News How to immediately reduce the US fuel demand

[edward]

Tele-commuting is great for many types of jobs, and would help conserve. Here in the Southwest we have "urban sprawl" that makes public transportation less effective. Still, a light rail built above freeways would be far better than gas guzzling buses that block traffic

Ahh yes you then must live in the Phoenix area, the ugly stepsister of Tucson

We have had a referendum on light rail here and the voters turned it down. Automobiles seem to be such an extension of people's personalities that they fear some loss of identity without them. From the light rail cars they would see others sitting in their powerful vehicles, which would leave the light railers feeling; lost, left out, impotent, unimportant and depressed.

We need something to lift them above this morass, something like a monorail where they could always look down upon those 300 horse power kiddie cars.
A monorail system is also cheaper to build because it requires the taking of much less public property.

 

[Pengwuino]

We have had a referendum on light rail here and the voters turned it down. Automobiles seem to be such an extension of people's personalities that they fear some loss of identity without them. From the light rail cars they would see others sitting in their powerful vehicles, which would leave the light railers feeling; lost, left out, impotent, unimportant and depressed.

Damn straight. I love my car and love driving... but i want a damn light rail system in the Central Valley. Not today... not tomorrow... but today damn it!

It'd be awesome to be able to just think one day "hey I want to find some place that is more pathetic then Fresno, CA" and take a quick 2 hour trip to Oakland.

 

[Townsend]

I would say the single best way to reduce the current rate of fuel consumption is to make SUVs, Vans, and minivans illegal to drive on public streets...

There are completely pointless and a danger to everyone not driving one...

 

[blimkie]

i don't believe making suv, vans, and minivans illegal is a good solution, it would be if it was a law, but too many people would vote against it i don't think the bill would pass.

 

[Pengwuino]

How bout we just kill off half the population.

No one will miss LA or NY.

Hey they say give me liberty or give me death. I'll take the liberty of owning an SUV in the future and everyone who doesn't think i should can be given death.

 

[blimkie]

the best solution to the fuel demand? Find a alternate fuel. Gasoline is terrible source of fuel but hey petroleum will run out in 30 years neways.

 

[Pengwuino]

the best solution to the fuel demand? Find a alternate fuel. Gasoline is terrible source of fuel but hey petroleum will run out in 30 years neways.

well obviously that's a better solution...

 

[Townsend]

How bout we just kill off half the population.

No one will miss LA or NY.

Hey they say give me liberty or give me death. I'll take the liberty of owning an SUV in the future and everyone who doesn't think i should can be given death.

I don't care what you want to own...you can have whatever the hell makes you happy as far as I'm concerned...however that does not mean I should have to share public places with people driving wasteful machines that threaten my life!

You're liberties end when they take away from the freedoms and liberties of other people! In the case of SUVs, they do just that and so you don't have a right to drive them on public roads, you have the privilege and one which I think should be revoked.

 

[Pengwuino]

Do you really believe that reasoning? Hell your demanding my liberties being taken away.

 

[Smurf]

Wow, wrong thread.

-deleted-

 

[blimkie]

yea um that's not happening, i don't see every country in the world banning suvs, and vans and trucks. Maybe as gas prices continue to rise and city streets become morse congested consumers will by more smaller cars which is allreayd happening anyways.

 

[Townsend]

Do you really believe that reasoning? Hell your demanding my liberties being taken away.

No I am not! Buy an SUV or a monster truck or a .50 cal rifle and go get high on crack...I DON'T care...

I believe people should have the right to do whatever they want unless it takes away from the freedom of other people to do whatever they want. In this case, I want to be able to drive down the road on a scooter and be just as safe as everyone else on the road. How is that possible when people are driving around 6 ton man crushers and they cannot even see over the steering wheel?

If you think I'm no safer with or without SUVs on the road then how about a big foot? Or perhaps I can just drive around an M1 Tank...I don't need to see where I'm going since whatever I hit will just be crushed...as long as I'm safe, right?

 

[Townsend]

yea um that's not happening, i don't see every country in the world banning suvs, and vans and trucks.

Trucks are welcome to stay since they have some utility..

Maybe as gas prices continue to rise and city streets become morse congested consumers will by more smaller cars which is allreayd happening anyways.

If gas was cheaper they would be buying bigger cars so they can feel safer at the expense of others...Why do you think there are so many SUVs on the road?

 

[blimkie]

The people driving those vehicles have just as much a right to the road as you do. Your not going to be able to remove all the large vehicles from the road just ebcuase u think it will amke u feel safer. Its your choice to drive a scooter that doenst even have a seatbelt, i hope u atleast where a helmet. Do you sugest we remove all the large construction vehicles and garbage trucks as well just for your safety. Maybe we can all get out our wheel barrls and move tons of dirt and waste.

 

[Pengwuino]

So you really think you are going to have any better chance of living if a 2 ton car hits you at 30mph compared to a 5 ton suv hitting you at 30mph? And what SUV has a steering wheel you can't see over? What kinda crap is this? Thats why seats are adjustable.

And hell, if its all about protecting people who don't know driving scooters on roads is dangerous, let's ban fireworks while we're at it. I feel my liberties are threatened because I may walk into a fireworks show's staging area and get hurt. Ban em all!

And while we're at it, electricity is scary, better take down every electrical line in the country so a bit of risk in life is taken away at the expensive of other peoples freedom.

 

[Pengwuino]

If gas was cheaper they would be buying bigger cars so they can feel safer at the expense of others...Why do you think there are so many SUVs on the road?

There are very FEW people who buy an SUV simply because its safer. I mean hell, people still believe they can tip over with a flick of the wrist.

And wait a second, if you are so concerned with safety, what the hell are you doing out on a scooter completely exposed with hundreds of tons of steel flying by you every minute on the road?

 

[Smurf]

Trucks are welcome to stay since they have some utility..

Vans do as well. The only thing I think could be banned outright is SUVs. But, a more suitable way of dealing with this would be to demand that every car produced from now on has to meet up to certain standards... depending on it's class.

 

[Pengwuino]

Vans do as well. The only thing I think could be banned outright is SUVs. But, a more suitable way of dealing with this would be to demand that every car produced from now on has to meet up to certain standards... depending on it's class.

They already do meet US regulatory standards. Hell most cars from the 70's that seemingly are all concentrated where i live produce more pollution then SUV's.

 

[Townsend]

The people driving those vehicles have just as much a right to the road as you do.

And they are welcome to use it as much as they want...that does not mean they can drive whatever they want on the street now does it?

Your not going to be able to remove all the large vehicles from the road just ebcuase u think it will amke u feel safer.

I don't want to remove all the large vehicles from the road, just the pointless ones and I won't have to feel safer because I KNOW I will be safer.

Its your choice to drive a scooter that doenst even have a seatbelt, i hope u atleast where a helmet.

I don't drive a scooter I was just using it as an example...

Do you sugest we remove all the large construction vehicles and garbage trucks as well just for your safety. Maybe we can all get out our wheel barrls and move tons of dirt and waste.

I have no problem with people driving vehicles that serve a purpose...I have a problem with 4 foot tall soccer moms that hit ever curb on the street and change lanes without using a blinker or even looking over their shoulder, driving around a 6 ton vehicle on a public street where they endanger the lives of innocent people due to their inept driving abilities...(sorry for the runon sentence).

 

[Townsend]

And wait a second, if you are so concerned with safety, what the hell are you doing out on a scooter completely exposed with hundreds of tons of steel flying by you every minute on the road?

I don't drive a scooter and I never said I did...I just said I wanted to be able to do so and still be as safe as everyone else...

 

[ron damon]

There is something noble and gratifying about sharing a commute with others in a public transportation system that is clean, efficient, and aesthetically appealing. It gives you a sense of community and civilization. I wish cars would get phased out real quick

 

[blimkie]

Well we allreayd ahve emissions tests that vehicles msut pass. Do u think they should be stricter that could work.

I partially agree with you townsend but only on a few vehciles persay hummers are terrible on gas but i do not think all suvs and vans should be banned.

 

[Pengwuino]

Are you serius townsend? How is putting these idiots into a smaller vehicle going to make a difference? They are ****ty drivers, you can put them in a cardboard box and they will still run into people. Worst part about it is if they hit a wall or a curb or a median, they have a higher chance of dieing simply because you want to ban pointless (although they are not pointless since they serve the EXACT same purpose as cars) vehicles.

 

[Townsend]

Vans do as well. The only thing I think could be banned outright is SUVs. But, a more suitable way of dealing with this would be to demand that every car produced from now on has to meet up to certain standards... depending on it's class.

I suppose Vans are used by companies...ok then, Vans can stay too. But just so you know Smurf I don't want to Ban anything...I just don't think they should be street legal...meaning you can have one but cannot drive it on publicly owned streets.

 

[Pengwuino]

There is something noble and gratifying about sharing a commute with others in a public transportation system that is clean, efficient, and aesthetically appealing. It gives you a sense of community and civilization. I wish cars would get phased out real quick

Yah there is nothing good or pleasing about not living your life according to the governments schedule...

 

[blimkie]

I have no problem with people driving vehicles that serve a purpose...I have a problem with 4 foot tall soccer moms that hit ever curb on the street and change lanes without using a blinker or even looking over their shoulder, driving around a 6 ton vehicle on a public street where they endanger the lives of innocent people due to their inept driving abilities...(sorry for the runon sentence).

soccer moms are a perfect example of vans being used as they should. carpool. its saves gas and its conveint for a lot of people going to the same place.

 

[Pengwuino]

I suppose Vans are used by companies...ok then, Vans can stay too. But just so you know Smurf I don't want to Ban anything...I just don't think they should be street legal...meaning you can have one but cannot drive it on publicly owned streets.

So where are you going to drive them? The 3 miles of road per county that is private road? Thats like saying you don't want to ban cigarettes but they shouldn't be sold to the public.

 

[Smurf]

I suppose Vans are used by companies...ok then, Vans can stay too. But just so you know Smurf I don't want to Ban anything...I just don't think they should be street legal...meaning you can have one but cannot drive it on publicly owned streets.

That's what I meant

They already do meet US regulatory standards. Hell most cars from the 70's that seemingly are all concentrated where i live produce more pollution then SUV's.

Yes... my point being that US regulatory standards are stupid.

 

[Townsend]

Are you serius townsend? How is putting these idiots into a smaller vehicle going to make a difference?

Firstly...smaller vehicles are easier to control. Secondly, lighter vehicles have less energy at every given mph...so they will do less damage at every mph as well.

They are ****ty drivers, you can put them in a cardboard box and they will still run into people.

I would rather be hit by a 4 door car than a train...

Worst part about it is if they hit a wall or a curb or a median, they have a higher chance of dieing simply because you want to ban pointless (although they are not pointless since they serve the EXACT same purpose as cars) vehicles.

I don't have a problem with people dieing because of their stupidity...none at all. Everyone is free to die...I mean that.

 

[blimkie]

"I would rather be hit by a 4 door car than a train... "

trains drive on the street now? maybe ur right we should ban that