A Kludge is a workaround.  It does not address the root cause of a problem, but instead layers on Band-Aids.  These attempts usually lead to additional workarounds which then result in a distressed situation.  This is what we are currently facing with our ever increasing traffic and congestion.

When I was younger, my Dad would use duct tape to fix almost everything.  It would work for a while, but eventually the problem would return and we would go through another round of duct tape.

So while a Prius will save gas, it does not actually reduce traffic.  It is a small fix for an individual, but bigger action is required to tackle the whole problem.  Which is more energy efficient?

•   4 individuals driving smart cars
•   1 SUV with 3 passengers

Don’t give up your current car, just drive it less.  Let me know what you think.

  photo credit: Simon Davison

I started this blog 2 months ago and this is my 50th post.  Who knew I had 49 other things to talk about?  Well I am not sure where this is going to go, but I am finding a passion for the argument of Passenger Energy and hope that I can keep this going for a while.

If you poke around the site to view some of my other ramblings, you will see that there is a mix of posts losely organized under the following 3 categories:

Red - today we are stuck with massive traffic and rising costs associated with transportation

Yellow - current attempts with tremendous potential to cure these problems, but they have high costs and some unresolved issues

Green - couple these proposed improvements with the hopeful possibilities of passenger energy

As you read through the site, please take the time to post your own comments, both good and bad.  I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

photo credit: ➨ Redvers

Hey, watch the road!

Distracted driving is a major contributor to daily automobile crashes in the U.S.  Some studies suggest that distracted driving is becoming as serious as speeding and impaired driving in contributing to accidents.  Adverse road, traffic and weather conditions require a driver’s full attention. 

Many drivers are guilty of using a cell phone, eating, reading and grooming while diverting their attention from the road.  Passenger Energy would allow the driver to fully focus on driving while passengers could engage in other activities.

photo credit: astrocoz

I recently received an email from www.RepowerAmerica.org with the subject “Now What?”.  In the email they talk about the results of the presidential election and how “the American people are calling for  bold change“.  I agree, take a look at their video:

In the same email, they also quote Al Gore:

We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that’s got to change

I believe Passenger Energy could greatly aid this effort through increased conservation.  Hmm, ”increased conservation”, is that an oxymoron?  I’m not sure, but I would like to hear what you think?

Slugging – impromptu ride sharing

Slugging is a combination of ride-share commuting and hitchhiking.  It is believed to have started in the congested Washington, D.C. area as the practice of forming informal or ad-hoc carpools for the daily commute of workers.  The term “slugs” began when bus drivers would attempt to pick-up these riders only to find out they were not waiting for the bus like a “real” passenger. 

• Sluggers get a ride
• Drivers gain access to HOV lanes
• Traffic is reduced
• Environment benefits

This proves that the Passenger Energy concept can work, we just need to develop a more formalized system to allow paid ride sharing to spread.  Any ideas on how to get started?

photo credit: geishaboy500

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day and I found an interesting post at the Daily Breeze which said the following:

The irony of Veterans Day, which we observe today, is that while most government workers get the day off, for our troops on two battle fronts and at bases around the world, it will be business as usual.

This is very true.  Most US citizens are free to go about their daily lives because of the sacrfices of present and past military personnel.  We all need to make a better effort to free ourselves from foreign oil and stop sending money to countries that don’t like us.

If you did not a chance to thank a veteran yesterday, then do it today.  We always need to show our gratitude for the hard working men and women of our armed forces.

photo credit: eagle102.net

Do you ever get that helpless feeling and think to yourself, what can I do to help?  Live Earth gives many suggestions on how we can all help reduce our carbon footprint.  Here are a few:

• Switching to fluorescent light bulbs
• Planting tress in our yard
• Turn off our computers when not in use
• Recycle
• Go solar

These are all wonderful suggestions and everyone should try their best to follow these guidelines.  Unfortunately, it just does not seem like enough and it can be hard to get excited about small savings.  Pay4Rides is everyone’s chance to make a big difference, every day.

What if we could reduce daily gas consumption by 25%?  Without spending any money?  Too good to be true?  Maybe not …

All it would take is a trust in our fellow US citizens.  We trust taxi drivers, why not a stranger?

* These savings are based on just 1 in 4 sharing a ride instead of driving themselves.

photo credit: azrainman

We need to ease the burden on troubled bridges and roads

When the Minnesota bridge crossing the Mississippi River collapsed during an evening rush hour, it caught the Nations attention.  Considering there are over 600,000 bridges in the US, it should serve as a real wakeup call.  Unfortunately there currently are not sufficient funds to perform all the necessary maintenance and repairs to prevent this from happening again.

photo credit: Mordac

This bridge disaster is a prime example of our crumbling infrastructure.  Recent studies found one quarter of the nation’s bridges have been classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.  Building new bridges is extremely expensive and the National Highway Trust Fund is severely under funded at present.

Weakening bridges and deteriorating roads could all benefit from reduced traffic through Pay4Rides.  It has been over a year since this tragedy, but have you seen any real action to adress this serious issue?

Reward for riding together

A high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane is typically reserved for a vehicle with a driver and one or more passengers.  Sometimes reward single occupant vehicles if they are hybrid or use alternative fuel.

They can also be used to improve bus and van traffic.  HOV lanes often carry more people than adjacent regular lanes of traffic and can also be designed as reversible lanes.  They can then serve double duty by carrying inbound traffic during the morning rush and outbound traffic during the evening ride home.

Why not reward drivers who reduce traffic, save energy and help the environment?  I think the least we can do is shorten their commuting time.

photo credit: Bitpicture

photo credit: awezmaz

“When people lack deep heart, purpose and meaning on the inside they try to compensate for it with other things.  Get another relationship, a higher paying job, bigger house, a fancier SUV, a bigger boat.  Bigger and more is better – or so the saying goes.” ~ Mike Seymour

Explore the motivation to improve our quality of life and to help others, not to mention future generations.  We can all feel good about volunteering and helping out by doing our share.

A friend recently sent me a link for an Inspirational Speech by Dr. Randy Pausch.  If you have not already seen this, please take a few minutes and then share with the people who are important in your life.