Say No to Cars

[zach]

Today I drove to work for the first time this year. I still can't believe the number of SUVs on the road during rush hour with one person in them! I added up how many people fit into a Metra train car one time. I can't remember how many exactly but it would be a lot of SUVs.

I just found this information on bus lanes and railroad passenger capacities.

That study claims that a busway has a capacity of 4,000 to 12,000-passenger spaces/hour/lane or 1.5 to 4.6 equivalent conventional highway lanes (ECHL). By contrast light rail capacity is cited at 6,000 to 20,000/passengers/hour or 2.3 to
7.7 equivalent highway lanes and rapid (heavy) rail 10,000 to 72,000 or 3.8 to 27.7 equivalent highway lanes.

If you figure most cars in Chicago during rush hour only have one person in them that's a lot of cars that could be replaced with mass transit and a lot of empty lanes during rush hour.

[Matt Johnson]

I hear what you are saying about public transit & riding your bike. That works to a certain extent, but not all the time. We live in a town of 6,000 people, which has no public transportation. In the winters, it gets down to -40, which is not condusive to riding a bike. I am also a realtor(tm) in my non-web-based profession. It requires me to have a vehicle to transport clients around. I like the ideas in this post, but not as absolutes.

[staycee1]

Hi

This is an interesting article. I read a blog the other day related to this issue, talking about cycling.

I had never even gave cycling a thought to helping the environment, and saying no to cars every once in a while.

You have made some true, and interesting points about 'saying no to cars.' It would make more sense to try and take other measures to help the environment. Like you said other forms of transport. Basically thinking more strategically about what we are doing and how we can change, so we better the environment around us.

Stacey

[EnviroJeff]

I live near a metro station in DC, so I use that for commuting, and I have found car sharing (i.e. Zipcar/CityCar Share, etc) to be a good solution for the 1 or 2 times a month that I need a car.

While it would be great to never have to use a car, there are certainly a few times I absolutely need one - i.e. when picking up a large item such as a couch.

I certainly believe that we need to invest in better and more widespread public transportation and closer-in cities (as others have said), but I see car sharing as a good way to solve the wasteful 1 car per American plan that most people have going now.

So how do you all think car sharing fits into this solution?

[staycee1]

I see the point in your 'car sharing' approach EnviroJeff. It would be better for people to share cars, rather than having or using their individual cars. It saves people causing more damage or waste to the environment than what has already been caused.

Do you think that people would be willing to share cars more?

If people did then it would be a great start to helping the environment. As you said before there are some times in life where you need a car, however if you can cut it down it would be great.

[gludeman]

I agree that it would be very difficult to not use cars in all situations. There are some "business uses" that will still require them. The "ride share" idea is good but there can be complications with scheduling and equal sharing and things like that. What I would think more likely is an increase in use of rental cars for the occasions that a car must be used. As for needs such as moving large items (like a couch), most retailers offer delivery options or commercial transporters could be hired. Having one truck making multiple deliveries would still be better than many personal vehicles making the same deliveries. The fewer cars on the road means less use of resources for car production/maintenance, gasoline, and road repairs.

[edenvegan]

Where I live people seem to love excess--big suvs/trucks w/ cabs for small families.--??? I will never understand this. (sigh) I would love to walk or bike, but the drivers are crazy on the road--and I don't care to breathe in all the exhaust fumes either. The buses have scary people on them sometimes, too.

Some day I will live close to everything in a smaller community where I don't need my car. But until then I'm afriad I'm left with little choice.

[Liver Pool]

i cant believe you said that i love my 15 cars and especially my 6litre v8 range rover with 4mpg, and i hate public transport its not the same as filling a gas guzzling huge car with £100 worth of petrol

[bokeefe1226]

You made some good points but I'd like to comment on some -

1. Live closer to where you work - That is impossible for some people to the location in which they work (it might be dangerous). I cannot afford to live in New York City where I work (though I do take mass transit)

2. Studies have shown that bulk shoppers tend to use more than they need. This results in more trips to the bulk store and higher consumption rates.

3. Mass transit is just not an option for many people. Americans simply are not connected enough to rail and bus lines.

4. Bikes and scooters sound like great options but simply are not realistic. What about families who need to travel? What if you consistently commute an hour a day?

I like your ideas, but America needs to pitch in to help make these realities.

[zach]

Originally Posted by bokeefe1226

You made some good points but I'd like to comment on some -

1. Live closer to where you work - That is impossible for some people to the location in which they work (it might be dangerous). I cannot afford to live in New York City where I work (though I do take mass transit)

2. Studies have shown that bulk shoppers tend to use more than they need. This results in more trips to the bulk store and higher consumption rates.

3. Mass transit is just not an option for many people. Americans simply are not connected enough to rail and bus lines.

4. Bikes and scooters sound like great options but simply are not realistic. What about families who need to travel? What if you consistently commute an hour a day?

I like your ideas, but America needs to pitch in to help make these realities.

Hi Bokeefe,

I agree with most of your points. I guess the idea behind this conversation here is that these are things that we can do to help out and change for the better. Things to keep in mind as we go about our lives. We may not be able to apply them all to our lives everyday.

An example would be instead of driving 4 blocks to the store hop on your bike or walk it and get some exercise while doing something good for the environment. Obviously this won't work for someone who lives many miles from the store or if you are planning on buying a large item that day.

As for #2, studies may show the bulk shoppers tend to consume more but that has more to do with behaviors of the people who are likely to shop at bulk stores and not the fact that they are shopping at bulk stores. I shop at Costco and I definitely don't consume more toilet paper or juice because I buy these items at Costco in bulk but I definitely take less trips to the store.

Zach