Americans Love Their Cars Half as Much as They did a Decade Ago

[randya]

See the report here:

http://pewresearch.org/social/pack.php?PackID=16

[kb0tnv]

They are starting to wake up from their car induced coma! Some of them are even riding bikes now!

Viva la velo!

Keep Cycling!

[trackhub]

Not that surprising though. Still, I think there's a large segment out there who would rather die of some nasty disease then give up their SUV's.

[genec]

Speaking of disease and SUVs... The wheels are falling off of H2s.

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/10515

Engineers at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration are studying how a part called a steering knuckle fractured or failed in the incidents, causing H2 suspensions to collapse or their wheels to separate.

General Motors denies there is a safety problem with the metal part, which holds the steering arms in place near the front tires. It says that knuckle-related collapses and wheel-separation incidents are a consequence _ not a cause _ of H2 crashes and collisions.

Don't bump a curb with your H2... it might just die on the spot... LOL

[sbhikes]

Maybe Serge should take a look at this chart and then tell us there are no bad drivers and that nothing could be done to make people drive better.
http://pewresearch.org/assets/social/148-interior.gif

[Jerseysbest]

THat 6% who fell asleep is pretty scary... And reading a book?? C'mon...

[John E]

Thanks for the thread, Randya. As traffic congestion worsens and the cost of motoring continues to rise, more people evidently see the fallacy of equating private automobile travel with freedom. I have no near-term plans to give up driving, but I have long felt that it is my bicycle that gives me true freedom of mobility.

[closetbiker]

THat 6% who fell asleep is pretty scary... And reading a book?? C'mon...

About a third of traffic fatalities are the result of sleeping drivers and AAA found in a study that, "reaching and leaning" was the most frequent distraction while driving, engaged in by 97 percent of test subjects. "Manipulating audio controls" came second with 91 percent, followed by "eating/drinking" with 71 percent. 50% groom themselves while driving, 40% read books or newspapers and/or wrote things down while driving, while only 30% used cell phones. (the study was done a couple of years ago and maybe cell phones use has grown)

[closetbiker]

Thanks for the thread, Randya. As traffic congestion worsens and the cost of motoring continues to rise, more people evidently see the fallacy of equating private automobile travel with freedom. I have no near-term plans to give up driving, but I have long felt that it is my bicycle that gives me true freedom of mobility.

Over the 21 years of commuting to work on my bike, I've always felt that driving in will only get worse while riding a bike will stay the same. It has.

Co-workers commutes have become longer and there are more late arrivals because of trafic problems, yet I'm never late and always feel good once I get in.

[bike2math]

THat 6% who fell asleep is pretty scary... And reading a book?? C'mon...
Jeepers! Reading a book!?! How does that idea even occur to someone?

[Treespeed]

They make like their cars 1/2 has much, but I better they are driving twice as much. There certainly aren't twice as many people riding that is for sure.

[closetbiker]

this link based it's information on a Pew Research Center telephone survey whereas the AAA study was based on a month of observation by cameras in test subjects cars.

I'd think the 6% of drivers admitting to sleep, 6% admitting to read or the 16% admitting to groom themselves is low. The AAA study is probably more accurate.

6% reading? More like, 40% read books or newspapers and/or write things down while driving

[cyclezealot]

Because of suburban sprawl and housing patterns, Americans can never give up their cars. There is not alternative. Even if they have to get a loan to pay for their gasoline .

[chipcom]

Maybe Serge should take a look at this chart and then tell us there are no bad drivers and that nothing could be done to make people drive better.
http://pewresearch.org/assets/social/148-interior.gif

WTF is wrong with singing out loud in the car? It keeps the coyotes away! :D

[Treespeed]

WTF is wrong with singing out loud in the car? It keeps the coyotes away! :D

+1

[Brian Ratliff]

WTF is wrong with singing out loud in the car? It keeps the coyotes away! :D

It can also help with the sleep thing too. I sing on my bike sometimes. Does this make me a menence on two wheels?

[genec]

It can also help with the sleep thing too. I sing on my bike sometimes. Does this make me a menence on two wheels?

I do it too... I don't think singing is a menace to cycling in any form... :D

[SpokesInMyPoop]

THat 6% who fell asleep is pretty scary... And reading a book?? C'mon...

oh dude... my ex gf used to do her homework while driving to school.

we went to my friend's birthday party once, and she wrote out her entire card on the f'n steering wheel. Of course, I was there to watch out for "traffic". :P No, she didn't want me to drive.

wow... she was such a weirdo! ahahahah

[Treespeed]

It can also help with the sleep thing too. I sing on my bike sometimes. Does this make me a menence on two wheels?

Yes! You have to keep all your senses focused on riding. Cycling is very dangerous and if your singing you will weave and cause the deaths of toddlers crossing the street, small mammals, and bicycling safety advocates attempting to pass your inconsiderate *****.:D

[Brian Ratliff]

The other day I had an odd though triggered by singing on my bike. I can sing in public like this because the streets are totally deserted of real people! There are only cars, and me. Even though there is no metal or glass surrounding me, I still feel caged...

[bbonnn]

Among the still sizable majority who say they like to drive, the biggest reasons offered were the relaxation (21%), the scenery (19%), the freedom (14%) and the ability to get around (12%).


Relaxation? I don't believe it. Unless you're living in Mayberry with beautiful mountains, operating heavy machinery in the proximity of other heavy machinery, each on its own trajectory, is not relaxing to me. But obviously I'm in the minority who don't like to drive.

I wonder how much of that relaxation isn't from the actual driving, but from other things about the car -- your sweet cocoon of music, solitude, climate control, escape from work/family/jerks/etc, anticipating the destination, etc. If so, that would be a good thing -- you don't need a car to have all that. Just a nice man-cave or something.

[ghettocruiser]

I dunno while they're bashing singing either. If the only other thing drivers did while driving was sing, the world would be a surreal utopia.

[banerjek]

Over the 21 years of commuting to work on my bike, I've always felt that driving in will only get worse while riding a bike will stay the same. It has.

I disagree. Driving will only get worse, but cycling always gets better. Although we still experience hostility, I think drivers are significantly nicer to cyclists than they were 20 years ago. Also, the roads are better overall.

Even if that weren't the case, how many cyclists don't have their spirits lifted when riding by a traffic jam? :D

[nm+]

I do it too... I don't think singing is a menace to cycling in any form... :D
Bull. Windows down. For some, thats a crime against humanity.
Windows up is fine, as long as I xcan't hear it.

[genec]

Bull. Windows down. For some, thats a crime against humanity.
Windows up is fine, as long as I xcan't hear it.

Your bike has windows?

[Brian Ratliff]

Your bike has windows?

If so, does that mean it crashes all the time and needs to be rebooted? :D

[genec]

If so, does that mean it crashes all the time and needs to be rebooted? :D

Yeah, mine runs UNIX... but I have to get an IT guy out everytime I want to add air to the tires.

[sbhikes]

I use my car one 60th of what I used to but I like it twice as much. I think that is because I use it for what it was made to do--haul things. It's a pickup truck. I only drive it when I need to haul something. Otherwise, I use the right tool for the job--bicycle or motorscooter to get myself around town or pick up a few things at the store. A road trip feels like a road trip now, not just another chore.

[Treespeed]

I use my car one 60th of what I used to but I like it twice as much. I think that is because I use it for what it was made to do--haul things. It's a pickup truck. I only drive it when I need to haul something. Otherwise, I use the right tool for the job--bicycle or motorscooter to get myself around town or pick up a few things at the store. A road trip feels like a road trip now, not just another chore.

That's the way I feel. I drive so rarely that it always feels like a treat. After cruising at 20 all week I feel like I'm flying when I'm at 55:D

[randya]

^^ +1 both of you. I recently got rid of our second car because all it did was sit parked at the curb most of the time.

[sbhikes]

That's the way I feel. I drive so rarely that it always feels like a treat. After cruising at 20 all week I feel like I'm flying when I'm at 55:D
I've been teased that I drive like somebody who doesn't drive much. I go too slow.

[nm+]

Your bike has windows?
No but that redneck singing "I'm coming out"'s pickup does.
I wonder if they work?

[randya]

I've been teased that I drive like somebody who doesn't drive much. I go too slow.
Me too.

[Sprocket Man]

When I was younger, cars represented a status symbol. Now that I'm a little older and (hopefully) wiser, cars are more like a necessary evil that sucks cash out of my pocket and pollutes the community for all of us. I used to admire people who drove nice cars. Now, I'm just don't care. Owning a car sucks. I haven't cleaned my car in the last 6 months. I wish it were more practical for me not to own one.

[catatonic]

Look at most of the cars today....too much flash, not enough meat. Where are the cars that actually had character to them, and not just some pretty sheet metal?

Horsepower above 150hp is irrelevant for a daily driver....just give us a nice comfortable, and SIMPLE car.

[randya]

When I was younger, cars represented a status symbol. Now that I'm a little older and (hopefully) wiser, cars are more like a necessary evil that sucks cash out of my pocket and pollutes the community for all of us. I used to admire people who drove nice cars. Now, I'm just don't care. Owning a car sucks. I haven't cleaned my car in the last 6 months. I wish it were more practical for me not to own one.
A lot of really wealthy people actually drive sh!t cars. It's the middle class social climbers and other wannabes that seem to feel the need for their car to be a flashy status symbol.