WizardMarks scribed, in part: >>>>> Three lanes of vehicular traffic is not acceptable. We already have long waits in traffic with 4 lanes, it would only get worse. <<<<<
Good point, Wizard. At times, we have too many cars on Lake Street. Yesterday, i pedaled my trike to the Hardware Store at 21st and Lake to buy a large sheet of replacement glass for a client near there. Most of the ride, I had Lake Street nerarly to myself. Lots of folks still at the cabin by the lake, I suppose. However, I've ridden Lake Street on weekdays numerous times with a similiar experience. Plenty of room for all, and noi great traffic jams. At times, we have too many cars on Lake Street. We need to reduce the number of cars on Lake street at times. We need to reduce the number of cars on the streets during rush hour. Funny, but we will reduce the number of cars on Lake Street, whether we want to or not. Contrary to the wishful thinking of most Americans, the Chinese have recently reached an independant agreement with oil producers to dramatically increase their share of oil. India and other nations are soon to follow suit. Our increasingly expensive fuel will be needed more for agriculture than for urban commuting. Even without peak oil -- which in itself will radically alter our transportation options here in minneapolis -- the increasing consumption of the rest of the world will make our fuel much more expensive, if not hard to get at times. As for those who look to fuel cells and other technological superstitions, listen to the scientists who actually work on this stuff. It takes 6 gallons of gas to make enough hydrogen to return the energy equivalent of one gallon of gas. Fuel cells require expensive, ($100,000) and toxic overhauls at less than 100,000 miles. Scientists working in all areas of energy production agree -- as do economists -- we will not be able to replace the energy we lose as our energy supply diminishes with other sources, renewable or nonrenewable. By the time this trickles down to people and politicians, it will be even more expensive to change, as we require copious amounts of petroleum to create alternative structures from solar panels to transportation infrastructure changes. Members of this list have the ability to educate themselves about this. As citizens we have the responsibility. Road expansion will only make energy consumption and traffic congestion problems worse. The longer we ignore the energy problem, the more difficult it will be to fix. The longer we ignore the poor landuse problems fed by auto-centric transportation, the more difficult it will be to fix. The longer we ignore global warming and the local pollution problems caused by autocentric transportation, the more expensive and difficult this will be able to fix. We approach roads with in the same way as bacteria growing in a petri dish. The bacteria grow like crazy until every bit of food is used up, then die off massively. The human species -- and especially we Americans -- are using more resources every day as if there can be no limit to them. Many scientists are warning us. We need to listen. We cannot talk about expanding I35W and Lake Street with any kind of responsibility. We must not accomodate morte car traffic, but it is urgent that we create an urban infrastructure which is energy efficient and healthy. -- pedaling off in kingfield for another day of riding to client locations -- Gary Hoover REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
