Make gas hogs pay thru the snout

I am still amazed at the number of people who continue buying gas hogging SUV’s like Navigators and Tahoes. There are very few, if any, justifiable instances where these vehicles are practical, especially for family use.

To me, those who continue to purchase new ones are more than selfish, they are unpatriotic. Therefore, I think these gas hogs should pay through the snout for buying such vehicles and the money be used to help build a more eco-friendly infrastructure for passenger rail, mass transit and non-motorized transportation such as bicycles.

My proposal would be to levy a $100 surcharge on the purchase of any new fuel-inefficient SUV or car and $50 on the purchase of used ones. The money generated would remain in each state to use in conjunction with other funding sources for non-highway infrastructure projects that enhance passenger rail, mass transit, and non-motorized transportation options.

So, what do you think of this idea? Please don’t give me any libertarian BS propaganda. The moronic actions of selfish persons certainly do adversely impact the lives of selfless persons.

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My most scenic interstate highway segments

Typically, interstate highways are not thought of as being scenic, but there are a number of segments that pass through some amazing scenery and which are occasionally designed to minimize the impacts on the landscape. While I have not traveled every portion of the system, here is my own list of the 25 most scenic segments of interstate highway in the United States that I have either  driven or ridden upon. Segments are presented north to south and west to east.

1. I-70 from Grand Junction to Denver, Colorado
   

   I-70 in Colorado

2. I-84 from Portland to I-82 in Oregon
3. I-90 from Seattle to Ellensburg, Washington
4. I-68 from Morgantown, West Virginia to Hancock, Maryland
5. I-89 from Burlington, Vermont to Concord, New Hampshire
6. I-90 from Spokane, Washington to Missoula, Montana
7. I-90 from the Montana border to Buffalo, Wyoming
8. I-75 from West Branch to St. Ignace, Michigan
9. I-76 from New Stanton to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
10. I-90 from the Wyoming border to Rapid City, South Dakota
11. I-81 from Winchester to Bristol, Virginia
12. I-40 from Newport, Tennessee to Hickory, North Carolina
13. I-95 from New Brunswick, Canada to Bangor, Maine
14. I-77 from Charleston, West Virginia to Mt. Airy, North Carolina
15. I-17 from Flagstaff to New River, Arizona
16. I-80 from Sacramento, California to Reno, Nevada
17. I-99 from State College to Bedford, Pennsylvania
18. I-64 from Beckley, West Virginia to Charlottesville, Virginia
19. I-75 from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga, Tennessee
20. I-530 from Fayetteville to Fort Smith, Arkansas
21. I-26 from Johnson City, Tennessee to I-85 in South Carolina
22. I-90 from Albany, New York to Holyoke, Massachusetts
23. I-15 from Pocatello, Idaho to Logan, Utah
24. I-91 from White River Junction to Brattleboro, Vermont
25. I-87 from Glens Falls to Albany, New York

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Rednecks versus red carpets

Don’t know about you, but it is fascinating to me that both the Daytona 500 and the Oscars are being held on the same day (Feb 26th). I can hardly think of two most politically and culturally opposite events on the calendar and they take place within hours of one another.

Daytona, most historic and well-known race of the NASCAR racing circuit and the Oscars, the most prestigious award in motion pictures. Could you imagine locking both groups inside the same building? Good ‘ol boys (mostly) of stock cars versus Rodeo Drive and Prada. If looks could kill, Hollywood would win hands down.

For my money (and time), the Oscars are the event of the day to watch. Sure, I may tune into the end of the race just to see who wins, but in the end I care a lot more about the artistry, drama, comedy, politics, and creative imagination of movie making than the corporative, artificial, patriotic pomp and circumstance of the so-called “Great American Race.”

I will admit being somewhat jaded as a native of Indianapolis who loves IndyCar racing and finds those drivers who switch to the tedious boredom of NASCAR to be traitors to real auto racing.  NASCAR more recently as an organization whose goal is to created as many sneaky and stupid rules as you can to keep the well-known drivers in contention. Shit like the “lucky dog” and permitting bump and run driving are not racing, they are subtle marketing ploys to keep a bored audience from dozing off.

I will admit the Oscars and IndyCar have done similar things. Adding more nominees to the Best Picture category is an example. But, somehow the whole NASCAR scene seems gotten far too contrived and corporative to my liking. Where it used to be about the cars and the drivers, it now seems to be overly focused on the sponsorships. With all the advertising crap splashed across the cars, you can hardly tell a Ford from a Chevy from a Toyota.

So, back to the red-letter day of 2012 – rednecks versus red carpet. It will be intriguing to seen how things pan out of this day of celebrating all things red. Personally, I am surprised no one is showing Warren Beatty’s Oscar-winning film, Reds today or why ESPN doesn’t have a day full of Cincinnati Reds pre-season games. Seems, both would fit into the situation perfectly. Enjoy whichever you prefer, but I will be enjoying the Oscars while barely tolerating Daytona.

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Congestion courtesy of conservatives in Congress

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I just don’t get it????

I have observed something quite curious recently when approaching busy intersections with a traffic signal. Quite often one of the through lanes will have many cars backed up in line waiting for the signal to change, while the other through lane only has a couple of cars waiting for the signal to change. I could see how the right lane might have a few more cars in it due to those turning, but that cannot possibly account for times when there are five to ten times as many cars waiting in line.

I have no explanation for this phenomenon other than perhaps the drivers are not paying attention or just don’t care if they have to wait more than one cycle at the light. It does seem to be a more common occurrence at rush hour or during the noon hour.

What I just don’t get, is why someone would willfully sit in an elongated line of cars that has no possible chance of making it through the light in the first (or second) cycle, when the directly adjacent lane has noticeably fewer cars in it and much less likelihood for delay. If anyone has an explanation, I am all ears.

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Indy 500 Champion Dan Wheldon (1978 – 2011)

I am at a loss for words over this horrible tragedy in auto racing. Two-time Indy 500 winner (including this year), Dan Wheldon has died from injuries sustained in today’s race in Las Vegas.  May he rest in peace. My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to his entire family, his friends, and the auto-racing community. Dan Wheldon is one of the best IndyCar drivers of all time and will be missed.

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Pet peeve – sending the wrong signal

Another pet peeve here – this one courtesy of EcoDude. Why in the world are traffic signals set to have the left turn light come on even at those times when there is not a single car waiting to turn? Meanwhile everyone else at the intersection gets to sit there staring at each other and burning fossil fuels while the traffic signal goes through its cycle.  This may not seem like much, but I would hate to imagine how much fuel is wasted and excess pollution and greenhouse gases are generated annually just by cars sitting at stupid traffic signals that could have been programmed to not activate the left turn signal when no one is waiting there.

Less idling waste and pollution are definite benefits of roundabouts and efficiently programmed traffic signals. Anybody else bothered by this, or is EcoDude out in left (turn) field all alone?

An update to a previous pet peeve – I had a another asleep at the wheel driver in front of me yesterday, who had not pulled up far enough to activate the signal sensor. Had to call out to him from my car and encourage him to pull forward another 10 feet or so. Yet another test for my moron meter!

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Round and round

Time for another pet peeve – how hard is it to learn how to drive a roundabout? I am constantly amazed at the number of drivers who have no clue whatsoever. They treat the entry into the roundabout as a stop instead of a yield, thereby throwing off the flow of traffic and causing unnecessary delays and backups.

I can understand the trepidation immediately after the roundabout has opened or if the car is from out-of-state. But, some of the local roundabouts  have been around for close to a decade now and some of the locals still don’t get it.  It is during these times where I wished I drove a Sherman tank.

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Hey, remember to look both ways!

It is pet peeve time again. As an avid bike commuter I am constantly amazed and a little frighten by drivers who fail to look both ways before pulling out of a driveway or intersection. This seems to be an especially big problem when they are turning right.

The drivers keep looking to the left for the oncoming traffic, but fail to think about the pedestrians, bicyclists, joggers, wheelchairs, roller-bladers, and others who may be on the sidewalks or pathways. Locally, we have extra wide sidewalks that are designed to accommodate most forms of non-motorized travel including cyclists.

Needless to say, when I approach a car that is waiting to turn I wait until I am sure they have looked my direction and have actually seen me. Otherwise, I could become a hood ornament.  I just wish I felt the drivers were taking the same extra precautions that I am.

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Where the energy efficient auto jobs are in the USA

The table below prepared by the Natural Resources Defense Council shows the states that lead in number of energy-efficient auto-related jobs. Congratulations to Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana for leading the nation forward and taking the top three positions.

SOURCE: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ltonachel/

Here is also a link to a cool interactive map on the subject.

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