Comments for Carbon-Nation

Comment on Paris Puts the Bicyclette First by Irene Fairley

Irene Fairley — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:43:56 +0000

Thanks for this very amusing update–and encouraging too. European countries are setting an example that puts the US to shame. But the good news is that Boston has announced a bicycle share program planned for next year! Something to look forward to.

Comment on BP’s Name is Mud (which today counts as good news) by Gerard

Gerard — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:36:28 +0000

Someone i know used to work in the petroleum industry. They told me BP has purposely failed to shut down because they were/are still hoping to profit from that well. That is, some of the ‘capping’ techniques used were known by them to be not very effective (such as the dome confinement, etc.).

Gerard

Comment on BP Installs Crude Containment Scheme #4 by Irene Fairley

Irene Fairley — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:17:06 +0000

The Boston Globe this week quoted Tony Hayward, BP’s chief executive:
“What is undoubtedly true is that we did not have the tools you would want in your tool kit.”

A candidate for this year’s doublespeak award, it translates to: we didn’t know what the f__k we were doing!

Comment on Facing Our Flow with BP’s Live Spill-Cam by BP’s Name is Mud (which today counts as good news) « Carbon-Nation

BP’s Name is Mud (which today counts as good news) « Carbon-Nation — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:01:52 +0000

[...] Watch videos at Vodpod and other videos from this collection. var _vodpod_config = {group_id:'carbonatedvideo', show_ads:false, wordpress:true}; « Facing Our Flow with BP’s Live Spill-Cam [...]

Comment on Life’s a ‘Paternoster’ (and then you fly) by irene fairley

irene fairley — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:24:02 +0000

Very amusing as I recall the ones in use in the 60′s and 70′s. It was a challenge to step on and off.
Wouldn’t it be possible to track use and adjust the timing of cycles or the number of circulating cars at any point in time? Then you could improve on energy usage. Surely there will be comparison studies coming along.

Comment on Winged Creatures Should Fear CO2, Not Wind Turbines by Barbara Durkin

Barbara Durkin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:46:53 +0000

Winged creatures should fear Mass Audubon.

http://bjdurk.newsvine.com/_news/2010/03/21/4046167-mass-audubon-condition-of-support-for-cape-wind-spells-bias

Comment on WSJ Calls China’s Electric Bicycle Craze a Killer by Arn

Arn — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:24:09 +0000

The major problem with the Chinese ebikes is that the manufacturers keep making them bigger and more powerful to compete with each other. Theg have grown from being electric bicycles to electric motor scooters that the manufacturer puts a set of pedals on to call it a bike (but you would never be able to actually pedal the thing any distance or speed). They have become very heavy and very fast going up to 40 mph. We manufacture an electric bicycle that is an actual bike with the electric motor built in (check them out at http://www.pedegoelectricbikes.com). They only go 20 mph per federal standards and can be ridden just like a bike with no motor assistance if you want. We also only use lithium batteries instead of lead acid. Big difference compared to the Chines4 version of an enike.;

Comment on Buying a Car Without the Engine (or the fuel) by Angela (phg)

Angela (phg) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:11:06 +0000

Unless I missed something, how is that saving us money when we still have to go buy/lease the battery separately?

Comment on WSJ Calls China’s Electric Bicycle Craze a Killer by Craig Saunders

Craig Saunders — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:32:05 +0000

The ones showing up on Toronto streets are definitely not designed to be pedalled. They’re electric scooters.

I have very mixed feelings about them. As an alternative to the car or a larger motorcycle, used on city streets, they make some good sense. But many of the riders seem to think they’re bicycles and take them onto multiuse paths. They’re wide, heavy and dangerous on the narrow walking/cycling trails in our river valleys. It shouldn’t matter whether the machine’s motor is electric or internal combustion, motorized vehicles should be on roads, not sidewalks and walking trails.

Harumph. There’s my rant for the day. And don’t even get me started on the impracticality of multi-use recreational trails!

Comment on WSJ Calls China’s Electric Bicycle Craze a Killer by pfairley

pfairley — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:10:51 +0000

Lithium batteries make more sense here, where consumers can afford (perhaps) the resulting doubling of the package price.

Regarding the high speed of some Chinese e-bikes: I say treat them like motorcycles and require helmets. Again, it is dysfunctional regulation that is to be faulted, not the product.