Do we hate cars? - Page 2

I love cars and they are necessary.

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The most beautiful thing in the world is blue : the sky, the sea ...

I find cars a necessary evil in most US cities. I have just the necessary to get me around. The cost of ownership and driving is what I dislike . I rather spend my money on other types of toys. After WWII, the US built its infrastructure based on car dependence. Now, it has become part of the American culture. Is like that gas company commercial where they ask this lady about giving up her car for cleaner enviroment and she says: " I would love a cleaner enviroment, but giving up your car is like giving up chocolate, it'll never happen"! By the way she isn't skinny either.

Urbanization and lifestyle in the US has to change first. I agree that I would love to have a less damaging, ligther, and capable vehicle for the weather conditions that I described you above. We will not see that coming cheap, since gas price will go up, so prices of alternative motor (any kind) vehicles other than gas guzzlers will go up as well.
The particularities of the regional economics play a role. Concentrated urban areas is the way to go regarding urbanization, since it makes mass transit viable.
The suburban setup that most US cities have is counter productive for mass transit, and it will not change as long as people are willing and able to purchase gas at the given prices.
The other factor is "living large". Meaning: big cars, big houses, big lights, big appliances, big dogs, big eats, big sports, big everything. Making everything in a large scale consumes much more energy than making things smaller.
It is obvious that the makers of oversized goods and services know what are they doing. Selling more metal, rubber, plastic, wood, nails, pet food (just imagine how large horse owners live) or whatever materials will yield a larger profit than selling smaller goods and services. Clothing every season, 15 pair of shoes, 4 TV's, 2 PC's, gas grill,electric grill, big lawnyard, big lawnmower, and everything big wastes strategic resources that should be left alone thinking lighter and smaller.
Think of bodybuilding. How much food goes into building unnecessary body muscle. I know ... I used to have 17 inch arms and growing. I was shocked by my food bill. I dont need 17 inch arms. I dont need shoulders like Lou Ferrigno. No one does. It is a waste of energy. See? LARGE vs. SMALL is a philosophical question.
People keep buying large boats because it is a display of their large ego, large cars to not to get crushed by large SUV's. Large houses to keep up with the neighbours so their kids will not be shunned at school. Tribal prestige is involved in the larger than large culture.

Enough said.

What US needs is another rationing period "WW2" style. Old folks that I know remember that era, and they did live fine in the homefront with just two pairs of shoes and no electric toaster, microwave, and other crap that society pushes in order to "belong".

Not a hippy, just too lazy to try to be filthy rich.

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2003 Gary Fisher Zebrano (standard gearing)
Comfort commuter with drop and aero bars.
Think of a Buick.

1974 Schwinn Traveler Fixed Gear Conversion (42x13)

Think of some medieval torture element that goes fast

Wheelist, show me the bike!!!!!!!

Like I said the people who make claims like these always seem to be the worst drivers. Just making a generalization like you did in your original post.


On a different note, why did I know the tree huggers would come around telling everybody what to do in this thread. *yawn*

Because the thread is entitled 'Do we hate cars?' and the cycling fraternity is by its very nature, full of environmentally aware people, perhaps?

Thanks God we've got some of the 'resource wasting, couldn't give a ****' brigade here to balance things up eh?

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www.wheelism.co.uk - Keeping it wheel, every single day.

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, January 18, 1896, Scientific American Magazine

simple... to the point... I totally agree.

My Si and My R700 =
Traffic and pedestrians =

I hate walking when I am the one walking... waste of time; mankind invented wheels for a reason. I would rather deal w/ 1000 bikes than 1000 pedestrians.

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The pressure to be something I was not was constant and unrelenting. It was a battle to maintain a sense of authentic self when that self was still in the developmental stages.

Why is it that as soon as someone expresses concern with the fact that we as human beings are slowly destroying the environment they get labeled as "tree huggers" or some such (stupid) thing. Anyway, I guess I'd rather be labeled a tree hugger than be perceived as a moron going around professing that we should just say screw the environment and continue to pollute and consume at the rate we currently are.

It's not the cars I hate so much as the cab drivers.


Didn't you just say it was stupid to lump people into stereotyped categories?

I love cars. I have a 1989 Saab 900 that was the perfect car to learn to drive in. 16 valves 5 speeds. with all the back roads you learn the art of balance. I picked up the bike once the novelty of driving wore off, and the need to get an adrenaline fix with out risking other peoples lives, as well as my own. But Helga (my car) has many issues and I now see how much easier it is just to bike around.

christ on a bike,

for one awful minute there i thought you had named your car, and not only that, you named it Helga!!

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HARD
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Big difference between discussing the environment and trying to tell people what kind of vehicle they need and why they are bad people because of what they drive. I guess it's hard to understand when you are the one doing it.

I suppose we could all buy a Prius. Or has anyone considered how those massive batteries will pollute once they have to be discarded?!

I like to drive, always have....own two cars. Both Swedish. Both moderately efficient for Turbos. Yet, the free market dictates that car makers are able to sell inefficient behemoths. But then aren't the people who are coughing up their 2nd mortgage for a year's supply of gas going to get wise?

I love to bike, but it is not the answer for my traveling and commuting needs. Oh and the Green Party can kiss my ass, thanks to Nader, we have GW in the White House. Think About it.

It's even worse than you think. I read an article a few weeks ago (NY Times I think) that gave the real cost break down on hybrids. To make up for the high initial cost and low projected trade in value of a Prius, gas would have to average $9.50 a gallon over the next five years. Even for something like the Ford Escape, gas would have to average close to $5 for the hybrid version to cost less than the standard one. Biodiesel on the other hand is well on it's way to being a viable option.

I don't hate cars, I just wish they'd stay off the roads.

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Harry

Cars are fine, it's more often the drivers I object to.