I will, thanks
gas at $20/gallon
- Thread starter Toshi
- Start date
I think people aren't aware of alternative energy technology that is lying in wait. If oil steadily climbed by 100/barrel each year, we would see alternative tech become profitable. It seems Toshi's original point was that high oil prices would make this tech truly profitable, which would in turn cause the big companies entrenched in their current infrastructure and business models to roll out new methods for old problems in earnest. This would result in more environmentally friendly infrastructure as a side-effect of the new methods.
Most Green-this, eco-that, sustainable-BS etc. is just marketing-speak creating the illusion of environmentally-friendliness while firms conduct 99% of their business the old, dirty, cheap and easy (read: industrial revolution) way. This kind of green-tech is profitable, the prius, those new bulbs, but that's small change when compared to coal plants, 18-wheelers and food production.
In this context, I agree that high oil prices now could just jumpstart the inevitable shift to a more responsible world. Don't think we're giving up our way of life and all moving to cities and growing our own food and living like a bunch of hippies -- Americans and people in general are hardy beings and we're not going to go out like a bunch of chumps because we run out of oil -- when the time comes we're going to get off of our collective ass and do something, but not until oil and food skyrocket out of control. I'm no economist, but it's clear nothing's going to happen until we get a big wake-up call.
Most Green-this, eco-that, sustainable-BS etc. is just marketing-speak creating the illusion of environmentally-friendliness while firms conduct 99% of their business the old, dirty, cheap and easy (read: industrial revolution) way. This kind of green-tech is profitable, the prius, those new bulbs, but that's small change when compared to coal plants, 18-wheelers and food production.
In this context, I agree that high oil prices now could just jumpstart the inevitable shift to a more responsible world. Don't think we're giving up our way of life and all moving to cities and growing our own food and living like a bunch of hippies -- Americans and people in general are hardy beings and we're not going to go out like a bunch of chumps because we run out of oil -- when the time comes we're going to get off of our collective ass and do something, but not until oil and food skyrocket out of control. I'm no economist, but it's clear nothing's going to happen until we get a big wake-up call.
the big wakeup call is under way!
I said it earlier in the thread, but I'll restate it for loosecannon: I don't think driving an hour each way for commuting or biking is sustainable, and is thus unethical. Move closer and find local riding spots, or your whining when gas does hit $20 will fall on doubly-deaf ears.
I said it earlier in the thread, but I'll restate it for loosecannon: I don't think driving an hour each way for commuting or biking is sustainable, and is thus unethical. Move closer and find local riding spots, or your whining when gas does hit $20 will fall on doubly-deaf ears.
i'm just glad i head up the bike unit at work because it won't be long before they start restricting our driving at work; ie: no proactive patrols, only responding to emergency calls.....
i can foresee the bike unit playing a much larger role in the near future and i've been trying to get the command to get on board with the idea that if every officer was bike certified and we had a bunch of spare bikes then we could still do proactive, local patrols and not use any gas. i'm just trying to figure out a tactful way to say, "i told you so" when this all makes sense.
i can foresee the bike unit playing a much larger role in the near future and i've been trying to get the command to get on board with the idea that if every officer was bike certified and we had a bunch of spare bikes then we could still do proactive, local patrols and not use any gas. i'm just trying to figure out a tactful way to say, "i told you so" when this all makes sense.
manimal, that's a good idea. i hope you are successful w/ it.
Like drive to a location with bike on rack, then cycle patrol the area?
in some cases, yes. but the busier areas of the city that require more proactive policing are within riding distance from the PD. i work in the housing projects only and they are all within a 3 mile ride from the PD so we just park at the station and ride to all of the different communities from there. for the most part, our response times for calls for service are about the same or less than via car because we can take the most direct route to an area through the woods/footpath's.
people are also more likely to approach us when we're on bikes than in cars so it's a great community relations tool as well.
Hey Manaimal, check this out:
Westwood Police Are Driving Green
Westwood Police Are Driving Green
I thought of this when I passed the local PD with a line of Crown Vic's on my bus commute this morning.
Yeah - but that's just inflation.
If I'm not mistaken, I think fuel costs are slightly out pacing inflation at this point.Yeah - but that's just inflation.
Isn't fuel outpacing, but an absurd amount, like 2-3x as much? It's about to trickle through society big time.
If it trickled into my paycheck, I would be a happy bastard.
My food budget has gone up an average of $80 a month and my wifes car was $40 to fill up this weekend. I can't wait to buy her a Honda Fit this summer.
Not when taken over the last 50 years.
not the first by far. our parks and recreation guys have had a hybrid escape for about 3 years now.
the wife loves the removable top Smart Car.. looks kinda tiny to me.. as in no storage.
Oil price will burst and fall back to $60-$80/barrel this fall/winter.. but the question is for how long.. i suspect spikes in the price at least every couple years from now on.
BTW, Americans had the biggest decline in driving since the on set of WWII; 1942
Oil price will burst and fall back to $60-$80/barrel this fall/winter.. but the question is for how long.. i suspect spikes in the price at least every couple years from now on.
BTW, Americans had the biggest decline in driving since the on set of WWII; 1942
Went to visit my family over the weekend. Gas was $4.09 for regular in Oxnard, CA. It was $4.35 in Soledad, CA (inland from Monterey).
We took the Nissan and got 29 MPG. Sad to say it was cheaper to drive than take the train
We took the Nissan and got 29 MPG. Sad to say it was cheaper to drive than take the train
Also make sure you pitch them on the fitness benefits. Just don't mention to your boss that he's a fat pig who needs to pedal a bike for a couple hours a day...be tactful
In addition to the gas problem, America also has a problem with idiots. The way I see it, we can kill two birds with one stone. Soilent gas, anyone?
so getting back to $11 per barrel is out of the question ?
I've been taking the commuter bus for a couple of months now (50 mile drive from home to work). Since I started the number of riders has doubled, to the point where they are staring to add more buses.
Currently the bus drops me off within walking distance of the office, but we will be moving to a new building so i will be bringing my bike for the last leg from the new bus stop to the new office.
Even if the price of gas comes down, I will still do this as my stress level has dropped because I don't have to deal with traffic
pretty sure it will be $10's of $'s below $100...
not much has changed over the last 12 months in demand nor supply... but the dollar has gotten weaker with the Fed cutting interest rates and speculators fleeing dollar investments and flocking to commodities like gold and oil. With the Fed reversing itself and looking to raise rates thereby restoring the dollar, and speculators over buying the futures market, look for oil prices to fall.. this fall.
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i am so with you. even if the commuter bus takes 20-30 min longer than driving straight through, not having to deal with the other idiots on the road or with parking if heading to downtown makes it totally worth it. well, not paying for gas makes it worth it, and the lowered stress is icing on the cake...
cut your commute time to ZERO ....
..and live in your cube.
..and live in your cube.
I ride the bus about 75% of the time. Riders have doubled over the last 6 months or so, but I get on at the 4th stop, so it's never more than half full.
My bus ride is nearly 90 minutes each way, but I get a lot of reading done and my stress level is 100% lower than if I ride my moto.
This should happen so there's a push for new fuel sources
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it sure didnt jump that much in 12 months... China's increase in consumption is something like 7.5% per year at this time.
Energy efficiency will increase once the over the hill crowd fades out. Most older people have no concept of sustainability.
a lot of experts say it isnt supply and demand that's forcing the price up
"BTW, Americans had the biggest decline in driving since the on set of WWII; 1942"
Not 100% sure but I believe the gas crisis in the 70's was a larger decline although I don't doubt as the prices rise this summer, probably to around 4.70 up here, more will drive less. Prices will never fall below 80$/barrel again and I seriously doubt they will fall below 100$ at any time this year although as they become an election issue I would expect them to fall a few extra cents if McCain wins, not enough to make a difference though.
We were spolied with extremely cheap gas in the 90's which is why this seems soo bad. I remember sometime around '99 when it hit $0.92/gal. Inflation considered we are ahead of where we should be but once world demand is considered relative to 30 years ago I think we're not quite there, although quite close. Supply and demand can't be the sole reason for the increase because world oil consumption has not doubled in the last 4 years as prices have in the states.
Not 100% sure but I believe the gas crisis in the 70's was a larger decline although I don't doubt as the prices rise this summer, probably to around 4.70 up here, more will drive less. Prices will never fall below 80$/barrel again and I seriously doubt they will fall below 100$ at any time this year although as they become an election issue I would expect them to fall a few extra cents if McCain wins, not enough to make a difference though.
We were spolied with extremely cheap gas in the 90's which is why this seems soo bad. I remember sometime around '99 when it hit $0.92/gal. Inflation considered we are ahead of where we should be but once world demand is considered relative to 30 years ago I think we're not quite there, although quite close. Supply and demand can't be the sole reason for the increase because world oil consumption has not doubled in the last 4 years as prices have in the states.
Just as the rise of automobiles saw the expansion of cities and the birth of the suburb, the decline of automobiles will see the contraction of cities and the death of suburbs. Hopefully bicycles catch on. They're phenominal things, really. Zero emissions, Infininite "Miles/Gallon", low upkeep and awesome value. Also, you can go many places on a bicycle that cars can't even dream of. Like Freeride courses and pump tracks. 
I live in a small town. I can beat a car to anywhere in a three mile radius. Any farther out and the roads widen and traffic flows better. I can get all the way across town in a half hour.
The cost? A one-time charge of ~$600, as well as some upkeep ($30 maybe). Water for my bottle is typically free, but if it's not, it's about $1.50 to fill it. And that's good for three, four days worth of riding. That's well over 24mi or so (I ride 6mi/day minimum, closer to 10mi/day average).
Funny then, that I'm planning on moving to Davis, CA...
I live in a small town. I can beat a car to anywhere in a three mile radius. Any farther out and the roads widen and traffic flows better. I can get all the way across town in a half hour.
The cost? A one-time charge of ~$600, as well as some upkeep ($30 maybe). Water for my bottle is typically free, but if it's not, it's about $1.50 to fill it. And that's good for three, four days worth of riding. That's well over 24mi or so (I ride 6mi/day minimum, closer to 10mi/day average).
Funny then, that I'm planning on moving to Davis, CA...
"Infininite "Miles/Gallon"" actually about 660. In an issue of Bike Maganzine a year or so back there was a short article about a man who rode some long distance along the east coast and approximated his calories burned using a HRM to figure it out. BTW, A gallon of gas is somewhere around 31000 calories.
I really do hope we move towards more compact cities and more alternative transportation. And as cycling becomes more popular it will become easier to convince local politicians to let people build trails near the city.
I really do hope we move towards more compact cities and more alternative transportation. And as cycling becomes more popular it will become easier to convince local politicians to let people build trails near the city.
Just as the rise of automobiles saw the expansion of cities and the birth of the suburb, the decline of automobiles will see the contraction of cities and the death of suburbs. Hopefully bicycles catch on. They're phenominal things, really. Zero emissions, Infininite "Miles/Gallon", low upkeep and awesome value. Also, you can go many places on a bicycle that cars can't even dream of. Like Freeride courses and pump tracks.
I live in a small town. I can beat a car to anywhere in a three mile radius. Any farther out and the roads widen and traffic flows better. I can get all the way across town in a half hour.
The cost? A one-time charge of ~$600, as well as some upkeep ($30 maybe). Water for my bottle is typically free, but if it's not, it's about $1.50 to fill it. And that's good for three, four days worth of riding. That's well over 24mi or so (I ride 6mi/day minimum, closer to 10mi/day average).
Funny then, that I'm planning on moving to Davis, CA...
a bit naive... remember all the oil based infrastructure required to feed and suppy a city... not going to haul much cargo on a bike.
The NE has a whole other problem being dependent on heating oil... that sh!t is going to be expensive this winter..!!!