On Feb 22, 9:53 am, Pat <
[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Wow you really insist on showing the world how you are unable to comprehend
> > > anything about society and the real world.
>
> > Why don't you take a vacation in Europe? They are also part of the
> > real world. Actually, America is the only one that is different among
> > developed nations. I wonder why.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I guess I just don't understand the whole concept of debating whether
> cars are good or bad. They are what they are: good for some and
> useless for others. And while I don't try to impose my view on you
> (speaking broadly here), I don't understand what right you have to
> impose your view on me. I like Rocky Road ice cream. That doesn't
> mean that you should too. It's personal preference and affordability
> and need and a phethora of other things.
Pat, I'm sure I told you before that I don't question the fact you
drive a vehicle, not even the fact that you live in the boondocks
(remember the word?), just that I assert my right to travel on two
wheels in relative safety. And what I see out there is intimidating,
intimidating enough to make my girlfriend take the sidewalk, and me
give up the bicycle sport as an intolerable blood sport...
>
> The gov't can clearly set some type of emissions standards for cars
> and can enforce them, although it is tougher to impose them
> retroactively on older cars. The government can control useage
> through tax policy.
Exactly. You got enough money to waste on gas, then pay a hefty price
for SUVs. Call it "Global Warming tax" if you will.
>
> The government can also subsidize alternatives and promote research
> into alternatives.
Sure. That tax above would pay for the subsidies.
>
> But when all is said and done, it is the individual consumer who
> decides what to buy and where to drive and how to use their vehicles.
> Market forces are incredibly hard to overcome.
Market forces are business forces manipulated from above. Nothing
democratic about it. Other peoples drive smaller cars following
"market forces," or better said, following higher gas prices.
>
> Since I am on a rant, one more pet peeve. Whoever it is who keeps
> saying they ride a scooter and therefore such-and-such. It's a real
> problem to consider yourself as riding a scooter. You're riding a
> motorcycle. Get it, a motorcycle. It's legal no different than a
> Harley or crotch-rocket (at least in the state's I am familiar with).
> If it's got a motor and two (or three) wheels and a license plate then
> it's a motorcycle. If it doesn't have a plate, then it can't be on
> the road. If it's a motorcycle, then ride it like one. Get out in
> the lane. Maintain road speed. Use your lane to your advantage.
> Don't hug the shoulder. Otherwise, get off the road -- you're too
> dangerous. I have a fairly big bike but ride on expressways quite a
> lot and have to deal with tractor trailers and cars all the time.
> I've had very little trouble. In fact, I'd say that trucks are
> particularly careful around a bike. Thinks like overside loads with
> escort vehicles pay particular attention to bikes to make sure they
> don't hit the wind-blast wrong. But by the same token, when a truck
> doesn't have a covered load and has gravel coming off, I get on my CB
> and tell them. They normally apologize and don't realize what they
> are doing. Most promise they will rectify the problem and I believe
> them.
Truck drivers are real drivers. The best drivers in America. They have
special license and training.
>
> For all the worrying about inattentive SUV drivers, I wonder if you
> aren't part of the problem. I've never found that to be an issue.
I guess you don't know because you don't live in an urban environment.
They are threat to others, just by being oversized. But the solution
is NOT to ban them, but to have them get a truck license like above.
Aren't SUVs trucks?
