Today I have been pondering transportation. In the wake of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis I can't help but to think how many cars are on the road. I think about this a lot. The bridge collapse just gave me a different angle to think about the issue. I am coming to a point with my mode of transport that is forcing me to make a decision. My car is on it's deathbed. It could be awhile before it dies or it could be tomorrow.
The thing is I do not like cars very much. Yes, they can be fancy and go really fast...but they are a drain on our society. People change cars more often then they travel to a new country. Our priorities lie in the mundane instead of the unknown. We put thousands of dollars into cars to drive us in a 50 mile circle instead of riding bikes or driving electric cars. Don't even get me started on SUV's. They are totally unnecessary.
Anyways, the bridge collapse in Minnesota had me thinking about how much has changed since that bridge was first built. The amount of cars that traverse that bridge has probably more then quadrupled over the years. Too many cars. The death of that bridge just made me think about every freeway overpass in Los Angeles. These overpasses are packed in vehicle after vehicle. Millions of dollars get approved to expand highways, build new roads, and destroy more neighborhoods. In contrast, we rarely see new bicycle commuter paths built, bike lanes expanded, or drivers punished for not giving a bicycle rider the required 5ft of space necessary for safe commuting. We never see special lanes for electric vehicles. Most states have a 25mph limit on electric vehicles....forcing them to share lanes with speeding SUV's and angry drivers who don't know that electric vehicles have speed limits.
It is so frustrating in this day and age that people of all ages are still making ignorant decisions in purchasing transportation. It's like smoking cigarettes....you know it's bad but you still do it. You see people on oxygen but you think that could never be you. Well, you think your car isn't the problem ... but it's destroying our earth one polar ice cap at a time.
I am no saint. My car right now is a Dodge Grand Caravan. I get 18mph if I am lucky and I do not often carpool. This car was a hand me down and we have had it for a very long time. We bought it at a time when environmentalism wasn't in the fore front of our minds. I do not know whether it is more wasteful to keep this car or buy a new one.
I am looking at a few options. There is a great bicycle I like....it is about $850 and doesn't need gas. It even has a generator that powers the light on the front. Seems like a good option.
Then there is the idea of a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) and the prices range from cheap to $18,000. The bonus is that there are no oil leak repairs, no tune ups, no gas, and the brakes wear slower since you have to drive at reduced speeds. The negatives are that you can not drive on highways and you need a power outlet to charge it...which my condominium parking garage does not have. The Zenn seems pretty awesome! (pictured below)
Then there are hybrids...is the technology good enough yet? Is there an affordable model? I heard that The Insight technology is going to be put into The Honda Fit. I also heard rumor that it will be around $15,000. This sounds good.
Then there is the option of a small car like a Yaris. Toyotas get good mpgs and it is a start. However, I would still be fully reliant on petroleum.
I guess I have a lot to ponder. I hope that other people begin pondering a lifestyle change as well. We can't take these things with us when we die...we might as well be as conscious as we can while we are alive.
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