.
California needs money.
We need less traffic.
And cleaner air.
And being that when in Los Angeles I live near that damn Sunset Bridge which is methodically falling down (no thanks to Kiewet who pollutes the air with dust though their PR says no), and traffic congestion is at an all time high, I suggest we encourage car-pooling and public transportation just like Sweden.
And while I'm tooting the benefits of a congestion tax horn, I'll add Singapore was one of the first countries to successfully charge drivers commuting into downtown during rush hour. Their electronic road pricing resulted in reduced traffic. Hear how drivers responded, by reading my guest Singaporean blogger's article on electronic road pricing here.
And meanwhile, companies please give employees incentives to carpool.
California needs money.
We need less traffic.
And cleaner air.
Los Angeles smog photo I took flying into Los Angeles Aug. 2007.
And that black color is from traffic.
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