Comments on: How to Ease Pain at the Pump Without Deepening Oil Dependence http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:07:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Doug Irvine http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-54018 Doug Irvine Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:54:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-54018 "Well-located real estate". That's what is required for real change. Currently, developers find the cheapest land, put up their big box building, surround it with parking and the only way to get to it is by car. Local governments need to encourage development near existing rail stations and downtowns. These abound on Long Island where I live. Putting up a 10 story apartment building in the middle of town would revive the shopping district and give people a place to live where they could walk to restaurants and take the train to work. "Well-located real estate". That's what is required for real change. Currently, developers find the cheapest land, put up their big box building, surround it with parking and the only way to get to it is by car.

Local governments need to encourage development near existing rail stations and downtowns. These abound on Long Island where I live.

Putting up a 10 story apartment building in the middle of town would revive the shopping district and give people a place to live where they could walk to restaurants and take the train to work.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-53987 Mark Walker Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:53:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-53987 I've never been to the Planetizen site, so I guess great minds think alike. I've never been to the Planetizen site, so I guess great minds think alike.

]]> By: GR http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-53982 GR Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:31:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-53982 Not that I disagree, but that is essentially a re-print of what was in Planetizen a couple weeks ago - word for word. Not that I disagree, but that is essentially a re-print of what was in Planetizen a couple weeks ago - word for word.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-53978 Mark Walker Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:04:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-53978 As a short-term fix for the most car-dependent suburbs, private van service may become a useful supplement to carpooling. It would work the same way as an airport shuttle or Access-a-Ride: A half-dozen or so people work out a coordinated schedule. The driver then picks them up and drops them off at the supermarket, or the shopping center, or the health clinic. They arrange to meet at a certain time for the return trip. A hybrid SUV, ironically, might be the ideal vehicle for this purpose. As a short-term fix for the most car-dependent suburbs, private van service may become a useful supplement to carpooling. It would work the same way as an airport shuttle or Access-a-Ride: A half-dozen or so people work out a coordinated schedule. The driver then picks them up and drops them off at the supermarket, or the shopping center, or the health clinic. They arrange to meet at a certain time for the return trip. A hybrid SUV, ironically, might be the ideal vehicle for this purpose.

]]> By: Max Rockatansky http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-53973 Max Rockatansky Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:32:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-53973 To be fair, when gas was cheap the people's charge was out to the suburbs and towards bigger houses. Amtrak funding has been cut for years and public transit was for losers who couldn't afford cars. You're talking about a major paradigm shift, it's not going to happen overnight. To be fair, when gas was cheap the people's charge was out to the suburbs and towards bigger houses. Amtrak funding has been cut for years and public transit was for losers who couldn't afford cars. You're talking about a major paradigm shift, it's not going to happen overnight.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-53968 Larry Littlefield Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:56:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-53968 (Obviously this is a long term idea) We've blown 35 years, as I've written on Room 8, and lost long-term. How about this -- through marginal development moving to dense areas, restructuring of the suburbs, and carpooling, cut private motor vehicle VMT by 50% per person over 20 years. That might reduce VMT by 1/3 overall. Increase fuel efficiency 50% -- would require good technology because the can't pack four people in a subcompact. Combined, that brings the energy requirement down by 2/3, perhaps enough for alternative fuels and some residual domestic fossil fuels to cover the need. (Obviously this is a long term idea)

We've blown 35 years, as I've written on Room 8, and lost long-term.

How about this -- through marginal development moving to dense areas, restructuring of the suburbs, and carpooling, cut private motor vehicle VMT by 50% per person over 20 years. That might reduce VMT by 1/3 overall.

Increase fuel efficiency 50% -- would require good technology because the can't pack four people in a subcompact.

Combined, that brings the energy requirement down by 2/3, perhaps enough for alternative fuels and some residual domestic fossil fuels to cover the need.

]]> By: Sam http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-53967 Sam Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:35:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-53967 @ Larry If they can raze Pennsylvania Station they can raze the suburbs...or at least build rail out there to decrease car commutes. (Obviously this is a long term idea) @ Larry

If they can raze Pennsylvania Station they can raze the suburbs...or at least build rail out there to decrease car commutes. (Obviously this is a long term idea)

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/comment-page-1/#comment-53965 Larry Littlefield Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:29:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/23/how-to-ease-pain-at-the-pump-without-deepening-oil-dependence/#comment-53965 Most rural and exurban Americans are stuck where they are. There is only one thing they can do in the short run to change their situation -- carpool. That has be part of the plan. Most rural and exurban Americans are stuck where they are. There is only one thing they can do in the short run to change their situation -- carpool. That has be part of the plan.

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