Fit to Be Ride

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Posted by Grist at 12:54 PM on 17 Mar 2006

In her work with the Bus Riders Union, Francisca Porchas has helped prevent 33 premature deaths, 805 asthma attacks, and 7,000 lost workdays -- just by convincing Los Angeles to replace dirty diesel buses with ones that run on compressed natural gas. Answering reader questions, Porchas shares more impressive stats about her org's successes, discusses her strategy for luring drivers out of their cars, and explains the meaning of "drive-by pollution."

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level of discussion

I'm disappointed that my questions were not selected, especially as I felt the ones selected were soft-balls that let Ms. Porchas just spout the BRU line. These issues have more dimensions than some seem to recognze.

Here are my questions that were not asked (plus information on my past with the BRU):

Does it concern you many activists view the Labor Community Strategy Center as being overly strident in its stances? Many also find the level of top-down control exercised by paid LCSC staff disconcerting for a self-described grassroots organization [as described in this 1997 letter to the L.A. Weekly by an ex-BRU member: http://www.transit-insider.org/master.html?http://www.transit-insider.org/bru/speakout.htm ].

P.S. in the interest of full disclosure I am the gentleman some years ago refused membership in the BRU on ideological grounds: http://www.transit-insider.org/master.html?http://www.transit-insider.org/bru/gabbardrejection.htm

by dgabbard at 4:03 PM on 18 Mar 2006

buses and clean air

I think you have missed a point and an opportunity. The buses in Cal. have changed from one petroleum fuel to another. Compressed natural gas is still oil based. Instead of changing technologies from diesel engines to CNG, it would have been eaiser and more sustainable to change the fuel used in the diesel engines. Switching to biofuel, even at a relatively low percentage - 5-20 percent vegetable oil content, would have improved emmisions significantly. In addition, the use and promotion of domestically produced fuel, vegetable oil, would be a boon for not only those breathing the fumes but also the farmers creating the fuel crops. Diesel engines were created to run on vegetable oil and they were already in place. I applaud the sentiment, but there were definately other options.

Amy K. Grettum "Cruise" Director, The Conscientious Cruiser - Mobile Environmental Education Demonstration Center

by biocruiser600 at 7:36 AM on 21 Mar 2006

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