Display:
I don't have a car, and I don't need one.  If I found I needed a car for shopping, I have access to car-sharing sites galore.  I only ever feel I'd really like to have a car when I need to transport large items, which could not fit inside one of these smart cars, unless they truly are clown cars with magically accommodatingly huge interiors.  There is no way I could justify owning this car.

That fact does not prevent me from wanting one, however.     :)

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 12:24:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I don't think car sharing has caught on round here.

I think Smart cars are quite cool but not worth the price!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 12:33:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It's been here for a while - called Mobility

They even have Smart cars, which are actually fun to drive.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 12:45:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Just finished reading the link above. Actually the - car-sharing started in Switzerland in 1987 - I wasn't aware of that and pleasantly surprised.
by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 12:56:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I'm really very happily surprised how well-received car sharing programs like iGo and Zip-Car have been here.  I think I first learned of them about 3 or 4 years ago, and now there are sites on almost every other block in my neighborhood, and that is not an exaggeration.  There have also been some sincere attempts to ramp up our public transportation system.  Which is at least of the top 3 in the country (not saying much - but you can get anywhere in the city w/o a car).  And our mayor is enamoured with the Velib thingy.  There is also some discussion of enacting one of those London-type tolls to drive into the city.  

Very slowly, and mostly as a result of rising gas prices - not a feeling of responsibility toward the environment, things are changing around here.  In another 50 years we may even catch up with Europe. ;)


"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 12:47:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
In another 50 years we may even catch up with Europe. ;)

Rate we're going, you'll overtake UK in 50 months.


keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 01:08:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yeah, I was surprised by the large, and seemingly growing, number of SUVs over there.  That's worrying.

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 01:22:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
(mutters darkly) I had my car scraped a couple of weeks ago, and I'm fairly sure the culprit was a HUGE Chrysler that took up so much space I had to slide out the passenger door.

I mean, seriously, when are stupidly big cars going to be prevented from using public spaces?

by Sassafras on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 03:08:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Recommended Diaries
Clipping the wings of a judge
by Migeru - Feb 10
61 comments

Sarkozy: Enemies Ahoy!
by afew - Feb 10
36 comments

LQD: Unsustainable irrigation
by Melanchthon - Feb 9
3 comments

Hunger March wins PR battle
by DoDo - Feb 9
3 comments

Romania: protests change government
by DoDo - Feb 8
6 comments

Obama wins GOP Primaries (to date)
by Frank Schnittger - Feb 8
12 comments

Murdoch - Outsourcing and Hubris
by ceebs - Feb 3
18 comments

Bristol Pound
by ChrisCook - Feb 7
14 comments

Recent Diaries
Sarkozy: Enemies Ahoy!
by afew - Feb 10
36 comments

Clipping the wings of a judge
by Migeru - Feb 10
61 comments

LQD: Unsustainable irrigation
by Melanchthon - Feb 9
3 comments

Hunger March wins PR battle
by DoDo - Feb 9
3 comments

Obama wins GOP Primaries (to date)
by Frank Schnittger - Feb 8
12 comments

Romania: protests change government
by DoDo - Feb 8
6 comments

Answers to the Renewable Energy Consultation
by Luis de Sousa - Feb 7

Bristol Pound
by ChrisCook - Feb 7
14 comments

The Imitation Of Germany
by afew - Feb 4
31 comments

Strange Fruit
by Frank Schnittger - Feb 4
14 comments

Murdoch - Outsourcing and Hubris
by ceebs - Feb 3
18 comments

Mismatch with the Natural Gas Market
by Luis de Sousa - Feb 3
22 comments

The Future of Economics
by ARGeezer - Feb 2
191 comments

Desert Island Discs - Helen's distortions
by Helen - Jan 31
49 comments

Gorila
by DoDo - Jan 29
14 comments

Rail News Blogging #7
by DoDo - Jan 29
15 comments

Obama's State Of The Union: LQD
by Crazy Horse - Jan 25
74 comments

Democracy Technology
by gmoke - Jan 24
1 comment

The Hydrogen dream
by Luis de Sousa - Jan 24
49 comments

ET Paris Meet-Up 2012 (2 UPDATE)
by afew - Jan 23
113 comments

More Diaries...
Occasional Series