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.