The point of the article is taking something most "sentient" Americans have experienced - (and which human being, by the way, is not sentient?)-- the thrill of driving the open road -- and applying it in a humorous way to our cramped existence in New York. The parts about the officer pulling the driver over are obviously funny to anyone who has ever been pulled over by an officer -- although by the sound of things you lot don't get out much (probably as you're too busy figuring out who else to hate). In sum, I would encourage the posters who are genuinely in favor of progressive change to focus their ire on more pressing targets than a mom who drives her child over the brooklyn bridge at 7 am on a Saturday.

From my perspective (and I suspect others' here as well), the thing that is truly offensive here is not the idea of consuming energy for entertainment; we all do that in some way and to some extent. Rather, the issue is the sense of entitlement that the author takes to her disregard for the safety of her urban companions, her son, and herself. Also, that the author uses this disregard as a way of escaping from the issues in her life represents to many the dominance of the private car not just as a mode of transportation but as a mode of existance -- which ideal is certainly a damaging thing in the aggregate.

Although you are correct that the oil consumed in this joyride is of little consequence, the sentiment expressed in the article is representative of much that is of great consequence.

Cheers,

--Ian

perhaps charlie rangel's draft plan should be aimed at families like shey's. i'll bet many 'murricans' opinions would change....fast though not as fast as we'd like.

Now we see what it's all about. Not to play amateur psychologist, but she obviously has issues that extend beyond an affection for her car.

What a sad sight: a woman roaring back and forth over the Brooklyn Bridge with her toddler son by her side, gripping the wheel tight and recklessly accellerating while screaming to no one in particular, "I'm in control! I'm in control!"

I can't believe the Times actually paid this woman to generate this hollow content.

Bicycling?

today's children need a 21st century paradigm. and the writer needs to have her license taken before she hurts someone.

Shey clearly falls into Einstein's definition of insane, but to disregard a joyriding in its entirety is extreme. In my 9 years of driving, I've had exactly 3 NYC joyrides: off peak and beautiful.

The fact that I'm not engaging in such an activity in a 2-ton CO2-spewing vehicle with a significant appetite for fuel and scarce urban space makes, well, a mite of a difference.

What?!? Right - the only way to do that in NYC is to drive around aimlessly in a car. Lady, do us all a favor and get back to Iowa where you belong.

First of all, I can't think of anything more miserable than driving back and forth in my car for hours on end in New York City.

Second of all, I wanted to cry at the thought of all of that needlessly wasted gasoline. I know not everyone is as peak oil frenzied as I am, but seriously. She really thought this was a perfectly fine activity to partake in? Or at least tell me she must have been aware of global warming--but she still thought it was OK to spew all that CO2 for no reason?

Not even carbon credits would absolve her of this (or her compatriots in Iowa who are probably doing the same thing).