Transportation alternatives (fwd)
Colin R. Leech
Reposted from the transp-l list:
Gerry Hawkes (gha...@sover.net) writes:
> I thought you might find this exchange from the Society of American
> Foresters email forum interesting. A long series of exchanges on the
> effects of air pollution on forests preceded this message.
>
> - Gerry
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 08:20:54 -0500 (EST)
> From: Gerry Hawkes <gha...@sover.net>
> To: mort...@ucs.orst.edu
> Cc: Recipients of saf-news <saf-...@igc.apc.org>
> Subject: Transportation alternatives
>
>
>> Gerry,
>>
>> I agree that fossil fuel consumption in transportation is a
>> problem. I also agree that other fuels used for the same basic form of
>> transportation will continue to result in environmental impacts from
>> maintenance of roads, parking, etc...
>>
>> My question is; Since you've ruled out the horse, and don't think
>> a new way of powering vehicles is the answer, how shall we 'rethink our
>> entire transportation system' (your phrase). What alternative to
>> ground-based, wheeled, vehicles do you propose?
>>
>> Joe Mortzheim
>
>
> Joe -
>
> Please excuse the delayed response.
>
> There are many aspects to reshaping the entire transportation system. You
> are part of one major reshaping by using email rather than physically
> sending a paper letter which requires trucks and planes to deliver.
> Commuting to work via computer and phone lines is a major, positive change.
>
> We should probably focus more attention on rebuilding inner cities and
> core communities to make them exciting, attractive, safe places to live
> where all services are within easy reach without the need to drive.
>
> Inter community transport should focus more on high quality rail service
> which allows people to bring bicycles on board passenger trains. Along
> these lines, I designed and installed integretated bicycle, ski, and
> snowboard storage and security systems for AmTrak trains running from
> Washington, D.C. to Vermont in an effort to encourage cyclists and skiers
> to visit Vermont by train rather than by car.
>
> We should encourage walking and bicycling for short commutes since cold auto
> start-ups and the first few miles of operation are highly polluting.
>
> I have given a lot of thought as to why more people do not ride bicycles
> and identified the danger of riding in traffic and the lack of adequate
> bicycle parking and security as major deterents. To help solve this
> problem I have developed and patented a modular bicycle path system made
> from extremely durable, recycled structural plastic (nitrogen gas is
> injected during the molding process to form a structurally strong cellular
> core) which can be quickly installed over any terrain to provide high
> quality riding surfaces safely away from highway traffic. The modular
> EcoTrack system requires no excavation or disturbance of the land. The
> system can also be used for wheelchair access ramps and pedestrian
> walkways. Optional wind barriers and canopies may be added for all-season
> use. Eventually I see the possibility of installing solar panels or
> electric conductors over such tracks so that inexpensive, electric
> bicycles and similar light vehicles can be propelled without the need to
> carry heavy, expensive batteries. But all this has to come one step at a
> time; I have the industrial design and functional prototypes completed as
> well as the manufacturer in place, but need to find $1.5 million to tool
> up and begin production.
>
> Rather than spend time looking for $1.5 million, we have also developed
> and are marketing a new bicycle parking and security module (patent
> pending) which allows attractive, easy to use bicycle parking and
> security to be located almost anywhere. The modules can be placed singly
> or formed into clusters of any shape and size. Since I am a forester, we
> even have a module cluster which serves as an attractive tree protector
> yet can easily park and secure 8 bicycles.
>
> Also as a spin-off from the EcoTrack system developement we have been
> field testing a recycled plastic tile (patent pending) with a rugged, yet
> smooth rolling, molded-in tread pattern. This EcoTrack tile is designed
> to upgrade and protect pressure treated wood surfaces used by pedestrians,
> cyclists, and wheelchair users. As you know, pressure treated lumber
> usually chips, wears, and splinters long before there is any hint of
> rot. Protecting and enhancing these surfaces with non-toxic, long
> wearing tiles is good economics, slows the mechanical movement of Chromated
> Copper Arsenate (CCA) treated wood particles into the enviroment, delays
> landfilling of pressure treated lumber, and provides a superior travel
> surface. We will be bringing these tiles to market withing the next few
> weeks, provided we can come up with financing for a small advertising
> campaign. (It is easy to expend substantial sums of money in product
> development and have little left over for advertising.)
>
> Sorry I have been so long winded. What I have described is only a tiny
> fraction of what can be done to rethink and reshape our transportation
> system. As new ideas come forth they will spawn more new ideas. All these
> changes can make life much better, but we must think ahead and we must act
> while we have a window of opportunity. We can't wait until our backs are
> to the wall in an environmental crisis.
>
> I hope this message and the messages I have posted previously will help
> others realize there are many positive changes we can make for the future
> if we only give them serious thought then translate those thoughts into
> action. Sometimes these actions will take us far from forestry, but as
> we are beginning to see from our discussions, the future of our forests
> is closely linked to the directions taken by human societies.
>
> - Gerry Hawkes - Woodstock, Vermont - gha...@sover.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
##### |\^/| Colin R. Leech || Civil engineer by training
##### _|\| |/|_ ag...@freenet.carleton.ca || Transport planner by choice
##### > < Opinions are my own. Consider them shareware if you want.
##### >_./|\._< Support the creation of misc.transport.[misc|road|marine].
george conklin
-
-Reposted from the transp-l list:
-
-Gerry Hawkes (gha...@sover.net) writes:
-> I thought you might find this exchange from the Society of American
-> Foresters email forum interesting. A long series of exchanges on the
-> effects of air pollution on forests preceded this message.
->
-> - Gerry
->
-> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
-> Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 08:20:54 -0500 (EST)
-> From: Gerry Hawkes <gha...@sover.net>
-> To: mort...@ucs.orst.edu
-> Cc: Recipients of saf-news <saf-...@igc.apc.org>
-> Subject: Transportation alternatives
->
->
->> Gerry,
->>
->> I agree that fossil fuel consumption in transportation is a
->> problem. I also agree that other fuels used for the same basic form of
->> transportation will continue to result in environmental impacts from
->> maintenance of roads, parking, etc...
->>
->> My question is; Since you've ruled out the horse, and don't think
->> a new way of powering vehicles is the answer, how shall we 'rethink our
->> entire transportation system' (your phrase). What alternative to
->> ground-based, wheeled, vehicles do you propose?
->>
->> Joe Mortzheim
->
->
-> Joe -
->
-> There are many aspects to reshaping the entire transportation system. You
-> are part of one major reshaping by using email rather than physically
-> sending a paper letter which requires trucks and planes to deliver.
-> Commuting to work via computer and phone lines is a major, positive change.
->
-> We should probably focus more attention on rebuilding inner cities and
-> core communities to make them exciting, attractive, safe places to live
-> where all services are within easy reach without the need to drive.
->
-> Inter community transport should focus more on high quality rail service
-> which allows people to bring bicycles on board passenger trains. Along
-> these lines, I designed and installed integretated bicycle, ski, and
-> snowboard storage and security systems for AmTrak trains running from
-> Washington, D.C. to Vermont in an effort to encourage cyclists and skiers
-> to visit Vermont by train rather than by car.
->
-> We should encourage walking and bicycling for short commutes since cold auto
-> start-ups and the first few miles of operation are highly polluting.
->
-> I have given a lot of thought as to why more people do not ride bicycles
-> and identified the danger of riding in traffic and the lack of adequate
-> bicycle parking and security as major deterents. To help solve this
-> problem I have developed and patented a modular bicycle path system made
-> from extremely durable, recycled structural plastic (nitrogen gas is
-> injected during the molding process to form a structurally strong cellular
-> core) which can be quickly installed over any terrain to provide high
-> quality riding surfaces safely away from highway traffic. The modular
-> EcoTrack system requires no excavation or disturbance of the land. The
-> system can also be used for wheelchair access ramps and pedestrian
-> walkways. Optional wind barriers and canopies may be added for all-season
-> use. Eventually I see the possibility of installing solar panels or
-> electric conductors over such tracks so that inexpensive, electric
-> bicycles and similar light vehicles can be propelled without the need to
-> carry heavy, expensive batteries. But all this has to come one step at a
-> time; I have the industrial design and functional prototypes completed as
-> well as the manufacturer in place, but need to find $1.5 million to tool
-> up and begin production.
->
-> Rather than spend time looking for $1.5 million, we have also developed
-> and are marketing a new bicycle parking and security module (patent
-> pending) which allows attractive, easy to use bicycle parking and
-> security to be located almost anywhere. The modules can be placed singly
-> or formed into clusters of any shape and size. Since I am a forester, we
-> even have a module cluster which serves as an attractive tree protector
-> yet can easily park and secure 8 bicycles.
->
-> Also as a spin-off from the EcoTrack system developement we have been
-> field testing a recycled plastic tile (patent pending) with a rugged, yet
-> smooth rolling, molded-in tread pattern. This EcoTrack tile is designed
-> to upgrade and protect pressure treated wood surfaces used by pedestrians,
-> cyclists, and wheelchair users. As you know, pressure treated lumber
-> usually chips, wears, and splinters long before there is any hint of
-> rot. Protecting and enhancing these surfaces with non-toxic, long
-> wearing tiles is good economics, slows the mechanical movement of Chromated
-> Copper Arsenate (CCA) treated wood particles into the enviroment, delays
-> landfilling of pressure treated lumber, and provides a superior travel
-> surface. We will be bringing these tiles to market withing the next few
-> weeks, provided we can come up with financing for a small advertising
-> campaign. (It is easy to expend substantial sums of money in product
-> development and have little left over for advertising.)
->
-> Sorry I have been so long winded. What I have described is only a tiny
-> fraction of what can be done to rethink and reshape our transportation
-> system. As new ideas come forth they will spawn more new ideas. All these
-> changes can make life much better, but we must think ahead and we must act
-> while we have a window of opportunity. We can't wait until our backs are
-> to the wall in an environmental crisis.
->
-> I hope this message and the messages I have posted previously will help
-> others realize there are many positive changes we can make for the future
-> if we only give them serious thought then translate those thoughts into
-> action. Sometimes these actions will take us far from forestry, but as
-> we are beginning to see from our discussions, the future of our forests
-> is closely linked to the directions taken by human societies.
->
-> - Gerry Hawkes - Woodstock, Vermont - gha...@sover.net
->
-
---
-##### |\^/| Colin R. Leech || Civil engineer by training
-##### _|\| |/|_ ag...@freenet.carleton.ca || Transport planner by choice
-##### > < Opinions are my own. Consider them shareware if you want.
-##### >_./|\._< Support the creation of misc.transport.[misc|road|marine].
Ok, now I will add
a new none to Colin's
name:
1. Suburbs are parasitic on trees too.
2. The only solution: patent a new bicycle.
3. You left out stop heating your house, become a
vegetarian, stop having children, and don't use
industrial products such as nylon and use only wool
and cotton, since sheep shit can used to generate
gas for your kitcen before you spread it on the living
room floor to keep down the dust.
--
Gconklin
+geo...@nccu.edu (george conklin) wrote:
+
+> Ok, now I will add
+>a new none to Colin's
+>name:
+
+>1. Suburbs are parasitic on trees too.
+
+>2. The only solution: patent a new bicycle.
+
+>3. You left out stop heating your house, become a
+>vegetarian, stop having children, and don't use
+>industrial products such as nylon and use only wool
+>and cotton, since sheep shit can used to generate
+>gas for your kitcen before you spread it on the living
+>room floor to keep down the dust.
+
+
+>--
+
+I wonder how long it will be before we realize just how realistic
+these suggestions are. (Apart from spreading shit on the floor ;-)
+
+---
+Timothy Gleason Adventure? Excitement?
+tim...@io.org A Jedi craves not these things.
+
Spreading cow manure on the floor is the standard technique
for keeping down dust in rural India. Many times I have slept on
such a mixture. Amazing how narrow planners are.
It seems to be planners have become evangelists for
a minimal lifestyle. Have little, want less, accept poverty,
work little.
Bryan Cowan
(Colin R. Leech) wrote:
> Reposted from the transp-l list:
>
> Gerry Hawkes (gha...@sover.net) writes:
> > I thought you might find this exchange from the Society of American
> > Foresters email forum interesting. A long series of exchanges on the
> > effects of air pollution on forests preceded this message.
> >
> > - Gerry
(snip)
> > There are many aspects to reshaping the entire transportation system. You
> > are part of one major reshaping by using email rather than physically
> > sending a paper letter which requires trucks and planes to deliver.
> > Commuting to work via computer and phone lines is a major, positive change.
> >
> > We should probably focus more attention on rebuilding inner cities and
> > core communities to make them exciting, attractive, safe places to live
> > where all services are within easy reach without the need to drive.
This is already happening in San Francisco. The city's population has
risen from a low of 670,000 in 1980 to 750,000 (estimate) today. Apartment
vacancy rates are at an all time low, with several people often competing
for the same apartment, especially apartments in the $1000-$2000 range,
wich is attractive to young professionals. San Francisco has been rated
the #2 best city on the ENTIRE PLANET to do business in. Conclusion: more
and more people are rediscovering the advantages of living in a place
where a car is a luxury, not a necessity, and unlike eastern cities that
aren't car oriented, SF was in a good position to take advantage of this
trend.
Gconklin
+On 19 Nov 1995, Gconklin wrote:
+
+> Spreading cow manure on the floor is the standard technique
+> such a mixture. Amazing how narrow planners are.
+>
+> It seems to be planners have become evangelists for
+> a minimal lifestyle. Have little, want less, accept poverty,
+> work little.
+
+Well, you know, immigrants from India ARE the most successful ethnic
+group in the United States. Maybe all us Gen-Xers should take the hint
+and go get some cow manure.
+
+
Study success. You would need the FIVE products of a cow.
Not just 1.
george conklin
>On 19 Nov 1995, Gconklin wrote:
>
>> Spreading cow manure on the floor is the standard technique
>>
>Well, you know, immigrants from India ARE the most successful ethnic
>
live in rural India, it would work just fine, and has for thousands
of years.
However, looking into how cooperation among family members
leads to wealth creation is something I highly recommend. It
works.
--
Daniel P Tasman
> Well, you know, immigrants from India ARE the most successful ethnic
> group in the United States. Maybe all us Gen-Xers should take the hint
> and go get some cow manure.
There's several thousand Indian immigrants in the Town of Amherst, a
suburb of Buffalo, New York. Most of them are either professors at UB,
doctors and engineers. Those that don't teach at UB graduated from
there; they got their education in the States and stayed on.
Immigrant groups like the Vietnamese, Koreans and Hmong
seem to come in to the States at the "bottom end of the ladder" and work
their way up. The majority of Indian immigrants in the US that I've met
were established professionals when they arrived here. It's called
"brain drain".
One thing that I've noticed about Indian immigrants - they're far more
insular than other ethnic groups. As an example, most American born
children of Indian immigrants that I've met have Indian first names. Most
US born children of Asian immigrants are given English first names.
Despite the high income level, it seems like there's far less
assimilation among Indian immigrants than among Asian immigrants.
Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong in my assumptions.
--
Dan Tasman tas...@acsu.buffalo.edu http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~tasman/
UB School of Architecture and Planning http://www.arch.buffalo.edu/
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| "I think that I shall never see a billboard lovely as a tree. |
| indeed, unless the billboards fall, I'll never see a tree at all." |
| Odgen Nash, Song of the Open Road |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Marc Dufour
==============================================================
ghco...@bessel.nando.net (Gconklin)
écrivit le - wrote on 19 Nov 1995 08:39:22 -0500:
--------------------------------------------------------------
> Spreading cow manure on the floor is the standard technique
>for keeping down dust in rural India. Many times I have slept on
>such a mixture. Amazing how narrow planners are.
> It seems to be planners have become evangelists for
>a minimal lifestyle. Have little, want less, accept poverty,
>work little.
It should suit big corporations very well, too, because then they
can cut salaries...
-----------------Pour la République Française du Québec-----------------
In a Republic, society should be like school, whose prime mission is to
teach citizens how to judge for themselves by their own natural light.
In a democracy, it is school that must look like society, and it's prime
mission is solely to produce people adapted to the job market.
Régis Debray in "Are you a democrat or a republican?"
- Marc Dufour -- [\]ACUC 6 31874 & TDI -- http: will soon be relocated -