[Onthebarricades] Transport and roads protests, Apr-Aug 2008

[Andy]

ON THE BARRICADES:  Global Resistance Roundup, April-August 2008
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/onthebarricades
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance/



*  TAIWAN:  Motorcyclists protest over parking spaces, fines

*  US:  Maine residents protest toll plaza

*  UK:  Toll road blocked by driver over misleading signs

*  NIGERIA:  Protest over American airline's treatment of passengers

*  INDIA:  Protest over shoddy bridge

*  INDIA:  Protest over island buses, state of roads

*  INDIA:  Bus passengers block road after breakdown

*  PAKISTAN:  Islanders, villagers protest ships unloading

*  INDIA:  Protest on train after passengers robbed

*  INDIA:  Protest over canal, roundabout journey

*  INDIA:  Protest at bad road, potholes

*  INDIA:  Rail passengers protest delay

*  US:  Protest at proposed I80 tolls

*  KENYA:  Protest at rerouting of public transport

*  INDIA:  Protest over road conditions, flooding in Bhubaneswar

*  US:  Protest at proposal to privatise Alligator Alley

*  INDIA:  Chennai protest over disrepair of highway

*  PHILIPPINES:  Protest at cancellation of flight

*  INDIA:  Road death triggers protest

*  UK:  Ditching of bus route causes protests

*  CANADA:  Protesters occupy ferry over reduced service

*  INDIA/ASSAM:  Protests over delayed rail services

*  INDIA:  Protest over bus pass rate increase

*  US:  Protest over dangerous intersection

*  US:  Knoxville protesters support bus routes

*  INDIA:  Mumbai rail blocks, property damage over cuts

*  INDIA:  Protest at transport office over unregulated movement of minerals

*  CANADA:  Truckers protest condition of highway

*  INDIA:  Protests after bus accident

*  SCOTLAND:  Pram ban on buses leads to protest card campaign


http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2008/04/22/152999/Taipei%2Dmotorcyclists.htm

Taipei motorcyclists protest limited parking space, fines

The China Post news staff
Tuesday, April 22, 2008

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taipei City Council members and motorcyclists have stepped 
up pressure on the city government to solve the shortage of parking space 
and change the practice of only issuing fines on motorcycle riders. There 
are presently 1.06 million registered motorcycle in the city. But only 
130,000 parking spaces for motorcyclists, according to the latest 
statistics.
City Council members Hsu Shu-hua and Lee Wen-ying and motorcyclists held a 
press conference to criticize the city government for taking motorcyclists 
as the ATMs (automated teller machines) by fining them for illegal parking 
but making no effort to solve the problem. They blasted the officials and 
traffic police for not understanding and attacking the root of the problem, 
but have instead squeezing the people for their hard-earned money.
The council members said the city government has in recently years imposed 
ban on parking of motorcycles on the sidewalks of 335 roads and streets. The 
well-meant measure will be expanded to an additional 16 streets by the end 
of June.
However, the city government has failed to find new places for motorcycle 
parking, forcing the motorcyclists to leave their bikes in alleys or narrow 
lanes. This can pose serious safety hazards, especially when blocking the 
fire engines, they said. They pointed out the city government inaugurated 
eight new parking lots so far this year with space for more than 1,000 cars. 
But there are only 300 spaces for motorcycles. They urged the city 
government to make the effort to solve the parking problem for 
motorcyclists.
Riding motorcycles remains the most popular transport means for people 
living and working in the Greater Taipei area, that includes also the 
adjacent Taipei County and Keelung City. As high as 28.8 percent of people 
choose motorcycles for working and other transport purposes for convenience, 
high mobility and relatively lower maintenance costs, followed by the mass 
rapid transit (MRT) networks, 25 percent; and buses and private cars, 21.1 
percent each.
The number of motorcyclists is expected to continue to increase as more 
motorists said they consider to switch to motorbikes for lower fuel cost.

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8202413

Maine residents protest toll plaza plan

Associated Press - April 21, 2008 12:05 PM ET
YORK, Maine (AP) - About 75 Maine residents have taken to the streets to 
protest the relocation and improvement of a toll plaza near the New 
Hampshire border.
Members of Think Again, the opposition group, say relocating the York Toll 
Plaza will destroy a neighborhood. They suggest renovating the existing 
plaza.
They protested the plan yesterday.
Turnpike Authority officials say the current toll plaza was built on 
wetlands. It was only meant to last 25 years and is sinking an inch a year.
It cannot accommodate technology allowing EZ Pass users to pay tolls while 
driving at highway speed.
The new $35 million facility is designed to be more mortorist-friendy.
Think Again members have convinced the town to schedule a nonbinding 
referendum on the issue May 17.

http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/05/06/van-driver-in-m6-toll-protest/

Van driver in M6 Toll protest
A van driver blocked a booth on the M6 Toll protesting that misleading signs 
had left him on the motorway by accident.
Frank Patterson used his van to block a kiosk on the main carriageway plaza 
at Great Wyrley for almost an hour yesterday.
Mr Patterson was eventually moved on by police.
He was heading home to Chorley, Lancashire, at around 12.30pm on the A5 
trying to avoid the toll and planning to get on to the M6 near Cannock.
As he headed toward Brownhills he turned right at the traffic lights 
following a sign saying "M6 North, M6 Toll" thinking he would end up on the 
M6. Instead he ended up joining the toll road at junction T6 and before he 
knew it was at the main carriageway toll plaza.
At first he refused to pay the £9 charge and blocked a kiosk booth. He was 
ordered to pay and was moved on by the police at around 1.35pm.
Mr Patterson said: "I ended up on the M6 toll road because the junction at 
the traffic lights were mis-signed and misleading."
Max Estevez, a spokesman for Midland Expressway Limited, said all signage on 
the approaches to the M6 Toll was designed and approved by the Highways 
Agency and was correct and legal.
He added that the agency was in the process of a redesign scheme for the 
signs.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200805020395.html

Nigeria: Citizens On U.S.-Bound Flight Protest
 Leadership (Abuja)
2 May 2008
Posted to the web 2 May 2008
Some US-bound Nigerian passengers yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed 
International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, protested against their treatment by an 
American carrier, Delta Airline.
The chaotic situation took place at the airline's MMIA office as numerous 
passengers, booked on the airline's 11.45 am flight to the US, were suddenly 
dropped.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in protest, the passengers 
took over the airline's office even as no reason was offered for the 
airline's action.
It took the intervention of the police, the NCAA officials and some other 
senior officials of the airline to calm frayed nerves.
A supervisor at the airline's office, Mr Idrissa Bassoum, told newsmen that 
the incident arose because the passengers turned up late for check-in.
Bassoum said that the affected passengers had been re-booked for future 
flights. An affected passenger, Prince Leye Bodunde, told NAN that he had 
booked for the flight since March 30 and arrived three hours before 
departure time.
"It is bad to treat us this way," said Bodunde, who eventually booked for a 
future flight. Another passenger, Dr Babatunde Oke, who said he had been in 
the U.S. for 33 years, expressed regrets over the development .
He said the airline's action would affect a major engagement which he had in 
the US on May 1.
Oke's son, Tola, who was with him, said it was a horrible experience for him 
in Nigeria, coming home for the first time.
NAN reports that the action came as the federal government awaits a report 
from British Airways on its poor treatment of Nigerians. The government has 
repeatedly said that it would not accept shabby treatment of Nigerians by 
foreign carriers.
North American Airlines (NAA), the second U.S. carrier on the Lagos-US 
route, is winding up its operation in Nigeria in May, due to what it 
attributed to high fuel price. (NAN)

http://allafrica.com/stories/200805010269.html

Nigeria: Pandemonium At MMIA As Passengers Protest

This Day (Lagos)
1 May 2008
Posted to the web 1 May 2008
Chinedu Eze
Lagos
Pandemonium broke out yesterday at the Murtala Mohammed International 
Airport (MMIA), Lagos as stranded passengers of a Delta airline scheduled 
flight to the United States openly protested the treatment meted out to them 
by the airline.
The 30 intending passengers who were billed to travel to the United States 
on the flight, became outraged by the airline's refusal to allow them board 
the flight without any reason, as they insisted that they had the right to 
travel on the flight.
Looking enraged, one of the passengers told THISDAY that he had already 
checked in only to be asked to disembark after a few minutes by officials of 
the airline.
According to him, the only explanation the management of the airline gave 
was that it could not take them because of the weight of the aircraft, 
adding that some passengers who were billed to travel the previous day were 
also turned back the same way they were treated yesterday.
According to an eye witness account,the passengers wanted to beat up some of 
the officials of the airline who quickly requested for police protection.
One of the passengers, Prince Leye said that he bought his ticket since 
March 30, 2008 ,adding that he was at the airport three hours before the 
check-in and that the airline did not give reason for preventing the 
passengers from boarding.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/28/stories/2008042854920300.htm

Protest at bridge today
KOCHI: Residents and motorists will lay siege to the Thevara-Kundanoor 
bridge on Monday morning, to protest against the shabby construction of the 
kilometre-long bridge. The undulations on the bridge surface, said to be 
because of the uneven spread of bitumen and metal, have been causing 
accidents on a regular basis. No agency has repaired the bridge, despite the 
government collecting hefty toll from vehicles.
- Staff Reporter

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/19/stories/2008051961390300.htm

Bus entry: Goshree samithi protests
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: The Goshree Manushyavakasha Samrakshana Samithi observed Sunday as 
protest day, to highlight the 'negative' attitude of the Government in 
permitting private buses from the Goshree islands into Kochi.
The General convener of the samithi Paul J. Mampilly said that this was 
among the electoral promises made by the LDF during the 2006 Assembly 
election. Neither Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan nor Transport Minister 
Mathew T. Thomas have taken the issue seriously, he said.
More protests would soon be held. The vehicles of non-residents in the 
islands would be stopped on the bridge, if buses are not allowed into Kochi 
city, he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/15/stories/2008051551280300.htm

Bus passengers block road in protest
Staff Reporter
SALEM: Traffic on the Salem Bangalore National Highways was affected for 
awhile, when angry passengers of a State Transport Corporation bus blocked 
the road near Omalur on Tuesday night.
Police said the bus proceeding to Bommidi broke down near Omalur. Officials 
at the nearby TNSTC depot are said to have turned down a request to operate 
another bus to Bommidi.
Annoyed, passengers blocked the traffic on the National highways. Police 
personnel rushed to the spot, pacified the agitators and arrested two of 
them.

http://story.indiagazette.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/701ee96610c884a6/id/357407/cs/1/

Passengers detain train to protest robbery
India Gazette
Friday 9th May, 2008
(IANS)
Angry passengers held up the Jodhpur-Bangaluru Express at Miraj, near here, 
Friday following a daytime robbery in a crowded compartment.

Eye witnesses said five robbers, armed with knives and country-made pistols, 
entered the train around 10 a.m. somewhere between Pune and Karad stations. 
They looted a few passengers of their ornaments, cash and ATM cards.

Some passengers caught the robbers but they managed to fight them off and 
escape.

Irate passengers held up the train to protest the railway officials' alleged 
failure to check frequent thefts on the Pune-Miraj section of the route.

"While the earlier incidents of robbery have occurred at night, due to the 
ineptitude of the railway police the robbers were emboldened to strike 
during daytime," a passenger said.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052651390300.htm

Villagers protest over Indira Sagar Canal
G. Nagaraja
Villagers face problem as APSRTC suspends its services

Students have to take a round about journey
Agency failed to construct a bridge, allege agitators

ELURU: The criss-crossing Indira Sagar Right Canal, billed as a harbinger of 
development and prosperity into West Godavari and Krishna districts, hardly 
cheer the people from a cluster of villages in Gopalapuram mandal. Instead, 
the locals feel denial of transport link by the meandering canal. A large 
number of people from Bhimole, Guddigudem, Kovvurupadu, Sagipadu and 
Dondapudi registered their strong protest with the personnel at the office 
of a contracting agency entrusted with the canal execution near Gopalapuram 
on Saturday, leading to tension in the area. The agitators alleged that the 
failure of the agency in building a bridge near Bhimole was the reason for 
their suffering for want of transport link.
The road, which was a link for several villages on its either side, was cut 
off a couple of years ago, facilitating the canal execution. As a result, 
the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has suspended 
its services in the Bhimole-Guddigudem section. Autorickshaws are only the 
mode of transport in this section now. "We hoped we benefit from the canal 
to some extent. But it turns out to be a major obstacle for our day-to-day 
life", says G. Srinivasa Rao, sarpanch of Bhimole, who led the protest. 
"Children in our village are facing lot of problems to go to school at 
Kovvurupadu 5 km. away from our village due to suspension of services by the 
APSRTC", he adds. The students are constrained to travel 14 km. round about 
via Sagipadu daily in the absence of a bridge at Bhimole. Journey in 
two-wheelers and autorickshaws crossing the canal was quite risky, he said 
while recalling that an autorickshaw turned turtle while crossing the canal 
with passengers a few days ago. The sarpanch said life for the people from 
surrounding villages would become quite miserable as the rainy season set 
in. Transport link on either side of the canal would get cut-off during 
every rainy season it was filled with water and silt, blocking the passage. 
Expressing serious concern over the alleged indifference on the part of the 
contracting agency to construct a bridge linking the Bhimole-Guddigudem 
road, he wanted the administration to find a way out for the problem faced 
by the school children for want of transport facility by the time of 
re-opening of schools in June second week.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/04/stories/2008060452490300.htm

Protest against bad road
Staff Correspondent
DYFI blames authorities for neglect

Dissatisfied: Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India staging a 
dharna on Gorur Road in Hassan on Wednesday.
HASSAN: Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a 
dharna on Gorur road near Santhepete on Tuesday to protest against the bad 
condition of the road.
They said that the Hassan-Arakalgud-Madikeri road, also known as Gorur road, 
was full of potholes. During rains the potholes resembled puddles. Several 
two-wheeler riders had skidded on the road, they added.
People from neighbouring villages who come to Hassan on Tuesdays for the 
weekly market were put to hardship, they said.
'Rasta roko'
They protesters also staged "rasta roko" for sometime.
Addressing the protesters president of the DYFI Girish said that they had 
repeatedly urged the authorities concerned to repair the road, but in vain.
He said that the road was in bad shape owing to the neglect of the 
authorities concerned. Local DYFI leaders Krishna, Shivanna and Vasu led the 
dharna.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/02/stories/2008060253140300.htm

Rail passengers' march in protest against delay
Staff Reporter
KOLLAM: Protesting against the continuing delay of peak hour morning trains 
from Kollam Junction, the Railway Passengers Association (RPA) will march to 
the Kollam station on Tuesday.
RPA president S. Ulhas Kumar said here on Sunday that under the banner of 
the RPA, commuters will hold a demonstration at the railway station.
Changing of engine
Changing the electric engine of the Kanyakumari-bound Jayanti Janata Express 
to attach a diesel engine is the main cause for the delay, he said.
It affects the schedule of the Thiruvananthapuram-bound Inter City Express 
and Vanchinad Express, which office-goers and students depend upon.
The RPA demanded that the engine change over process of the Jayanti Janata 
Express be shifted to Thiruvananthapyuram.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_571801.html?source=rss&feed=7

Protesters rally against proposed I-80 tolls
By Christopher Wink
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, June 9, 2008

HARRISBURG -- Tolling Pennsylvania's portion of Interstate 80 would create 
an "economic Chernobyl" in areas along the interstate, a Bloomsburg 
businessman said.
Paul Eyerly, president of Press Enterprises, was one of the two dozen people 
who rallied at the state Capitol Monday to oppose tolling I-80.
"We're going to drive people away from Pennsylvania," state Sen. John 
Eichelberger, R-Altoona, said.
A few of the rally's 25 attendees attacked Act 44 -- a transportation 
funding law from last July that would institute I-80 tolls.
The groups, including truckers, cited congestion and loss of business as 
reasons to repeal Act 44.
Under Act 44, I-80 tolls would help raise nearly $1 billion annually for 
transportation infrastructure. Lawmakers would need to find a funding source 
if Act 44 is overturned.
The federal government hasn't approved tolling the interstate.
"I have never seen legislation that so threatened my business," said Pat 
Kahle, whose grandfather founded Zacherl Motor Truck Sales in 1940. His 
company is just off I-80 in Clarion, and he fears truckers will find ways to 
avoid I-80 and so choose other truck parts providers. "Customers will 
absolutely bypass us."

http://allafrica.com/stories/200806090214.html

Kenya: Matatu Owners in Protest At New Route

The Nation (Nairobi)
9 June 2008
Posted to the web 9 June 2008
Amina Kibirige
Nairobi
Matatu owners have protested over plans by the Mombasa municipal council to 
re-route public service vehicles from the town centre.
In a press release by the Matatu Owners Association's Mombasa branch's 
secretary, Mr Salim Mbarak Salim said the move was unrealistic, and they 
were not support the decision.

They also denied allegations that matatus were the main cause of congestion 
in the town, and instead called for better town planning.
Traffic lights
"Traffic lights have not been installed at busy roundabouts while several 
country buses pack on major roads in town like Abdel Nasser in Bondeni," 
said Mr Salim.
He said hawkers occupying pavements had also contributed to congestion, 
forcing pedestrians to wait for matatus on the road.
Mr Salim further complained of lack of designated pick and drop points as 
the town was full of yellow cab lines. He called for the repainting of the 
lines and zebra crossings to save drivers from breaking the law.
Mr Salim said it would be unfair for a person who cannot afford essential 
commodities to pay fare twice once the matatus left the town.
Take taxis
On Madaraka Day, deputy mayor John Mcharo hinted that matatus from 
Changamwe, Tudor, Mtwapa, Bombolulu and Nyali would be re-routed.
He said commuters from these areas would be dropped at designated areas and 
either walk or take taxis into town when the order takes effect.
The move is similar to the order issued by the then Local Government 
minister Uhuru Kenyatta in April, stopping Eastlands matatus from entering 
the Nairobi town centre.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/10/stories/2008061057750300.htm

Sahid Nagar residents plan silent protest
Staff Reporter
BHUBANESWAR: Irritated over inaction of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation 
(BMC) on their repeated pleas pertaining to precarious road conditions, 
Sahid Nagar Residents' Welfare Association (SANRWA) finally decided to take 
photographs of hazardous roads every fortnight and send those to authorities 
as "reminders."
Residents of Sahid Nagar including academicians, doctors and lawyers had 
planned a silent protest and a photo exhibition on Sunday depicting 
miserable roads crisscrossing the posh locality of the city.
The unique demonstration was deferred following the assurance from Rural 
Development Minister Biswa Bhushan Harichandan, who is also the local MLA. 
He promised to take up the matter at highest level.
However, unperturbed residents did not carry away by the promise and 
stumbled upon the novel idea to keep reminding authorities through 
photographs.
"After a little shower during last two days, several road stretches were 
filled with water. We had taken about 20 photographs to show how precarious 
roads are," SANRWA Secretary H. Balakrishnan said.
He said about 10 per cent of population of Sahid Nagar were senior citizens 
and they were afraid of using the streets during rainy days. Even some 
septuagenarians and octogenarians were present in the meeting convened by 
SANRWA.
For last past two years, the residents have been drawing attention on dismal 
conditions of about 20 roads passing through Sahid Nagar. Mr. Balakrishnan 
said representations on the issue had been submitted to authorities through 
different fora every month.
While one main entrance road to Sahid Nagar was taken up for repairing 
recently, other passages were still dangerous to tread.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/06/naples-group-protests-proposal-lease-alligator-all/

Naples group protests proposal to lease Alligator Alley to private company
Daily News staff
12:07 p.m., Friday, June 6, 2008

Submitted by R.L. Caron
About 35 demonstrators gathered Friday morning at the U.S. 41 entrance to 
the Pelican Marsh development to protest the proposed leasing of Alligator 
Alley to private interests.

About 35 demonstrators gathered Friday morning at the U.S. 41 entrance to 
the Pelican Marsh development in Naples to protest the proposed leasing of 
Alligator Alley to a private company.
The group, from the Citizens Transportation Coalition, chose that location 
because Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottcamp was guest speaker at the breakfast meeting of 
the Republican Men's Club of Collier County at the Pelican Marsh Golf Club.
Eight bidders competing for the right to control Alligator Alley for the 
next 50 to 75 years submitted Statements of Qualification by Tuesday's 
deadline.
A Florida Department of Transportation schedule calls for the list to be 
pared down by June 30. At that time, the firms will be asked to submit 
proposals for a lease of the 78-mile alley, which runs from Naples to 
Weston. A leasing firm could be announced by September, making the alley the 
first state-owned toll road leased to a private firm.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070154190400.htm

AIADMK protest
CHENNAI: The AIADMK will hold demonstrations at Adhamangalamputhur in 
Thiruvannamalai district on July 2 to protest against "the DMK government's 
failure to repair the N.C. Veeralur highway."
In a statement, party general secretary Jayalalithaa said the 17-km highway 
was badly damaged and causing traffic congestion. "People from 50 villages 
using the highway are not able to reach any place in time." - Special 
Correspondent

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=43102

2008-06-27
Metropolitan
Passengers protest cancellation of Biman flight
Staff Correspondent

Angry passengers, mostly migrant workers, staged a demonstration at Zia 
International Airport in the capital last night protesting the cancellation 
of a Malaysia-bound Biman flight.

The flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines was scheduled to take off at 9:30pm, 
but the authorities cancelled it as they did not get permission from the 
civil aviation ministry of Malaysia, Biman officials said.

Biman also cancelled another Malaysia-bound flight scheduled to depart 
tomorrow due to the same reason.

"Earlier, we got permission from the civil aviation authority of Malaysia 
and the Malaysian Airlines. So, we decided to operate the two flights, but 
the civil aviation ministry of Malaysia finally did not give its 
permission," a high official of Biman told The Daily Star last night.

"We sympathise with the passengers for their suffering," he said.

"However, we will make arrangements for the stay of the passengers in 
hotels," he added.

The angry passengers chanted slogans and strongly criticised the Biman 
officials after they were informed of the cancellation of the flight, 
airport sources said.

"If we cannot reach Malaysia in time, we might lose our job," said Alamgir 
Sarder, a passenger of the flight.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/23/stories/2008062358860300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Death of old man in accident triggers protest
Staff Reporter
Traffic on NH 9 paralysed for over seven hours

VIJAYAWADA: Vehicular traffic came to a standstill for over seven hours 
between Kanuru and Gosala on National Highway Number 9 on the city outskirts 
on Sunday after a 50-year-old man hit by a speeding car at Poranki. 
Residents of Poranki staged a dharna on the road demanding immediate arrest 
of the accused, whom they alleged was a close relative of a leader of the 
Telugu Desam Party, and justice to the victim's family.
Tannuru Pandu Ranga Rao, a smalltime businessman from Kankipadu, was on his 
way to the city on his motorcycle in the afternoon. At 12.55 p.m. a 
cement-coloured Honda car coming from the city in the opposite direction hit 
the motorcycle, killing Rao on the spot. The driver turned the car around 
and sped back into the city. A few residents of the surrounding areas, who 
witnessed the accident, blocked the road. They alleged that a constable, who 
was on the spot, helped the car driver to escape from the spot.
Even as the Penamaluru police reached the spot and tried to pacify the 
crowd, people continued to came on to the road and blocked the traffic. It 
took two hours for the traffic police to launch traffic diversion, as it 
became a challenging task for them to found an alternative route.
Though the police assured the irate public that they would settle the issue 
in the police station by summoning the accused, people demanded that the 
issue should be settled on the spot. Though the police managed to seize the 
car, they could not take the accused into custody. However, MLAs Devineni 
Rajasekhar (Nehru) and K. Parthasarathi pacified the public around 8 p.m. 
and put an end to the agitation.

http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/06/23/next-stop-in-sight-on-bus-protest-route/

Next stop in sight on bus protest route
Campaigners fighting to reinstate an axed bus route to a Black Country 
hospital will hand over a petition to travel bosses tomorrow.
More than 1,000 people have put their names to a campaign to restore the 261 
service to Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital and those spearheading the bid 
will present the petition to representatives from National Express West 
Midlands. Wall Heath councillors Dave Tyler, Lynn Boleyn and Kathryn 
Shuttleworth will hand over the document at the HQ in Graham Street, 
Birmingham.
The number of signatures reached four figures this week as protestors take 
the fight to the bus company, which axed the route in April claiming it was 
"not financially viable."
Passengers say it is a vital service for patients and their relatives in 
Wall Heath, Swindon and Wombourne.
The ditching of the 261 means people living in these villages now have to 
get two buses when travelling to and from the hospital.

The response to the petition is no surprise given the level of public 
feeling on the issue. Hundreds of furious residents packed into a meeting 
with travel bosses before the route was axed.
Councillor Boleyn said the bus network was struggling to cope without the 
service, causing great inconvenience to passengers.
She said: "The new system doesn't seem to be working. You ask people waiting 
for connections and it's taking ages to get to the hospital.
"There's also been a case of someone on crutches having to change buses."
The campaigners have asked the bus company to consider extending the 205 bus 
route - which runs from Russells Hall to Kingswinford - into Wall Heath, 
creating a direct route to the hospital, if it is not possible to reinstate 
the 261.
Other suggestions include reintroducing the 261 with subsidies from Dudley 
Council and others.
The withdrawal of the service was part of a review to make buses in the 
borough more reliable.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/07/04/protest-continues.html?ref=rss

Handful of protesters occupy Newfoundland's Long Island ferry
Last Updated: Friday, July 4, 2008 | 5:48 PM NT Comments9Recommend5
CBC News
The ferry Island Joiner remained tied up Friday evening after protesters 
from the northeast coast community of Long Island refused to get off the 
boat.
A small number of protesters have been aboard since Thursday evening in an 
effort to stop the provincial ferry service from temporarily moving the 
ferry to the St. Brendan's service in Bonavista Bay.
They're demanding a meeting with Premier Danny Williams, but his office said 
the government won't meet with people who make threats or illegally hold up 
public services.
In the meantime, St. Brendan's is without any ferry service. Mayor Kevin 
O'Reilly said it's disappointing that his community is stuck in the middle 
of the dispute.
"I heard the people this morning on the radio there, talking about not 
getting their causeway and talking reduced service and all that kind of 
stuff. But I mean, we've had reduced service for a week - no service. Make 
no bones about it, if I were in the situation where I could take reduced 
service, and give someone else some service, I would do that," he said.
O'Reilly said the lack of a ferry has already created a travel nightmare for 
people who were trying to get to St. John's to attend a wedding.
He said he doesn't have much hope the protest will end soon.
The provincial transportation department announced in June that Long Island 
would get a new ferry, angering residents who have been lobbying to have a 
causeway built for years.
Long Island residents will have to share a replacement vessel with nearby 
Little Bay Islands in the short term.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/07/06/protest-over.html?ref=rss

Newfoundland ferry protest ends, service restored
Last Updated: Sunday, July 6, 2008 | 2:19 PM
CBC News
A protest by a group of residents upset over ferry-service interruption on 
Newfoundland's northeast coast ended peacefully Friday night.
A small number of people from the community of Long Island had boarded the 
ferry Island Joiner Thursday night and refused to disembark.
They were angry that one of the two ferries servicing the community was sent 
to a nearby town to replace another ferry which was out of service.
However, the disabled vessel has since been repaired, and Long Island now 
has its regular two-ferry service back on schedule.

http://story.indiagazette.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/701ee96610c884a6/id/379036/cs/1/

Assam set for protests over delayed rail projects
India Gazette
Sunday 6th July, 2008
(IANS)
Political parties and pressure groups in southern Assam's Barak Valley have 
announced a series of agitational programmes demanding expansion of railway 
lines and protesting delay in ongoing rail projects.

'People are getting restive following the prolonged delay and indifference 
towards implementation of vital projects along with the expansion of railway 
lines,' said Rupam Nandi Purkayastha, president of the All 
Cachar-Karimganj-Hailakandi Students' Association (ACKHSA).

The foundation stone for the 201-km Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion project 
was laid in 1996 by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and work was 
supposed to be over by 2006.

The gauge conversion project was declared a national project by Prime 
Minister Manmohan Singh, and is considered as the lifeline for southern 
Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and parts of Manipur.

The ACKHSA, along with the All Dimasa Students' Union (ADSU), has been 
jointly spearheading a campaign for expediting the railway projects since 
last month. The leaders of ACKHSA and ADSU last week met Tripura Chief 
Minister Manik Sarkar and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga to seek their 
support in launching a mass movement.

As part of their agitational programme, the two organisations supported by 
Left parties, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other parties have called a 
12-hour shutdown on Aug 8 in southern Assam comprising Cachar, Karimganj, 
Hailakandi and North Cachar hills districts.

Purkayastha and ADSU president Prafulla Hafila said they would organise 
protest demonstrations at the Boat club in New Delhi during the next session 
of parliament in August.

The two associations will also organise a sit-in demonstration in Guwahati 
during the monsoon session of the Assam assembly next week.

Early completion of the East-West corridor and restoration of the Karimganj 
(southern Assam)-Sylhet (Bangladesh) railway line are their other demands.

'The Centre had decided to convert all metre gauge lines to broad gauge 
lines in India and allocated Rs.45 billion in 1993 for the purpose, but 
nothing was allocated for the conversion of the Lumding-Silchar metre gauge 
line to broad gauge line,' said Basudeb Acharya, chairman of the railways 
parliamentary standing committee.

Lok Sabha MP from Tripura, Khagen Das told IANS: 'In the 201-km 
Lumding-Silchar rail line, there are 130 big bridges, 654 small bridges and 
10,480 metres of tunnels and only about 30 percent work on the entire 
project was completed.

'If work goes on at this pace, the project cannot be completed even by 
2011.'

According to the Northeast Frontier Railway, so far 50 people, including 
construction workers and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been 
killed by militants in southern Assam after the Lumding-Silchar gauge 
conversion project was undertaken.

'Militancy and acquiring of land besides shortage of funds are the main 
problems for the gauge conversion project,' a Northeast Frontier railway 
official said on condition of anonymity.

The Northeast Frontier railway authorities suspended train services in the 
Lumding-Badarpur Section May 15 and also evacuated about 1,200 railway staff 
from 13 railway stations of the NC Hills district following the spurt in 
violence by the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel faction), also known as Black 
Widow.

The construction companies have estimated a loss of about Rs.500 million 
during April-May due to the spurt in insurgency.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/03/stories/2008070357570300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Protest against bus pass rate increase
BANGALORE: The Karnataka Pradesh Vidyarthi Janata Dal (S) on Wednesday 
staged a protest here against the anti-student policies of the Government.
The protestors raised slogans against the increase in rates of monthly and 
yearly bus passes and urged the Government to withdraw the decision.
Vidyarthi JD(S) State unit president D.K. Devaraj said poor students could 
not afford to pay higher rates.

http://www.cbs8.com/story.php?id=134233

Residents Protest Over Dangerous Intersection
Watch Video
Last Updated:
07-13-08 at 11:15AM
Residents of the Bird Rock community took to the streets Saturday night to 
protest the absence of a stop sign at a dangerous intersection, where a 
woman was hit by a truck and killed Tuesday morning.

The accident occurred Tuesday morning at the intersection of La Jolla Mesa 
Drive and Van Nuys. Residents said they had been asking the city to install 
a stop sign at the dangerous intersection for months.

A crosswalk was added to the intersection recently, but residents cited the 
number of children walking to schools in the area, and the speed of 
motorists through the intersection as reasons a stop sign is needed.

The protesters said they will continue to speak out until something is done.

http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/25881194.html

KAT riders protest route cancellations

Posted: 11:00 PM Jul 24, 2008
Last Updated: 10:23 PM Jul 24, 2008
Reporter: Lauren Davis

Knoxville (WVLT) - Knoxville transit riders filled the city county building 
Thursday night to show their support for the KAT bus routes.
Dozens of people from the Halls community showed up to protest the 
cancellation of the Halls route. Knox County commissioner Larry Smith stood 
up and spoke on behalf of his constituents. Another rider said this is the 
worst time to drop the route with gas prices as high as they are.
"I have a 21-month-old and a stay at home wife with only one vehicle. The 
route is critical for my wife to have the car for emergencies," said Richard 
Hertzog, who is against route cancellations.
Riders said they would rather pay an increased fee than eliminate the route 
all together.

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=456940&sid=REG

Protesters disrupt rail traffic in Mumbai
Mumbai, July 21: Locals of Nallasopara and Virar suburbs on Monday disrupted 
rail services during morning peak hours on the Western Railway line seeking 
additional services and protesting against loadshedding in the area, railway 
officials said.

Protestors blocked tracks between Nallasopara and Virar, located in 
neighbouring Thane and the last station on the suburban line of Western 
Railways.

Protestors blocked the tracks at around 0845 hrs and indulged in stone 
throwing, they said, adding that services began to limp to normal by 
afternoon.

"They damaged property at the Nallasopara station and we are still to 
ascertain the amount of damage," SS Gupta, Chief Public Relations Officer 
for Western Railways said.

Trains were being operated till the stations of Bhayander and Vasai since 
morning and railway officials had been rushed there to ensure that services 
are restored at the earliest, he said.

Personnel from the government railway police and State Reserve Police Force 
were also rushed to the area but were able to restore peace by afternoon.

A photojournalist from a national daily was assaulted by the mob and was 
taken to a local hospital for medical treatment. A few police personnel also 
sustained injuries while dispersing the mob.

The protestors were demanding additional suburban rail services to Virar 
while some groups of protestors were also protesting against electricity 
loadshedding in the area, railway sources said.

Services to Virar have been a bone of contention between passenger 
organisations and railway authorities for years now with violent protests in 
the past.

Additional tracks have been laid between Borivali to Virar but passenger 
organisations have stated that it has not resulted in a proportional 
increase in services.

A passenger organisation had also carried out a boycott of rail services 
last year with passengers being forced off trains from Virar.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Commuter_protest_halts_train_services_in_Mumbai/rssarticleshow/3260903.cms

Commuter protest halts train services in Mumbai
21 Jul 2008, 1942 hrs IST, Vasundhara Sanger,TIMESOFINDIA.COM
 Print EMail Discuss New Bookmark/Share

 Save Write to Editor

MUMBAI: Fed up with the lax attitude of the administration in arresting 
massive power cuts and delay in trains services, harried commuters in Virar 
on the western suburbs in Mumbai resorted to an impromptu protest on Monday 
morning by sitting on the tracks that resulted in halting of services to and 
from Churchgate station on the western railway line in the city. Outstation 
services towards Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi were affected, too.

Shailendra Kamble of DYFI that is usually in the forefront of such protests 
said, "We have not organised this agitation. It's a spontaneous outburst of 
the people who are fed up with the daily rigours of travel compounded by 
harassment caused to them by massive power cuts in the Vasai-Virar region."

He assured that the protest was, however, peaceful and added he had 
requested the local leader Hitendra Thakur to talk with the commuters and 
ease the situation.

Earlier there were rumours that the commuters in Virar had beaten up the 
western railway motorman and so train services were disrupted. Kamble denied 
saying that no one was beaten up.

Western Railway PRO said that the commuters in Virar were protesting because 
the commuters at Nallasopara, which is the station before Virar, were 
occupying the seats in the down trains, preventing the Virar commuters space 
to board the trains or occupy seats.

Kamble said that people were fed up with frequent power cuts through out 
last night and the delay in trains' services aggravated the situation 
further.

The western railway tried to run services from Vasai to Churchgate but the 
frequency was very less. Meanwhile, passengers who take the trains towards 
Virar and Nallsopara were seen walking on the railway tracks towards 
Nallasopara and Virar, as since 10 am in the morning there were no services.

The Virar commuters sat on the tracks and blocked the services till mid 
afternoon, on Monday. The situation eased after a hectic pacification 
exercise by the railway authorities, police and local political leaders.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/24/stories/2008072459000300.htm

Karnataka - Mangalore

KRV protests RTO 'neglect'
Staff Correspondent

Drivers said to be handing over the wheel to cleaners
Ban sought on lorry movement between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

MANGALORE: The Regional Transport Office here was out of -bounds to people 
for nearly an hour on Wednesday as activists of the Karnataka Rakshana 
Vedike staged a dharna in front of it.
They were protesting against the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the 
authorities regarding regulating the movement of lorries carrying iron ore 
and manganese, and the resultant problems faced by people on account of 
lorry traffic on National Highways 17 and 48.
The chief district convener of the vedike, Annayya Kulal, said repeated 
pleas to the district administration to regulate the movement of the lorries 
had gone unheeded. Referring to a memorandum submitted to Deputy 
Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao on July 10, Mr. Kulal said the administration 
had not taken any action on it so far. Ore transporting lorries were 
endangering the lives of road users, he added.
Mr. Kulal said the district administration should immediately intervene and 
prevent the movement of all lorries from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Noting that some 
lorries were not displaying their registration plates, Mr. Kulal said others 
were transporting ore without covering it with a tarpaulin.
He also alleged that in most other cases, drivers were asking cleaners to 
take charge of the wheel, making the roads unsafe for travel.
The protesters at one stage insisted that RTO D. Sadashiva, who was away on 
official work, come and make known the steps taken by the Regional Transport 
Authority (RTA) to regulate lorry movement. Subsequently, the activists 
presented a memorandum to Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) S.B. 
Surendrappa, who said he would apprise Mr. Sadashiva of their demands. The 
ARTO also promised that the RTA would act on the list of demands given by 
the vedike.
Guerrilla warfare
President of the unit Shashidhar Shetty said if the authorities failed to 
take corrective steps to solve their problems within the next 10 days, the 
vedike activists would resort to guerrilla warfare and ambush lorries 
operating along the national highways. "The district administration will be 
held solely responsible for the resultant law and order problems," he said 
and demanded that Mr. Rao, the police and the RTO take steps to stop the 
menace. To a claim from the activists that Mr. Rao had issued orders banning 
the movement of ore-carrying lorries from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mr. Surendrappa 
said he would recheck with Mr. Sadashiva if the Deputy Commissioner had 
issued such orders.
Mr. Rao, however, told The Hindu that the district administration would 
consider regulating lorry movement after discussing with the neighbouring 
district administration.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/08/12/dempster-truckers.html?ref=rss

Truckers threaten blockade to protest Dempster Highway's condition
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 | 5:07 PM CT
CBC News
Angry northern truckers say they're fed up with a lack of maintenance on the 
Dempster Highway, with some suggesting a blockade to grab politicians' 
attentions if road conditions don't improve.
The Dempster Highway is generally known to be a bumpy ride, but truckers say 
it's now putting drivers' safety at risk. (CBC)The 735-kilometre gravel road 
from Dawson City, Yukon, to Inuvik, N.W.T., is a lifeline, particularly to 
those living in Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta, as trucks deliver food and 
mail to people in the area. The western Arctic town also attracts tourists 
who brave the bumpy, dusty road.
But truckers say the Dempster road is in rougher shape this year than ever 
before, with huge potholes and ruts. They say a lack of maintenance by 
governments in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories are putting drivers' 
safety at risk.
"It's amazing that there hasn't been somebody killed out there," Bill 
Rutherford, who brings fresh produce from Whitehorse to Inuvik every three 
weeks, told CBC News on Monday.
'There's something wrong with the picture here'
"If our trucks were unsafe, we'd be pulled off the road. But we have to 
drive on a road that's not safe," he added. "There's something wrong with 
the picture there."
Some truckers have already been making angry calls to politicians in both 
territories. Rutherford said some have even started talking about taking 
further action.
"There's talk of a blockade," he said. "Nobody wants to see that happen, but 
if we can't get the work done on the road, then it probably will happen."
The N.W.T. government defended its side of the highway, claiming recent 
rainfall - not a lack of maintenance - is responsible for the road's rough 
sections.
"Because it's a gravel highway, the water gets into the highway, you know, 
into the surface. It's the nature of the gravel highway," Gurdev Jagpal, 
Inuvik regional superintendent for the Transportation Department, said 
Tuesday.
"Slow down and be careful. Watch for potholes and loose gravel, and drive to 
the situation."
Conditions add 12 hours to truckers' trips
Jagpal said road graders work as fast as they can to repair the Dempster 
following bad weather.
Meanwhile, he said he cannot speak for the Yukon side of the highway. Yukon 
government officials have not been available for comment.
The state of the Dempster has also hit truck drivers like those at Matco 
Transportation. Inuvik branch manager Jordan Fedosoff said the road's 
condition has added 12 hours to each round trip from Whitehorse to Inuvik.
It has also resulted in late deliveries, damaged goods, more fuel burned, 
and skyrocketing overtime payouts, he added.
"It's supposed to be an all-weather highway. Right now, it's more like a 
goat path," Fedosoff said.
Rutherford said he would like to see more regular maintenance on the 
Dempster, especially on the southern Yukon section of the road.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/24/stories/2008082451920300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda

Girl knocked down by bus, students protest
Staff Reporter
NALGONDA: An eighth class student of a private school, Ashvani, was knocked 
down by an RTC bus in the Valigonda bus stand triggering protest from the 
students on Saturday.
According to the information reaching here, Ashwani was hit by the bus when 
she tried to hurriedly board it in an attempt to occupy a seat.
She died instantaneously while another boy Akhil, a sixth class student, 
suffered minor injures in the mishap.
Both of them hailed from Pulijala of Valigonda mandal and they were on their 
way back home after attending their school in the mandal headquarters.
Enraged by the girl's death, students of various organisations staged a 
dharna demanding action against the driver and Rs.5 lakh as compensation for 
the victim's family. The protest was going on till reports last came in.

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Protest-cards-to-be-given.4399828.jp

Protest cards to be given to drivers over bus pram ban
Published Date: 18 August 2008
By HAZEL MOLLISON
CAMPAIGNERS will be handing out protest cards to Lothian Buses drivers in 
their attempt to overturn the controversial ban on prams.
They are protesting against the company's policy of refusing to allow 
parents on board with prams or buggies that cannot be folded.

Disability campaigners have also criticised Lothian Buses' inflexibility, 
saying there is no reason mothers with prams cannot use the disabled space 
if it is vacant.

And they also hit out at the company's refusal to carry a mother with a 
disabled baby daughter in a pram, as reported in last week's Evening News.

Caroline Docherty was stunned when she was told she couldn't get on several 
buses with her five-month-old baby Sophie, who has brain damage and requires 
a special pram.

However, she said she has now been offered a special badge to show to 
drivers.

The mum-of-two said: "I'm just relieved I'll be able to get on the bus 
again.

"I phoned them up and they said they'd send one out to me to show drivers. I 
think every mother who asks for one now will get one if they phone up."

Lothian Buses began enforcing the ban on non-folding prams in June, which 
they say is in line with the Disability Discrimination Act.

They have issued drivers with guidance as to what types of prams and buggies 
should be refused.

But councillors, parents and campaigners are calling on the company to back 
down and show some "common sense". They say that most parents are happy to 
vacate the space if it is needed by a wheelchair user.

Kate Joester, a mother-of-two from Lower Granton Road, has designed the 
cards. She has won the support of dozens of parents.

She said: "I'd like people to hand one to the driver of every bus they get 
on, saying they object to this policy whether they push a buggy or not.

"We don't want to behave in a hostile way to drivers or hold anyone up, but 
we just want to make it clear how many people, their customers, think this 
is outrageous. It's so intimidating waiting for a bus, and not knowing 
whether you'll be allowed on.

"What are you supposed to do if you've got a six-week-old baby who can't go 
in a foldable buggy? It's not possible to carry your baby all the time.

"It can be very hard for mothers with young children to get around as it is. 
The last thing Lothian Buses should be doing is alienating so many 
passengers.

"Most parents are happy to get off a bus if a wheelchair users needs the 
space."

Nikki McIntosh Lewis, a mother-of-two, has helped set up a Facebook group 
with nearly 150 members who oppose the ban. She is also organising a 
petition.

She said: "I would definitely support this. I think handing out cards is a 
good way for people to show Lothian Buses what they think."

Mothers are also planning a delegation to go and confront managers at 
Lothian Buses. They have won the support of Malcolm Chisholm, the MSP for 
Edinburgh North and Leith.

No one from Lothian Buses was available for comment.