Comments on: The Definition of Automobile Dependence http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: anon http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45165 anon Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:25:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45165 Filling up whenever you can take advantage of a cheap gas station is the most economical strategy. Driving around to find a station, and having to accept its price, is not. Filling up whenever you can take advantage of a cheap gas station is the most economical strategy. Driving around to find a station, and having to accept its price, is not.

]]> By: Kurt http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45160 Kurt Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:21:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45160 When gas prices are rising it's most cost effective to fill the tank completely and then drive until the tank is almost empty before refueling. On the other hand, when gas prices are falling it's better to keep the tank as full as possible. Combining these two strategies will reduce the average cost of the fuel in your tank, and thus your cost per mile traveled. When gas prices are steady it doesn't matter what strategy you use to fill your tank. When gas prices are rising it’s most cost effective to fill the tank completely and then drive until the tank is almost empty before refueling. On the other hand, when gas prices are falling it’s better to keep the tank as full as possible. Combining these two strategies will reduce the average cost of the fuel in your tank, and thus your cost per mile traveled.

When gas prices are steady it doesn’t matter what strategy you use to fill your tank.

]]> By: Niccolo Machiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45148 Niccolo Machiavelli Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:40:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45148 The plants are pretty huge in Germany and Japan too. However, they have an efficient mass transit system that workers can take to the job. Thats one big distinction between American autoworkers and their counterparts in Europe and Asia, they take transit to the job. The plants are pretty huge in Germany and Japan too. However, they have an efficient mass transit system that workers can take to the job. Thats one big distinction between American autoworkers and their counterparts in Europe and Asia, they take transit to the job.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45142 Jonathan Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:19:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45142 Aaron, I feel bad for Ms. Berry, but did I miss a memo somewhere that declared that everyone with a car was rich? Late-20th-century auto plants such as the ones that GM operates are giant. <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=nummi&near=fremont,+ca&ie=UTF8&ll=37.500874,-121.920261&spn=0.032412,0.080338&t=h&z=14&iwloc=A" rel="nofollow">The NUMMI plant</a> in Fremont, CA, is about the same size as Park Slope between Flatbush Ave, PPW, 15th St, and 4th Avenue. Who wants to live within walking distance of such a plant, and its accompanying transportation and logistical network? Aaron, I feel bad for Ms. Berry, but did I miss a memo somewhere that declared that everyone with a car was rich?

Late-20th-century auto plants such as the ones that GM operates are giant. The NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA, is about the same size as Park Slope between Flatbush Ave, PPW, 15th St, and 4th Avenue. Who wants to live within walking distance of such a plant, and its accompanying transportation and logistical network?

]]> By: cochon http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45133 cochon Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:40:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45133 thank god i don't own a car and a mortgage and a spouse and children. thank god i don’t own a car and a mortgage and a spouse and children.

]]> By: Damian http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45131 Damian Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:05:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45131 How reliable and frequent you want to bet the transit service is in a downtrodden city like Detroit? The tragic fact of the matter is that for many Americans transit is so underdeveloped and cash-strapped that it's just not a reliable option. And I'm sure Ms. Berry would thank you for your insight into her fuel-buying habits, Paul, but as a working class woman, she's probably too busy trying to keep her household together. How reliable and frequent you want to bet the transit service is in a downtrodden city like Detroit? The tragic fact of the matter is that for many Americans transit is so underdeveloped and cash-strapped that it’s just not a reliable option.

And I’m sure Ms. Berry would thank you for your insight into her fuel-buying habits, Paul, but as a working class woman, she’s probably too busy trying to keep her household together.

]]> By: Paul http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45118 Paul Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:05:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45118 “I used to fill it up pretty regularly, but now I drive it until the tank is almost empty..." I'm afraid this won't save you any money as long as you are driving the same amount. “I used to fill it up pretty regularly, but now I drive it until the tank is almost empty…”

I’m afraid this won’t save you any money as long as you are driving the same amount.

]]> By: Tim http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-45113 Tim Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:24:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/27/the-definition-of-automobile-dependence/#comment-45113 as the national campaign to completely overhaul national transportation funding priorities gets underway, those leading the fight (SGA, reconnecting america) and those informing it (Brookings) would do well to devote a lot of resources to nailing the household economics of car use, and explaining how a WPA scale jobs program to build rail, BRT, bike and ped networks would not jsut create millinos of jobs, but help folks like Ms. Berry make ends meet. Americans devote a much bigger share of their household income to transportation, and this is only going to increase. as the national campaign to completely overhaul national transportation funding priorities gets underway, those leading the fight (SGA, reconnecting america) and those informing it (Brookings) would do well to devote a lot of resources to nailing the household economics of car use, and explaining how a WPA scale jobs program to build rail, BRT, bike and ped networks would not jsut create millinos of jobs, but help folks like Ms. Berry make ends meet. Americans devote a much bigger share of their household income to transportation, and this is only going to increase.

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