Official Gas Price Thread
#201
Originally Posted by mburchill36
Dude, we are all proud to be americans, so lay off the flag wavin' stuff.
Europeans do pay more for gas, but they also don't have to drive the distances we do, they have mass transit systems that are usable (meaning you don't have to drive to them!) and they see benefits for the tax dollars they spend - higher education, childcare and medical treatment to name a few. They also don't move all their goods around by truck like we do. They use rail for that to a large degree.
As to your other points:
mass transit ... whose fault is that? Lets see, your from NJ so you must know that the major NE cities like NYC and Boston have had mass transit working for 100 years. Even DC has mass transit now. So whose fault is it other cities don't? Dunno. Taxpayers?
Rail vs Truck: Again, whose fault is that? What happened to the American RR systems? What are the actual numbers of pound of stuff shipped via rail vice trucks? I really dont know but if its not high, why not? whose fault is that?
As to driving long distances ... your choice. You could move to the boonies or you could move to the cities. All a personal choice.
#202
Originally Posted by chows4us
Rail vs Truck: Again, whose fault is that? What happened to the American RR systems? What are the actual numbers of pound of stuff shipped via rail vice trucks? I really dont know but if its not high, why not? whose fault is that?
As to driving long distances ... your choice. You could move to the boonies or you could move to the cities. All a personal choice.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, railroad owners were at the center of many scandals stemming from the excessive profits they made and the monopolies they controlled. Names like Jay Gould, James Fisk, Commodore Vanderbilt and Daniel Drew were linked with great wealth, power, and corruption.
One of the things that the Robber Barons did was to charge high rates in areas where they did not have any competition. People were forced to pay whatever the railroads charged or else find other ways to ship their goods.
By the end of the 1960’s several of the nation’s largest railroads were facing bankruptcy. This was partially caused by the large amount of unprofitable passenger service they were providing. The government agreed to step in, creating the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. On May 1, 1971, Amtrak service began. Amtrak’s first director was skeptical of the system, saying that the passenger train was as outdated as the stagecoach and should be allowed to die an honorable death.
#204
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I was listening to a discussion of gas prices and related topics on the radio here in SoCal yesterday, and a fellow called in wondering why monorails/light trains couldn't be built on the sides of the existing freeways. The host said the idea had been worked on and offered 35 years ago and was basically lobbied against and squelched by the auto industry.
I can remember when Los Angeles still had streetcars! The red cars were fun! They were electric and I rode them with my paternal grandmother. She was able to function well with no car in Los Angeles. That isn't yet the case here, now. I haven't seen any lessening of auto traffic as the gas prices have spiked.
Clover
I can remember when Los Angeles still had streetcars! The red cars were fun! They were electric and I rode them with my paternal grandmother. She was able to function well with no car in Los Angeles. That isn't yet the case here, now. I haven't seen any lessening of auto traffic as the gas prices have spiked.
Clover
#208
Originally Posted by MINIclo
I was listening to a discussion of gas prices and related topics on the radio here in SoCal yesterday, and a fellow called in wondering why monorails/light trains couldn't be built on the sides of the existing freeways. The host said the idea had been worked on and offered 35 years ago and was basically lobbied against and squelched by the auto industry.
Whose fault is it these cities dont have mass transit? I guess in LAs case the lobbyists with their vested interests.
I am originally from Boston, lived in the city, went to college in the city and could NEVER imagine moving anywhere that didn't have mass transit for city dwellers. SInce then, the MTA has moved out in to the suburbs. I would NEVER take a car into the city. Go see the Sox at Fenway, you take the "T"!
Going to other major cities and NOT seeing mass transit is a shock.
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Originally Posted by chows4us
Exactly my point.
Whose fault is it these cities dont have mass transit? I guess in LAs case the lobbyists with their vested interests.
I am originally from Boston, lived in the city, went to college in the city and could NEVER imagine moving anywhere that didn't have mass transit for city dwellers. SInce then, the MTA has moved out in to the suburbs. I would NEVER take a car into the city. Go see the Sox at Fenway, you take the "T"!
Going to other major cities and NOT seeing mass transit is a shock.
Whose fault is it these cities dont have mass transit? I guess in LAs case the lobbyists with their vested interests.
I am originally from Boston, lived in the city, went to college in the city and could NEVER imagine moving anywhere that didn't have mass transit for city dwellers. SInce then, the MTA has moved out in to the suburbs. I would NEVER take a car into the city. Go see the Sox at Fenway, you take the "T"!
Going to other major cities and NOT seeing mass transit is a shock.
Clover
#212
Originally Posted by MINIclo
The mass transit is skeletal, at best. But like I said, that is due to the influence of the auto and related industries like Firestone....
Clover
Clover
The reason there is not much mass transit is because me and most other people value our time, and mass transit simply takes longer to go from Point A to Point B in most cases, extremely dense area being an exception. We are willing to by a $25k car, pay $100 amonth insurance, and $40 a week in gas so I dont have to drive to a station for the suburbs, park, ride the train with the bums. get annoyed by people who have no sense of respect for other people. sit for 40 min making stops every 2 miles and then once i get close to where I am going still have to walk a half mile. No thank you.
#213
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Originally Posted by planeguy
The reason there is not much mass transit is because me and most other people value our time, and mass transit simply takes longer to go from Point A to Point B in most cases, extremely dense area being an exception. We are willing to by a $25k car, pay $100 amonth insurance, and $40 a week in gas so I dont have to drive to a station for the suburbs, park, ride the train with the bums. get annoyed by people who have no sense of respect for other people. sit for 40 min making stops every 2 miles and then once i get close to where I am going still have to walk a half mile. No thank you.
#214
Originally Posted by minimort
Filled up yesterday with 93 for $2.99, but that was at a full serve station.
#215
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Originally Posted by planeguy
No...becuase there is no money in it. If it was a profitable venture investors would step up and duild what the people want and would support with thier money. Instead local government pass fuel taxes and try to fund these as public ventures by taxing everyone to fund a project no-one wants. Ask some seattle residents about thier mono-rail project. Besides as soon as someone makes some money you will call them evil rich and blame them for high monorail ticket prices
The reason there is not much mass transit is because me and most other people value our time, and mass transit simply takes longer to go from Point A to Point B in most cases, extremely dense area being an exception. We are willing to by a $25k car, pay $100 amonth insurance, and $40 a week in gas so I dont have to drive to a station for the suburbs, park, ride the train with the bums. get annoyed by people who have no sense of respect for other people. sit for 40 min making stops every 2 miles and then once i get close to where I am going still have to walk a half mile. No thank you.
The reason there is not much mass transit is because me and most other people value our time, and mass transit simply takes longer to go from Point A to Point B in most cases, extremely dense area being an exception. We are willing to by a $25k car, pay $100 amonth insurance, and $40 a week in gas so I dont have to drive to a station for the suburbs, park, ride the train with the bums. get annoyed by people who have no sense of respect for other people. sit for 40 min making stops every 2 miles and then once i get close to where I am going still have to walk a half mile. No thank you.
As in other large cities, people from all social strata road the streetcars. I think your comment about "bums" was unnecessary. I've been seeing a few news stories lately about rather affluent people leaving their cars home here in the greater-L.A. area and using public transportation for the very first time in their lives, and being surprised at how pleasant it was and how much time it cut down on their commutes. :smile:
I value my time, also, and a well-run transit system can save people LOADS of time as compared to gridlocked roads and highways. Come hang out on the 405 just about any time of day....LOL! It can take 45 minutes to travel ONE MILE!
Clover
#222
Originally Posted by chows4us
Flag waving is GOOD. GOOD for all of us in times of tragedy.
Even DC has mass transit now. So whose fault is it other cities don't? Dunno. Taxpayers?
Even DC has mass transit now. So whose fault is it other cities don't? Dunno. Taxpayers?
#223
#224
Originally Posted by L8RG8R
Ummm...or maybe it's mother nature, ... Anyone seen "The Big Dig" in Boston lately??? I wish all major us cities could have been built on a solid rock of granite like Manhattan. Unfortuantely the rest of us just have to make do...
I'm pretty sure that, for example, Boston had street cars first. Even when I was in college, the street cars ran right in front of the campus. Its only more lately that the move had been to totally underground.
Street cars are very cool. So the fact that Houston, for example, can''t dig is not an excuse. Just run the tracks right over the road ... literally.
I've driven over so many street car tracks in my life that it seems funny, when in a city, that they are not there!