h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just a small note,
How is it that car owners can justify using such powerful
machines, that demand a massive drain on both enviromental and personal resources, to transport meagre single passengers over any distance that fancy takes.
The losses over time may well be grand. As drivers dispose of thier income in an overindulgent pleasure cruse
( another contribution to the stagnation or atrophy of other necessary human services). The(our)enviroment is being forced to swallow, from the top of the food chain to the bottom, the production, the process and the waste of our excess.

This is the curious addaption that money has given to our greed, when the options are there to meet and exceed our needs for transport and other survival needs , minimise production and recycle our waste, the need for excess (in general) overides what is in the best interests for our survival on a (the)global scale.

To put it another way
using a single vehicle for a single passenger is ego masturbation and
enviromental rape.
...Where does change start?.....
C.P.R
LEGIONOFPATHS

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/webcode/home.asp

Neat link, DMT.

http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/site.htm

Some differing thoughts here. Yes, there are issues with overindulgence and waste. There are also parts of the country where it's not that easy to get about if you haven't a car, and especially if you're not that fit, or have a disability, or children. The modern pace of life has its part to play. It's not exactly as black and white as lop would have us believe. Our public transport system leaves a lot to be desired in many areas.

True, there are people who drive their children the couple of yards or so to school and then come home. This is a complete indulgence and lazy (unless of course the parent or child is disabled, then it might be different). I'm wary of being too dogmatic.

are automatic cars way less efficient? or did i just make that up?

Is LOP not exercising some form of ego masturbation going on in such a pedantic manner?
Would it not acheive the same effect to just say "hey Man you are ruining my environment with your petrol guzzling, eight litre per mile, status symbol."
"Get a bike... "
I mean seriously... blah.... blah... get a bike!

Well, it depends on what car. Normally the automatic cars are less efficient...there is one exception, I don't know which car(I think a BMW), but there is one that doesn't need to shift gears anymore - that car is better with automatic gear. And I think it depends on the gear-shifting abilities of the driver.

The one thing we can be sure of, is that every last drop of oil will come out of the ground and be burnt.
Better for the environment that it be burned in my modern, cat equipped clean exhausting motor than in some clapped out, badly maintained heap in China or wherever.
Another thing that is nearly as sure is that the very last drop will be used in a B52 or a tank.

Jeep Guy has a valid point although I don't think the use of the last drop of oil will be so decisive. Putting it in a war machine will not be profitable enough...

I think the very last drop of oil will be sold on eBay for 2.3 million US Dollars and then summarily, and quite accidentally, spilled on the floor by the over excited high bidder.

Ooooops!

However, I honestly feel the last drop should go in "MY JEEP" cos "mine is bigger than yours" (that is to say, "my jeep is bigger")

mostly, the biggest advantage i can see for cars is that you can carry big things in them, such as supermarket shopping and portfolios. many of my muscels can still attest for the inconvenience of carrying such to and from bus stops on tuesday.

to the majority of drivers the biggest and fastest is the best
but with speed limits(in aus 50km urban, 60 sub urban , 100/110 country)
how can any one justify a v6/v8 ?
enviromenal effects aside, what about the deaths(and somtimes worse injuries) caused by drivers of cars that are designed to massivly exceed safe travel requirements, eg a mini minor will cover the same distance at 50/60/100/110kmph as the latest most powerful cars will at the same LEGAL speed.
Im not saying no cars at all
the point im trying to make is that to be aware of what is needed and the difference between that and what we want ....
not as we are told by advertising that what we want is what we need