Okay, this really doesn'y have much to do with cycling, but I know there are others here from Toronto, ON, and I would like to see what others think of the issue.
Currently CN Rail is suffering a strike, and at the same time, Imperial Oil (Esso), suffered a fire at their Nanticoke, ON oil refinery, which has resulted in some gas stations, in Ontario, running out of gasoline.:eek: Of course seeing a station without fuel, has caused drivers to panic, and buy gas whenever they can, and as often as they can, which has resulted in non-Esso stations also running out.
Of course the oil companies have jacked up prices by about 20%, because the weakened supply and increased demand, have allowed them the ability to do so. This has resulted in drivers demanding that the government do something about the lowered supply and increased prices.
The lemmings don't seem to get it, if they didn't drive anywhere, the supply "problem" would go away, in a few weeks when the rail strike is over, and the refinery is back fully online, then things will go back to normal. However what, oh what will they do, when oil supplies on a global basis, start running low, probably the same thing, panic buying, reducing supplies still further!
Makes be kinda glad, I have the option of using the bike, even though I hate to use it, when the roads are so encrusted in salt.....
bragi
02-24-07, 06:51 PM
Check out the car-free forum; there's a lot there that you might find interesting.
scubajim49
02-25-07, 08:38 PM
Back in the late 60'searly 70's gas shortage, gas was high and hard to find while we had a gas station and was told the gas supplier had more gas at the train yard than they knew what to do with it! Go figger!
ghettocruiser
02-25-07, 08:57 PM
Fuel cost remains a minor component of motor vehicle expense.
Unless they're driving something huge, then they have no one to blame but themselves.
Anyways, gas is up, and snow for the Monday morning commute tomorrow. The car stays in the driveway.
tomg
02-25-07, 09:12 PM
it will happen again here. "history repeats itslf", something like that....
i have seen a state license plate that's not real, but one to ad to your bicycle that reads:
" This Vehicle Runs on 100% Renewable Energy " .
they have it at timesup.org , based in NYC.
i guess at times of fuel "crisis" this seed could grow faster!
pj7
02-25-07, 09:57 PM
history repeats itslf
Or rather
"people repeat history"
tomg
02-25-07, 10:23 PM
went to timesup.org...
9in x 12 inch plate actually reads:
BICYCLING
(a quiet statement)
AGAINST
OIL WARS
true too, people do repeat history. they are the ones who made it, right? people have the power to change it, too! check out the website timesup.org !
Wogsterca
02-26-07, 06:49 AM
Or rather
"people repeat history"
There is a saying, I don't remember who originally said it, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it", it looks like something Mark Twain would have come up with, as he has a few other satirical cliches to his credit, like "I would rather be thought a fool, then open my mouth and remove all doubt".
An update, the gas shortage is increasing, as more and more people seem to want to keep the SUV filled to the brim, Petrocan and Canadian Tire stations are also running out..... Me, I don't really care, if I can't get gas, then I'll take the bus, or ride the bike, even though bike riding in this weather, kinda sucks.
GreenGrasshoppr
02-26-07, 07:34 AM
There is a saying, I don't remember who originally said it, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it"
From my own personal observation (apologies to anyone who stated the same thing before me), I think the reason societies keep repeating the same mistakes is that there are never any artists in power, with the imagination to come up with and try something new
nelson249
02-26-07, 07:36 AM
I really haven't noticed any really big supply issues here in Kitchener. The Petro Can service centre on the 401 near Cambridge was rationing fuel on Saturday to a maximum of 75 litres per sale. One station ran out of regular gas and was selling premium at the cost of 87 octane. That being said, I put gas in my car about every three weeks and could take the bus to work if I had to without much difficulty. I am trying to remember the last time the car went on a trip longer than 20km.
joejack951
02-26-07, 07:45 AM
I am trying to remember the last time the car went on a trip longer than 20km.
I'm trying to remember the last time the car went on a trip shorter than 20km :) Unless I have an unreasonably heavy or large object to move (that does sometimes include a passenger who will not bike) or a long distance to travel in a short time, the car stays put.
ghettocruiser
02-26-07, 07:46 AM
Seventy-five litres per fill up is a "ration"?
How many cars even have tanks that big?
Or were people showing up with trailers full of empty fuel drums?
(Those were all rhetorical questions)
sbhikes
02-26-07, 08:12 AM
I didn't realize there was a shortage going on.
One thing's for sure. If there's an election coming up the price of gas is down. Otherwise, if there's anything else happening then the pricing is up.
tomg
02-26-07, 08:20 AM
my $70.00 (usd) 84 month battery has died after 2 years of sitting in my honda civic. i think i put about 2000.0 miles w/the car during that time. i know there is a warrenty on the battery, but really, i think how much $money this car costs me to sit here.
-on the bigger picture, look how owr economies are tied to cars: (gas, oil, roads, taxes, insurances, advertisers, etc) . it's an addiction! to identify the problem (thirst/lust - gasoline/power) can be the first step in recovery!
-my bro-in-law reminded me that there will need to be a larger need (including an enormouse expence) for any significant change to happen (moving away from combustion engines). people generally don't like change, but adaptation = survival!
go out and ride, represent, plant a seed!
JohnBrooking
02-26-07, 08:23 AM
From my own personal observation (apologies to anyone who stated the same thing before me), I think the reason societies keep repeating the same mistakes is that there are never any artists in power, with the imagination to come up with and try something new
But then, could the artists balance the budget? ;) [edit: Then again, can Congress? :D]
(I think I'm allowed to say this, since I'm married to one. Actually, she even does the household finances, and very well too, but I think she would agree on the whole.)
JohnBrooking
02-26-07, 08:26 AM
I noticed the price of gas a few days ago for the first time in a month or two (I fill the family gas tank maybe 2-3 times a year), and it looked higher. Then wife and friends confirmed it was going up, and I heard the same thing on public radio Saturday AM. Hang on, motorists, it's coming again!
+1 on this being is a very typical discussion for the Car-Free forum.
Wogsterca
02-26-07, 08:54 AM
I didn't realize there was a shortage going on.
One thing's for sure. If there's an election coming up the price of gas is down. Otherwise, if there's anything else happening then the pricing is up.
The shortage is in the Province of Ontario, in Canada due to a refinery fire, at Imperial Oil's Nanticoke Refinery that has reduced capacity there by 50%. Of course the lemmings panic about a general shortage, and it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
ghettocruiser
02-26-07, 09:19 AM
+1 on this being is a very typical discussion for the Car-Free forum.
I rode maybe 30 km this weekend and drove like 200. Does that help disqualify it? :D
nelson249
02-26-07, 11:13 AM
Seventy-five litres per fill up is a "ration"?
How many cars even have tanks that big?
Or were people showing up with trailers full of empty fuel drums?
(Those were all rhetorical questions)
That was exactly my question.
Wogsterca
02-26-07, 02:01 PM
That was exactly my question.
Well, big SUVs have bigger tanks, not to pick on GM, but the Cadillac Escalade's tank tops out at 117L, and the Hummer H2 SUT guzzles 121L. By the same token the Pontiac Wave/Chevy Aveo takes 45L, although I think the fuel sipping champ, at least as far as fillups goes is Smart Fortwo at 22L.
The real issue though, is people complain about fuel prices, and fuel shortages, but are not willing to personally do anything about it, like park the car, until the crisis is over..... I think the auto industry is scared though, if 10% of people park their cars, until the crisis is over, some of those people will find the convenience of other travel methods, like taking the bike, or transit, worth leaving the car parked long term. While I am unlikely to bike in this weather (it's snowing and windy today), transit certainly is an option. I used to love the subway, you can get a tremendous amount of reading done on the subway....