August 26, 2004
Public Hearings on Speed Limit Increase
Tonight is the first public hearing ODOT is holding to increase the interstate highway speed limits in Oregon. Available now is the Engineering report with preliminary recommendations
http://www.odot.state.or.us/traffic/Interstate%20Speed%20Study%20Executive%20Summmary%208-13-2004.pdf
With the exception of a few very specific sections of highway, this report recommends maintaining existing speeds for cars and trucks.
Also, public comments are being accepted by email (send to janice.e.gipson
I encourage everyone to submit testimony to the email address. Below I'm providing a sample:
Dear ODOT,
I am writing to provide public testimony concerning the Interstate Speed Study Review. I urge ODOT to maintain current interstate highway speeds. My concerns are that higher speed limits will increase fuel consumption as well as create additional pollution. During the DEQ Air Quality Hearings in 2003, traffic was discussed as a primary air quality concern in the Rogue Valley. It is well established that higher speed decreases vehicle fuel efficiency and increases per vehicle pollution.
Thank you,
John Fricker
Ashland, Oregon
Posted by John at 08:34 AM | Comments (0)
Life in the Slow Lane Redux
My prior essay on driving generated more interest than anything else I've written. I received wonderful feedback from friends and family pledging to slow down, sharing their own slow down stories and noting that new cars consume 80% of their total life span energy before they reach the sales lot.
Yesterday, I heard on the radio that the Oregon Department of Transportation is in the process of changing the speed limit on our state's interstate highways. My initial reaction is that higher speeds (75 for cars and 65 for trucks on certain sections) will create more pollution and cause more damage to the road ways as well as increase oil consumption.
From August 23-27, ODOT will hold public hearing in Grants Pass, Eugene, Portland, The Dalles, and La Grande. I plan on speaking in Grants Pass.
Who would like to organize with me on this issue? We have a few weeks to read the ODOT plans and studies, research our position and publicize. Since they will be deciding on Sept 30, this is a very finite activity (I know we are all busy with federal politics right now).
Let me know if you are interested and I'll add you to a new open discussion mail list specifically for this issue.
Posted by John at 08:32 AM | Comments (0)
August 15, 2004
Life in the Slow Lane
Friends,
Hello, my name is John and I'm a commuter. Every day I drive my Honda
CRV 18.8 miles to work and 18.8 miles home. My Honda does great on long
trips to the desert, forest or ocean and gets nearly 30 MPG. But
commuting gets me a pitiful 22 MPG. Every day I burn 1.71 gallons of
regular unleaded gasoline. A sad sad reality check for an old fashion
card carrying Sierra Club and Green Party member.
But I have found a glimmer of redemption. I have performed dastardly
experiments on my CRV. You see, much of my commute is on Interstate 5
where traffic flies along at 70+ MPH in a dance commonly called "the rat
race", where cars jockey for position for the red light 2 exits and 9
miles down the road, accelerators brazenly pumped down, air conditioning
pleasantly converting octane into cool air. Now for weeks at a time, my
experiment has taken me to the Slow Lane. That's right, I'm that silver car
in front of you - tail gate all you want but I know a secret and I'll share it
with you on the road if I can.
I have found that driving consistently at 60 MPH makes quite a
difference in my fuel economy. Actually, I'd love to keep it at 55
but I can't stand looking in the rear view mirror at such a speed.
Seems like every tractor trailer on the road charges up behind me like
a giant Spanish bull on steroids. At the anti-social speed of 60MPH I
stay just ahead of the truckers and I have found that my wonderful
little SUV gets 10% better gas mileage. And these days I'm all to excited
about it. That extra 2.2 MPG means .17 less gallons per day, .85 less
gallons per week, and 44 less gallons per year. Or around $100 cash
depending on the current whim of oil industry executives.
So big deal right? I should just get a nice efficient VW Jetta TDI
diesel and get 46MPG and be done with it right? Well yes, actually. But
I read an interesting article today from George Monbiot called "War x4"
(http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2004/07/06/war-x-4/). According to
Michael Meacher, the British Minister of Transportation (via George):
"the US could do without its oil imports from the Persian Gulf if the
fuel efficiency of its cars was improved by an average of 2.7 miles per gallon."
I know every SUV and fuel inefficient car owner isn't going to run out
and buy the all too scarce VW Jetta, but I do know that every car
owner can slow down a little bit and get a little better gas mileage.
So, everyday now, I try to keep a light foot and take my time on the
highway. And I'm happy to share this secret with anyone else on the
road. Actually I seem to do exactly that every time I pass a truck. The
truckers keep their speed just below 60 so I find myself creeping past
them nonchalantly. And that's where I share my secret, as I look in my
rear view mirror and notice the long line of speed freaks all joining me
in my slow environmentally friendly and peaceful duty of gasoline
conservation. I can only guess that I'm getting that missing .5 MPG
savings vicariously through all my fellow travelers.
I encourage all my fellow progressive to slow down around town and on
the highway. Save a little gas. Together, we will add up to quite a
difference.
--John
Posted by John at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)