Fuel Economy

[TLyttle]

bkrownd has it right. I moved here to retire, less than a mile from "town". When I lived in the Big City, I made sure that I was within biking distance of my job, and only drove my vehicle if I needed it to transport goods. Now, my vehicle stays home unless the weather is simply too stupid, or if I must travel to the Big City (some things cannot be managed locally). For a short time, I was an hour's commute from home, so I spent all my off-hours looking for a job close by. Not many people see this approach as "possible": nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, none of this is new. 100+ years ago, one worked on the property, or rented a minimal apartment near their jobsite where the wage-earner stayed all week, commuting (by train, usually) home for the weekend. No, no, now we have the automobile so that we can spend 2, 3, 4, hours A DAY in that tin box, commuting. What an outrageous waste of one's life!!!

[nmgolfer]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

bkrownd has it right. I moved here to retire, less than a mile from "town". When I lived in the Big City, I made sure that I was within biking distance of my job, and only drove my vehicle if I needed it to transport goods. Now, my vehicle stays home unless the weather is simply too stupid, or if I must travel to the Big City (some things cannot be managed locally). For a short time, I was an hour's commute from home, so I spent all my off-hours looking for a job close by. Not many people see this approach as "possible": nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, none of this is new. 100+ years ago, one worked on the property, or rented a minimal apartment near their jobsite where the wage-earner stayed all week, commuting (by train, usually) home for the weekend. No, no, now we have the automobile so that we can spend 2, 3, 4, hours A DAY in that tin box, commuting. What an outrageous waste of one's life!!!

BC, not even Vancouver, has nothing like the war zones (i.e. affordable housing districts) which define America's major (and even not so major) inner cities. Its easy for a Cannuk to tell someone else where they should live (as long as it NIMBY).

If America were serious about ending dependence on foriegn oil (its not) ... If America were serious about ending long commutes which epitomize the American way of life (especially the western states), then America would solve the problems in the inner cities. Our dysfunctional government lacks commitment to tackling ANY of these supposed concerns. (Because they are somebody else's problems)

[TLyttle]

nmgolfer's idea that Canucks have a free ride as far as commuting is concerned isn't quite right. We DO have high-traffic areas, not as many as the US, but they are there, as are the commute time numbers. If I was forced to give away 3 hours of my life EVERY DAY to commuting, it simply would not happen. Going to where the "work" is becomes a lame excuse IMHO. I would rather "learn" to shovel manure on a local farm than give away such a large part of my day!

Everyone looks at their "investment" in education, and how it would be a waste if not used. Not true. The waste is in throwing away 3 eight-hour days per week to commuting. Why is it so hard for people to recognise why they are here? Is it to jeopardise one's life in the daily suicide race? Gee, I don't think so...

[KrazyDawg]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

Everyone looks at their "investment" in education, and how it would be a waste if not used. Not true. The waste is in throwing away 3 eight-hour days per week to commuting. Why is it so hard for people to recognise why they are here? Is it to jeopardise one's life in the daily suicide race? Gee, I don't think so...

That's what I'm doing right now. Commuting 135 miles a day which takes over 3 hours. I'm working full-time while attending school full-time and also supporting a family.

[North Star]

1st tank

560km - 40L

Mostly highway.

[TLyttle]

So, is that 3 hours one way? In the SF area, that sounds about right, so you are donating 6 unproductive hours to what?? It doesn't go to your education, your job, or your family... Oh, dear...

[KrazyDawg]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

So, is that 3 hours one way? In the SF area, that sounds about right, so you are donating 6 unproductive hours to what?? It doesn't go to your education, your job, or your family... Oh, dear...

It's 1h30m one way due to taking a different route to avoid paying two tolls and driving 60 MPH. The return trip varies from 1h45m to 2+ hours. A typical work day for me is leaving at 6 in the morning and returning around 9, so I'm gone for about 15 hours.

The fortunate ones are the workers that are able to commute by a work shuttle such as the one Google provides.

[why?]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

I've been called lots of things, Canuck doesn't bother me a bit. As a Canuck, I have travelled in the US and Europe without penalty, unlike some Americans I have met. The US has people travelling who should stay at home: somehow, they think that yelling at someone will help them understand English better! I've also met Americans here who think they are still in the US, and that US currency is to be treated the same as Canadian currency, and get REALLY huffy when they are told otherwise. Personally, I think it has to do with the parochial education system there...

I wish our schools were run by Church's, maybe more of the mental rejects would actually know something.

[why?]

just to chime in, I drove from florida to mass, and I averaged 38 mpg for the 1300 mile trip.

For some reason the fill ups from the northern states gave me better mileage than the southern states did.

[YesYaris]

Originally Posted by nmgolfer

BC, not even Vancouver, has nothing like the war zones (i.e. affordable housing districts) which define America's major (and even not so major) inner cities. Its easy for a Cannuk to tell someone else where they should live (as long as it NIMBY).

If that is your opinion I have to wonder if you've ever been to Vancouver. Are you aware that Vancouver's downtown eastside is one of the poorest and high crime areas of North America? The amount of violence in the DES trumps many impoverished areas of plenty of North American cities -- combined.

If that wasn't bad enough, Vancouver's suburb of Surrey has a district known as Whalley that has almost as bad of a reputation as the downtown east side. Drugs, combined with gang turf wars and murders, have defined Vancouver's image and created a major issue for media relations during the run up to the 2010 Olympic games.

Anyways, Canadian cities are built with more public transit planning in mind and the Canadian culture, for the most part, does not lend itself to extremely long commuter networks. Toronto, however, is a exception as its commuter network extends to the sorts of distances common in many (albeit much, much smaller) American cities. Canadians love their inner cities and despite normal struggles they are still safe places to live. Even in Vancouver's case, the inner city continues to be very desirable.

PS...calling someone a "Canuck" with a hint of arrogance is no different than if someone were to condescendingly refer to you as a "Greengo" or a "Yank." I think most people on this board are well above that sort of condescending attitude, wouldn't you agree?

[nmgolfer]

Originally Posted by YesYaris

If that is your opinion I have to wonder if you've ever been to Vancouver. Are you aware that Vancouver's downtown eastside is one of the poorest and high crime areas of North America? The amount of violence in the DES trumps many impoverished areas of plenty of North American cities -- combined.

If that wasn't bad enough, Vancouver's suburb of Surrey has a district known as Whalley that has almost as bad of a reputation as the downtown east side. Drugs, combined with gang turf wars and murders, have defined Vancouver's image and created a major issue for media relations during the run up to the 2010 Olympic games.

Anyways, Canadian cities are built with more public transit planning in mind and the Canadian culture, for the most part, does not lend itself to extremely long commuter networks. Toronto, however, is a exception as its commuter network extends to the sorts of distances common in many (albeit much, much smaller) American cities. Canadians love their inner cities and despite normal struggles they are still safe places to live. Even in Vancouver's case, the inner city continues to be very desirable.

PS...calling someone a "Canuck" with a hint of arrogance is no different than if someone were to condescendingly refer to you as a "Greengo" or a "Yank." I think most people on this board are well above that sort of condescending attitude, wouldn't you agree?

Yes... I've been to Vancouver many times. You seem to contradict yourself. First you seem to claim Vancouver is the arm pit of north america then in the next sentence you say Canadian inner cities are safe places to live (which is something Americans will never know since we cannot immigrate there unless we marry in). Make up your mind. Funny you think 'Canuk' is a derogatory term. If it were you would think the Vancouver's hockey team would be named something else so no... I don't agree with you

[TLyttle]

I've been called lots of things, Canuck doesn't bother me a bit. As a Canuck, I have travelled in the US and Europe without penalty, unlike some Americans I have met. The US has people travelling who should stay at home: somehow, they think that yelling at someone will help them understand English better! I've also met Americans here who think they are still in the US, and that US currency is to be treated the same as Canadian currency, and get REALLY huffy when they are told otherwise. Personally, I think it has to do with the parochial education system there...

[TLyttle]

Gee, I would be careful of that one. The churches have a spotty record on schooling, from very good to very bad, about the same as the public-run institutions. Much of the failure of the school systems has more to do with political grandstanding than anything else: which President decided that "no child left behind" was a great policy? So now, the "mental rejects" end up with a high school diploma just as long as they actually show up at school. I am old enough to have survived a disciplined, complete education, based on the 3 Rs, plus a Social Studies course that taught us about more than just the country we lived in, and a history course covering the world. And if you didn't pass, you got to repeat it until you DID pass. Sure, spoken like an old dude, but I know my education is superior to anything taught in our schools now.

We also knew about guns, as WW11 was freshly over. We were taught to respect each other, not to fear each other. Much better.

[why?]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

Gee, I would be careful of that one. The churches have a spotty record on schooling, from very good to very bad, about the same as the public-run institutions. Much of the failure of the school systems has more to do with political grandstanding than anything else: which President decided that "no child left behind" was a great policy? So now, the "mental rejects" end up with a high school diploma just as long as they actually show up at school. I am old enough to have survived a disciplined, complete education, based on the 3 Rs, plus a Social Studies course that taught us about more than just the country we lived in, and a history course covering the world. And if you didn't pass, you got to repeat it until you DID pass. Sure, spoken like an old dude, but I know my education is superior to anything taught in our schools now.

We also knew about guns, as WW11 was freshly over. We were taught to respect each other, not to fear each other. Much better.

Definitely better.Which President decided a federal board of education was a good thing?

I agree Bush was bad for us, he has a love of big government that is so wrong, and he allowed Obama to come in and grow the government even more.

[STC]

Originally Posted by why?

I agree Bush was bad for us, he has a love of big government that is so wrong, and he allowed Obama to come in and grow the government even more.

The workings of the false left/right political dichotomy!

When will America see it's all a lie! Government for the Corporations and Government by the Corporations. They determine the government policy...

US Government is best described as a:

"Techno-plutocratic business-associational Crony Corporate-fascist Media/Entertainment induced Crimeocracy State", with the US President's job being the pitchman to sell the illusion... the supplier of the ‘bread and circuses’ to you via the corporate controlled Mainstream Media (MSM).

Cheers!

[why?]

Originally Posted by STC

The workings of the false left/right political dichotomy!

When will America see it's all a lie! Government for the Corporations and Government by the Corporations. They determine the government policy...

US Government is best described as a:

"Techno-plutocratic business-associational Crony Corporate-fascist Media/Entertainment induced Crimeocracy State", with the US President's job being the pitchman to sell the illusion... the supplier of the ‘bread and circuses’ to you via the corporate controlled Mainstream Media (MSM).

Cheers!

Well of course the corporations are going to do everything they can to hide it as much as possible. However some of the whisperings I have heard is that a ton of things citizens would assume is completely under governmental control was given to, and then taken over completely by private corporations. Kinda scary.

[redglare45]

Gallons to fill up: 10.83 gallons
Miles: 502.5
MPG: 46.39

My best MPG's so far & my 1st tank @500 miles or better.

[redglare45]

Thank you STC