Question:

There are ways to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.....so?

by  |  earlier

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would you like to see the return of substantial passenger rail service between cities a few hundred miles apart and let airlines do what they do best....travel between places thousands of miles apart? We'd use less fuel, experience a much more pleasant mode of travel, taking no more, and probably less, time?

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9 ANSWERS


  1. That might be nice, but until we get the petroleum industry lobbyists out of the white house it will never happen.


  2. I would love to see a return to that. Not only would we have the benefits you mentioned, but local railroad depots would be a welcome addition to local economies. In my area, almost every town has what once was an old depot just sitting. One problem comes from the rental car industry though. If you took a train somewhere and can't rent a car because you're not 25, you're screwed.

  3. If you commute in a car like me, driving about 600 miles a week, you may want to consider buying a NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle).

    In California I pay 1.97/gas gallon equivalent for fuel. In Utah and Oklahoma it's less than a dollar.

    Honda builds about 1000 NGVs Civics a year (since '98).

    I bought mine used about a year ago, and it saves me over 200$ a month of what I was paying for gasoline in my 21mpg car.

    I also enjoy solo access to the HOV lanes, and free metered parking in LA and Santa Monica. Northern California drivers get free passage on the bridges (4.00 tolls) during commuting hours.

    It was a no-brainer for me!

  4. Big business is making huge profits on both foreign and domestic oil.   They aren't eager to allow their friends in government to support alternatives.

    Solar power could be the answer to our electric and transportation needs.

    No noxious by products, no taxes, and no scarcity, unless we obliterate it with clouds of smog.

  5. I wouldn't mind the expansion of commuter trains, but I've come to realize a few problems.

    1) Rural areas. I live in a rural area, and the nearest town is 10 miles away, even though the nearest freeway is 2 miles away. One way or another, I'm going to have to drive to my destination, whether it be work 50 miles away, or a rail station 10 miles away.

    2) The fuel saved on the roads would be replaced with fuel consumed by the trains. Whether they're diesel or electric, there is going to be a greater consumption of fuel. A big problem with alternative energy sources, here in Michigan, contributes a lot to our weather. Solar power won't work since it's cloudy 60% of the time, and with our winters, the solar panels would be covered with snow. Wind won't work since it hardly ever gets consistantly windy, except on the west coastline.

    3) The auto industry. Even with WALLY being installed from Howell, MI to Ann Arbor, MI. The auto industry wouldn't allow too many people to use high amounts of mass transit. They'd probably end up either threatening jobs, or offering cars at crazy low prices.

  6. Why not? Is it cheaper?

  7. Buy a hybrid.

  8. no,

    i would much rather see new nuclear power plants built ..

    most of the oil in the US goes to power plants not transportation...

  9. The Rail is avalable today. Nobody, well, very few use it.

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