Originally Posted by
gerv
I would add #9
9. Gives a large number of people a good excuse to walk or bike to work.
I had a discussion yesterday with a colleague about the high price of gas and how it is a good thing and folks should stop driving Hummers. Halfway through the conversation I discovered that my colleague a) owns and drive a Honda Accord to work (which I consider a fairly large car...) and 2) this colleague lives only 1.5 miles from work.
When I pointed out to him that walking would take him all of 30 minutes and that he could now truly claim to be solving rather than adding to the problem, he was sold.
I am amazed how car drivers are so spatially inept. They have no concept of how do-able walking is.
LOL - I've had this experience several times while on vacation, asking for directions to nearby sights or restauraunts. I ask for directions, have to stop the attendant at the motel and say "I want to walk there", only to be greeted with incredulity. I usually end up with a short and pleasant walk.