Photo of the Ford Escape Hybrid, which Ford CEO Alan Mulally drove to DC from Detroit, by Ford Motor Company from Flickr.

Yesterday, the “Big Three” U.S. automakers — General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler — got a second chance at asking Congress for a bailout after their initial attempt got shot down last month.

In their final push for a rescue package, the auto companies have stressed an emphasis on fuel efficiency. There are three major questions to consider:

• First, will all this talk of green really convince Congress to help these companies avoid going into the red? (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she wants to see a new plan “worthy of the support that the taxpayers will invest in it.”)

• Next, if these companies do receive government aid, will they seriously implement the fuel-efficiency standards they tout in their revised business plans? (Or will they just burn through federal money like they’ve already done with their own cash?)

• Finally, once they make the shift to electric and hybrid vehicles, will they truly be viable in the global auto market? (Last month, U.S. vehicle sales have already dipped to the lowest in more than 25 years.)

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Tathagata Chatterji, an architect and urban planner from Delhi, had a few interesting things to say today about Bus Rapid Transit in India. A few exerts follow:

The context:

The experimental Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Delhi, which reserves a portion of the road space to facilitate fast movement of high capacity buses and prioritises public transport over private, has been facing a barrage of vitriolic media criticism ever since its inception.

Stepping back for a little perspective:

But before we apply permanent brakes — under political and media pressure — on a system which has succeeded in several big cities across the world, we need to pause, reflect and learn the appropriate lessons.

It doesn’t make sense to prioritize street space for cars:

Cars occupy 75 per cent of road space but are used by less than 15 per cent of the populace even in the most affluent Indian cities. In contrast, buses occupy a mere 8 per cent of the road area but are used by almost 20 to 60 per cent of the people. Pedestrians and cyclists constitute an overwhelming 40 to 75 per cent of commuters but are completely marginalised in our planning system as a major part of budget allocations is consumed for road widening or flyover building, which primarily benefit cars and two wheelers.

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Photo by padawan.

England - Cyclists with folding bikes flood trains, causing resentment. Is it time for more infrastructure on trains to alleviate this problem? [BBC]

Taiwan - President calls on public to ride bikes to protect the environment. [The China Post]

Scotland - Glasgow and other Scottish cities to be slapped with air quality fines if they don’t end their “love with the car.” [Guardian]

Indonesia - Jakarta celebrates no car day - Prime Minister takes heat for driving. [Reuters]

Photo by padawan.

China: China’s Olympic anti-pollution plan to start in July[AFP]

China: Beijing Stops Construction for Olympics[New York Times]

United States: Push for Urban Parkland Takes Root[USA Today]

New York: ‘Biking Is the New Golf!’[New York Observer]

Washington DC: Metro Accessible Ball Park Anchors An Areas Revival[New York Times]

Photo by padawan.

New York and London: Importing a Decongestant for Midtown Streets [New York Times]

United States: Letting the Market Drive Transportation? [Washington Post]

London: Livingstone urges Porsche to drop congestion charge challenge[Gaurdian]

Photo by padawan.

Dubai: Air quality declines as number of cars rises [Business 24-7]

China: Car owners to be compensated for driving ban during Olympics [Gaurdian]

China: Marathon record holder wont run in China because of pollution [Daily Mail]

United States: Americans learn bikes cut costs and improve fitness [Reuters]

General: Plug-in cars could increase pollution [Detroit Free Press]