Christoph wrote: >Harry Pollard wrote: > > Two of my daughters have SUVs and they wouldn't part with them. They love > > them, perhaps because they feel safe in them and the cars behave well on > > the road. ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ > >The safety is only perceived. SUVs aren't safe, not for their occupants >and much less for other traffic participants. So SUVs don't "behave well" >either, except perhaps from the perspective of a reckless bubba. See >Harry, that's precisely the problem with Americanization -- the attitude >that only oneself has to feel[sic!] safe, and "screw the rest".
I checked with one of my daughters. She wouldn't part with her SUW (that's a Sports Utility Wagon) for anything. It's solid, heavy, has a low center of gravity. has front and side air bags, lots of bells and whistles - handles extremely well - and gets 28 mpg (about 34 to the imperial gallon). She says she drives very carefully and the only dangers she has faced are from other drivers. So perhaps the danger you perceive is simply perceived - by you. On the other hand, our roads generally are probably a lot better than yours. They are deteriorating unfortunately for economic reasons, but are mostly still very good., The lanes on motorways, highways, and city streets, are wide. So, heavy and solid personal vehicles are probably a nuisance - as you mention below. In most cases, one can overtake a bicycle safely while staying within the lane. There again many streets and roads have a bicycle lane, particularly in the Pacific Northwest - Washington and Oregon. During my recent trip up there, I cannot recall seeing them used by cyclists. Maybe I just didn't notice. Also, your gasoline prices reflect the heavy costs of your bureaucracies. If I had to pay your prices, I would worry about gas guzzling. On my recent 3,500 mile trip over 25 days we paid around one pound 22 pence for an imperial gallon on which my Toyota station-wagon would travel about 36 miles at 70 mph plus. What is the price now in Britain - perhaps 3-4 times as much? I have no idea what you pay in Switzerland, but I would suspect that a small, economical, car would be sensible. It's not a big issue here - at the moment. >HARRY: The best form of transport for Los Angeles and many other American cities > is the automobile. I certainly wouldn't criticize people who decide to get > the best car they can afford and which will give them enjoyment while they > ride. CHRIS: Harry, Harry, can you spell "externalized costs" ? HARRY: Try not to be clever, Chris. Public transit operates most efficiently and economically when connecting high population densities. Los Angeles and other American cities have a dense center surrounded by umpteen square miles of relative emptiness. If public transit runs out there, people get out, climb into their cars and drive home - maybe 20-30 miles away. So, they usually feel that they might as well stay in their cars into the city. Harry _____________________________________________ > > Chris, there are plenty of alternatives to SUVs in the US. > >The most efficient (gas-saving) European cars are _not_ on the US market, >"because they wouldn't sell anyway". > > > However, could it be that the SUVs are enjoyed by those who buy them? Might > > they have checked with others who own them, find they are liked and decide > > to look at one for themselves? > >Small light cars, hybrid vehicles, human-powered vehicles and bikes can be >even more enjoyable (and even healthy), not only for the driver but even >more for other traffic participants and the environment. But unfortunately, >the presence of SUVs spoils the fun and makes the use of light vehicles >very risky. (E.g. SUVs are too wide for most roads when overtaking a >bicycle, but unlike trucks, SUV drivers are not trained (or don't care) >to take that into account.) What kind of freedom is that when antisocial >(SUV) drivers take away the freedom of social (bike) drivers? That's the >US kind of "freedom". > > > > The best form of transport for Los Angeles and many other American cities > > is the automobile. I certainly wouldn't criticize people who decide to get > > the best car they can afford and which will give them enjoyment while they > > ride. > >Harry, Harry, can you spell "externalized costs" ? > >Chris ****************************** Harry Pollard Henry George School of LA Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (818) 352-4141 Fax: (818) 353-2242 *******************************
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