dagblog - Comments for "Which Is Better: Hybrid or Fuel-Efficient Conventional?"

Man, that's almost a camper.

Donal — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:08:18 +0000

In reply to Those bikes can move stuff. A

Man, that's almost a camper.

Those bikes can move stuff. A

moat — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:51:57 +0000

In reply to Industrial Bikes I've flirted

Those bikes can move stuff. A bit clunky though.

I saw a version of this the other day: http://www.burley.com/home/bur/page_453/flatbed.html

It would be nice if the thing had a dedicated brake. What with inertia and all.

Industrial Bikes I've flirted

Donal — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:56:44 +0000

In reply to True enough; You don't see a

Industrial Bikes I've flirted with the idea of getting a trike or a four wheeler designed for carrying loads:

Wike Trailers

True enough; You don't see a

moat — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:54:36 +0000

In reply to They have some very good bike

True enough; You don't see a lot of skater propelled rickshaw action in Central Park.

Might be a market for putting the motive force behind the load though....

They have some very good bike

Donal — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:30:00 +0000

In reply to Ten grand is a chunk of

They have some very good bike trailers, though.

Ten grand is a chunk of

moat — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:08:00 +0000

In reply to Which Is Better: Hybrid or Fuel-Efficient Conventional?

Ten grand is a chunk of change.

I bought a Fit in 08 and we use it about once a week but living in NYC makes it easy to leave it home for most trips.

Your comment about the limit on what a bicycle could move reminded me of the times I used a hand truck while wearing skates to move stuff. A bike can't touch that load limit without a trailer of some kind.

I think the best advice she

Donal — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:33:15 +0000

In reply to Several points I think are

I think the best advice she got was to go with zipcar and rental cars and request hybrids.

Several points I think are

Verified Atheist — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:28:06 +0000

In reply to Which Is Better: Hybrid or Fuel-Efficient Conventional?

Several points I think are worth making:

(1) I note that the author says

The fact of the matter, though, is that if I get a Prius, I wouldn't be taking advantage of its hybrid abilities all that much. My trips would be too long, and its electric capacity is really better suited for short trips or stop-and-go traffic.

This is particularly interesting considering the "five car-free years". My first piece of advice would be to consider driving less. In general, driving only 10 miles in a car that gets 15mpg is better than driving 100 miles in a car that gets 50 mpg.

(2) The author appears to be conflating what is best for the planet with what is best for her pocketbook, but if we look at the latter (as she does), then this problem:

Because of the high demand for them, even a used Prius is still pretty expensive...

Isn't really a problem, because those resale values also determine what you'll be able to sell your car for later (assuming you don't drive excessively and take good care of your car).

In short, although I am the proud owner of a hybrid, owning a hybrid is a means, and not an end.