Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Intel Corporation (INTC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scumbria who wrote (112927)	10/9/2000 8:17:19 PM
From: Gary Ng	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 186894

Scumbria, Re: We (occupants of this planet) are wasting huge amounts of gas because of bad driving habits, and lousy traffic management in urban areas. But 'We(occupants of this planet)' are perfectly ok to drive those monster SUV if we have no bad driving habits and if there is superb traffic management in urban areas. gary

To: Scumbria who wrote (112927)	10/9/2000 8:31:00 PM
From: Diamond Jim	Respond to of 186894

We (occupants of this planet) are wasting huge amounts of gas because of bad driving habits, and lousy traffic management in urban areas. We? You drive the SUV, I drive a 4 banger that gets 25 mpg city, 33 to 37 highway. My wife drives the SUV(hang my head). jim :(

To: Scumbria who wrote (112927)	10/9/2000 9:02:50 PM
From: pgerassi	Respond to of 186894

Dear Scumbria: The lifestyle of those out west is contributing to your problems. Here is a short list of why the "spread it out" western cities waste so much fuel: 1) Low population densities: This is typical of cities out west. Some people drive for 100 miles to get to work and 100 miles back every day. Even with 1/6 acre lots, the population density rarely gets over 16,000 per square mile and thats within a development. Solution force westerners to live in 8 to 10 story buildings with narrow streets, and force them to walk, use bicycles, and public transit. The higher densities allow public transit to be profitable and efficient. Now the densities range around 400k to 800k per square mile. Use buses to collect people to the train or subway station, and more buses to move people from train stations to businesses, offices, etc. Put shopping centers in train stations and so on. 2) Traffic lights out of sync. This is the problem with parents wanting their intersection to be controlled so that the "kiddies" can safely go to school. Given the high density neighborhoods in (1), there is less need for traffic lights because there are very few (if any) auto traffic streets to cross to get to/from school. Also, make laws forcing city engineers to make sure that traffic flows smoothly rather than placating retail shops to get people to wait while looking at their store fronts surrounding the traffic lights. Modify traffic speeds higher to get more cars past for each lane, reduce the number of cross streets (hence traffic lights), increase the distance between stop lights to allow for traffic to reach next light 5 seconds after it turns green, use yield instead of stop signs, remove parking lanes on arterials, get rid of U turns, especially at controlled intersections, and during off peak times, set traffic lights off in directions where most traffic goes, and extending yield or stop signs opposite thereby saving on energy and maintenance costs. 3) Increase taxes on trucks to remove the subsidy given to them over other forms of cargo transport. They damage roads equivalent to 40 cars. This would probably increase use of intercity intermode (rail and ship) container transport. The costs per ton mile costs of ships and trains are far lower than that of trucks. Also, removing them from intercity interstates, will allow more traffic per lane and lower maintenance costs (repair) of the highways. 4) Replace large engines in SUVs, vans, and trucks with smaller engines. Most auto engines are run far below maximum efficiency points (the engines are too far oversized for the typical needs). Replacing them with fuel cells (GE is selling a reformer based fuel cell for homes fueled by natural gas (CNG) or propane (LP)), will remove the wastage during waits and the far higher efficiencies will reduce fuel consumption. Almost all short term needs for higher power could be met with rechargeable booster batteries (NiCad, NiMH, or Li-ion). Going from 0 to 75 mph does not take more than say 15 seconds, and electric motors accelerate 3 times better for the same HP ratings than I/C engines. These are some of the ways to reduce wastage, but although some will be popular, most of them require lifestyle changes you and most will not put up with. Pete

To: Scumbria who wrote (112927)	10/9/2000 10:59:28 PM
From: Jim McMannis	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 186894

RE:"We (occupants of this planet) are wasting huge amounts of gas because of bad driving habits, and lousy traffic management in urban areas. Is this difficult to understand?" ----- I thought I addressed this before. Cities purposefully de- synchronize lights to SLOW the flow of traffic to prevent speeding. They add stop signs to slow traffic in residential areas. As far as freeways are concerned...the constant on-ramping and exiting...slows traffic. Car pooling went out with the lead balloon. Gas went to $1 gallon, a lot of people went out and bought SUVs when the economy did well and you were saying how great that was...the economy...(Shame on AG you said when he hiked) Now you are complaining "we" are wasting fuel? Why is it always "we"! Scumbria when the hard decisions have to be made? Now thngs are getting a little dicey...and all of a sudden it's WE? Isn't that the Demo mantra? "We want your money so we can correct the problems "we" created"? Jim