I challenge everybody on DU to give up their car for the month of August.

[LoZoccolo]

Yes, it will take longer to commute, but you can use that time for much more because you don't have to pay attention to the road so much. In today's world of iPads and mobile technology you can actually get a lot done. Think of how much more free time you'd have at home if all your DU time was spent on the bus. I haven't owned a car in over ten years and I prefer it!

[sandnsea]

1. There's no bus where I live

At least not one that comes anywhere near my house.

[Name removed]

113. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sufrommich]

2. Much easier to do in Chicago than areas that do not have

mass transit ( which is most of the country outside of the cities).

[Name removed]

112. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SoCalDem]

3. My husband's too old to ride a bike 60 miles a day

and no public transportation will get him to work.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Sorry, no. Can't do that.

Not having a car and all.

[KamaAina]

62. You're excused, my good man

because your country uses alcohol fuel, and, indeed, has proposed to export it to us, only to be rebuffed by protective tariffs.

[librechik]

137. I use my car to run errands etc for the boss--can't leave it at home

at this job, sadly--I prefer to live close enough to walk; we have great public transportation in my town. I walk everywhere on weekends when I'm home.

Although I understand the sentiment, I don't think individual drivers are the worst contributors to oil-based pollution, however. The idea that it's our fault is a myth proffered by the big polluters: Power companies and fleets. Fleet vehicles are my bugaboo--I see the air-compressor cars in Europe (by-product: water vapor) and wonder why we still have vast armies of gas powered cars in the say, Post Office. And Buses. There's where we could make a difference.

[lpbk2713]

5. The heat index around here has been around 105° lately.

Thanks but no thanks. Not in August.

Check with me around October.

[Llewlladdwr]

87. No shit.

Sorry, but walking/biking in triple digit heat just isn't going to work for me.

[w8liftinglady]

6. i'd love to...but i live in ellis county texas....my docs are in dallas county

no public transportation...any suggestions?

[Demeter]

How About I Give Up Wars on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen,

Colombia, etc? Betcha that would save a hell of a lot more oil, not to mention lives and futures.

[Robb]

63. Ah, you have the power to do that?

Thank goodness. Get on that, please. Thanks.

[Octafish]

106. Isn't that who decides policy in a democracy?

We the People. Remember them?

[Robb]

108. We, yes. You personally, no.

However, you personally can affect petroleum usage. Not using fuel is a direct action, not dependent upon representation.

If you don't want to that's another matter.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. I could actually do it, with some adjustments, as long as none of my

relatives invited me to their homes, all of which are in the burbs away from transit.

[LWolf]

8. Why not challenge all those who have

reasonable access to what they need, and to public transportation, instead of "everybody?"

[LoZoccolo]

19. Because...

1. Probably more people can do this than think they can do this and.
2. I'm only someone on a message board and you don't have to agree with me. You don't even have to respond if you disagree.

[LWolf]

24. Your # 1 has potential.

Why not give us a list of ways we can overcome long distances and lack of public transportation? If they're good, maybe more people will respond positively.

[lukasahero]

158. Much better approach - thank you

A "one size fits all" approach to the oil problem is not going to work.

Look at all the posts here and all the 'excuses' (some are just that, some are legit) that are immediately offered. We need to offer solutions that work for many - not just expect everyone to fit a prescribed mold.

[daylan b]

9. You've evidently lived a very sheltered urban life for a bit too long

if you think that's in any way a feasible idea for "everybody on DU".

[independentpiney]

10. I need it to move out of the house I'm about to lose

I might even need to live out of it for awhile in the worst case, so I'll pass for now.

[Dappleganger]

85. hey

I agree with you. OP has no clue what situation other people are in. I'm so sorry you are caught in this situation. :( :hug:

[salvorhardin]

11. I can't walk

Not owning a car is a fine choice if you can make it work for you. When I was younger, when I could still walk more than twenty feet without being in agony, and I lived in a city with decent public transit, I sold my car and was never happier.

But it isn't an option for everybody. People who live in rural areas, the elderly and disabled, or just people who live in cities without good public transit don't really have a choice. They either drive, depend on the kindness of others, or die.

[hfojvt]

12. until March of last year I did not own a car

I rented one from time to time, but didn't own one. Now I have put something like 3,000 miles on my car in the last month trying to campaign. There are, however, no busses in my town, not even Greyhound. I am using my solar clothes dryer today though.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. You're kidding right? In theory, it sounds wonderful. In practice..not so much.

People gripe about fossil fuels, but ask them to give up their gas guzzlers, and you'll have a fight on your hands, along with tons of excuses why they can't (myself included).

[lynne]

14. No. No public transportation available in my area as I'm in the country -

- The USA is too big and too rural for the most of us to give up our vehicles. It could work in the cities and some suburbs and if that's where you live, have at it!

[nc4bo]

39. Problem in my area and any area outside of a city.

But what would be wonderful if hybrid vehicles were cheap and widely available to everyone who wants one. Then again, you'd still need a decent job to be able to purchase one :S

Nevermind....

[SunnySong]

15. No... There is no practical public transportation between my residence and work.

And bicycling in August in Florida is a non-starter.

My commuting car has a small 3.4L engine with 20/28 MPG I spend less on $25 bucks on gas a week. I use a six speed manual transmission for greater fuel efficiency.


My truck is only used on weekends for shopping trips.


There is no practical alternative. I am more than willing to upgrade to an electric vehicle when the come available.

[Art_from_Ark]

181. A 3.4L engine is small?

Here in Japan, it would be in the largest class of automobile engines.

[SunnySong]

187. The car itself is a small two seater with a six speed manuel transmission. nt

And on edit yes it is a considered a sports car so the engine may be slightly larger than needed. :blush:

[Upton]

16. No way..

I live thirty miles from town....with no public transportation.

[flvegan]

17. Not a chance.

100 degrees, 30 mile commute (when I'm not telecommuting).

How will I get 70 lbs of dog food home once a week?

Sorry, can't be done.

[taterguy]

124. Make 7 trips to the store buying 10 pound bags of dog food

What better way to spend a day off?

Do you want to accept the challenge or not?

Can't help with the 30 mile commute though.

:toast:

[flvegan]

132. I run a nonprofit. You going to pay the massive difference

in $/lb between 10lb and 35lb bags?

:rofl:

[taterguy]

140. But think of all the gas money you'll save

Damnit, still doesn't work out.

Depending on how far away the store is and what kind of MPG you get.

And yes, I understand the logic behind cheaper prices for buying in bulk but it sure is irksome to folks that want to go the car-free route. (Says the poster that can't figure out a way to easily carry a case of beer on a bike)

[flvegan]

142. Keep in mind

when I buy my dog food for the week, I also buy my beer for the week and most of my food for the week, etc (Petsmart, Total Wine, Whole Foods, Target, Home Depot all in the same shopping complex). One trip. See, I try.

[taterguy]

150. Home Depot sells food?

Who knew?

Of course I hope the food you don't buy at the giant shopping center comes from a local farmer's market.

Obviously.

(Says the poster who can be smug because his spouse's giant employer hosts a farmer's market)

[flvegan]

151. Ha!

When they have the Farmer's Market I do. During the years I can afford it, I buy a spot on the local organic co-op farm. That's gotten a little expensive though.

Jealous of the spouse's employer opportunity.

[SunnySong]

188. Gas is really cheap. Lets face it gas would have to go over $6 dollars a gallon

for most of us to really save that way.

[taterguy]

192. If gas is really cheap then why do people always complain about how much it costs?

[SunnySong]

195. Because the price is easy to follow... seriously I have seen people drive an extra ten miles

to save 10 cents a gallon and all the explaining in the world won't allow them to wrap their tiny little pinheads around the concept the spent half an hour to save $2.50.

[lukasahero]

161. To be fair

you COULD ride a bike or take public transport the other 4 days...

I get the part about the heat and agree that a "one size fits all" solution is, well, stupid, but wanted to take the opportunity to note that just because someone needs a car for groceries etc one day a week doesn't mean they can't find alternative transportation the other 4 days.

:)

[flvegan]

170. I don't have 2 things:

public transport across Tampa Bay that I know of. Also there isn't a route over the bay that it's legal to ride a bike. Not that I'd ever make it up the hill on Hwy 60s bridge.

[DainBramaged]

18. I challenge everyone on DU to be logical for one month.

And try not superimposing their lifestyles on mine.

[tallahasseedem]

66. +1

:)

[pintobean]

70. Excellent response.

Your challenge is just as likely to succeed as the op.

[EstimatedProphet]

115. Don't hold your breath.

[sarge43]

117. Thank you. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

145. Oh lord.

facepalm

[joeybee12]

20. I'll do it...count me in...n/t

[TexasObserver]

21. I challenge everybody on DU to give up starting asinine threads for the month of August.

Will you lead the way?

[leftofcool]

22. In 104 degrees temp on a bike? No thanks, I'd like to live.

[Saphire]

148. that was my first thought. No thanks to that.

[Dreamer Tatum]

23. We'll all just leave the car keys in our condos, step outside to the bus stop in perfect weather,

...fire up our iPads using all that free wifi, and that'll all work just fine. Why, soon we'll discover we
don't even need that Mercedes SL63 sitting in the garage!

[a la izquierda]

25. ok.

i rarely drive (living in a college town, that's easy enough to do). i'm also a cyclist, so riding a mile in a 110 OK heat is not a problem.

but not everyone can do this and they shouldn't be faulted or lambasted for it.

[leftstreet]

26. ATTN: If anyone's giving up a Bugatti Veyron, may I borrow it?

PM me

[One_Life_To_Give]

27. 4hrs/day on train plus 10 miles/day walking

Versus 75 minutes/day in the car.

Wouldn't be too bad but the grocery only 1.5 miles from the house closes at 9pm. And it's alot further to the 24hr Stop and Shop.

[dionysus]

28. only if you burn your Oasis cds

[KonaKane]

29. You are assuming everyone here commutes to work.

Which would be a mistake. My wife and I both work at home (telecommute) but I often have to tote a large amount of music gear to my jobs. I don't think I'll be parking the car and strapping it all to my back to walk 30 miles to a gig in Hawaii's August weather, thanks.

[noamnety]

30. I challenge all women on DU to be male for a month

and not have to worry about getting harassed on the street, or personal safety while walking alone after dark.

Male privilege FTW.

[DevonRex]

37. *BURP*

Well, it's a start, isn't it? :evilgrin:

[supernova]

45. *scratches privates on the sidwalk*

Yes, besides living about 10 miles outside of town, I am not biking in 100-degree weather.

And no, we have hodge-podge public transit here.

[DevonRex]

144. *Hocks up loogie and spits it out on stranger's foot.*

What? :shrug:

[dionysus]

77. now where's those clutching pearls you lent me...

CRUISEL MISSELS!!11!! ZOMG ELEVENS!1!!11!11!11

:rofl:

[DevonRex]

80. Might they be in the case with your dueling pistols?

:evilgrin: :hi:

[dionysus]

91. i traded the dueling pistols in for a grateful dead record and a swag lamp...

i hope the pearls weren't in the pistol case!!

:hide:

[DevonRex]

97. Okay. Check in the box that has your cashmere smoking jacket

wrapped in tissue paper. Cashmere is perfect for pearl clutching, obviously. I bet they're tucked in the pocket, like you'd do with worry beads.

[dionysus]

98. ...and there they were!

:woohoo:

[sarge43]

123. "Hey, as long as you're up, get me a beer."

Practicing. :eyes:

[DevonRex]

147. "Only if you start a giant beer-can pyramid on the coffee table."

Time to decorate the den!

[Dappleganger]

86. *snort*

:evilgrin:

[MilesColtrane]

31. Sorry, but I can't drag a 6 foot double bass and 100 pounds of gear onto a bus.

And, I can't leave half the stuff on the curb while I go set up the other half.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

94. Hey there, fiddler!!

I used to play the (classical) violin. I was an orchestra nerd. When I say "fiddle" I mean violin, viola, cello and bass.

You're a member of a very cool club (I'm assuming you play jazz by your handle).

Fiddlers are very crazy and incestuous.

:D

[MilesColtrane]

189. Crazy? Yes.

Incestuous? Not literally, but I think I know what you mean.

Hullo back at ya.

I'm pretty much a mercenary. I play all kinds of gigs.

Just got through doing 7 weeks of orchestra pit work for broadway shows.

[Thirtieschild]

32. What do you suggest for those of us who are old and rural?

I'm 75, bad back, six miles from town, edge of the mountains so lots of hills. I try to limit trips to town to once a week, but no vehicle for a month? Impossible.

[nc4bo]

33. I can't do it either but I'll tell you what I *can* and have been doing.

We try to go out only when necessary (groceries, work) and make each trip count by not just running out for one thing instead we combine our trips into one grocery/go to bank/go to garden center/go to hobby store on the way home from taking mom to her doctor's appointment.

Our biggest issue is work. I was doing Census work last month and am about to get called back in July. I'm going to need gas and I'm going to need to drive but I NEED the income. What can I do?

Husband is a welder and we have our own small business. We MUST go out to do estimates, pick up materials, get to job sites all up and down the East Coast. What can we do?

But on the domestic front, combining trips sounds small but I see a big difference in how often I need to stop at the gas station.

[GodlessBiker]

34. I'll tell my brother that he can do his construction job on an iPad. He'll be happy.

[Ikonoklast]

35. Yeah, no.

No car, no way to get to work, no job, no food, no money, no house.

How about you give up eating for a month so someone else can have your food?

Just a thought.

[stopbush]

36. I could get to work via bus, but it would take 3 times as long as driving,

and I would be wasting a lot of time in transport as the buses here run once an hour.

Where your idea really falls apart is that my job requires me to scoot around the county attending meetings with donors, businesses etc on an almost daily basis. There's no way I could get to 90% of those appointments via public transportation from my office or from my home. Try using public transportation to cover the 60 miles it takes to get to three different appointments in one day - and that's in addition to the commute to and from the office.

At least I drive a fuel-efficient car.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LoZoccolo]

41. Is that where your band is playing? n/t

[sufrommich]

46. Jesus, that's a little over the top. nt

[nc4bo]

52. I think it's habitual. nt

[jobycom]

40. I challenge everybody everywhere to come up with a better energy plan that doesn't rely on

individuals making personal decisions that aren't really going to change anything, anyway. Where I live there are buses, but they are erratic, there aren't enough, and in the month of August temperatures are usually well over 100, with a heat index just under 120. At that temperature not a lot of people can walk the mile between home and bus stop, then the extra mile or more from bus stop to work. I can do it--I'm only 45, I'm in good health--a bit overweight, but the walking might even take care of that. But I'd have to take my 11 year old with me most places. She could probably handle some of it, although we'd both have to bring a change of cloths for when we got where we were going. But after the second mile, especially on the third day, she'd start to falter. Then I'd have to get my 17 year old to be willing to walk for a couple of miles a day, when I can't get her out of the bed most days. That's just for regular days. On days when I had to go grocery shopping, I'd only have a mile from door to bus stop, then maybe half a mile from bus to grocery. I'm vegetarian, so I don't have to worry about meat spoiling in the heat, but I couldn't buy ice cream or eggs or cheese.

Then there are trips to see my aging parents out of state. They live fifteen miles from anything, so walking, busing, or bike riding is out then.

My point is that no solution which requires people to voluntarily alter their lifestyles, sometimes dramatically, isn't going to do any good. There are too many people with small children and elderly parents and who live too far from public transportation.

What we need more than challenges and pledges is a comprehensive plan that makes it easier for people to take public transport than drive. You already see that in New York (at least in the movies--I have no idea how true it is--where public transport is packed because driving, parking, and tolls are difficult and public transit is easy). My own town of Austin has developed a long-term plan to that end. They have developed several alternate transit systems--they're working on rail now--and they've built bike routes connecting most areas. There's a road near my house that used to be four lane, and they made it two lane with a bike route along each side. They're even trying to close down a downtown street and use it only for bike traffic. They've built bridges over the local lake for pedestrians and bikes. More importantly, they developed a downtown growth plan to encourage condos and apartments downtown, to combat urban sprawl. In the last five years we've gone from the tallest building being a bank, to the tallest buildings all being condos.

That's the kind of thing that will reduce oil consumption in automobiles. Then we've got to reduce it in plastics, electricity, and everywhere else it's used. You brag about using your commute time to surf the net. Your computer is a pure oil drain in its construction, from the plastics used to make it to the energy required to run the factories that make the processors and chips to such exact standards--takes a lot of energy to run a clean room. Then you have to run it off electricity, then you have to use a wireless card that connects to a satellite (something not everyone can afford)--all that takes massive amounts of energy.

The solution isn't to get a few thousand people to stop driving cars. That's not even going to make a difference. The solution has to be systemic.

[happy_liberal]

118. The solution has to be systemic.

Clearly!

And it seems they had the solutions already, electric street cars,trains, buses, etc but now very few seems to have access to decent public transportation. Could that be by design? Could many of these problems people are having finding alternative transportation have something to do with the fact they didn't want us to have any alternatives?


I have the solution!

First of all, they are wasting a ton of oil driving humvees and the like around Iraq and Afghanistan(and God knows where else).........bring the troops home, save million of gallons per day.

Put the troops to work building new systems of public transportation.

So simple even a politician could figure it out.

[jobycom]

125. Kind of what FDR and Clinton did.

They used government funds and unemployed workers building things that America needed. You can't use the troops for that, as far as I understand it, but you can shrink the military and use the saving to pay for public improvement jobs.

As for it being by design, it wasn't. It was just a belief that we had unlimited scientific potential to fix all our problems, and therefore no real concern over the direction things grew. I believe we do have that potential, but as long as we have a government mentality that the private sector will automatically do what's right, we will get nowhere. The private sector is coddled by government, who at the moment believes that its job is to protect existing businesses. Texaco and BP have no incentive to switch from oil because the R&R would be too expensive and the profitability of any new system too far off. Better for them to make all they can now from oil, and to squash competitors who try to upset the gravy train. I don't really think that's evil, that's just the nature of business.

What has to be done is that government (which to me means society) has to demand change and make it profitable to change, and unprofitable not to. The technology is there, the will is not. Government (society) has to demand--not through vague economic concepts of competition, but through the civil power of government to legislate--change. That's the only way it will happen. Smaller businesses may be guided by Adam Smith, but businesses of the scale of the energy industry aren't. They will only change if forced to.

[Fire1]

42. No thanks. n/t

[LeftyFingerPop]

43. OK (nt).

[William Z. Foster]

44. absurd

People need to get to work.

Don't blame the working class people for the sprawl and the lack of public transportation.

Lucky you that you have the luxury to manage your life according to what you "prefer."

[TheWatcher]

47. I challenge you to stop posting and leave DU in peace for a month.

Then I'll consider the car thing.

Maybe. :)

[GReedDiamond]

172. Self-delete, posted in the wrong place, sorry about that - nt.

[anarch]

48. can't do it, don't have a car

Tell you the truth, I wouldn't ask this of most people who don't live in cities.

On the other hand, I can't comprehend why the majority of people who do live in cities have cars. Sometimes more than one. I guess a lot of places don't have any kind of reasonable public transportation, but in my case it was way more trouble to have a car than not. And now with zipcar or what have you, if I do need a car short-term, it's no big deal.

Anyway, I'm not sure what else I can give up instead...I'd say air conditioning, but I don't think I could get a consensus on that one. My carbon footprint is pretty small, but it makes no difference, we're all fucked beyond the point of fixing it anyway. Everyone might as well just drive the hell out of their cars to speed up the process of killing everyone...maybe the misery won't last as long that way. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

[lame54]

49. not gonna happen

[negativenihil]

50. this is where i tell you

...that i've been car-free and depended on public transit (and the occasional zip car to head out of state) for almost 3 years now.

and this is where everyone replies with their "ooohs!" and "ahhhs!" and pats me on the back ;)

[pintobean]

71. oooh!

ahhh!
I'll have to give you an attaboy instead of a pat on the back. It holds the same value, though.

[Brickbat]

51. No public transportation here, I'm not going to move, and I like to drive.

I win some, and I lose some.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

53. No can do

Service industry here. Vehicle required to make service calls, and service calls are required to pay salaries. I already don't drive more than I have to, largely because of the pollution in my area.

But all you folks in areas with decent public transportation have at it. I applaud you and envy your services.

[Iggo]

54. How about I give up my car in 1996?

[Starry Messenger]

55. Unplug your computer.

Then we'll all be happy.

[Sherman A1]

56. I challenge you to pay my bills for the month of August

I start work at 5am through the week and 4am on the weekends and it's 23 miles each way so just how do you suggest I get to work?:thumbsdown:

[timo]

57. nah,

I have a tree farm and nursery, I dont think me peddling a load of palms 350 to Houston is gonna happen.
besides my I should get enough carbon credits fro growing trees to cancel out my truck and tractors!!
I hope to hell my electrician doesnt take you up on this hows he going to carry all the wire and stuff for his job here tom
tomorrow???

[uppityperson]

58. I challenge everybody on DU to assess their car use and give up what they can

Double up on when you use your car, do errands while you are driving somewhere else. Park in the middle of those scattered stores and walk back and forth (car to grocery store back to car, then car to electronics store, stopping by pizza joint back to car).

Take time to look out the window, or bike when you can and smell what you are going by. Be as involved with your passing environment as possible.

Do what you can, assess and see if you can do more.

[Phentex]

129. Reasonable...

There are probably lots of things that can be done by more people that aren't as extreme as all or nothing.

[Bluzmann57]

59. Um, if I give up my car, I lose my job

It's as simple as that. I have to be in at 5:00 AM, there is no public transportation to work and even if thee was, it doesn't run that early anyway.

[KamaAina]

60. Done!

I'll see your August and raise you the rest of the year! (I don't drive. :-) )

[hobbit709]

61. Easy to say if you have

1.Decent local mass transit
2.Not mobility impaired
3.It's not 110° in the shade.

A half tank of gas in my truck lasts me an average of 3 weeks. The Capital Metro bus system here sucks. I have to go to the VA hospital in Temple on a regular basis.

The last real job I had I thought about taking the bus. The bus route used to come down my street-not any longer. Then after they changed the route to where the nearest bus stop was a half mile away, they changed where the bus stops-no longer on every corner, just at designated stops-that put the nearest stop at 3/4 mile. The bus here got downtown 2 minutes after the bus I needed to transfer to left. That bus got to the next transfer 5 minutes after the bus I needed there left. Then there was a 3/4 mile walk from where I got off to where I worked. This would have added 2 1/2 hours transit time-EACH WAY-to the 12 hour shifts I was working.

With the diabetic neuropathy in my legs-NO FUCKING WAY!

I minimize my driving, some days I don't go anywhere. If I have to run errands, I plan a least distance route to do so.

[Webster Green]

64. Everybody?

No thanks. If I couldn't transport my tools and ladders etc., I would be living under a bridge pretty quickly.

Thanks, but no thanks.

[Robb]

65. Done.

I'm a huge fan of the bus in these absurdly hot summer months. Nice cool bus, worth every penny of the $2 fare.

[KamaAina]

67. Transit might be closer to you than you think

find out here:

http://www.publictransportation.org/systems/Default.asp

[Stuckinthebush]

68. No

It is a nice fantasy but many here have no access to public transportation and have need for oil-based personal transports to get them to work.

I'll go with "reduce consumption" however.

[Coyote_Bandit]

69. No can do

Heat index here is in excess of 100 most days now.

There is no public transportation available where/when I need to travel. Nor folks who live nearby that would be willing to commute together.

I've made a habit of combining trips and limiting my mileage as much as possible. I'll continue to do so.

But I'm going to keep driving. And I'm not feeling guilty about it.

[distantearlywarning]

72. Already been doing it every month since 2003.

But I live in an area that's as urban as you can get in the US, with good public transportation. It's easier to ride the bus here than to find a parking spot where you're going.

Not sure how I could have accomplished even a day without a car when I lived out west in a city with no buses, no sidewalks, and nearest shopping etc was many miles away.

[tammywammy]

73. No public transportation where I live and 100+ temps. No thank you. n/t

[Javaman]

74. I accept your challenge. :)

Weekends will be tough, but I think with a little planning, I can do it. :)

[NeedleCast]

75. No

[fatbuckel]

76. With all the computers and internet connectivity, people can work at home if their jobs allow.

[madokie]

78. What a stupid thing to post

Are you just bored today or what the fuck?
un-rec

[MadHound]

79. Yeah, right.

I live twenty miles from the nearest city, town or village. How am I supposed to commute anywhere, much less bring back supplies for the farm and such.

Nice that you don't own a car, you are one of the lucky ones who live in an area with good mass transit. But for the rest of us, such infrastructure is a dream. Besides, tell me how are you going to carry home a load of mulch on the bus or train?

[bvar22]

81. I have a more "pragmatic" challenge for August:

Give up your clothes dryer.

Solar Powered Clothes Dryer

In some places, this would be a quiet, individual act of anarchy.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

99. Did that 12 years ago when I bought my house.

First thing I did when I moved in was to wash a load of clothes and hang them on that line.

I also drive a fuel efficient vehicle and combine my trips. I live near the center of town, so I leave the car at home for library, post office, banking errands. Unfortunately, there is no public transportation to my current job. I'll retire soon, though, and cut out that commute.

[Regret My New Name]

152. Or just do what I do...

and never wash your clothes :P

[bikebloke]

82. I haven't had a car since the 80's.

Been on a bike ever since. OK, OK I'll get a car so I can give it up. ;)

[Occulus]

83. Can't do that

I work on the other side of town, and I'm there until 2AM. Needless to say, even though we have public transportation, as with many public services it only caters to those who work 9-5.

[Dappleganger]

84. Why don't you challenge everyone to refuse plastic packaging

and eat less meat. Giving up a car is not feasible for most people. If you live in an area with great public transit, great for you because most of us do not. My neighborhood has NONE.

[RamboLiberal]

88. Screw that - be a friggin' nightmare of 4 buses

with lousy service in my area of home and work. How about you unplug your computer and turn your lights off & burn candles when the sun goes down?

[SalviaBlue]

89. Its supposed to hit 105 today.

It got up to 116 last summer. The nearest bus stop is 3-4 blocks. I would have to transfer from a small town line to city line. It would probably take an hour or so each way, much of it either walking or waiting in the heat.

Giving up my car is not an option. We need affordable non polluting cars.

[Yavapai]

90. Sure, I can just walk the 63 mile round trip to my PO Box,

since the US Postal service doesn't deliver here...

[Dreamer Tatum]

95. You drive 63 miles to get your mail?

How often?

[Yavapai]

109. Once a week.

It is 160 miles round trip to get to a large grocery store.

We have a big garden and a big freezer as do the neighbors (2 1/2 mils to the east of us.)

[Yavapai]

92. GOOD NEWS!

Honda has just announced that they have perfected a car that will run on water!!!

The only downside is that the water has to come from the Gulf Of Mexico:evilgrin:

[aikoaiko]

93. Too damn hot to be waiting for a bus at uncovered bus stops.

Won't do it. But I applaud all that do. You're better people than me.

[slutticus]

96. Buses use fossil-fuel energy!

I challenge you to get a bike and be a real liberal!

And biking to work is great exercise...

[AsahinaKimi]

100. Not a hard challange for me because

I have no car. I live in San Francisco where you don't really need one. There are buses, MUNI light rail, cable cars, trolley cars, BART, and Taxi's. One can also walk.. which I do a lot.

[grahamhgreen]

101. I haven't had a car for a year or two - it's relly awesome!

[Nydari]

102. I wish I could take public transportation...

Unfortunately, there is none where I live. There are also no bike lanes, and heck, no sidewalks for about a third of my commute (15 miles each way). Toss in 100+ degree weather and, oh yeah, I'll be 8 months pregnant in August and it just isn't happening.

[Stevenmarc]

103. Yeah I'll get right on that (waiting for hell to freeze over)

[Q3JR4]

104. Ok.

Q3JR4.
_{Doesn't own a car and commutes by bicycle, so really shouldn't be included in kudos going to anyone agreeing to substantial changes in locomotion, but there it is anyway.}

[Stinky The Clown]

105. You think everybody lives in youor hood, right there on the bus line?

Some of us live so far out we have to truck in sunshine.

Must be nice to live in the orderly, monolithic world that makes people out up these one size fits all posts.

[S n o w b a l l]

107. Those of you asking constantly that we give up our cars.....

do you ever consider that a good majority of the workforce in this country is in sales & service? Sorry, I'm one of those and it would be impossible to not drive my car unless my boss gave me permission to take a month leave of absence.

[BoWanZi]

110. Its not the commute to work, its everything else that is the problem

I could take the bus to work (when I had a job, LOL) but that isn't the problem. Its doing other things like on weekends and evenings when my wife and I want to do things that can't be done easily on a bus such as going to get groceries or stuff for doing work around the house and so on.

[Catshrink]

111. Sorry - I have to work for a living and there's no public transportation

to my job - and it's 27 miles from home.

[SeattleGirl]

114. I can't do that; having a car is a requirement of my job.

However, I do work from home several days a week, when I don't have appointments, so that cuts down my overall driving.

[sarge43]

116. The nearest store is ten miles away.

My doctor is 15. Dentist 25. There is no local bus service in this area; only private taxi and it's hideously expensive.

Please don't say bike. I'm 67 and have degenerative arthritis. Even if I physically could use a bike, I certainly wouldn't do so on New England rural roads and couldn't do so in the five months of killer winters we have here.

I do as much of my shopping on line as I can, but sometimes I gotta be there in person.

Simply put, if a safe, inexpensive alternative to a private car were available, I'd use it.

[Xenotime]

119. I think this is a good idea. Amazing the number of people so quick to say, "No way"

[KonaKane]

120. Perhaps because feeding, clothing and housing onesself is more important

than making a point by ditching your vehicle. Just a thought.

[county worker]

121. Some folks have a convenient substitute for driving, most do not.

Those who have convenient substitutes do OPs like this one to tell us of that fact. Then others who also can conveniently substitute driving throw reason out the window and make silly replies to the OP.

[Phentex]

127. You are amazed by reality?

That's even more amazing!

I think some people are quick because the "choice" really isn't there.

[Xenotime]

128. Maybe there is and they just haven't "thought" about it.

What ever happen to doing something for the greater good and not being so selfish?

[Phentex]

130. Yeah, if we all just think a little harder!

We can figure out how to

1. carry furniture on a bicycle
2. walk 45 miles each way to work AND get there on time
3. think away joint pain, use of one leg, other physical issues
4. give up working for the greater good
5. become a stay at home plumber!
6. move to a place with mass transportation; live in a commune
7. do. you. get. it. yet?

[Webster Green]

143. Amazing isn't it? We're friggin' selfish.

I'm a chimney sweep in CA wine country. I do six to eight a day in the busy season. I have ladders, bruhes, drop clothes, and a shit load of other tools and supplies. It's not uncommon that I drive 200-300 miles in a day.

Maybe I can get a carbon credit for bringing folks good luck when they shake my hand. In parts of Great Britain it is considered lucky for a bride to see a chimney sweep on her wedding day. Many modern British sweeps hire themselves out to attend weddings in pursuance of this tradition. It is also considered good luck to shake hands with a chimney sweep or to be blown a kiss by one, but the origin of these traditions are unknown. :smoke:

[KonaKane]

146. Yes, let me try and THINK all these bills into being paid....

That should work.

[uppityperson]

166. Do you seriously believe people haven't "thought" about not driving?

Do you seriously believe using scare quotes around they just haven't "thought" about it and insulting others will help anyone?

I am sooooooooooooooo selfish that I don't want to give up an iota of ease, no matter what the impact on the planet.

Are you seriously saying this is how Duers are?

[Webster Green]

134. Um, it's a no brainer.

I don't think I'll quit my job and go homeless over a msg board suggestion that I lose the vehicle for a month. :crazy:

[sarge43]

135. Amazing that some of us say "no way".

I spend a bit under $30 a month on gas.

As noted my dentist is 35 miles away and no, there's none I'd go to any closer.

I'm getting a tooth capped in August; that means two visits to the man with the Novocain. The only, repeat, only alternative to private automobile available is a private taxi service. The charge is $3.00 a mile; that adds up to over $400 to travel 35 miles four times.

You want to pay that for me?

Pardon the sarcasm, but I'm amazed that some people still think one size fits all.

[aikoaiko]

160. Do you think we haven't considered this already?

Do you think the OP has presented a novel idea to anyone?

If not, then maybe that's why people are quick to answer.

[cottonseed]

122. I'll keep it under 400 miles.

I've got a vacation planned. Other than that, I probably don't log more than 100 miles per month. I'm urban right now, so it's sort of cheating. However, because I'm urban, I can do it and will.

[laughingliberal]

126. Sorry. We're in the business of restoring and finishing furniture.

I'm not going to pick up and deliver an 18th century china cabinet on a bicycle.

I'm sick of the smugness that suggests we all have a life that can just change at the drop of a hat or an inane post about it.

[liberalhistorian]

131. I'm sorry, but that just isn't realistic

for those of us who live in rural areas with no public transportation. We MUST use cars, we have no choice. You DO realize that there are many such areas in existence, right?

[BOG PERSON]

133. X

[zappaman]

136. no

n/t

[jillan]

138. It's 110* around here with very little public transportation.

Unfortunately we don't have many options around here.

[XemaSab]

139. If I leave Redding at 2:21 AM I can be in Sacramento by 6:15 AM

then for the return trip I can leave Sac at 11:59 PM and be back in Redding by 3:14 AM.

Sure, that sounds totally reasonable.

And I only have to pay for car rental for three days and the $92 for the train fare, instead of the $45 it costs in gas to drive my car there.

Oh wait, sorry, I suppose I would have to take the bus around Sac when I'm there instead of renting a car. x(

[ecstatic]

141. Doesn't look like this nation will be weaning itself off oil anytime soon...

:shrug:

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

154. If the government commits to doing it I think we can...

There's no way it will happen otherwise.

[Codeine]

149. Cars are fantastic.

That's why just about everyone in the world wants one.

[CreekDog]

153. That would substantially change my life for the worse

and severely limit my physical contact with people in my family, my friends and people I work with.

i understand the intention, but i simply cannot maintain what is already too lacking a social life without at least occasional access to my car.

and nevermind that i couldn't get to doctor appointments, etc.

i have gone without my car for a week and this is what it amounted to:

leaving early for work, arriving home very late, to late to run other errands.

seeing nobody i know after work and not being able to get to where i could meet them.

not doing that again. happy to take public transportation frequently, even daily, but giving up the car for an entire month?

no.

[handmade34]

155. how 'bout we challenge

each other to seriously consider all that we consume that is unnecessary...

bottled beverages
excessive meat
plastic shopping bags
excessive packaging
etc...

and how 'bout we challenge each other to help our friends and neighbors conserve as much as possible

driving a car is something often not easy to give up completely but we all can do something

[MineralMan]

156. That's very nice. You don't own a car. For most people, that is not

an option. I don't own an iPad or any sort of smart phone, either. So, my wife and I'll keep putting a couple thousand miles a year on our cars. That is, if you don't mind.

Life is reality, not fantasy. I'm glad you can do without a car. Good for you.

[lukasahero]

157. How about just asking people to do what they can?

Before you lay into how I'm just making excuses - I bike to work. I'm lucky because I can. It's 11 miles each way.

That said, there is no public transport out here to spend my time surfing my iPad on the bus. It's time spent specifically commuting - not getting other things done. Not everyone has two hours a day to do that... When I worked in the city, I took public transport and am a huge advocate.

HOWEVER, these posts that suggest everyone should do what you do (implied: because you're so great and all) don't take into account that not everyone has the same situation.

It would be far more productive if people DID WHAT THEY CAN and were encouraged to do so rather than discouraged that they can't do enough to satisfy some so they do nothing at all.

[MineralMan]

159. I challenge you to swap places with those people on the thread

who don't have the option of public transportation. Then, they can do without a car, and you can drive theirs.

Life's not so simple.

[revolution breeze]

162. I wish I could

But I am an auditor and travel to as many as 12 business in a 100 mile radius during the day and we have no transportation system. I do try to plan my trips in the city so I can park my car and walk from one business to the next, but not always feasible when you have ten minutes to get ten blocks (I hate production quotas).

[guitar man]

163. It's a deal

I will park the car for the month and travel only by bike.











:evilgrin:
:evilgrin::evilgrin:

[Texasgal]

164. Can I come crash on your couch?

You can pay my morgage and bills for a month... whadya say?

[pitohui]

165. incredibly stupid and unsafe thing for a louisiana resident to do

any healthy adult who has the ability to do so, has the responsibility, to maintain a safe automobile that they can use to drive to safety in the event of a hurricane evacuation

most of the people who died in hurricane katrina fell into two classes -- those who were too old to drive (two of my friends died because they were in their 90s and no longer wanted to drive long distances) or because they were too poor to drive

to give up your car in august or september to please an invisible man on the internet who doesn't live in the real world...simply irresponsible beyond belief

how people will die this august and september because they don't own cars, right now, we have no way of knowing but we do know that gray and others predict an active storm season

your mobility is precious and valuable, time and age will steal it soon enough, don't let it be stolen by guilt-trippers who won't shed one tear if you die in a storm

i would challenge the OP to look into himself and ask why he is proposing something this stupid and dangerous which is GUARANTEED to kill people during that particular month -- yes, i realize that sometimes people who live in their head are merely ignorant, but to be ignorant of when hurricanes happen this time of century, seems irresponsible in the extreme

[SnakeEyes]

167. This thread is exactly why we need real change

The urban sprawl and inefficiently organized cities along with their resources are raping the planet, forcing people into lifestyle behaviors and choices that are all unnecessary, and impacting all people who aren't rich. Progressive city planning and reorganization makes so much sense. Detroit is the eventual endgame of the disaster of unbridled capitalism. However, the urban renewal and downsizing of Detroit and it's inefficient and vacant areas will also be the model for the future.

[Bonobo]

168. I gave mine up last January. We have no cars.

We are a family if five and we own just one 50 cc scooter.

How's that for low fuel consumption?

[catnhatnh]

169. What a bunch of bullshit!

As one of less than 10% of the population with semi-adequate public transportation you challenge the balance of the board??? iPads and mobile technology, just like the majority of the board users can afford that and the wi-fi is there and we are just sucking down gas and wasting time because we can??? What supercilious, self-righteous tripe.I challenge you to pull your head out and get real. Also drop your smug feeling of superiority. You want to impress me move to a rural area and repeat the 10 years without a car.

[pipi_k]

171. You would probably get a better response by changing the title

to something like "I challenge everybody on DU who CAN get along without a car to go without...blah blah blah".

Because, as you can see, not everyone can.

And people feel guilty if they can't, even if they have nothing to feel guilty about. And they tend to get a tad bit snippy as a result. Why not skip all that and speak to the people who CAN change their lifestyles?

Also, and I thought it was a very good suggestion given a few times above...challenge people to perhaps cut down on consumption of oil products.

I'm sure lots of people have, or would be willing, to do that.

I live in a rural area. Whenever there's anything we need to do in the big city, we try to consolidate it all into one trip. We keep the freezer in the barn full, as well as the one in the house. Stock up on canned goods and whatever else lasts longer than a few days. We even order stuff online, and it's brought to the house by UPS or USPS, who are out here all the time anyway.

People generally don't mind being asked to try doing what they can.

They don't like being shamed into living someone else's lifestyle or feeling like they have to defend their own.

[LoZoccolo]

177. That's the interesting thing about this thread, though.

People are feeling ashamed and getting defensive about what some (relatively) anonymous person on the Internet posted, when they could have easily walked away and I would have never known they ignored the post. If people would have done that for about the first half-hour that this tread appeared, it would have sunk onto page two and by that time, only a few of my regular hecklers (who I suspect search for my posts) might have responded to it. I post threads asking what people are doing for the next election and they sink, but for some reason this one has over a hundred responses! I know some people characterize me as a troll (I'm not a conservative or a Republican though), but I seriously thought maybe twenty people or so would be like "you know I ought to check that out, this sounds fun" and the rest would have left it alone. I figured that people would take it as a challenge in the same way sudoku is a challenge. Or an adventure or just an opportunity to get themselves out of a rut and see things differently. I didn't expect this, and it is very, very interesting.

[Saboburns]

180. Stay off the internet in August

Matter of fact switch off all your electricity.

Same concept.

Then get back to me.

[pipi_k]

182. Which leads me to repeat...

that if someone...even an anonymous someone...on a message board issues a challenge to ALL members of that message board, then it's not impossible to imagine that some of those members will feel a little guilty and get defensive.

I don't mean to be snarky or anything, but really, I would think that only someone of limited intelligence (a category I do not believe applies to you) would not know that.

You say you find it "interesting"...but are you surprised? I think not. Which makes me believe that your intent may well have been to ruffle a few feathers for whatever purpose.

[LoZoccolo]

183. Well, it /was/ a challenge.

No one has to accept it, of course. I wanted people to think about this issue a little bit more than they normally do, not to dismiss it outright. They are already comfortable with the way that they do things now, and think that it has to be that way. I want people to be unsure of that for just a little while before they are sure of it again.

To give a popular example: I know of no case where diabetics were defensive and ashamed for not being able to accept the Pepsi Challenge.

[pipi_k]

191. There's a big difference

Nobody singled out diabetics as a target group in the Pepsi challenge.

Whereas here in this thread, all DU members are being challenged to change their very lifestyles, even if only for one month.


And it comes about on the heels of a tragic and emotional issue, the Gulf oil leak. People already feel shitty about it. They may already subconsciously feel like they contribute(d) in some way to such things. I don't see why it's necessary to twist the knife even more by suggesting they just aren't doing enough.


A simple change in the title, "A challenge to DU members who CAN..." would likely have forestalled a lot of animosity.

[GReedDiamond]

173. I'm in the Los Angeles area, with NOT the best public transit...

...especially when transporting large/bulky musical equipment or whatever.

What I HAVE done is move to within one block of almost everything I need, on a day-to-day basis: grocery stores and other shops/boutiques, restaurants of all kinds, a clean/affordable/big screen first-run movie theater, two farmer's markets each week, and a weekly street festival with vendors, live bands/performers, street food, etc. Also, most of the businesses and shops are locally owned, with not so many "Big C" corporate chains represented, so, when I spend money, it's staying pretty much right here in the community, not going to WalMart, or to some soulless, foreign-owned transnational corporation.

Second, I purchased a small electric scooter (8 cents to charge the batteries for a 20-30 mile range) for as much local commuting beyond my immediate neighborhood that I can do with it. The scooter is legally classified as an electric bicycle, so it does not require license/registration/insurance, although I am heavily insured, nonetheless.

So, instead of not using my gas-powered car for just one month, I am taking long-term action to cut down permanently on its use. I hope that counts for something.

[Generic Brad]

174. That would mean I would have to cancel my vacation

Won't do it.

[MicaelS]

175. Sorry, no...

I work nights, and the bus does not run at night to my job. And no, I'm going to days.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

176. How will I take my summer vacation to Nova Scotia?

[Saboburns]

178. Or maybe you can stay off the internet for the month of August.

I don't necessarily mean to be snarky but this topic comes up regularly here. It sounds wonderful, and it helps some to think their making a difference by suggesting it. It would be great to not have to use my car for a month. I wish I didn't have to use a car period.

But for most of us it's impossible. Not just a hardship. But IMPOSSIBLE. As in ruining my life, my family's life, our entire future.

I wish I could.

However it's not going to happen, and i won't apologize for it.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

179. i challenge our government to give us the clean energy source to run our cars

that we've been askng for for 40 years.

[Raineyb]

184. Of course you'll be chronicling your car-free adventures with pictures

so we can verify that you've actually given up your car right?

I didn't think so.

[LoZoccolo]

185. If I did that, I'd prefer to establish some "acceptance criteria" beforehand.

I wouldn't want to take a month's worth of pictures and have someone go "I still don't believe you".

Maybe I could do something where whenever I'm at a bus stop, I take a picture of a nearby newspaper box if there's one on that corner or something, so you'd have some date information based on what's on the front page of the newspaper, along with some GPS coordinates. I'm wondering how we'd handle some long stretches where I'm at one place for a long time, though; even if I went outside and took a picture of the building I'm in every hour, I could just cheat and take five pictures at once and drive around for five hours.

[stuntcat]

186. OK :D

I can't drive anyway hehe Luckily I'm in a city where ANYthing I need is less than 3 miles away.

[Roon]

190. I take the bus everywhere I go

except when I am driving my Grandparents to their appointments. I have a good thing though when it comes to usimg public transportation...I like it! :-)

[lumberjack_jeff]

193. Okay. Which one?

The fleet has several spares.

[alarimer]

194. No fucking way.

One, I am not ever giving up my car until we have reliable public transportation (which we never will in this crap town- it takes hours to get anywhere by bus).

Two, I work erratic and unusual hours so the bus is not an option.

Three, I am not riding my bike to work when it is 100 fucking degrees out.