GM may bring the production version of the Chevrolet Beat to the U.S., people familiar with the plan said. The car, which would normally be reserved for markets such as Asia and Latin America, gets as much as 40 miles a gallon, a fuel efficiency topped in the U.S. only by hybrids.
Seems like GM is waking up, finally. The GM Volt is also showing a commitment that suggests GM is betting the farm on the concept.
just stumbled across this after watching <a href="http://www.endofsuburbia.com/faq.htm" target="_blank">THE END OF SUBURBIA: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream</a> again. (<a href="http://www.mininova.org/tor/932447" target="_blank">DivX torrent</a>)
<a href="http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1" target="_blank">The Power of Community - How Cuba Survived Peak Oil</a> a documentary from <a href="http://www.communitysolution.org/index.html">The Community Solution</a>. Interesting concepts and I was wondering if anybody has an DivX or DVD for the aforementioned docu since it seems there are only dead torrents out in the web... <a href="http://globalpublicmedia.com/articles/657" target="_blank">Article on Global Public Media</a>
The Freep has published an opinion piece by an economist talking about the return of the urban core. He refers to higher gas prices and the impact this will have on the suburbs.
Similar article recently in the National Post. Haven't read either in full yet but both seem very interesting. Damn glad I bought a house only a short walk to downtown!
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: northender</cite>The Freep has published an opinion piece by an economist talking about the return of the urban core. He refers to higher gas prices and the impact this will have on the suburbs.</blockquote>
That really wont do much for Winnipeg.
What does gas cost a person to drive in the from perimeter? $3 at most?
If you spend $50/week filling your car up for the daily commute, you're going to notice when your commuting bill goes up to $75/week or more. And you might look for ways to reduce that. As people become aware of this, properties closer to downtown will likely become a lot more attractive. Not only does it reduce your commute, but a lot of the services you need would be closer too. <p>
As people become aware of this, properties closer to downtown will likely become a lot more attractive
Yes, and like everything else, those properties inflate in price and the increase can easily subsidize your extra fuel. Not to mention giving up a lifestyle you may not particularly want to.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: StBPegger</cite>For some good perspective, read The Long Emergency by Kunstler. Just finished reading how alternate "fuels" won't rescue us. Very interesting read.</blockquote><p>
"Not only does it reduce your commute, but a lot of the services you need would be closer too. "
But in Winnipeg... for the most part people are quite happy with the larger yard, quieter settings and lower taxes that are a result of them commutting.
Dean are you saying what I'm saying....that and ....Winnipeg is a Family oriented City...where people have kids and those kids require transportation to their activities.
Sometimes, sigh,,,, i feel like I am the only parent on this site. Like its only me that needs a vehicle and that transit just doesn't work...AM I the only one ?????????
Am so happy my kids won't have to play at the idiotic soccer site at UofM...it would have taken 1.5 hr.s to get there and back and cost me 15 bucks worth of transit tickets......( and people think I'm nutz )
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: DeanK</cite>But in Winnipeg... for the most part people are quite happy with the larger yard, quieter settings and lower taxes that are a result of them commutting.</blockquote><p>
And some people will continue with their current lifestyles.<p>
Others will look for a change, and buying properties closer to the city centre (or closer to their workplace) is one way of doing it.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: DeanK</cite>"Not only does it reduce your commute, but a lot of the services you need would be closer too. "
But in Winnipeg... for the most part people are quite happy with the larger yard, quieter settings and lower taxes that are a result of them commutting.</blockquote>
Lower taxes? I hope you are joking. My family almost all lives in the West End and none of us pays more than $800/yr in property taxes. A larger yard would be nice, but not everyone wants to cut that much grass on a regular basis either, so there's pluses and minuses to both. I'm happy not to be paying anything for vehicle maintenance, fuel or insurance. I bet I save myself at least $500/m vs me living say in St James and working downtown and having a modest (ie used vehicle) monthly payment, insurance and maintenance. Plus I am healthier because of my cycling and walking almost everywhere. If I had a vehicle on the road I would tend to jump in it to go to the Forks, vs a 10 or 15 min bike ride.
Right you are happy with that... and Everyone who lives further away is happy doing that. A few thousand extra dollars per year for gas is not going to change their minds. They moved there, becuase thats exactly the life style they wanted. They realized full well that they would have to drive and spend money driving to do that, when they moved there.
You seem pretty confident that everyone who lives further away is happy.<p>
Funny, two of my suburban-dwelling colleagues have just bought houses close to the city centre (Norwood Flats and Fort Rouge). Both were tired of the long drive into work and wanted to live closer to downtown...