North America

Canada: Toronto Transit Strike Averted

Date: April 23rd, 2008 |

Union leaders and transit officials in Toronto averted a strike that would have shut down transit throughout the city beginning April 21. The agreement was hailed as fair by both sides and will run for three years. The last-minute resolution came two hours past the strike deadline on April 20 when a strike seemed i [read more]

Mexico: American College Student Killed in Puerto Vallarta

Date: April 2nd, 2008 |

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A University of Colorado student vacationing in Puerto Vallarta with his mother was shot and killed March 26 when he tried to protect her from a robbery. The two assailants fled the scene but were apprehended and jailed, only to see the man who was suspected of firing the gun escape from prison when he [read more]

United States: Amtrak to Begin Random Baggage Screening

Date: February 20th, 2008 |

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Using procedures similar to those applied on the New York City subway system, Amtrak began randomly screening passengers’ carry-on bags this week in its first significant visible increase in security in years. The new measures will be applied in the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington before being expanded to the rest of the country. [read more]

United States: West Coast Rail Service Suspended by Landslide

Date: January 30th, 2008 |

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Amtrak’s Coast Starlight service between Seattle and Los Angeles was suspended Jan. 24 because a major landslide buried the tracks near Oakridge, Oregon. The slide occurred Jan. 19 and Amtrak provided alternate bus service around the closure but found that demand did not justify the expense, so service along the entire route was suspended. Amtrak [read more]

United States: New Airline Restrictions on Lithium Batteries

Date: December 26th, 2007 |

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Beginning Jan. 1, lithium batteries will be prohibited from checked baggage on all flights. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires that spare lithium batteries be packed in carry-on bags with their terminals covered as a precaution against short-circuiting that could spark a fire. Loose batteries should be isolated from each other and should not be [read more]

Mexico: Narco-Violence Near U.S. Border; Private Plane Stolen from Americans

Date: April 17th, 2008 |

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The U.S. State Department reissued its travel alert for Mexico citing extensive violent criminal activity in northern areas near the U.S. border. The violence is driven by drug cartels fighting over the narcotics trade. Attacks usually target cartel members, police, criminal justice officials and journalists, but foreign visitors and residents, including Americans, have been kidnapped [read more]

Canada: Transit Strike May Hit Toronto April 1

Date: March 20th, 2008 |

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Toronto transit workers could strike April 1 if they don’t reach a deal with the transit commission on a new labor agreement. The current contract expires March 31 and some 99 percent of union members voted to reject the commission’s first contract proposal and authorize a strike if [read more]

Mexico: Kidnapping of U.S. Citizens Up in Baja

Date: February 14th, 2008 |

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Kidnapping of U.S. citizens in Tijuana, Rosarito Beach and Ensenada has increased in the past year, with some 26 San Diego County residents taken hostage in 2007 compared to 11 in 2006. Most of the victims had business interests or family members in Mexico and thus were attractive targets, but all visitors should use common [read more]

Mexico: “Women Only” Buses Now Running in Mexico City

Date: January 24th, 2008 |

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A “women only” bus service is now in place in Mexico City to give women using the city’s transit system a break from abusive men. The special buses with large pink signs are operating on two lines and will expand to 15 more routes by April. The first three cars in all subway trains are [read more]

Mexico: Armed Robberies in Northern Baja California

Date: November 29th, 2007 |

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The routes to popular but remote surfing spots in northern Baja California, Mexico were the sites for at least six armed robberies in the past five months, numbers that authorities feel may be low because they believe many incidents go unreported. Camping in remote areas is risky. Longtime travelers to the area recommend staying only [read more]