<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Cars are more expensive than you think]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Jon Rynn http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/ Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:53:45 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/1 In NYC...

...most people can have a transportation cost of $75 per month, that is, an unlimited public transit card.  No wonder Salt Lake City and Dallas approved light rail.  I think there is a huge reservoir of potential support for a more accessible, transit-oriented country.

]]> In NYC...

...most people can have a transportation cost of $75 per month, that is, an unlimited public transit card.  No wonder Salt Lake City and Dallas approved light rail.  I think there is a huge reservoir of potential support for a more accessible, transit-oriented country.

]]> Comment #2 by Jon Rynn http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/ Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:57:20 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/2 More on light-rail...

...can be found in
this excellent overview of the dozens of light-rail projects around the country by Alan Drake,

]]> More on light-rail...

...can be found in
this excellent overview of the dozens of light-rail projects around the country by Alan Drake,

]]> Comment #3 by JMG http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/ Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:19:02 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/3 The book is

"How to Live Well Without Owning A Car" -- I think the guy's name is Balish or something.  Great book.

Save the world: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 5% annually.

]]> The book is

"How to Live Well Without Owning A Car" -- I think the guy's name is Balish or something.  Great book.

Save the world: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 5% annually.

]]> Comment #4 by justlou http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/ Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:32:47 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/4 The Young and the Poor

Are spending even more as a percentage of their total incomes.  Cars, instead of helping people up the ladder, may be keeping a lot of people stuck in the rut of humping to maintain their rides.  

Think about the combined wealth of this country that goes toward personal mobility via automobile.  It is truly a huge opportunity cost in terms of diverting us from real freedom, security and sustainability.  It is a very seductive technology that has us in its reigns.  Enough so that few question that we can "drive on corn forever" which the term "renewable" infers.  

 

]]> The Young and the Poor

Are spending even more as a percentage of their total incomes.  Cars, instead of helping people up the ladder, may be keeping a lot of people stuck in the rut of humping to maintain their rides.  

Think about the combined wealth of this country that goes toward personal mobility via automobile.  It is truly a huge opportunity cost in terms of diverting us from real freedom, security and sustainability.  It is a very seductive technology that has us in its reigns.  Enough so that few question that we can "drive on corn forever" which the term "renewable" infers.  

 

]]> Comment #5 by seamusenright http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/ Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:07:05 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/5 Relative Expense

If u think it's expensive in the US consider that in Ireland it's estimated to cost €10,000 a year to keep a regular family car.
Yet every day there seems to be more SUVs on the streets.
It's similar in many European countries though in most there's a good public transport system: that's not the case here.

]]> Relative Expense

If u think it's expensive in the US consider that in Ireland it's estimated to cost €10,000 a year to keep a regular family car.
Yet every day there seems to be more SUVs on the streets.
It's similar in many European countries though in most there's a good public transport system: that's not the case here.

]]> Comment #6 by Delay And Deny http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/ Tue, 24 Jul 2007 01:08:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/sticker-shocker/6 Feet, Do Your Stuff


People are always talking about providing public transportation.

But then when you think about it, we didn't have public or private transportation for the first 10,000 years of recorded history!

I mean, sure, there were stagecoaches and horses for kings, but the average person spent his time where it should be spent: on his feet.

Walking miles to get goods was not unheard of.  

Of all the "transportation" modes mentioned, this is the least referred to.

The thing that has really changed is punctuality and the synchronicity of the machine age.   We are forced to "be somewhere" at a specific time because machines (clocks, schedulers, PDAs) tell us to.  

That is the real problem, not transportation, but having to convey our carcass around town for...for what?   Knowledge workers can, do most of our work on the Internet.    Laborers should be able to move around, but most will work in a fixed location, like WalMart, that they can be near.

Instead of questioning the How? of transportation, let's ask Why?

John Bailo
You Read It Here First


]]> Feet, Do Your Stuff


People are always talking about providing public transportation.

But then when you think about it, we didn't have public or private transportation for the first 10,000 years of recorded history!

I mean, sure, there were stagecoaches and horses for kings, but the average person spent his time where it should be spent: on his feet.

Walking miles to get goods was not unheard of.  

Of all the "transportation" modes mentioned, this is the least referred to.

The thing that has really changed is punctuality and the synchronicity of the machine age.   We are forced to "be somewhere" at a specific time because machines (clocks, schedulers, PDAs) tell us to.  

That is the real problem, not transportation, but having to convey our carcass around town for...for what?   Knowledge workers can, do most of our work on the Internet.    Laborers should be able to move around, but most will work in a fixed location, like WalMart, that they can be near.

Instead of questioning the How? of transportation, let's ask Why?

John Bailo
You Read It Here First


]]>