Millions of dollars are spent keeping the unworkable auto-system working

AP Top News at 7:30 a.m. EST: Photo credit: AP | An overturned SUV lies in a snowy ditch along I-40 East in North Carolina at mile marker 48 on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010. Much of North Carolina was under a winter storm warning. (AP Photo/The Asheville Citizen-Times, Margaret Hester)

Mark Almond / The Birmingham News

What's going on: East Coast braces for blizzards | syracuse.com: A firefighter carries a woman to an ambulance following a two-vehicle wreck in the snow on I-20/59 near downtown Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010.

Tea-Party dupes vote for "freedom" -- get auto slavery.

Senate Votes To Temporarily Extend Transportation Programs – AltTransport: Your Guide to Smarter Ways of Getting Around: "Apparently, for Republicans, the big target for cuts appears to be transit spending. Tymon suggested to the Road Gang that the current $8 billion allocated for transit annually could shrink to $5 billion. The Road Gang was, apparently, relieved to see that transit would bear the brunt of the burden of spending cuts."

Carless and Carefree in Nashville, TN

Carless and Carefree in Nashville, TN: "An amazing, exciting thing happened at our school yesterday. The school administrators agreed to give each employee (200 plus) all day bus passes as gifts! The Director of the school is offering everyone the challenge and opportunity to save on gas and take advantage of a public service many have never tried before! Maybe we will start a trend where local schools and businesses challenge their employees to improve their health (by walking to the bus) and help the environment. When we called the MTA staff to assist us with our rush order (a 24 hour turnaround) they were happy to help."

MassTransitMag.com » Article » Ashland Bus System Sees Jump in Rides

MassTransitMag.com » Article » Ashland Bus System Sees Jump in Rides: "KENTUCKY - The wheels of Ashland's buses are turning for more people this year than they did last year, partly because of a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Michele Rickman, section 8 voucher bus system administrator, said the number of rides given increased by more than 2,000 between November 2009 and November 2010 from about 11,000 to more than 13,000.

'November numbers were probably some of the best we've seen,' she said.

The system has been seeing an increase in the number of people riding the bus over the last several months. Officials used about $80,000 of a grant from the recovery act to update the bus scheduling system and install GPS in vehicles, Rickman said."

State workers ride bus to Vanderbilt for free | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

State workers ride bus to Vanderbilt for free | tennessean.com | The Tennessean: "With the Regional Transportation Authority's Route 91X Franklin/Brentwood Express's recently expanded service to Vanderbilt University, state of Tennessee workers may be surprised to learn they can ride the bus for free."

People in Texas understand the importance of public transit

Public transportation study finished: "The majority of county residents who took part in the study, which began in June, also thought public transportation was important for the elderly and people with disabilities, residents who cannot afford a car, and residents who choose not to drive."

Simple Single Mom - Carfree and Happy

Simple Single Mom: "The less I own the less stress I feel. Six weeks ago I made the decision to get rid of my car. I don't live in a city with the greatest public transportation system, although it does have several different types available, but I have very rarely regretted the decision to sell the belonging which had been the biggest drain on my time."