Let's talk about the environment

[Lairënuriel]

I think a smart car would be great if you were single or part of a childless couple that only used their car in the city.  If you lived in a condo in downtown toronto and used your car for city driving it would be fine, but I tend to agree with you for the most part.

This year we gave up our second car.  I have arranged it so that all of our activities are within a 15 minute walk.  We have zipcar spots just a 10 minute walk away, they're great if you need to run errands.

[Beren One-Hand]

I think a smart car would be great if you were single or part of a childless couple that only used their car in the city.  If you lived in a condo in downtown toronto and used your car for city driving it would be fine, but I tend to agree with you for the most part.

This year we gave up our second car.  I have arranged it so that all of our activities are within a 15 minute walk.  We have zipcar spots just a 10 minute walk away, they're great if you need to run errands.

Good point.  My car is a 2008 Lancer and has a CVT transmission which makes it more economical when it comes to fuel.  It is also a 4-cylinder as well.  My brother has an SUV and he pays a ton for gas.  I remember you telling me about the ZIP car option.  That is a wise choice.   

[Lairënuriel]

Yeah, zip car is good - if you live in a big city where there are lots of zip car parking spots.
I can walk 10 minutes and then borrow a car for 10.50 per hour - if you have a lot of errands to run that's way better than taking a cab, and way faster than walking or taking transit. 

[Beren One-Hand]

I wonder if they have that service in Calgary?  Calgary is a big city by Canadian standards (1 million people).
But is nothing like a major US city or even Toronto for that matter.  I'm just thinking how good something like ZIP Car would be for my wife, who doesn't have a car and always takes the transit.   

[Lairënuriel]

We have zipcar and autoshare - looks like you guys have one too - found this today:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_carsharing_operators#Canada

[Beren One-Hand]

Thanks for that.  I will look into it.   

[chaz]

i'm a little confused, whats a zipcar

[Beren One-Hand]

i'm a little confused, whats a zipcar

Chaz, scroll back to the first page.  I think Lauren explains it there.   

[Diamond]

I personally wish we didn't have to use cars as much as we do. I mean, when you're going a long distance, it's understandable, but sometimes my parents will just be taking a trip to the grocery store to pick up a bunch of bananas or what have you--just a way's down the road from my house! It would take, what, ten minutes to walk? Who needs a car for that, especially when all you're buying is a little bit of fruit? I offer to go for them, but for some reason they never let me...
The thing that gets me most heated up about the environment is recycling. I am constantly seeing people throwing out bottles, newspapers, cans, etc and it drives me crazy! Even my friends and family do it, after I beg them not to. Why? Why?!! Is it really THAT hard to throw your soda bottle in the recycling bin instead of the trash can?? Or will walking five more centimeters over kill you?! God, it makes me so mad.  And how come there are also so many public places without recycling bins? That just encourages people to throw recyclable material out! Hmph.

[Beren One-Hand]

I personally wish we didn't have to use cars as much as we do. I mean, when you're going a long distance, it's understandable, but sometimes my parents will just be taking a trip to the grocery store to pick up a bunch of bananas or what have you--just a way's down the road from my house! It would take, what, ten minutes to walk? Who needs a car for that, especially when all you're buying is a little bit of fruit? I offer to go for them, but for some reason they never let me...
The thing that gets me most heated up about the environment is recycling. I am constantly seeing people throwing out bottles, newspapers, cans, etc and it drives me crazy! Even my friends and family do it, after I beg them not to. Why? Why?!! Is it really THAT hard to throw your soda bottle in the recycling bin instead of the trash can?? Or will walking five more centimeters over kill you?! God, it makes me so mad.  And how come there are also so many public places without recycling bins? That just encourages people to throw recyclable material out! Hmph.

Yeah, Diamond I have some of the same pet peeves, especially about the recycling bit.  What I don't get about throwing out pop/wine/beer bottles, pop/juice/beer cans, juice containers, is that they are returnable for refund.  Refund means money back in your pocket that you already paid.  Even if your not an environmentalist, the money factor should encourage you to at least recyle in this instance.  The other thing that bugs me has to do with the fact that if everyone or even most people, were to recycle their bottles, cans, containers, etc., bottle pickers would be out of business.  For anyone who lives in any kind of a city, these are the guy's who make up some of their living picking through garbage dumpsters looking for bottles.  No bottles, cans in the garbage and two things would happen: 1) recycling=positive effect on the environment; money in the pockets of the recycler; 2) force the bottle pickers to find another method of livelyhood and to be more productive members of society.

[Lairënuriel]

My husband works at a bank and all of that paper they go through is NOT RECYCLED 

[Beren One-Hand]

My husband works at a bank and all of that paper they go through is NOT RECYCLED 

That sucks.  Well someone at the top has to inplement a recycling plan at his company.  Otherwise paper will still end up in the garbage.

[Andúnië]

That sucks.  Well someone at the top has to inplement a recycling plan at his company.  Otherwise paper will still end up in the garbage.

Recycling plans don't work very well unless they're enforced. In some places there are recycling bins everywhere, but people seem to be completely blind to them, instead pitching perfectly recycleable things into the garbage mere inches away. People aren't all that terribly bright sometimes...

[numenorian]

I will say something that George Carlin has said "the planet is just fine,people are f****d".

Sorry, you can't swear 

[Beren One-Hand]

That sucks.  Well someone at the top has to inplement a recycling plan at his company.  Otherwise paper will still end up in the garbage.

Recycling plans don't work very well unless they're enforced. In some places there are recycling bins everywhere, but people seem to be completely blind to them, instead pitching perfectly recycleable things into the garbage mere inches away. People aren't all that terribly bright sometimes...

I don't doubt that at all.  Pretty pathetic.