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Next Car Debate: Total Miles Driven
Joseph B. White, Wall Street Journal
I lead a double life.
Monday through Wednesday, I get to work by walking a block and a half from a high-rise apartment building to a stop on Washington, D.C.’s Metro subway. I emerge three stops later a half block from my office. My commute is pretty close to a zero petroleum experience (never mind how the Metro gets its electricity.)
The rest of the week, I am back in Detroit, where I return to the 20th century. I drive about 20 miles to my office, which is located by the side of a freeway in a suburban “edge city.” I sometimes walk to a sub shop for lunch, but it’s an arduous slog along busy four lane streets that sometimes have sidewalks, and sometimes don’t. To get just about anywhere from my office requires another car trip.
It turns out I am straddling the frontier of the next big debate over the role of the automobile in America.
…Now, many of the environmentalists, politicians and scientists who made the case for boosting vehicle fuel efficiency are turning their attention to the problem of how much we drive — and the legacy of 20th century land use and transportation choices.
Just how much more driving Americans will do is a matter of some debate. Higher gas prices, changes in demographics, and a recent upturn in urban redevelopment aimed at luring empty nesters back to city neighborhoods all could result in vehicle miles traveled growing more slowly in the future than it did during the past 30 or so years.
Still, the U.S. Department of Energy projects that miles driven will keep increasing in coming years, and by 2030 could grow by 59% compared with 2005 levels …
(5 February 2008)
EU ‘should ban inefficient cars’
Roger Harrabin, BBC
The EU should ban the sale of cars that do under 35 miles to the gallon, the ex-chairman of oil giant Shell says.
Sir Mark Moody-Stuart told BBC News the motor industry would adapt to cope with stricter environmental rules.
The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders opposes the idea, saying drivers of the most polluting cars pay extra through road tax and petrol duty.
But Sir Mark said this simply let rich people avoid taking responsibility for tackling climate change.
(4 February 2008)
Danger in the bike lane
Mike Lindblom, Seattle Times
Matt Corwin was pedaling home from work on his usual route when he approached the University Bridge. A line of cars waited at the red light, as Corwin cruised past in the bike lane.
As he reached the intersection, the light turned green. An SUV turned right — into Corwin’s path. Corwin squeezed his hand brakes. He stopped 2 feet from the SUV. The driver never saw him.
“I would have run into the side of his car, Corwin recalled. “It’s not like he would have run over me. I probably would have bounced off. But still, it was pretty disconcerting.”At this same corner, 19-year-old cyclist Bryce Lewis was killed by a dump truck Sept. 7, as it turned from Eastlake Avenue East onto Fuhrman Avenue East.
“Right-hook” collisions, as riders call them, are among the most common risks of urban cycling. A bike enters an intersection going straight and gets hit by a right-turning car.
It’s a problem that cities such as Seattle must solve as they encourage thousands of people to switch from cars to bicycles. Mayor Greg Nickels has set a goal of tripling bicycle use within a decade.
(4 February 2008)
