Funny Things While Riding

[lostintime]

Global warming maybe not, but the Hummer's 13 mpg city and highway doesn't do anything for the oil crisis. The fascination with gas-guzzling behemoths rather than supporting the growth and sale of more economical cars or cars with alternative fuel sources was partially responsible for the downfall of GM and co. The environmental irresponsibility of Hummer and its unsuitability for suburban roads was more than partially responsible for their downfall.

Respectfully.... is there truly a oil crisis? I do not believe there is at all, and never was. It's all about greed and manipulation of the market. If there is any crisis ...... it is the crisis of human greed.

If people want to drive smaller cars, that's one thing, but don't believe you're necessarily saving anything. There's more to a car than how much gas it uses. Maintenance costs, breakdowns, insurance etc..... all add to the total cost of ownership.

Small cars will never rule America, there's not enough demand. America was built on the car ..... big cars..... prosper or suffer with them ..... it's not changing anytime soon.

Alternative fuels? It sounds nice, doesn't it ? What fuels? Do we think big oil is going to allow a mass market of alternative fueled vehicles in America without their hand on the key to the pot? Hence... we get Hybrids What about the long term viability of those? Battery replacement? Disposal?

GM is dying from major mismanagement.... I'm not so sure they should have been "saved" by the Gov. They're like the USPS ....... bloated from years of poor management.

That said ..... I'm all for less pollution. We're all to blame equally for where we are in this regards. It really does start with each of us individually..... but it's so easy to blame someone else..... hence ..... we stagnate..... and we're slowly killing each other.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Yes, such a good idea to hate others because of the vehicle they drive. Back on topic.

Yesterday while riding by a random park, saw this old guy in 80's running gear making his way up this hill really slowly, and the background noise at the time was a passenger jet right above us throttling up to gain altitude. Put the two together and it was a pretty funny scene.

 

[Wallace]

Yesterday at the end of my morning ride, going through the Seattle Arboretum, I heard a huge grinding metal crash noise up the road ahead of me, and when I got around the corners I saw a 14' tall truck that had just driven under a 13' foot tall bridge (not sure of the exact measurements, but you get the idea). The top of the truck was on the road behind it, all crumpled up like a huge piece of tinfoil, the sides were all twisted, and the driver had just gotten out to see what happened, with a "my life has just turned into a huge pile of ****" look on his face. That's actually the second time I've seen that happen in the past year.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

I agree that you shouldn't vandalize other people's property and that there are some irrational environmental causes, but opposing SUVs isn't one of them.

What do you mean by "opposing SUVs"? Opposing the right of people to purchase SUVs? Opposing the right of car companies to build and sell them? What, exactly, do you mean?

 

[Ninety5rpm]

hummer went bankrupt...nuff said...

Note quite. The free market does not get enough credit where it is due, and it is definitely due here, and in countless other cases.

 

[scoot'n]

Respectfully.... is there truly a oil crisis? I do not believe there is at all, and never was. It's all about greed and manipulation of the market. If there is any crisis ...... it is the crisis of human greed.

Wait a minute, are you saying all those carbon offsets I bought aren't really helping?

 

[Wallace]

I remember when I was a young and idealistic ELF member, how we used to torch parked Hummers and light our clove cigarettes off the flames, singing long Grateful Dead jams while the trapped passengers screamed as they burned to death, feeling so righteous about keeping the gas-guzzlers off the road. Good times, good times... where did they go?

 

[WonderLance]

I agree there ...... the whole deal about Humans causing global warming ..... it's a total scam.

Reducing air pollution is one thing

Save the planet . It's a Capitalists dream ....and an Environmentalists deluded mission to fight.

What better way to fleece the world than to prompt people to "save the planet" by going green?

Yeah, God put us on this earth so we could use whatever we wanted, when ever we wanted. Those dirtly commies probably just want to distract us with their 'save the planet garbage while they perform a few abotions any way.

 

[Cerberus]

What do you mean by "opposing SUVs"? Opposing the right of people to purchase SUVs? Opposing the right of car companies to build and sell them? What, exactly, do you mean?

I simply meant thinking that SUVs are generally overused (at least in then US). As to what concretely to do about SUV, I feel that it's reasonable that the environmental and safety issues are reflected in the tax structure. Denmark for example have very few SUV mainly because gas is expensive and I support that.

 

[msjett]

As someone who has been hit by a car...as a pedestrian, walking across a pedestrian crossing. I am glad it was a sedan that hit me, I survived, minor injuries. Had it been a SUV as you like to call them, with a bull bar (roo bar) I would have been dead.

I don't care about the environmental issue, I care about the fact that people drive around in the equivalent of army jeeps, thinking that they are safe, while those on foot or bikes are toast, if they make a mistake and you just happen to be in their way.

 

[hmronnow]

They're city cars... I thought everyone knew that.

Hence the acronym: Sub-Urban Vehicle

 

[Aapjes]

If people want to drive smaller cars, that's one thing, but don't believe you're necessarily saving anything. There's more to a car than how much gas it uses. Maintenance costs, breakdowns, insurance etc..... all add to the total cost of ownership.

And those are all cheaper for a small, lean and mean car than for a big one. Or are you seriously suggesting that lifetime ownership of a Hummer is less than a regular sedan?

Small cars will never rule America, there's not enough demand. America was built on the car ..... big cars..... prosper or suffer with them ..... it's not changing anytime soon.

In case you didn't notice, GM and Chrysler did so badly in part because they focused on big cars, but people increasingly wanted small cars. Besides, the american people may find the need to downsize. China is currently giving you free stuff while they are building up the asian and domestic markets, but they won't keep giving you bigger and bigger loans forever. Every loan has to be repaid one day and like Greece and Iceland, you will bleed.

Alternative fuels? It sounds nice, doesn't it? What fuels? Do we think big oil is going to allow a mass market of alternative fueled vehicles in America without their hand on the key to the pot?

They will if they can sell them to us. 'We, the people' have the power to force them to, if necessary. After the banking crisis, I've got the (probably idle) hope that Americans will demand actual democracy instead of letting companies abuse them.

Hence... we get Hybrids What about the long term viability of those? Battery replacement? Disposal?

While I agree that hybrids are just a temporary stopgap at best, the batteries can just be recycled (just like we do with the batteries in normal cars, btw).

GM is dying from major mismanagement.... I'm not so sure they should have been "saved" by the Gov. They're like the USPS ....... bloated from years of poor management.

And yet you keep voting 'business socialists' in office. Bailouts and fixed markets for big business, a kick in the teeth for everyone else. You voted for them, not me...

That said ..... I'm all for less pollution. We're all to blame equally for where we are in this regards.

Actually, some countries/regions are doing much better than others. Some because of poverty, but some because of government intervention that has little to no negative impact on the happiness of the populace but does have a big impact on pollution. For instance, by taking cycling and public transportation into account during urban planning.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

I simply meant thinking that SUVs are generally overused (at least in then US). As to what concretely to do about SUV, I feel that it's reasonable that the environmental and safety issues are reflected in the tax structure. Denmark for example have very few SUV mainly because gas is expensive and I support that.

I agree. All road costs should come from gas taxes, not subsidized out of the general fund. Actually, I think even better, especially now that we have automated toll collection and electric cars, that all or most roads should be toll roads and all road costs should be paid for with that. There should be gas tax on top of that too, to account for externalities of burning fossil fuels, which would cost SUV drivers more than economy car drivers. But nothing that specifically/directly targets SUVs - they should be forced to pay their fair share, and the market will take car of the rest. RIP, Hummers.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

As someone who has been hit by a car...as a pedestrian, walking across a pedestrian crossing. I am glad it was a sedan that hit me, I survived, minor injuries. Had it been a SUV as you like to call them, with a bull bar (roo bar) I would have been dead.

I don't care about the environmental issue, I care about the fact that people drive around in the equivalent of army jeeps, thinking that they are safe, while those on foot or bikes are toast, if they make a mistake and you just happen to be in their way.

What if it had been a bus, cement truck, RV, or a plumber's full-size van?

What exactly are you suggesting? All those "more dangerous" vehicles should be illegal?

I still don't see much difference in a pedestrian or cyclist being hit by a 3500 pound sedan vs. a 5000 lbs. SUV.

 

[Aapjes]

What if it had been a bus, cement truck, RV, or a plumber's full-size van?

If people are riding these vehicles in the streets because they feel safe, look cool or other poor reasons, I would similarly feel that they have no business being on the road. Ultimately, it's about risk vs need. These vehicles generally are only driven because there is an actual need for their special abilities and the drivers usually use other transportation when those abilities are not needed. For instance, I never see people drive an RV or cement truck from their home to the supermarket.

What exactly are you suggesting? All those "more dangerous" vehicles should be illegal?

High taxes, instead of the current situation where these vehicles get lower taxes than more sensible cars for road use.

I still don't see much difference in a pedestrian or cyclist being hit by a 3500 pound sedan vs. a 5000 lbs. SUV.

"analyses of real accident data showed that pedestrian fatality risk in collisions with [SUVs] is substantially higher than for conventional passenger cars. Multi body modelling has shown that the primary reason for the increased hazard to pedestrians from high fronted vehicles is the higher bonnet leading edge for these vehicles compared to conventional cars."

http://www.tcd.ie/bioengineering/documents/Chapter5.pdf

 

[shaniatwain]

hi

That would be cool post. Great job! This one is an instant classic!

Dui Attorney

 

[Fourier]

Rename "The SUV Thread" (isn't there already something like that) and move to the Café.