Bush to lift offshore drilling ban

[DarinMartell]

Wow, a discussion like this and almost all of the posts have been respectfull and well thought out. I love this board!

I am in favor of increasing production anywhere we can for temporary relief. If it decreases prices great, maybe add on a 10 cent a gallon "alternitive fuel tax" earmarked for reasearch. Just think if we did something like that 10 years ago when it was $1 a gallon. I don't think we would be in this situation today if we had.

[SlvrDragon50]

Originally Posted by georoc01

When they start making hybrids that can handle 30% grades on icy roads in the middle of winter at 10,000+ feet above sea level, let me know. Unfortunately, many cities have abandoned good snow removal in the winter, and having a solid 4wd with snow tires is not just a luxury for those of us who have to drive in it.

But there are solutions like flexfuel vehicles and bio diesel that at least remove some of the oil requirement. The problem is finding service stations that carry them. When you start having to drive 5-10 miles out of your way to refuel, you have effectively eliminated any advantage you were getting to use them.

Once again, if you read what I said earlier, I siad that if you live in a terrain where a car with AWD is required in order to be safe then by all means, go ahead and buy it. Im not going to push for a car that reduces your safety...

I also think it's safe to say that both spouses usually drive in those families.

Who is landlocked? What does that mean? I don't know many places that aren't within an hour or two drive of a recreational lake or river. Boats aren't just for the ocean, you know.

So you say by having two spouses driving out it justifies the point of buying two gas guzzling cars? I think it is far more wise to buy a hybrid or any fuel efficient car for one spouse and then you can buy your SUV or truck for the other. Not to be sexist or anything, but I personally believe females are more attracted to the looks as well as the features of hybrids than males thus leaving two people happy.

[Martin2]

Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50

So you say by having two spouses driving out it justifies the point of buying two gas guzzling cars? I think it is far more wise to buy a hybrid or any fuel efficient car for one spouse and then you can buy your SUV or truck for the other. Not to be sexist or anything, but I personally believe females are more attracted to the looks as well as the features of hybrids than males thus leaving two people happy.

I would respectfully disagree. I'm 5'2" and dwarfed in almost any company. I like a large vehicle that I can actually see out of. I also grew up in Texas, the mecca of SUVs. All I'm saying is that I'm in no way attracted to the features or look of a hybrid nor do I have any female friends who are. In our world, I drive a Mustang and my husband the Civic.

Since this thread has already moved WAY beyond the initial question of drilling and into personal choice for transportation, why is it that no one has mentioned mass transit? I know, I know, we all want our individual cars and the freedom to go wherever we want whenever we want. But the reality is that most (but certainly not all) of us are in an office with little need to leave for 8+ hours of the day. Why won't we consider some form of mass transit? It doesn't solve the problem, but neither does any one other solution.

[aggie99]

Originally Posted by Martin2

I would respectfully disagree. I'm 5'2" and dwarfed in almost any company. I like a large vehicle that I can actually see out of. I also grew up in Texas, the mecca of SUVs. All I'm saying is that I'm in no way attracted to the features or look of a hybrid nor do I have any female friends who are. In our world, I drive a Mustang and my husband the Civic.

Since this thread has already moved WAY beyond the initial question of drilling and into personal choice for transportation, why is it that no one has mentioned mass transit? I know, I know, we all want our individual cars and the freedom to go wherever we want whenever we want. But the reality is that most (but certainly not all) of us are in an office with little need to leave for 8+ hours of the day. Why won't we consider some form of mass transit? It doesn't solve the problem, but neither does any one other solution.

I grew up in England where mass transit is a way of life and miss it greatly. I would GLADLY give up the car payments, insurance and repair costs and go to a mass transit system. The problem in the US is that most of the development has been based on society owning a car whereas Europe wasn't, therefore until we stop urban sprawl a universal mass transit system will never be feasible. It's funny, I live near downtown Dallas and when I worked downtown I walked to work on occasion. I would get the strangest looks from people driving by and one guy even stopped and offer me a ride, he thought my car must had broken down! Plus we have no idea how to drive with pedestrian around, I started driving again for my own safety!

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Martin2

Since this thread has already moved WAY beyond the initial question of drilling and into personal choice for transportation, why is it that no one has mentioned mass transit? I know, I know, we all want our individual cars and the freedom to go wherever we want whenever we want. But the reality is that most (but certainly not all) of us are in an office with little need to leave for 8+ hours of the day. Why won't we consider some form of mass transit? It doesn't solve the problem, but neither does any one other solution.

Mass transit is an extremely tough issue to address, especially when dealing with MANY billions of dollars, large distances to cover, and extremely valuable real estate.

Los Angeles has been trying to get a mass transit system in place for years, with all-too-limited success, but it's definitely an uphill road. People are screaming for it, but no one wants a decade-long construction project in their neighborhood, and no one has the money to pony up the billions needed to make it happen, especially these days.

Smaller, compact cities like New York that had the money (and cheap labor) needed to build up the infrastructure when land was a lot cheaper are in good shape. Sprawling metropolii with insane property values and vast square miles to cover, are not.

[captain]

Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50

I don't think many people want a motorcycle though. If it rains or snows, the driver must stop if severe enough. Also people still don't like the risk of accident.

When it's not a dive related vacation we usually do it on my Harley

[ReefHound]

Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50

So you say by having two spouses driving out it justifies the point of buying two gas guzzling cars? I think it is far more wise to buy a hybrid or any fuel efficient car for one spouse and then you can buy your SUV or truck for the other.

Where did I say that? How do you know they don't have one large vehicle and one small vehicle? We have a Chrysler van for the family and a Hyundai Elantra for me to commute but at times someone is still going to see my wife by herself in that big van and turn up their noses at "that soccer mom" driving way more vehicle than needed.

[Martin2]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Mass transit is an extremely tough issue to address, especially when dealing with MANY billions of dollars, large distances to cover, and extremely valuable real estate.

Los Angeles has been trying to get a mass transit system in place for years, with all-too-limited success, but it's definitely an uphill road. People are screaming for it, but no one wants a decade-long construction project in their neighborhood, and no one has the money to pony up the billions needed to make it happen, especially these days.

Smaller, compact cities like New York that had the money (and cheap labor) needed to build up the infrastructure when land was a lot cheaper are in good shape. Sprawling metropolii with insane property values and vast square miles to cover, are not.

The really sad part is that most areas had viable mass transit in the 50's. In the Charleston area, there is huge debate about running a commuter rail from the outlying community into downtown Charleston. Not that it wouldn't cost money, but nowhere near as much as adding lanes to the interstate here. In 1960, the exact line that is being proposed was still operating. It was abandoned due to low ridership and the interstate being completed.

Each community would need to tailor a plan to their needs, but I can't see a long term solution without some sort of mass transit.

[ReefHound]

Originally Posted by Martin2

Since this thread has already moved WAY beyond the initial question of drilling and into personal choice for transportation, why is it that no one has mentioned mass transit?

Because it isn't economically feasible given our demographics and current development. More could be done with mass transit but the primary mission of most transit agencies is urban development rather than transit. And the light rail industry has all the transit agencies hypnotized.

[Martin2]

Originally Posted by aggie99

I grew up in England where mass transit is a way of life and miss it greatly. I would GLADLY give up the car payments, insurance and repair costs and go to a mass transit system. The problem in the US is that most of the development has been based on society owning a car whereas Europe wasn't, therefore until we stop urban sprawl a universal mass transit system will never be feasible. It's funny, I live near downtown Dallas and when I worked downtown I walked to work on occasion. I would get the strangest looks from people driving by and one guy even stopped and offer me a ride, he thought my car must had broken down! Plus we have no idea how to drive with pedestrian around, I started driving again for my own safety!

Sad, but true.

I also would be thrilled to give up car payments and all that goes with it. Charleston is a fairly walkable city, but only if you live downtown. As soon as we can afford a several million dollar house on the penninsula, we'll be set!