hybrids get out of the fast lanes! |
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adjguy
New Slug Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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I think you guys should just fight it out
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n/a
New Slug Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Fighting is not necessary, but lively debates are welcome!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I respect that. But an opinion that is well-founded on fact and offers practical, workable solution options for those involved in the debate is tough to argue with. That is why so many people argue with NoSUV. NoSUV offers selfish, ego-centric opinions (buses only in HOV, perpetual hybrid exemptions, HOT advocacy, among others), that serve the interests of a few who make specific decisions to follow NoSUVs train of thought. NoSUV's ideas consider a very narrow POV, one that does not advance the issues facing the majority of the commuting public. There is no "right" or "wrong" in this discussion, only several versions of best compromise solutions. Ultimately, the best solutions should strive to serve the needs of the majority; those that involve small changes in habits for specific gains in the goals of improved traffic management, reduced fuel consumption and polution, and are condusive to changes in fickle individual preferences. Marketers do not have a dog in this hunt! And that is what hybrids are, a marketing phenomenon designed to appeal to "green wanabees" who commute. As with any other vehicle, anytime a hybrid travels SOV in the HOV lanes it becomes part of the problem. |
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NoSUV
New Slug Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Actually, the problem is that we have not insisted that EVERY vehicle manufactured or imported into the US is a hybrid. Can you imagine how much better the envirionment would be? How much fuel consumption could be lowered, along with gas prices?
How do we get to this better world? We can but hope that it becomes legislated by the federal government, but in the meantime, we can help on the demand side. How do you create a demand when the new product is more expensive than the new product? Either taxpayer subsidies (they are sometimes called tax credits - only a fool would fail to see that that one person's credit is another person's tax), or non-financial incentives. Thank goodness the Virginia government decided to choose the latter incentive. And, as a bonus, it helps with the OVERALL congestion! Keep looking to your right - are you generally passing cars in the regular lanes? Hybrid exemptions are an overall win for everyone. Haven't found a single delegate against continuing the exemption. Have you? |
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n/a
New Slug Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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NoSUV, your "better world" may be called "NoSUV Land," where everyone looks, thinks and acts like you, or it could be called "Fantasy Land," where your strange dreams come true, but it will never be called reality. There are too many different people with different tastes, preferences and priorities for a one-size-fits-all solution like hybrids.
How exactly does increased hybrid production and sales lower gas prices? And as long as we sell 15 million new cars each year in North America consumption is headed in only one direction, up. If it looks and smells like a fish, guess what it is?! Any hybrid "solution" that burns fossil fuel is not a solution! Any vehicle that has less than three people is not HOV. Sorry, I'm with Willie on this one: BioDiesel is the future! |
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bnvus
New Slug Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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quote: Hybrids are not helping congestion. As long as you remain a single driver, you add to congestion. Carpooling helps congestion, not exemptions. |
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Patriot37
New Slug Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Looking at the big picture, all possible options to move trafic, reduce congestion (on the road and parking) and cut emmisions should be welcomed. I take the train, bike and bus but usually slug 3-4 days per week. Having used every option that I'm aware of, slugging is by far the most efficient. There are times, however, that I must move to and from work outside of the HOV times (another issue). It's those times that the other mentioned options as well as my motorcycle and hybrid are a life saver.
As humans, I think we need incentives to introduce and grow improvements (i.e. hybrids and motorcycles and HOV lanes themselves). Without the incentives, who would really pay that much more for a car - who would bother to stop and pick up strangers? Bikes do use much less fuel (50mpg+), put out less polution, less lane space (staggerd riding allows 10 bikes in the space of 3 small cars) and take much less parking space. Hybrids do use less fuel (30mpg and 38mpg in stop and go, yes, I keep track - for a family SUV, that's great) and this is just the beginning of what we can achieve, but only if there are buying dollars to push it. Incentives. Improvement. |
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TROLL
New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Bikes are nice, but are you going to bike 25+ everyday to and from work? What about your suit, if you have to wear one, what about the rain, SNOW, and such?
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Patriot37
New Slug Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Well... as stated, I bike, bus, train and slug so of course I couldn't bike my 50+ miles every day. I do wear a suit every day and find it rides quite well or on the hot days, it lays nicely in the back. I don't mess with the snow at all (not since I was 18 anyway) and rairly mess with the rain. On the rain days, I'm happy to help a fellow slugger out of the rain. Oh, have you ever noticed how thin the rider line is on a rainy day? My umbrella works just fine. Happy days. See you on the road.
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Bob
New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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The HOV commute stunk this morning and it took me almost 2 hrs to get in. Big part of it was the hybrids. Looked around. My driver and I agreed that on our section of the backup -about 40 percent hybrids. The politicos need to be reminded again and againt that they are going to pay for this.
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NoSUV
New Slug Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Bob, Hybrids had NOTHING to do with your commute this morning. Express lanes were shut down just past the beltway for an accident.
Big part is that you can't seem to focus on where the problems are - instead, blaming everything on hybrids. Won't take long before you are blaming rain, drought, weeds, Redskins scores, and more on hybrids. |
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