Kurt Ullman wrote in
:

In article ,
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:


My kid's 4 cylinder 1996 Camry wagon gets 35% better gas mileage than
the typical 6 or 8 cylinder SUV. How about offering the car makers
some sort of incentive for bringing back wagons? There *is* a demand
for them. He's found 3 notes stuck under his windshield wiper from
people wondering if he wanted to sell the car. These vehicles satisfy
one of the needs fulfilled by SUVs: Carrying lots of stuff without
crowding the passengers.

One of the many indications that the major law passed by Congress is
the Law of Unintended Consequences is the demise of the station wagon.
When they first issued the CAFE regs, they covered wagons as cars but
not vans and SUVs as trucks. The rest is history.

the newer SUVs are now "crossover" vehicles,just a jacked-up station
wagon,of course weighing more than the station wagons of the past.
Many of the newer SUVs cannot tow anything,and are narrow,less stable(less
SAFE),and prone to rollover accidents.Their extra height is a hazard to
other vehicles,too.


There are other ways to make a more significant improvement without
any change in vehicles. A substantial amount of our vehicle use is
in unnecessary commuting and solo commuting. The current fuel
prices are already improving the situation by triggering more
carpooling and more telecommuting.

There's a limit to how much of that can take place. Twice a week, I
pass by a park & ride lot. It's as empty as it's been for many years.

That's because once you get to the OTHER END,you have to either
walk(often in inclement weather) or pay for another form of transport to
get to your end destination.

But that is as much of an indication of how we have failed to
develop anything at the other end. The demand for public
transportation options should grow if they would ever be available.


I wonder how many people here have taken a bus daily to get to their
school,job or do their shopping?
(and not the school busses that drop you off and pick up right at the
school)

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net