Beppe Grillo and Westphalia
If cities were freed from private transport, we would get everywhere faster and this is true even for those who use cars. If public transport vehicles were electric or hydrogen-powered we would breathe better. If train transport for commuters had a tenth of the financing for the (useless) high speed line, then millions of Italians would get to work or to school on time without then having to take a shower. If the city had as a priority the cycle tracks instead of the car parks we could take our children to school by pedalling instead of double-parking the 4x4. We need to hate cars, not public transport. The policies of the towns must give incentives for public transport especially for the most vulnerable or those who are spread thinly over the territory as happens for the mountain communities or for the pensioners in the cities. At the same time, private transport, where it is not needed, for example, in the town centres, must be prohibited. Anyone who owns a car in a city must have their own car parking space, otherwise they cannot use it to then park it on the pedestrian pavements, on green spaces or where the Fxxk they want. Cars in cities must be subject to a quota system, and after a certain number they must be prohibited. The public land does not belong to FIAT.
New connecting roads, car parks, motorway connections must be evaluated with great attention. If they are of use to the community, to the towns that are affected, if they have long term value, they can go ahead. Otherwise, without “ifs” and “buts” they must be prohibited. The connecting road Broni-Mortara is of no use and it destroys the territory of the Lomellina. Has anyone asked the people of Pavia for permission? It’s just an example of how public money is spent without thinking of the citizens. Fewer hospitals, more bicycles.
We are the State and we will take it back.

The national meeting of the 5 star towns will be held in Florence’s Saschall Theatre on Sunday 8 March 2009.
The 5 stars correspond to the five specific areas: Water, Energy, Development, Environment and Transport. Today I am publishing an article on TRANSPORT. Use the comments facility to send in your thoughts.

TRANSPORT IN THE 5 STAR TOWNS
In the transport sector it’s necessary to intervene both at a technical level by giving incentives for the development of means of transport that are more efficient and less polluting, as well as at an organizational level, by favouring the development of public transport and providing negative incentives for the use of private transport especially in the areas that are heavily congested.
Definition of a non-polluting transport plan by every town both for connections within the town and also for connections external to the town.
Creation of a network of “safe” cycle tracks that allow for people to reach the points of major public interest, for example the schools, the hospitals, the town halls and so on.
The establishment of town bicycle parking lots.
Bring in the possibility of parking bicycles inside the condominiums.
Pedestrianisation of town centres.
Connecting transport between the urban areas and the areas dispersed about the territory, for example for the mountain communities.
To create the appropriate agreements to favour “car sharing” and “bike sharing”.
Establish a time for the unloading and loading of merchandise in cities at fixed times, for example from 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning.
Reduction in the tax paid to the towns , to be decided by each town, for those who do not own a private car.
Urban plan for the mobility of people with disabilities.
Financing of private organisations that operate transport for people with disabilities.
A sharp increase in the penalties and the possibility of losing the car for a period of from three to six months for those who park on the ramps for people with disabilities.
The facilitation of the establishment of public tele-working points.
Public buses to transport children to school.
The development of public transport with a strong social weighting is an important way of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and of reducing the environmental impact with a knock-on effect on the health of the citizens.