Thread: Online

Just a side note, but I do not have reliable public transportation to use on a daily basis...I actually miss getting to read on the way to campus when I took the college busses!

That may be the real problem...I NEED my car because there is no available alternative!

I like the independence of having my own transportation. I can follow my own schedule and go from point A to point Z without any detours. As an added benefit, I don't have to mingle with strangers. I also have lots of storage capacity in my Buick LaSabre.

David

OK - I know the US is a huge country - and most people - exept for thos who live in the downtown of a big city - need a car.
But if I rephrase the question :
Concidering there was an alternative. Would you then be willing to park the car - to do you bit in helping the planet survive +
Or are Americans so selfcentered that -Freedom to this and that puts aside other global laws.
After all - US did NOT sign the Kyoto agreement. Thats a BAD sign !
Peace
Olav

The U.S. is a big place. If I lived in a city with good public transportation available, I would use it. I don't, though, and probably never will (live in a big city, that is). I am just not a city person. In southern California, in particular, the public transportation is inadequate and the suburban sprawl mind boggling. (I don't particularly like the suburbs, either. I like being out in the middle of nowhere.) I'm currently living in town; a much bigger town than it was the last time I lived here 13 years ago! In this town, we have a bus system, sort of. My 23 year-old son tried taking the bus to and from his new job recently. It required a 2 mile hike to the first bus stop, then another hike to a transfer stop, and then 3 miles to work. Then the same back home. It took 3 hours. Each way. It was 112 degrees for the home trip. Can you see why he would rather drive? Once, about 18 years ago, I decided it would be good to ride my bicycle back and forth to work. It was a fairly straight, level shot. My first day it took me 20 minutes to get there, and I was very pleased with the whole thing. I was a "paraprofessional" then and didn't have to worry that "professional dress" issues would make riding the bike awkward or uncomfortable. At the end of the day, I pulled the bike out and headed home. I didn't get far before my folly became apparent. I'd forgotten about our afternoon winds, which blow every day from the W/SW. Anywhere from 10 - 30 mph is normal. It can get heavier than that. I had to pedal my bike into the wind. What happened is that I ended up sitting on the bike at a standstill, trying mightily to force the pedals around and the bike forward. After about 10 minutes I gave up, got off, and hauled my bike along behind me as I hiked home. It took me an hour. Now I drive to work. I do my part to limit emissions in other ways:

I drive a fuel-efficient, clean-running vehicle.

I don't make shopping trips. I don't go to the store, gas station, etc. unless it is on the way to or from somewhere else I'm going. I'm very efficient with the amount of time I spend on the road & miles I put on the car.

I mow my lawn with a push mower.

I don't do motorized recreation of any kind. I ride my horses. I hike. I paddle a canoe.


Of course, if I still lived with my horses, and if my school would just put in a good barn, I'd be happy to "ride" to work. I know the boss would love to have me arrive smelling of horse and covered with dust, etc. each morning My kids would love it, anyway!

Originally Posted by Olav

Concidering there was an alternative. Would you then be willing to park the car - to do you bit in helping the planet survive +
Or are Americans so selfcentered that -Freedom to this and that puts aside other global laws.
After all - US did NOT sign the Kyoto agreement. Thats a BAD sign !
Peace
Olav

The way you phrased your question is biased. You are obviously in favor of public transportation.

I am also concerned by your characterization that "all Americans are 'self centered.'"

Having brought this up, I suppose you will now characterize all Americans as "touchy and over sensitive."

Sheesh ...

David

I admit that I am a "public transportation man". - But - Generalizing a whole nation - NO WAY ! (There it is again :"way")
I do however have a reason for raising this question:Is personal freedom - amendement no ....) so important that this is the reason for the reluctant attitude to the Kyoto agreement ?

And : Concidering that cars are responsible for only a small percentage of CO2-outlets. It may sound like I am missing the target. Never the less - somewhere among the politicians there must be a fundamental idea about NOT restraining personal freedom.
Or am I really that wrong ?
I reminds me of a debate concerning the right to own a weapon............
I lost ..............
To Kelly :
Coming to work - smelling of grass,dust and horses ..............sounds great but I can see your point here !
Finally : You do probably all remember scientists who around the turn of the last century who predicted that because of the growth rate of horses in the streets of New York - the main street would - in1980 be covered by a 90 yard thick layer of horse-shit !!!
I tink they were wrong ??????
Peace
Olav
(who actually does not have a car,does not know how to drive - but he does smoke............................)

Originally Posted by Olav

After all - US did NOT sign the Kyoto agreement. Thats a BAD sign !
Peace
Olav

Don't think that all of us supported the decision to walk away from the Kyoto agreement! But no, I don't believe that Americans will ever give up their cars...the wide open road is what replaced the cowboys on the wide-open range in American idealism...I live in Texas and you will never get these good ol' boys to give up their pickup trucks!

I would take public transportation if it was available. I don't know if we make the international news, but Dallas is currently under federal orders to clean up the air here...strict federal emissions testing and lower speed limits are what they have done so far. Be patient, we are trying!

I will NEVER EVER give up my car - though I am thinking of purchasing a hybrid. The current gas/electric hybrids seem to be a bit too small. I'm looking for something that's sedan sized. I like the comfort of my Buick LaSabre.

Regarding the Kyoto agreement - I have no tacky comments to make about Green Peace tree hugging commies ...

Oops - that WAS a tacky comment.

Oh well ...

(evil snicker)

David

Hahaha..

Suggesting that Americans will give up driving would be as ridiculous as suggesting that they will give up smoking! lol...

And Kelley (with an "e"): I really enjoyed hearing about the hardships you went through (I've never been in such a strong wind!) And just imagine if we all went back in time and rode horses to school! lol

Kelly