[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Laughs_Last', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', ' ')I live 4.6 miles from where I work, and I consider that too far of a commute. 25 minutes in a car every day is 25 minutes I wish I was doing anything, just anything else other than being trapped in my car. I wish I lived close enough so I didn't have to drive at all...

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', 'T')he topic of daily commuting is one reason why I sometimes wish Peak Oil would happen right now. I can think of few worse things to do with my time than to sit in *&#@*&^ traffic going to and from my job. I live 4.6 miles from where I work, and I consider that too far of a commute. 25 minutes in a car every day is 25 minutes I wish I was doing anything, just anything else other than being trapped in my car. I wish I lived close enough so I didn't have to drive at all, and indeed that is one of my great goals in life to live and work within a half mile (or a mile at the very most) of each other, which I hope to arrange once I land a long-term, steady job in a place where I want to grow old in.

Why people here in Atlanta, GA put themselves through utter hell of 1hr-plus (each way!!) commutes on glacial freeways is utterly and totally beyond me. If everyone hated traffic as much as I did, I can *guarantee* there would be a total revolution against our car-dominated culture. If 100% of all private automobiles were to disappear tomorrow (leaving the rest of infrastructure intact), I would be dancin' in the streets for about 24 hours straight...I'd be that happy. But like my best friend like to tell me, in your dreams baby...it ain't gonna happen. But dammit, it sure is nice to fantasize...

[hull3551]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', '
')I'm in the market for an electric bike...

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hull3551', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', '
')I'm in the market for an electric bike...

[Jake_old]

Takes me an hour each way between work and home. Thats on a good day. its 17 miles!

I am not exaggerating, when there's an accident 2 hours is a good time.

You must have good roads. Oh yes of course

[dbarberic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jaws', 'T')hat's 3 hours sacrificed where they could be working for pay

[FairMaiden]

I know its a bit far back on this thread but I disagree that USA will have an easier time adjusting. First, they have ALOT farther to go from where they are to sustainablity. Secondly, their prime agricultural land has been converted to suburbs - how are you going to feed everyone? The cost of lettuce will be 4 fold because of the transportation costs.

Pup, I think you are stuck in the '50s blaming "Mrs Shopper" for the continued success of the suburbs. I don't know anyone who only has a single income household (goes to show we aren't as well off as we think). So Mr AND Mrs Shopper are commuting. Because they don't know where they will be working in 5 yrs (no one stays at the same co for their career anymore) and both won't work in the same area - they choose the place they like the most on their lifestyle instead of workplace.

[Mishka]

With a combination of Telecommuting, Car-pooling and Hybrid Cars the exurbs will survive in the short to medium term.

Take an office worker, let him work from home two days per week. The other three he pools with three other people from the same suburb driving a hybrid 45mpg car.

Just comparing that scenario with the 5-day solo-driver in the 12mpg SUV gives me a rough figure of 20 times better efficiency (which could be totally wrong – some one smarter please do the math for me) means fuel could go to $60pg - or over $1000 per barrel with out feeling extra financial pain

It would certainly take some organising (I can see eBay sized websites just focussed on meeting and negotiating with other 'poolers') and loss of flexibility, but sure beats walking, cycling or having to abandon your home.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', '.')..
Why people here in Atlanta, GA put themselves through utter hell of 1hr-plus (each way!!) commutes on glacial freeways is utterly and totally beyond me. If everyone hated traffic as much as I did,
...

[azreal60]

Man, that cycle is perfect. I loaded the page a second time because i didn't read it well enough the first time to notice it was electric. I was looking at the style and then i saw that i could buy that thing for 2 grand plus s and h? Damn that's a steal in my book.

[Seadragon]

Yeah, I'd like it a lot more if I could actually use it here...everyone drives their massive SUVs and ridiculously oversized PUs at 80 mph on the highways and 60 mph on the side roads. Just driving a normal size car is taking your life in your hands...thanks, fellow citizens, for your dangerous ignorant choices and behavior.

[hull3551]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('azreal60', 'M')an, that cycle is perfect. I loaded the page a second time because i didn't read it well enough the first time to notice it was electric. I was looking at the style and then i saw that i could buy that thing for 2 grand plus s and h? Damn that's a steal in my book.

[jmacdaddio]

What the USA needs more than anything is an initiative of Apollo Program / Manhattan Project scale where we would in x years have 50% of commuters travelling to work using something other than a personal automobile. Why anyone would choose to spend 2 hrs in a car each way is beyond me, and I resent how my taxes (in the form of road subsides, auto industry bailouts, Big Oil handouts, and defense spending) get used to subsidize the long commute lifestyle. If we could cut our use of commuting via personal auto in half, I'm guessing we'd eliminate a third of our oil consumption. How we get there: jack up the gas tax, start taxing the crap out of cars (either an annual tax or a VAT, higher for more powerful engines), use the money we save by not deploying soliders to Iraq to improve light rail and construct bike paths. The list goes on and on.

[Seadragon]

I wish...

[donshan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Seadragon', 'I') wish...

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('donshan', 'T')o get a big Apollo/Manhattan program started politically you need a Sputnik/ WWII crisis first to galvanize public opinion.

[GenghisKen]

I read posts from JD and Nero and I know deep down where it most matters...we are soooo SCREWED! they are whats wrong

[nero]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GhengisKhan', 'I') read posts from JD and Nero and I know deep down where it most matters...we are soooo SCREWED! they are whats wrong

[jdmartin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GenghisKen', 'I') read posts from JD and Nero and I know deep down where it most matters...we are soooo SCREWED! they are whats wrong

[Backtosteam]

I was just reading through this thread since the topic of American suburban development interests me. Kunstler ROCKS!! One comment I have...in terms of what it will take for changes to begin...I think it's not so much prices, but dependability of supplies. I know they go hand in hand, but while 5 dollars per gallon may not be high enough to force many to make living arrangement changes, 5 dollars per gallon with intermittant supply disruptions may be what it takes to get people thinking. The same effect could be had with rationed supplies of gasoline. If people can't get to the stores, work etc, because they live in bumblefreak and they've used their quota they may decide they want rail or walking options and move.