Sick of high gas $, these people found a way to save. Here are some of my ideas! And YOU?
- added May 23, 2008
- 33 responses
-
-
-
- WorldPeaceTV
- added this
-
-
- related topics
-
- News and Politics (38581)
- Politics (26987)
- Earth and Science (12452)
- Environment (5509)
- Global Warming (1615)
- Oil (890)
- Car Culture (875)
- Activism (847)
- Cars (834)
- Gas (295)
- Driving (134)
- Petrol (33)
- OPEC (25)
- Fuel Economy (17)
- Save Fuel (7)
- topic for PLUSAF rant (3)
Robert Raymond says this is the wave of the future. 4 bucks a gallon is highway robbery and any way you can save and not use this liquid gold to fuel the pockets of the oil companies is a good way to go!
I think the wave of the future is finding out other ways and other alternatives to ancient sun energy, like current sun energy, wind power or even mules like this farmer did. We have to be creative...
In Europe, (Switzerland) where I live most of the year (I live in the States as well), fuel is close to 8 bucks a gallon (2 a liter) and has always been more expensive than the States. What I can offer the states to help save on fuel are a few ideas I see here in Europe.
1. Traffic patterns: Seems like the traffic circles (round-abouts, etc) here in Europe saves you from stop signs and traffic lights ... as you know, stop signs, traffic lights make you STOP, so, when a vehicle stops it needs a large quantity of fuel to rest and then 'go again'. In a circle, you sometimes have to stop, but hardly ever. A large savings of fuel for the masses as well as individual people.
2. Traffic lights here are more friendlier in Europe than in the States. They are for the most part shorter in time, most sense traffic and most have a different method as well as being interconnected. Also, the turn signal is different as it is coordinated a little different and there is less waiting.
3. Traffic cameras save the city from using police cars to monitor traffic as well as issuing tickets. Not only saving fuel, but many man hours riding around in a police car. Just think about the savings on tax you pay in your state/city, then the police can go fight real crime instead of the license plate being a little lopsided! (Yeah, that is a crime in most cities lol).
4. Public transportation: holy makeral! If every city was like NYC or European public transportation! Europe still beats the States, but NYC comes close. If only the rest of the cities and states followed the lead of these cities and offered real solid transportation for the public, not only would we reduce our glut of fossil fuels, but we would reduce the emissions into the atmosphere by a thousand fold. Especially if the electric street car/trolley was brought back. Also, if you miss your bus/train/trolley, you can catch another in 5 to 15 minutes ... tops! (late night schedules are about half to full hour different).
5. School buses!!! Yup, here is a surprise. School buses are used only for real young students, and the vehicles aren't as BIG ... the ones that are 10 years and over use number 4 above! PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!!! So ... less property taxes (that usually pay the school buses) and you pay a discounted rate for the monthly/yearly transportation ticket. And, an added benefit for saving fuel is that there aren't all those lousy stops you have to do if you are behind a bus since there are 90% fewer ... and as an economic benefit to public transportation, there is a built-in income that they can rely on. Of course, moms and dads still do it too!
6. Here in Switzerland, it's illegal to idle the engine more than one minute! So, during a rail road crossing, or cold morning, or road work stop, or any situation that requires no moving, most people shut their engines off.
7. How about this: National Public Transportation Week. Everyone has to use public transportation to work for a week.
Now, let's all brainstorm ways to cut down our fuel consumption....
I think the wave of the future is finding out other ways and other alternatives to ancient sun energy, like current sun energy, wind power or even mules like this farmer did. We have to be creative...
In Europe, (Switzerland) where I live most of the year (I live in the States as well), fuel is close to 8 bucks a gallon (2 a liter) and has always been more expensive than the States. What I can offer the states to help save on fuel are a few ideas I see here in Europe.
1. Traffic patterns: Seems like the traffic circles (round-abouts, etc) here in Europe saves you from stop signs and traffic lights ... as you know, stop signs, traffic lights make you STOP, so, when a vehicle stops it needs a large quantity of fuel to rest and then 'go again'. In a circle, you sometimes have to stop, but hardly ever. A large savings of fuel for the masses as well as individual people.
2. Traffic lights here are more friendlier in Europe than in the States. They are for the most part shorter in time, most sense traffic and most have a different method as well as being interconnected. Also, the turn signal is different as it is coordinated a little different and there is less waiting.
3. Traffic cameras save the city from using police cars to monitor traffic as well as issuing tickets. Not only saving fuel, but many man hours riding around in a police car. Just think about the savings on tax you pay in your state/city, then the police can go fight real crime instead of the license plate being a little lopsided! (Yeah, that is a crime in most cities lol).
4. Public transportation: holy makeral! If every city was like NYC or European public transportation! Europe still beats the States, but NYC comes close. If only the rest of the cities and states followed the lead of these cities and offered real solid transportation for the public, not only would we reduce our glut of fossil fuels, but we would reduce the emissions into the atmosphere by a thousand fold. Especially if the electric street car/trolley was brought back. Also, if you miss your bus/train/trolley, you can catch another in 5 to 15 minutes ... tops! (late night schedules are about half to full hour different).
5. School buses!!! Yup, here is a surprise. School buses are used only for real young students, and the vehicles aren't as BIG ... the ones that are 10 years and over use number 4 above! PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!!! So ... less property taxes (that usually pay the school buses) and you pay a discounted rate for the monthly/yearly transportation ticket. And, an added benefit for saving fuel is that there aren't all those lousy stops you have to do if you are behind a bus since there are 90% fewer ... and as an economic benefit to public transportation, there is a built-in income that they can rely on. Of course, moms and dads still do it too!
6. Here in Switzerland, it's illegal to idle the engine more than one minute! So, during a rail road crossing, or cold morning, or road work stop, or any situation that requires no moving, most people shut their engines off.
7. How about this: National Public Transportation Week. Everyone has to use public transportation to work for a week.
Now, let's all brainstorm ways to cut down our fuel consumption....
-
-
-
-
- WorldPeaceTV
- 4 months ago
33 responses // Sick of high gas $, these people found a way to save. Here are some of my ideas! And YOU?
-
It's illegal to idle in Switzerland? that's awesome! I turn off my engine while waiting in the drive through and people behind give dirty looks like I'm holding them up just by starting my car up again!
-
yes indeed.
-
It is a necessity other than the obvious, for mental health to slow the hell down and smell the flowers. A much needed necessity.
I dont really care if to ride my bike I plan ahead (coffee pit stop is a must) or get up earlier, but the joy and personal time that it brings (not to mention after a stressful workday) is definetly priceless. -
Excellent post...
-
Great post my friend WPTV!
I noticed in Portland Maine that ridership on our Zoom bus went up ..I think 98% in a year if I read that right.
Wow Mr Bush you really are a uniter and a great president. You have made ALL of us hate you and conserve fuel in a serious way!
My son and I regularly ride our bikes as transportation and fun. ..our area is improving greatly in the bike pathway aspect over the years..it used to be a certain death trap for me to drive out of our neighborhood to the stores.
I think a lot of the problem is image of public transportation in the USA. I think sometimes people are timid of who might be on a bus...scary people.. and if it is safe..these prices will take care of that.-
-
-
-
- CarolynGillis
- 4 months ago
-
-
I hate traffic cameras. They don't do anything but entrap people. If they used them for only high crimes such as accidents and bad drivers fine. Using them to catch those who run red lights...like right when the light turns red or measuring if they are across the intersection in time...is a waste of time and stupid. That's fine if they want to use them but if they nit pick me with those stupid cameras they'll have trouble.
I'm waiting for the day that camera tags me for running a red light....they'll never hear the end of it. If they want to make a big deal about that....I'll make a bigger deal.
As for the idling thing that's lame here in Houston Tx. You come here in the Summer or even August and you wait at a train with the engine off in our hot city (that is considered almost the hottest place by those who have traveled the world) and tell me how smart of an idea that is.
I like the public transportation and the school buses. Reasonable.
Oil is abundant. Greed is more so, though.
Good suggestions, for the most part. -
these gas prices are outragous. Its not just hard on the working people , but its really hard on the elderly living on fixed incomes. I seen yesterday where the airlines are charging $15.00 to $25.00 dollars to check in your first bag , due to the high prices of gas.we don't have bus transportation where i live. so that is not an option for us.I keep saying its time to buy a horse and buggy.
-
It's all good, WorldPeace TV...I've noticed, here in south Florida lately, that there seems to be a lot less traffic on the streets and people have slowed down...except for the maniac drivers...but there is no way to not have traffic lights...however, some people cut their engine while waiting for the bridge to go up and down, etc....
Maybe this is the result of the collective consciousness reeling from the high prices...-
-
-
-
- PlatoTacius
- 4 months ago
-
-
thank god in the closest towm i live to only has two stop lights but they seem to stay red alot longer now days. maybe thats actually because we know how much gas is costing us to just sit and wait for that light to change
-
Those are all really good ideas. but until all those happen, Get a bicycle. saves gas, saves the environment and keeps you in shape. I use to drive everywhere now I would rather ride. it becomes kind of an addiction, In a good way.
-
..getting on my bike now..ttyl
-
-
-
-
- CarolynGillis
- 4 months ago
-
-
riding a bike saves on just more then gas. It saves on air polution too. and your right everyone would be in so much better shape if they rode instead of driving
-
Excellent WorldPeace - but, BUT, you're suggesting our police can focus on crime rather than vehicle infraction? Suuurrreeee! And, fewer people driving means fewer opportunities for police to write traffic violation tickets also.
We've got to look at unintended, unanticipated consequences here. Let's start with meter-maids. Fewer people driving means fewer people over their time limit. Meter-maids might race around the block two, three maybe four times faster. Do you realize that if they go around too many times without stopping, they'll turn to butter?
It sounds all nice and dandy - NOT! Ya, sure, the air will be cleaner, we won't need to go and attack other countries, our species and life as we know it will survive. BUT, without all those drivers and penalties and fines heaped on drivers, what are we going to do with all those shiny new police cars, meter-maid carts and parking meters everywhere?
Think of the dangers of people keeping more of their own money. What are they going to do with it? Do they really need to have it? Ya sure, they earned it, but do they really need to keep that money? Think of the meter-maids turning to butter.
No, I think we need to keep things just as they are. Besides, what you are suggesting sounds like having a government that is almost benevolent towards it's people. In the words of Scotty: "come on man, keep your knickers on!" If God had wanted the government to be benevolent towards it's people, he would have seen to it that some wise men (and women) created a Constitution to abide by. Really, man, stop "inhaling" the goofy grass.
What do the Europeans know anyway, as a society they've only got hundreds and hundreds of years head start on us. Oh, c'est la vie!-
-
-
-
- VoyagerFilms
- 4 months ago
-
-
Voyager Films: In several countries here, you hardly see the police. They do their traffic stops/controls and do have cameras watching, but you don't see people pulled over for ridiculous reasons, or see 10 cop cars for one little violation, or 20 cop cars, 10 fire trucks, 5 rescue vehicles all for a little garbage can fire. In America it seems like the police are wanting to cause a big scene so their big egos stay inflated or sumptin'! Another thing, I don't see the police here in most parts of Europe being bullies, wise guys or whatnot..they are very polite, professional and do their job!
I think the reason why the police in America (indiscriminately) pull over everyone they can get their hands on is because they want to know everyones business. There is NO privacy in the states as it is a POLICE state without a doubt. When I go to the states I can't believe the amount of police cars I see. I guess its ok since the taxpayers pay for the fuel and buttered donuts lol....
btw, those stupid speed traps in those tiny towns thru America must really be suffering lol....there's more to those speed traps than you think!!!-
-
-
-
- WorldPeaceTV
- 4 months ago
-
-
Dumped my toyota tacoma and got a scion xb. Over doubled my gas mileage.
When it's not nescessary, I don't drive at all... Love my bike! Love my Chevrolegs.
Now if they'd only figure out CLEAN Hydrogen (ie hydrogen fuel NOT produced via fossil fuels...) -
How about we stage a coup at all the major oil companies? It's time we stop the thievery... We'll take them over and give the owners their fair share.
With the leftover trillions, we'll feed the whole planet.
Meanwhile, we'll put a cap on how many babies can be born so we stop with all the overpopulation.
War will be over because everyone will have what they need and there will be no need to fight over anything.
The crazies that still feel like playing GI Joe can be placed in "Compassion Training Centers" where they learn how to love again.
Deal?
Who's with me? -
WorldPeaceTV
I rather have a lot of police than none at all. I rather have them where they are...they are there that's fine. They aren't causing trouble as you preach.
Don't let your aggression towards America cloud your vision of what is going on.
We all know about the little towns and speed traps. Just don't speed. -
Three years ago I moved from my cushy suburban neighborhood to an apartment just two miles from work. I gave up ninety-six miles and well over two hours of commuting to and from work per day. I was cutting down on gas and I was cutting down on the high maintenance costs for my car since I was having to put it in the shop every six weeks.
A year later, my parents did the same thing. They sold their suburban home and moved closer to work, and they were shocked that the difference was like getting a second paycheck.
For far too long we have been sold on this idea that we can live in the suburbs and work in the city. The highway systems after World War II were built on such a dream. But the whole thing was dependent on gas prices being affordable. It's no longer affordable and unless Congress and the auto makers find some way to convert our gas consumption to effective alternatives such as used vegetable oil or sugar-based ethanol (NO CORN!), it will never be affordable again in our lifetime. It's time for people to move closer to work. -
DJMatt2-
Great post. Great job actually DOING something. You rock. -
this is a great post and i'm loving the discussion -- i'm happy to know some people have opened their eyes
-
-
-
-
- AshleyMaria
- 4 months ago
-
-
WorldPeace - in case I failed at humor, what I said was an attempt to make fun of the way things are.
I agree with you 100%.
In addition to making sure everyone knows who is in charge in this country, the government, the police have become a source of revenue generation to pay for and expand governmental bureaucracies, higher salaries, junkets to holiday destinations in the name of doing government business - they also get paid vacations, etc., etc.
Oh, how nice it must be to exploit the public feed trough without conscience. (That was a joke, too.)-
-
-
-
- VoyagerFilms
- 4 months ago
-
-
These are excellent suggestions.
-
Coup?
-
the oil companies make about 10% profit. most financial organizations make 20-30%
solution? i bought a Prius in 2004, just about doubling the mpg from my '97 Taurus V6.
know what? it turns its own engine off whenever it's not needed, like coasting down a hill or if you stop at a light or intersection for more than about five seconds.
and Houston, the power steering AND air conditioning are run off the ELECTRIC propulsion battery, so if you are stopped for a traffic light or a ten-mile freight train, you've got A/C as long as you want. if the big battery gets too low, the engine restarts to recharge it.
buy a Prius, save the earth... -
Very few industries does anyone make 20-30% "after-tax" or "net" profit.
Hollywood can on block busters - but that's after all the movies that didn't make it - so it balances out, sometimes better than others.
As for big oil, well, their profits are WAY WAY beyond what is finally claimed and everyone has taken as much as they possibly could and as much as possible has been siphoned off into off-shore businesses and accounts.
You've no idea - they are a mature business with very very little operating expense relative to their revenue stream. Don't believe them for one second.-
-
-
-
- VoyagerFilms
- 4 months ago
-
-
@VoyagerFilms... well, if you don't think _I_'m right, you won't think http://seekingalpha.com/article/63131-exxon-s-2007-tax-... is anywhere near accurate, either, will you? remember Falk's 40th Law...
:)))))))
41% tax rate for Exxon/Mobil on income? not high enough? what is? 100%? and something like 20% of their profits come from the US, right? oh, wrong, i'm sure....
and so is... http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/economy/2008/02...
"Western majors, which once dominated the global energy business, now control only about 6 percent of the world’s oil reserves. Last year, PetroChina overtook Exxon as the world’s largest publicly traded oil company. "
China limits national gas prices, causing high demand, plus a windfall profits tax on their own companies... results?.... http://www.fool.com/investing/international/2008/03/20/... -
Gas prices are still to low! I still see people running their car's in parking lots, and its not because they are running their AC. Once prices get to $10.00 a gallon the consumer will demand change. Electric cars, hybrids, solar, hydrogen. This is exactly what our county needs to WAKE UP and realize that our way of life is not sustainable. The USA needs a major paradigm shift. I'd like to see gas at $20.00 a gallon. The outcry would be monumental. I can't wait!
-
@tommytupa, why only $20.00 a gallon? Why not $50?
wouldn't that cause the changes you want, even faster?
demand has ALREADY shifted. some months ago, you could buy a new Prius and get a small rebate. today, it's back to a waiting list, just like it was in '04.
in the 70s, when gasoline went from 30 cents a gallon to 75 cents or a dollar, many thousands of people were thrown out of work before the economy could adjust.
that was a tripling over a year or so. you want to immediately quadruple it?
do you have ANY idea how long it would take to bring all of your solutions to market to take up the difference?
ANY idea?
why don't you fight for lower subsidies for ALL industries, and take THAT money and shovel it into research for the fields your describe.
in two years, Toyota should introduce a plug-in hybrid. probably running about 75-100 mpg. i'll probably buy one. it'll cut MY car's gas consumption by more than a factor of TWO.... because my '04 Prius gets 44 mpg around town.
people who run their cars when they're not moving fall into two categories [ah, maybe three...]
1) they can afford it and don't care
2) they're too stupid to turn off the engine and save money, or
3) they're afraid that if they turn off their engine, the car won't restart.
ask them which category they're in before you rag on them.
oh, and by the way... i just finished writing this....
http://www.plusaf.com/gasprice2.htm Enjoy!
our way of life is much more sustainable than you think. why do the developing countries back Kyoto rules? because it would COST US hundreds of Billions of dollars to meet the requirements, and it WOULDN'T COST THEM THAT...... that's called a competitive business advantage.... FOR THEM.
everything here would become much more expensive, and their exports to us would be very cheap, but we'd have little money left to buy what we need because we'd have pissed it all into making THEM the financial winners. it's a side of the coin you may never have looked at...
it's also known as "beggar thy neighbor", aka, "screw you so i'm better off." yeah, they CARE SO MUCH about US..... NOT! -
Going back to the original poster's point about saving gas. I'm a big advocate of biking but I do have a car (I live in LA, you sort of have to have a car here because the public transportation is so shitty.) I drive a dusty old '93 Nissan manual transmission sedan. I find it's really easy to shift into neutral and coast to red lights, coast down hills, coast half a block to stop signs...I wonder how much gas this saves?
Now it's a habit and I do it all the time, even on the freeway going down a slope. I wonder how much changing our driving habits would actually save us gas.
In LA everyone is in such a hurry to get to the next red light, they'll gun their engine and change lanes to cut you off just so they can hurry up and wait.-
-
-
-
- Julie_Soller
- 4 months ago
-
-
Duh...............................
Get out and walk................ -
Very cool. I would like to see some of these useful laws find there way into American law books.
-
-
-
-
- natedawson
- 4 months ago
-
-
I think we should go back to horses. Collect thier poo for composting gardens and let them graze on the front lawn instead of all of those ride-on mowers.
As for those hot days in Texas. Roll down the window and turn the car off. Been there, done that. -
@Julie_Soller, your 1993 Nissan VERY likely has a fuel-injected engine, computer controlled. unlike carbureted cars before the 90s, when you coast down a hill, the computer will pretty much turn off the fuel injection unless some heat is needed to keep the catalytic converter up to sufficient operating temperature.
in addition, if you NEED to accelerate, you'll lose time getting out of neutral and bringing the engine up to suitable rpms quick enough to maybe get you out of a tight spot.
don't coast. it's not as safe, and should not save you much on gas mileage. try going one tank without that technique and see if your mileage changes much.
@patsarts, if your idea were workable, London would not have welcomed the "horseless carriage" as they did last century, when cleaning up and getting rid of all "thier poo" was creating a serious health menace for the city.
remember the Law of Unintended Consequences!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequence
it looks like @Vtecboy was replying to me... and i'd like to clarify a few things.... a modern fuel injection system will pretty much shut off the injectors when the vehicle speed is high and the throttle is closed. no fuel is needed to "run the engine" under those conditions.... in fact, the computer will monitor the temperature of the catalytic converter and actually BURN some gas to keep the "cat" sufficiently hot at all times.
BUT, i was referring to coasting IN NEUTRAL as NOT being a good idea. again, if you're out of gear, getting back in gear when you need to wastes time, and actually, if you're in neutral, the engine speed drops to idle and the computer will HAVE to have fuel going into the engine to keep it spinning!!!! if you wer IN gear, it doesn't have to do that, and would be MORE likely to use LESS fuel.
think about it....
