Nashville is out of gas

Band-aid fixes are one thing, but the long-term solutions are what is needed to solve the problem of oil dependency. Telling everyone to sell their cars and walk to work is not practical for a large percentage of the population. I don't see how throwing out impractical solutions is helpful? What good is a "solution" if it doesn't fix the problem?
 
It's such a huge complicated issue, and it can't be fixed by insulting people and telling them they aren't motivated because they aren't walking somewhere.

At the very basic level, we need sidewalks! People aren't safe walking or biking on a street. Sure, they build sidewalks around the business areas, but not from where people live to get to those areas. I'm not walking in the street with my 2 small kids, and neither are most people. Build a sidewalk, people start walking.. jogging.. biking.. and getting to know their neighbors.
 
Its actually illegal to bicycle on the sidewalk, they're meant for pedestrians only. Some places have bike lanes though (basically just a really wide shoulder) which is really nice to get some space between yourself and passing traffic.
 
To put another thought on what causes a shortage.

I'm south of Tennesseemom in Murfreesboro, ONE of our Kroger Supermarkets has 8 fuel nozzles. They alone go through 6 tankers a week. So if they miss one tanker, they're empty. Also considering that a not quite full tanker is roughly 5000 gal. we're talking quite a lot of fuel a week at this site. Now start counting the number of stations you pass, roughly one every 3/4 mile if you're in town. Any interruption in delivery makes a huge impact.

Sploke has raised valid concerns. Biking only works if you're close and can do so safely. When I worked in Nashville I had a 40 mile commute one way, there was a regional bus route, but would require meeting the bus at 5:45, arriving downtown at 8:15, then leaving downtown at 4:20, arriving back at my car at 6:00. This type of schedule doesn't leave much time for work or anything else. Also note that unless you worked within 4-5 blocks of the downtown exchange, it's not even thinkable.

I'm personally for more drilling, compressed natural gas, electric, and any other ways to drive transportation that are available. We shouldn't arbitrarily create a shortage, we should allow all to compete openly without interference. The most economic will prevail in the areas where it makes economic sense. I would guess electric inside cities and leaning to CNG/Gasoline/Diesel as the needed distance to cover increases.

Ok, It wasn't my intent to rant, but it seems to have turned out that way.
John.
 
The more I learn about it, the more CNG seems like the logical pathway to bridge the gap until electric vehicles are a lot more widespread.
 
johnhoover said:
To put another thought on what causes a shortage.

I'm south of Tennesseemom in Murfreesboro, ONE of our Kroger Supermarkets has 8 fuel nozzles. They alone go through 6 tankers a week. So if they miss one tanker, they're empty. Also considering that a not quite full tanker is roughly 5000 gal. we're talking quite a lot of fuel a week at this site. Now start counting the number of stations you pass, roughly one every 3/4 mile if you're in town. Any interruption in delivery makes a huge impact.

Sploke has raised valid concerns. Biking only works if you're close and can do so safely. When I worked in Nashville I had a 40 mile commute one way, there was a regional bus route, but would require meeting the bus at 5:45, arriving downtown at 8:15, then leaving downtown at 4:20, arriving back at my car at 6:00. This type of schedule doesn't leave much time for work or anything else. Also note that unless you worked within 4-5 blocks of the downtown exchange, it's not even thinkable.

I'm personally for more drilling, compressed natural gas, electric, and any other ways to drive transportation that are available. We shouldn't arbitrarily create a shortage, we should allow all to compete openly without interference. The most economic will prevail in the areas where it makes economic sense. I would guess electric inside cities and leaning to CNG/Gasoline/Diesel as the needed distance to cover increases.

Ok, It wasn't my intent to rant, but it seems to have turned out that way.
John.
Click to expand...

I'm self employeed, landscape design and installation. Jacksonville is the largest "city" in the world as far as landmass is concerned (the city incorporated the county so technically the city extends to the county borders, its the only place I know of where you can pass a sign coming south on I-95 that says Jacksonville 20 miles and then 3 miles later pass a sign that says welcome to Jacksonville). I drive an average of 40-50 miles per day in order to do my job, 100 mile days are not uncommon. I am spending about $150-200 weekly for gas. Do you know how many tanks/fish that will buy? If I could find a way to walk/bike, pull a trailer and still service my clients I would do it in a heartbeat. Lately I've thought the Amish may not be so far off with the horse and buggy idea. As this is not feasible I continue to burn much money in fuel. I agree with John, we need to drill here to address the more immediate issues and let the free market address altenative sources, with government help but not interference, untill such time as there is a viable alternative and the infrastructure can be established. The free market works if you, i.e. the government, let it. I talked to my sister in Nashville last night and she said people were waiting for hours in line only to get to the pumps and find out the gas was gone, thats enough to test the patience of a saint. OK, it's off my chest now.
 
tennesseemom said:
It's such a huge complicated issue, and it can't be fixed by insulting people and telling them they aren't motivated because they aren't walking somewhere.

At the very basic level, we need sidewalks! People aren't safe walking or biking on a street. Sure, they build sidewalks around the business areas, but not from where people live to get to those areas. I'm not walking in the street with my 2 small kids, and neither are most people. Build a sidewalk, people start walking.. jogging.. biking.. and getting to know their neighbors.
Click to expand...


i don't remember directly insulting anyone. nice try, though. :)
 
The trouble with the free market is it only works if EVERYONE follows the rules. There are other troubles, too, but that's a big one.

There's a long history of oil companies buying up alternative energy patents and businesses and sitting on them, and even a lot of rumors of them forcibly shutting down inventors who weren't selling their patents. I'm not given to conspiracy theories, but I don't doubt for a second that plenty of people in such a huge, aggressive, and well-connected industry wouldn't think twice about using shady means to eliminate potential threats.

The gov't had an enormous hand in establishing the infrastructure that made petroleum fuels a dominant force in our society; why wouldn't it (we) do the same thing for fuel sources that carry a bit less baggage? Surely you don't think it would be unfair to the oil companies, do you? And it would benefit all of us. That, to my mind, is exactly the sort of thing our gov't should be doing.
 
Notophthalmus said:
The trouble with the free market is it only works if EVERYONE follows the rules. There are other troubles, too, but that's a big one.

There's a long history of oil companies buying up alternative energy patents and businesses and sitting on them, and even a lot of rumors of them forcibly shutting down inventors who weren't selling their patents. I'm not given to conspiracy theories, but I don't doubt for a second that plenty of people in such a huge, aggressive, and well-connected industry wouldn't think twice about using shady means to eliminate potential threats.

The gov't had an enormous hand in establishing the infrastructure that made petroleum fuels a dominant force in our society; why wouldn't it (we) do the same thing for fuel sources that carry a bit less baggage? Surely you don't think it would be unfair to the oil companies, do you? And it would benefit all of us. That, to my mind, is exactly the sort of thing our gov't should be doing.
Click to expand...

The governments mandate is to protect the country and our liberties and through the judicial branch try to ensure that the rules are being followed. I agree that there are a lot of underhanded tactics used by the oil companies and other large industries to snuff out competitors. This is so entrenched in our govt through lobbyists, etc. that I don't see it ever changing. I agree that the govt should assist alternative companies through grants, tax breaks and the like (help) but should not arbitrarily legislate rules and or provisions that stand in the way of progress in order to benefit big business (interference). I think we are saying the same thing, just expressed differently.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom