In times of widely publicized environmental issues, namely global warming, the transportation sector is often bemoaned for its contribution to carbon emissions. Though diesel exhaust certainly exhibits detrimental effects on the atmosphere, its effects on the human body attract less attention. The World Health Organization estimates that urban air pollution, to which vehicles are a significant contributor, kills 1.2 million people every year.  On Sept. 9, Prof. Oliver Gao, civil and environmental engineering, who focuses on the nexus of transportation, air quality and energy, discussed his ongoing research on the effect of different fuels on air quality measurements. 

How many times have you craved a latte from Manndible, but resisted because the painfully long walk from Goldwin Smith? Or how many times have you been tempted to watch the Cornell Red take on their competitors but decided not to because of the annoying trek to Lynah rink? Well, one of Cornell’s newest student organizations doesn’t think you should be missing out on delicious coffee or hockey games any longer. The Big Red Bikes bike share program aims not only to connect students throughout Cornell’s large campus, but also to promote a more sustainable mode of transportation and create a more environmentally friendly mentality.

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit announced early Friday morning that it had reached a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers over contracts for its workers. The deal was the result of 17 consecutive hours of negotiations. Though the agreement — which specifies the salaries and benefits of all TCAT drivers and mechanics — still has to be formalized by the United Auto Workers on October 5, workers will continue to work under old contract conditions until the vote.

“Poor air quality, massive parking lots, traffic jams and delays are integral parts of life in many parts of the United Sates, but they don’t have to be a part of our future here,” said Bill Wendt, Cornell’s director of Transportation and Mail Services. Wendt’s optimism about Ithaca’s future can be attributed to the Transportation-Focused Generic Environmental Impact Statement released today, which examines the future of Ithaca’s transportation in light of presumed population growth in the next 10 years.