I was watching a documentary last night about our dependence on oil. I found this link, which includes some of the material referred to in the program. I wonder how we will cope.
Both pieces suggest conventional sources of oil have peaked. This isn't good news. Development of the tar sands will have a major impact on the environment and really isn't a solution in the long term. Inevitably, we are going to have to substantially reduce our dependence on carbon. It is certainly hurt the big sprawiling cities more than small, older cities like Winnipeg, but even we are going to be faced with big challenges.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: northender</cite>It is certainly hurt the big sprawiling cities more than small, older cities like Winnipeg, but even we are going to be faced with big challenges.</blockquote>
Winnipeg is still a very car dependent city. It is just sprawling (i.e. growing) slower than other cities which makes the need for transit less of a burning priority.
Winnipeg still struggles with a decentralized workforce where many people are working in manufacturing plants, warehouses, shops and offices located in the far reaches of the city with acres of free parking. Even downtown parking is dirt cheap.
With the exception of higher gas prices there is really no incentive for employees of these companies to start seeking alternate forms of transportation (especially if transit service is poor or infrequent to their place or work). Most people would probably just ask their boss for a raise to cover the gas increases (but call it a "cost of living" increase) and the corporation would pass the costs onto the consumer as the employer would not want to lose a number of employees over the price of gas.
Getting more people to work in the core (and possibly live there too) would be ideal. With a larger downtown workforce it is easier to justify the costs involved in an LRT/subway system.
Putting a halt to residential development (or at least much heavier restrictions on it) would help to. Gone are the days of 50+ ft frontage lots. Seemed like most did just fine with 25-33 ft back in the turn of the century. Why the big lots now? Higher density development should not be encouraged, it should be mandated. A frontage based property tax system may make people rethink how much space they really do need.
How's the situation in Winnipeg on alternate energy resources like solar panels and windmills? To get energy from solar panels, you don't need heat from the sun, just the sun's rays. In fact, these panels work best with lower temps. and total exposure to the sun. Winnipeg winters are normally pretty sunny and there's always a breeze to turn windmills.
So the link I posted in the opening of this thread talk about the dark age ahead. What is concerning me is the lack of ideas to solve this problem. It seems all we can do is cut our consumption.
I guess the point the doco was making is we may have squandered our time to make the adjustment. What we are looking at now may well be a sharp and radical change, most of us can't afford to make.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Mr. Nobody</cite>I wouldn't be so worried North. Give it a decade or 3 , great strides are being made.<div class="ThankfulPeople" noWrap="false">Thankful People:<span><a href="http://www.newwinnipeg.com/community/account/113/">northender</a></span></div></blockquote> So who is making these great strides.