Great lakes low because #climatechange warming water faster than air. Time to rethink cars.

Good thing there’s no such thing as climate change or Michigan would have to dredge 58 harbors. Oh. Wait. | Eclectablog: "The Great Lakes are now at historically low levels. So low, in fact, that Governor Snyder was forced to prevail upon the legislature to pass emergency funding to dredge 58 harbors and bays so that ships and recreational vessels could continue to use them."

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Young people ditching their cars

Public transportation hits 10.5B rides in 2012: "In Michigan, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) saw a 6.6% increase in ridership to a record 6.6 million trips in 2012, spokesman Don Kline says. "We have the transit-dependent riders, but we also have the choice riders," he says. "We really play into the national trends, with young people ditching their cars."

The 34-year-old system, which operates mainly in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, saw ridership numbers spike last year when gas prices hit $4 a gallon, Kline says."

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Molly Gail Shannon: Bus riders still left out in the cold | Commentary | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Molly Gail Shannon

Molly Gail Shannon: Bus riders still left out in the cold | Commentary | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "I wished I could tell every person in that room to give up their car and live like the 30% of households in the city that do not own or have access to a vehicle. Let them navigate the network of SMART and DDOT buses that I and many others rely on for school, work, errands, appointments and recreation."

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Public transit makes Grand Rapids more attractive

616 Lofts fosters community in downtown Grand Rapids | The Rapidian: "With the popularity of the 616 Lofts above Flanagan’s, Coppess and company helped to bring the idea of placemaking and residential community to downtown Grand Rapids.

“Placemaking goes back to our core mission,” says Coppess. “For us, it’s all about people. It’s all about community.”"

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Climate Change Affecting Great Lakes Farming And Health | Moms Clean Air Force

Climate Change Affecting Great Lakes Farming And Health | Moms Clean Air Force: "The warming of the Midwest over the past few decades is already affecting public health, the Great Lakes, and farming, and fossil fuels are the main culprit, according to the new draft of the National Climate Assessment Report."

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Transport workers oppose Koch plan to destroy unions

Transport workers have a critical role to play in the future of this country. Will we have more public transport or more sprawl? Will workers have a living wage?

This is what Lansing looks like this morning as around 15,000 people have converged on the capitol (occupywallst.org)

Troy recalls embattled [anti-transit, anti-gay] Mayor Janice Daniels | Crain's Detroit Business

Troy recalls embattled Mayor Janice Daniels | Crain's Detroit Business: "Embattled Mayor Janice Daniels was ousted from office Tuesday by a recall effort that appeared on the ballot in the city of Troy.

Also in Oakland County, the election resulted in a board of 14 Republican and seven Democratic county commissioners.

Daniels, who had opposed taking federal money for a regional transit center in the city and drew fire from a former city manager and gay rights supporters in just one year of public office, had 47.8 percent of the votes in her favor in a local recall election ballot measure. The recall effort passed by 1,800 votes."

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