Just Say "No!" to the Chicago Car Show

[randya]

Just Say "No!" to the Chicago Car Show
Bike Mechanics, Street Performers Undermine Auto Industry $15 Billion
Brainwashing Campaign with Car Show Shutdown Festival
http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/media/AutoShow05.html

What? Chicago Car Show SHUTDOWN Festival 2005

When? Saturday, February 12, 12 noon to 4pm, 2005

Where? Hundreds of cyclists will pedal from Daley Plaza at 12noon, arriving 1pm at the north parking lot entrance to McCormick Place, which will serve as the main Festival grounds.

What? A peaceful Shutdown Festival utilizing: big puppets, mobile TVs, religious revival and the unveiling of the "Vehicles of Tomorrow!"

Hundreds of performance artists and bike builders will pedal from Daley Plaza on Saturday, February 12, at 12 noon to the Auto Show Entrance at McCormick Place to carry out a peaceful Car Show Shutdown Festival.

The Car Show Shutdown festivities will include:
- Unveiling and test driving of sporty, safe and super-efficient vehicles of tomorrow.
- A live performance by the Chicago Car Alarm Symphony.
- Levitation and exorcism of McCormick Place by a pastor from Church of Christ Without Cars.
- Oversized Puppet Parade depicting auto industry titans.

Each year, more than 200 Chicagoans die in automobile crashes and nearly 15,000 are maimed and injured, according to Chicago Police Department statistics. To convince us to buy their dangerous and expensive products, car companies spend over $15 billion annually on advertising, the most of any industry in the United States. Part of this huge advertising budget includes the Chicago 2005 Auto Show.

Car dependency negatively impacts us all in numerous ways. Chicago's children suffer asthma hospitalization rates twice the national average, according to the American Lung Association, as automobile emissions continue to be the major contributor to our city's poor air quality. Chicago families spend two to three times as much on transportation as their European counterparts due to the high costs of car ownership. Forty percent of Chicago's land area is wasted on asphalt to accommodate cars. Drivers waste millions of hours stuck in traffic gridlock each year.

"It's time to hold the auto industry accountable for their role in thousands of needless deaths and injuries in Chicago," said Becki Retzlaff, a festival organizer. "It's time to shut down the Chicago Auto Show!"

In conjunction with the Car Show Shutdown festivities, anti-auto artists will be celebrating the opening of the 8th Annual Critical Mass Art Show the night before the shutdown, Friday, Feb. 11, 6pm, at High School Gallery, 1542 N.Milwaukee 3rd floor. For more information on the Car Show Shutdown Festival and the Critical Mass Art Show see www.ChicagoCriticalMass.org or call Dan Korn at 312-505-9307.

[ofofhy]

Yeah, the Philly auto show is here this week. They have their own critical mass. A critical mass of cars and peds such that the only way around the convention center is by bike. I watched three light changes and only two cars passed through while I was in the corner convenience store.

[dobber]

Tilting at windmills again? Your misguided attempts to eliminate the automobile are about as effective as GW's search for WMD.

[operator]

How about NO.

[skookum]

Can you imagine if pro-car zealots sought to shut down a big bicycle show?

[Guest]

*sigh*

It's not like it's all SUVs and Hummers. They are featuring smaller cars and electric cars and hybrid cars too.

You could easily protest by not attending. That's what I'm doing.

Koffee

[FXjohn]

Oh brother....there are going to be hybrids and Smart Cars there....what a luddite.

[Mayonnaise]

Car culture alternative peddled
Protesters celebrate `the joy of the bicycle' outside auto show

By Lolly Bowean
Tribune staff reporter
Published February 13, 2005


As a stream of Chicago Auto Show visitors strolled past, David O'Donnell stood outside McCormick Place on Saturday touting the environmentally friendly attributes of his transportation mode of choice: his bicycle.

"This vehicle is powered by nothing but pancakes," he said. "It's powered by nothing but chocolate chip cookies and water."

Carrying flags, signs, bullhorns and even pets, dozens of Chicago bicycle enthusiasts pedaled to McCormick Place on Saturday to protest the annual showcase of new and prototype vehicles.

The friendly and sometimes humorous protest focused on alternative transportation and respect for bicyclists on the road.

"We are taking our bikes to the car show to introduce people to the joy of the bicycle," said Michael Burton, one of the protest's organizers. "If we can convert just one person from a car to a bike-centered lifestyle, we are successful."

The protests, begun six years ago, are aimed not only at raising environmental concerns, but also at raising safety issues, which Burton said is downplayed by the industry.

The cyclists started their protest with a rally at Daley Center. They then rode together to the auto show, many with their right pant legs cuffed, taped or stuffed into their socks to keep them from getting caught in the chains.

Some taped signs to their bicycles, including one that read, "Sexy legs are better than sexy cars." Others shouted from bullhorns or imitated car horns.

They passed out fliers, played recordings of noisy car alarms and horns, and offered passersby the chance to ride their bicycles.

Daniel Korn was dropping off family members at the auto show five years ago when he saw the cyclists' protest and decided they were on to something. Since then, he's been protesting the auto show himself.

"Automobile dependency is no accident," he said. "A lot of people have come to depend on automobiles and they don't like it. They don't like sitting in traffic or having to chauffeur their kids around. There is another way."

[vincenzosi]

Anti-car zealots scare me. It's one thing to want more responsible drivers. It's completely another to protest the mere existence of cars.

I guess things are pretty good in the world when nobody can find anything more worthy of a protest than a car show.

[chicharron]

well, the point was made that the Car Show will contain displays of hybrids, Smart Cars, and energy efficiant vehilces. Good point. However if the anti car ludites can promote discussion and some theatre, I guess that thier efforst are worth it, even for entertainment value.

[Dahon.Steve]

Each year, more than 200 Chicagoans die in automobile crashes and nearly 15,000 are maimed and injured, according to Chicago Police Department statistics. To convince us to buy their dangerous and expensive products, car companies spend over $15 billion annually on advertising, the most of any industry in the United States. Part of this huge advertising budget includes the Chicago 2005 Auto Show.


OH MAN! There was a horrible accident yesterday in New York city where a a witness said a woman's face was torn off her head as an out of control motor car ran over several people. It's incredible how motorist drive in Chicago and New York City. Because the traffic is so horrendous, you have to hit the gas peddal hard just to get any where. But when these same cars lose control, the results can be horrific!

[bkrownd]

It's not like it's all SUVs and Hummers. They are featuring smaller cars and electric cars and hybrid cars too.


It's not the car, but how it's used. I do most of my driving in large SUVs because our work site is on a 4WD dirt road with potentially hazardous weather conditions, and we need the hauling capacity. So do not be making nasty stink-eye at my big Jeep.

[Rowan]

Oddly, I find the most aggressive drivers of the lot are tradespeople driving SUVs and mini-vans who seem to be on a timed mission to get from one place to another without a concern for whomever they terrorise... usually they reserve *their* stinky eye for cyclists.

[Guest]

It's not the car, but how it's used. I do most of my driving in large SUVs because our work site is on a 4WD dirt road with potentially hazardous weather conditions, and we need the hauling capacity. So do not be making nasty stink-eye at my big Jeep.


I'm personally not making an assertion about SUVs or not. I'm just stating the obvious about THAT show. There are other cars being feautured there besides SUVs. That deserves mentioning.

Koffee

[Gardener]

I remember growing up in the country, all surrounded by gravel roads and cornfields. Most pick-up trucks that were actually used to carry stuff was relatively few, and those that were were the rusty beaters. Furthermore, as a practical observation, pick-up trucks were infamous for getting stuck in the snow. A front wheel drive compact car is of more use. Our neighbors regularly used their station wagon to pull stuck pick up trucks out.

here in the city are an abundance of suvs, yet very little reason for 4wd. During this past snow, I observed several SUV drivers spinning their rear wheels- apparently not knowing to turn on the four wheel drive.

To continue my diatribe, if you want to carry stuff, a van is the way to go- it will protect your valuables from rain/snow and allow you to carry more passengers w/o giving them pneumonia.

That's great people showed up on their bikes to make a presence. That is a good way to let people going to the auto show know that there is another way. I wouldn't just expect SUV-wanters to care too much, though. Logically, SUVs make little sense- it is largely an ego thing, be it an inferiority complex or superiority complex. I suppose a lot of insecure people have also been duped by advertising and salescrooks.

As to the other cars being featured at the car show, like the hybrids and electric ones, that's great! or rather, less evil. Just like bikes are an even less evil. On a hard line, they are all on the unsustainable end of things. SUVs extremely so. Bicycles much less so.

Having been to the auto show several times as a youth, I observed that most people who went were not interested in the 'woosy' cars. They were interested in the penis-replacement that they represent- hence the SUVs and 'fast cars'. Isn't it irresponsible of car manufacturers to be producing cars that go 120 mph when the max speed limit is 75mph in michigan and usually about 55 mph?

To conclude: I wished folks would be honest with themselves about cars rather than making excuses and living in the states of denial that we do.

[Gardener]

"Anti-car zealots scare me. It's one thing to want more responsible drivers. It's completely another to protest the mere existence of cars.

I guess things are pretty good in the world when nobody can find anything more worthy of a protest than a car show."

Killing Iraqis for their oil scare me as much as reading about how the rain forests are being mowed down so McDonalds can sell greaseburgers. Can someone refresh us on what happened to all those American Bison?

Point? Cars burn oil that kills people and our planet. Kudos to those that confront this basic truth instead of hiding behind yellow ribbon magnets made in china and bought off ebay.

[nick burns]

Automobiles are also the single most inefficient method energy-wise for transporting a human body from point a to point b. Convenience is the main cause that sustains its use and popularity.

[FXjohn]

Automobiles are also the single most inefficient method energy-wise for transporting a human body from point a to point b. Convenience is the main cause that sustains its use and popularity.

Really? worse than a jet airliner, or any airplane?

[vincenzosi]

Isn't it irresponsible of car manufacturers to be producing cars that go 120 mph when the max speed limit is 75mph in michigan and usually about 55 mph?

You're kidding right? You aren't seriously asking that question. I must be seing things. I give you more credit than having a basal comprehension of speed and that a car that can go that fast does perform better even on the low end of the speedometer. Of course cars with more powerful engines can go faster, doesn't mean people drive them faster!

It's amazing how many anti-car-nazis there are on here. Get over it already. Some people like to drive cars.

I wish all you damn "conspicuous consumption" folks would open up on the guy using a $3000 Litespeed to ride to Starbucks. Oh wait, that $3000 Litespeed is a beautiful bike, not overconsumption.

Sorry. A lot of you are just way too damned self-important for your own good.

[nick burns]

Really? worse than a jet airliner, or any airplane?

Based on U.S. Department of Energy data, the American Public Transit Association (APTA) estimates fuel efficiency of transit compared to the average commuter auto to be:

A bus with as few as seven passengers is more fuel-efficient than the average single-occupant auto used for commuting.

The fuel efficiency of a fully-occupied bus is 6 times greater than that of the average single-occupant auto.

The fuel efficiency of a full-occupied train car is 15 times greater than that of the average commuter's single-occupant auto.


Buses use 8.7% less energy per passenger mile than a typical automobile.

Commuter trains use 23.7% less energy per passenger mile than a typical automobile.

Airlines consume about four times as much energy per passenger mile as passenger trains.

[FXjohn]

Based on U.S. Department of Energy data, the American Public Transit Association (APTA) estimates fuel efficiency of transit compared to the average commuter auto to be:

A bus with as few as seven passengers is more fuel-efficient than the average single-occupant auto used for commuting.

.

Does that consider the cost of paying a bus driver, wages, health benefits and retirement?
Almot forgot aboyut the wages of the maintenance crew also, and the dedicated fuel storage, etc etc.
There's more to it than gallons divided by people per mile.

[nick burns]

Does that consider the cost of paying a bus driver, wages, health benefits and retirement?

I assume it is strictly mechanical efficiency, which was the basis of my original post. I am not making any social/economical cost implications.

Now that would be a mammoth study.

[FXjohn]

I assume it is strictly mechanical efficiency, which was the basis of my original post. I am not making any social/economical cost implications.

Now that would be a mammoth study.


It would make sense though, when you say "cost".
A person that drives themselves is not paying anyone.
Also what is the freedom of going wherever you want, when you want, worth?

[nick burns]

It would make sense though, when you say "cost".
A person that drives themselves is not paying anyone.
Also what is the freedom of going wherever you want, when you want, worth?

It would be quite interesting. I suspect it would also be a minefield of mis-information. Perhaps a bit difficult to quantify as well. For example, if you are considering bus driver wages, are they not paid in part by the passenger's fare (I'm assuming, of course. I'm no economist)? Would you then have to also consider costs involved in operating & maintaining a personal automobile?

And yes, I agree, freedom of going wherever you want, when you want is quite nice. I'm glad my bicycle can provide me that 90% (estimate) of the time. I also use public transportation a few times a month.

My 9 year old car sits unused in the driveway most of the time. I actually dislike using it at all and suspect at some point in my near future I'll be completely car-free.

I'm not telling anyone to get rid of their cars. But it sure would be nice to see less of them on the road. An awful lot of people get injured & killed by them.

[FXjohn]

It would be quite interesting. I suspect it would also be a minefield of mis-information. Perhaps a bit difficult to quantify as well. For example, if you are considering bus driver wages, are they not paid in part by the passenger's fare (I'm assuming, of course. I'm no economist)? Would you then have to also consider costs involved in operating & maintaining a personal automobile?

.

Then you enter in a range of costs. Take for example my paid off toyota that cost me 700 dollars.
I pay insurance 600 per year and bought a battery in 2 years.
others may buy a 30,000 dollar vehicle and have substancial costs...no set cost.

[nick burns]

Then you enter in a range of costs. Take for example my paid off toyota that cost me 700 dollars.
I pay insurance 600 per year and bought a battery in 2 years.
others may buy a 30,000 dollar vehicle and have substancial costs...no set cost.

Only my opinion of course, but when ranges are entered into equations, the accuracy of results suffer.

[royalflash]

maybe Randya can`t wipe all cars from the face of the earth (unfortunately). But maybe he can make people start to question our priorities like whether it is everyone`s god given right to pollute and destroy the environment. Maybe make people stop and think for minute about who will be the human car-fodder next week and is it really just down to unforseeable "accidents". I don`t see that as being self important or nazified.

if it doesn`t then at least he tried.

Well done Randya

[SoonerBent]

It's amazing how many anti-car-nazis there are on here. Get over it already. Some people like to drive cars.

I wish all you damn "conspicuous consumption" folks would open up on the guy using a $3000 Litespeed to ride to Starbucks. Oh wait, that $3000 Litespeed is a beautiful bike, not overconsumption.

Sorry. A lot of you are just way too damned self-important for your own good.

Couldn't agree more.

In addition: I don't ride for any other reason but that it's fun. I've built about as many hot rods as I have bikes. I also happen to love my current Avalanche and too-loud Harley and I make enough money to pay for them with gas and insurance plus some chrome or HP goodies every now and then.

SS

[FXjohn]

maybe Randya can`t wipe all cars from the face of the earth (unfortunately). But maybe he can make people start to question our priorities like whether it is everyone`s god given right to pollute and destroy the environment. Maybe make people stop and think for minute about who will be the human car-fodder next week and is it really just down to unforseeable "accidents". I don`t see that as being self important or nazified.

if it doesn`t then at least he tried.

Well done Randya

Are you actually stating that you don't consume and destroy the environment just by existing?
You have no leg to stand on.

[Cycliste]

...don't Yakima and Thules exhibit at these shows ? And Volvo a bike team sponsor ?
Hey, that gives me an idea: what about a transportation show featuring any personal ground transportation vehicule for everyone's need from truck to bike and demonstrating the best solutions from a utilitarian and leisure point of view? Wouldn't that be fun ?

[nick burns]

Are you actually stating that you don't consume and destroy the environment just by existing?
You have no leg to stand on.

I believe the post stated pollute.

Which would be a greater source of pollution?

A. Person commuting by bicycle and/or mass transit.

B. Person commuting by automobile.

Yes, it is a given that the person is already a source of pollution. It is also a given that the automobile is a significant source of pollution that would otherwise not be produced by a human being.
Is it not in the best interest of all to attempt to reduce the amount of pollution from each individual person?

[FXjohn]

I believe the post stated pollute.

Which would be a greater source of pollution?

A. Person commuting by bicycle and/or mass transit.

B. Person commuting by automobile.

Yes, it is a given that the person is already a source of pollution. It is also a given that the automobile is a significant source of pollution that would otherwise not be produced by a human being.
Is it not in the best interest of all to attempt to reduce the amount of pollution from each individual person?

It's not that easy. How does the person derive their income?
What if one person drives to a green house to raise trees, and another bicycles to a car factory?
What if one persona has children and rides a bike, and another has none and drives a car?
One person may consume goods which pollute when they are made and delivered...another may drive and bank most of their money. A vegetarian who drives verses a beef eating cyclist. etc, etc

[randya]

I can always count on FXJohn to defend American car culture. :rolleyes: ;)

I own two of them myself. One's a 22 year old compact truck that I just recently bought my first tank of gas for since last August (~200 elapsed miles). My wife drives the other one about 7000 miles per year.

I think the most important question is: if cars and trucks are really that convenient and great, why does the industry need to spend so damn much on advertising to convince people of their need for a motor vehicle? The truth is that a motor vehicle is as much of an albatross around your neck as it is a convenience and a necessity. Most people could do a lot less driving and manage just fine.

[FXjohn]

I can always count on FXJohn to defend American car culture. :rolleyes: ;)

I own two of them myself. One's a 22 year old compact truck that I just recently bought my first tank of gas for since last August (~200 elapsed miles). My wife drives the other one about 7000 miles per year.

I think the most important question is: if cars and trucks are really that convenient and great, why does the industry need to spend so damn much on advertising to convince people of their need for a motor vehicle? The truth is that a motor vehicle is as much of an albatross around your neck as it is a convenience and a necessity. Most people could do a lot less driving and manage just fine.


I don't have to defend anything to point out the extremist views and gaps in arguments.
There's a lot of things most people could do without and be just fine.
TV, food, lawn mowing and so on.

[nick burns]

It's not that easy. How does the person derive their income?
What if one person drives to a green house to raise trees, and another bicycles to a car factory?
What if one persona has children and rides a bike, and another has none and drives a car?
One person may consume goods which pollute when they are made and delivered...another may drive and bank most of their money. A vegetarian who drives verses a beef eating cyclist. etc, etc

OK, let me simplify it for you. Maybe then you will answer the question.

Which would be a greater source of pollution?

A. Person commuting by bicycle and/or mass transit.

B. Same person commuting to same destination/job by automobile.

[FXjohn]

OK, let me simplify it for you. Maybe then you will answer the question.

Which would be a greater source of pollution?

A. Person commuting by bicycle and/or mass transit.

B. Same person commuting to same destination/job by automobile.

In a perfect world we would be able to find a job that we liked within biking distance and never leave.
In reality we will change jobs many times in a career. Should we buy a new house every time we change jobs just so it's commutable by bike?

[nick burns]

In a perfect world we would be able to find a job that we liked within biking distance and never leave.
In reality we will change jobs many times in a career. Should we buy a new house every time we change jobs just so it's commutable by bike?

I definitely appreciate your tenacity for the argument. I concede the fact that certain circumstances warrant the need for an automobile.
If this makes it any easier for you to answer the question, let's say the person in question does not live under those circumstances and a commute by bicycle and/or mass transit would be feasible. This would certainly be a plausible situation for many people.

[FXjohn]

I definately appreciate your tenacity for the argument. I concede the fact that certain circumstances warrant the need for an automobile.
If this makes it any easier for you to answer the question, let's say the person in question does not live under those circumstances and a commute by bicycle and/or mass transit would be feasible. This would certainly be a plausible situation for many people.


Under those unique, ideal circumstances, I myself would glady bike!

[nick burns]

Under those unique, ideal circumstances, I myself would glady bike!

I wouldn't consider those circumstances exactly unique, but I'll take your answer as the closest thing to a "B" as you can painfully give :rolleyes:

[Dahon.Steve]

Just Say "No!" to the Chicago Car Show
Bike Mechanics, Street Performers Undermine Auto Industry $15 Billion
Brainwashing Campaign with Car Show Shutdown Festival
http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/media/AutoShow05.html


I was thinking the last time I went to the New York Car Show several years ago, the main focus was on producing very expensive vehicles that were unaffordable. It seems like the industry is just out pricing itself with new cars that require several years of savings to purchase. If it were't for the lease options, most of these new cars would not be on the road.

Yet, there leased vehicles are not seen as loans and if they were, billions of consumer debt would be added to the balance sheet of Americans across the nation. Make no doubt about it, a leased vehicle is just like a credit card because that bill comes every single month!

The car show are for people who want to be entertained. If you take it that way, you can get some value out if it.

[vincenzosi]

The car show is more of a showcase of what's in the future. For people to be expecting to see realistic cars at car shows is kinda funny. Oh sure there are some, but most people (myself included) go to the car shows for the wayout overindulgent concept cars, not the next Honda Accord.

I'm sorry, but I'm a tech guy. I love tech, beautiful design, cool curves, innovative features, and so on. For me, the car show is a jumbogigantic playground. I'll never buy those cars. I have no intention of owning one of them, but what difference does it make to anyone on this damn board if I get some enjoyment out of it. You protest it? Bite me jerks.

I'd love to see you all protest Subaru or Volkswagen sponsoring a pro cycling team. Of course, in that case, the pervasive car culture is just fine.

[FXjohn]

The car companies are really only making what people will buy.
If there was a demand for a great little SIMPLE car like an echo
that get almost 50 to the gallon without expensive technology, they would be all over the car lots. The new Toyota Avalon has 280 HP......another gas hog in disguise

[Mars]

The USA has about 4% of the world's population and uses about 1/3 of the world's resources. There are more cars than people in the USA. We have used more fossil fuel in the past 30 years than in all of previous recorded history. There is about an equal amount of aquare miles in parking lots as there are protected forests.

Now, imagine China becoming like us. One billion+ cars and Asia ribboned with highways and parking lots. Think of the global catastrophe that would be. Make no mistake, though, the idea of a billion consumers is the auto industry's wet dream.

The reality is that the car culture is not sustainable or responsible. The excesses of our culture in this area is a disgrace and a slap in the face to every starving child on the planet. We don't need 3 ton SUVs or 180mph sportscars. How can anyone drive one of those things with a clear conscience? Children alive today will likely see and have to live with the devastation this life style is creating.

[Ebbtide]

Drive a car = killing a child?

Weird stuff on BF.net today.

[Mars]

Drive a car = killing a child?

Weird stuff on BF.net today.


?????? I'll say.

[closetbiker]

The car companies are really only making what people will buy.
If there was a demand for a great little SIMPLE car like an echo
that get almost 50 to the gallon without expensive technology, they would be all over the car lots. The new Toyota Avalon has 280 HP......another gas hog in disguise

Hey, I bought an Echo in 2001 (after 9/11) to replace the '84 Chevette I bought in '90 because it was a well made car with great economy. I thought after the attack it wasn't a stretch to see oil prices going up so I was suprised to see SUV's and high performance cars sell so well. I think some smaller cars are starting to be sold in bigger numbers now than 2 years ago.

[FXjohn]

Hey, I bought an Echo in 2001 (after 9/11) to replace the '84 Chevette I bought in '90 because it was a well made car with great economy. I thought after the attack it wasn't a stretch to see oil prices going up so I was suprised to see SUV's and high performance cars sell so well. I think some smaller cars are starting to be sold in bigger numbers now than 2 years ago.

The Echo is being phased out in about another year....

[randya]

The car companies are really only making what people will buy.
The car companies are making and advertising the models that they make the most profit on. Bigger vehicles = bigger profits. I don't see the US auto manufacturers making any effort to build or advertise high quality, fuel efficient, practical, small cars. In other words, the US manufacturers have all but completely abandoned this market segment - they could care less about fuel economy and resource conservation. People are sheep, they buy what they see advertised on TV. It's all rather brainless behavior on the part of 'consumers.'

[FXjohn]

The car companies are making and advertising the models that they make the most profit on. Bigger vehicles = bigger profits. I don't see the US auto manufacturers making any effort to build or advertise high quality, fuel efficient, practical, small cars. In other words, the US manufacturers have all but completely abandoned this market segment - they could care less about fuel economy and resource conservation. People are sheep, they buy what they see advertised on TV. It's all rather brainless behavior on the part of 'consumers.'

Nope. If people were buying Echos in droves, car companies would be making them like crazy.
They are building what people are buying, that's how it works, sir.
Hybrids are the exception, which only prves the rule.

[nick burns]

Maybe I'm not watching the right programs, but I don't recall seeing many commercials for Echos.

I would be interested in viewing any data about car models advertised compared to car models sold.