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Originally Posted by joemac
Another factor we have for usage on the rise is traffic congestion. I've driven the same route to and from work for years. Back years ago congestion do to traffic was a non-issue. Now it's a major issue, stop go, stop go. What happens to your mileage when your doing nothing but 0 to 20 mph? It decreases your mileage.
I've taken measures to try and avoid traffic. I now leave an entire hour earlier in attempts to avoid traffic. I'm close again of bumping my timeline again to avoid traffic.
The congestion we have in our major metropolitan areas certainly doesn't help our consumption. So are we truely using more by driving more, or using more simply by sitting in traffic?
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The US is going to have to get over its obsession with subburbs, 12- lane interstates (that are always parking lots by the time they are finished), and cars.
We are going to have to start doing some serious urban planning, verticle construction and a massive expansion of mass transit which should not only connect the inner cities, but also link the subburbs to the cities.
I know everyone likes to rail on San Francisco and the Bay Area in general (or the Metropolis known as the Eastern Seaboard from DC to Boston) but they do have mass transit and verticle construction figured out. For a great example as to how this works google
BART (or just click on the link).