A blast from the past!

For us oldies who remember this......

It is 20 years since the Exxon Valdez supertanker ran aground in Alaska, spilling 38,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sheltered waters of a picturesque sound. It wasn't the biggest oil spill recorded but it was, arguably, the most iconic.

What lessons have we learnt from this oil disaster? To find out read this article on the BBC

Naked Roads?!

Unfortunately, not what you think!
Boris Johnson, London Mayor has given the go ahead for the UK's first naked roads. These are roads which have no pavements, no road markings, no speed bumps, no traffic lights infact no road clutter what so ever. The idea being that by mixing pedestrians and drivers together then the street becomes a safer place. But does it work?

Read London's Evening Standard to get a local perspective.

Brake - the road safety charity are big fans and give case studies of where the schemes are already in operation.

It's all in a box

The Box is an ambitious and unique year-long project for BBC News to tell the story of international trade and globalisation by tracking a standard shipping container around the world


It began its journey in September 2008 with a consignment of Scotch whisky where it was placed on a container ship at the port of Greenock near Glasgow which was bound for China. Since then it has been to Los Angeles carrying tape measures and is now heading for Brazil with a consignment of household goods.

To track the containers journey and to find out more click this link to the BBC's home to the box.

It's a no!

The people of Manchester have voted on the introduction of a congestion charge and the result is not in doubt.

78% of those who voted said No. For more details click this link to Manchester Evening News page.

The Hulme vote had a very similar result with 80% of people voting against the transport developments.

Manchester Votes - Have your say.

Ballot papers asking people to vote on the introduction of a congestion charge as well as other public transport improvements are arriving in the post. How would you vote?

Here is your chance!

Use the poll option opposite and tells us how you would vote.

If you would like more information before voting click this link - GM Future Transport

A bugs life?

Exotic species of spiders are making their homes in the UK, scientists say.
Researchers believe arachnids arriving in imports of food and plants are now able to survive and spread thanks to the UK's increasingly mild climate.
The new inhabitants include a species of false widow spider and some believe the deadly black widow could be next to invade.

Major artery closes for a few days

Those of you studying GCSE will know that part of the syllabus looks at the transport links between the UK and continental Europe.

The Channel Tunnel features quite prominently in this section as do the advantages and disadvantages of using it and the effect it has had on the Channel ports like Dover.

So what effect will a fire like today's have on the transport links in the SE of England?

Cycling City

Bristol has become England's first "cycling city" in a £100m government scheme aimed at encouraging cycling.
The city intends to double the number of cyclists over the next three years with a series of innovations.
Sharing the funding will be York, Stoke, Blackpool, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Leighton Buzzard, Southend, Shrewsbury, Southport and Woking.
Among the features in Bristol will be the UK's first major bicycle rental network, modelled on a scheme in Paris.
The government is giving Bristol £11.4m to transform cycling by creating dedicated cycle lanes, better facilities and more training for children.

Congestion Charge for Manchester

Today the government approved a Congestion Charge scheme for Manchester.

The scheme, due to begin in 2013, will have two charging rings as shown on the map. The outer ring will be the M60 and the inner ring will be made up of the current inner ring road system that surrounds the CBD. Charges will be be triggered by a series of electronic beacons and costs will range from £1 to £5.

The government have also stated that they will provide £2.8bn to upgrade the public transport system of Manchester. This funding will support the extension of the Metrolink to Oldham, Rochdale and Ashton-under-Lyne. It will also be used to create priority lanes for buses and improve the city rail links.

So how do you feel about getting charged for driving in Manchester?