Hybrid Parking?! F- THAT.

[Hevishot]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

I'm interested in more of your parables on what other people are like. Because clearly you have people who drive Prius' nailed as a social grouop.

If you dont like the way Albertans are hybrid unfriendly maybe its time you move to Vancouver or San Fran so I can have a parking spot for my extra large gas guzzling truck.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

What's next, a rant against special parking for parents with small children or expectant mothers?

I noticed that Co-op got rid of these (the one on Macleod, south of Heritage, at least). Just like the "Hybrid only" parking signs, a nice idea, but completely unenforceable (although, more likely that other people will respect the request).

They might as well put up these:

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Things like this give people a false sense of moral superiority.

See, that's the stuff that bugs me.

"See that guy over there volunteering at the homeless shelter? He's an a-hole. He's only doing that so he can have a sense of moral superiority."

"Jill organized that cancer fundraiser. She only did that because she thinks she's better than everyone else."

"I heard that Bob organized a park clean-up. Arrogant, self-rightous tree-hugging b@stard."

People who actually try to do the right thing are disparaged by others who claim that they are only doing the right thing because it makes them feel good. I'll admit it. I do a lot of volunteer work and give a lot of money to charity because it makes me feel good to do it. I don't think that makes me a bad person. Maybe it does in your book. I don't know. I don't know how that works at all.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

See, that's the stuff that bugs me.

"See that guy over there volunteering at the homeless shelter? He's an a-hole. He's only doing that so he can have a sense of moral superiority."

"Jill organized that cancer fundraiser. She only did that because she thinks she's better than everyone else."

"I heard that Bob organized a park clean-up. Arrogant, self-rightous tree-hugging b@stard."

These examples are pretty outlandish. Only a complete prick would find fault in any of these. I don't think driving a prius is on par with any of this.

[The Yen Man]

Well, after reading that thread about dogs giving off twice as much of a carbon footprint vs. an SUV (for the record, it says per 10K a year for the SUV, so I'll assume 20K and just say they give off about the same), I don't see why I have to feel bad about driving a gas guzzling SUV when other people don't feel bad about owning dogs. To me, they're both a luxury rather than a neccessity, therefore to me, they are one and the same.

For the record, I don't drive a gas guzzling SUV. I actually drive a pretty fuel efficient Civic. But if I were able to afford the gas on an SUV, I wouldn't feel bad about driving one. You might say I'm doing good for the environment by not owning any pets nor driving an SUV.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

Hybrid battery recovery technology is also advancing rapidly. Toyato recycles the majority of each battery for future use. The claim that the batteries are more environmentally destructive than the reduced emissions is just false.

Just curious about what's involved in making the battery? Is it marginal in terms of the environmental impact in the construction of a hybrid vs a conventional car?

[Komskies]

This thread needs to end before the smug gets out of control. Imagine a perfect perfect storm of smug. San Fransisco + Mel Gibson's acceptance speech + South Park + CP smug. Thaaaaaaaaaaannnnksss!!!!!!!!

[ken0042]

Bomber- I think the issues are the chemicals involved in making a battery. I seem to recall something about the toxic waste that lasts for 1000s of years, but the CO2 from melting the steel can be offset by a few trees in a couple of decades.

As for the "mothers" parking spots- those are also quite the waste as I see mothers of 8 years olds using it; as well as people who do not appear to be pregnant. Apparently the sign needs to read "If you are pregant to the point in which you are having difficulty walking, or have children so small they cannot grasp the concpet of the dangers of traffic; or require the use of strollers, then you can park here."

[Pastiche]

Originally Posted by bomber317

Just curious about what's involved in making the battery? Is it marginal in terms of the environmental impact in the construction of a hybrid vs a conventional car?

It is marginal. Hybrids are more energy intensive to make and the batteries are of course chock full of electrolyte acids. So there are more environmental drawbacks from a manufacturing perspective. However, if you calculate the lifecycle emissions of these vehicles then the environmental benefit is net-positive. Couple that with very innovative ways to recycle the batteries then hybrids will always come out ontop.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by starseed

Of all the things to be pissed off about, this is not one of them. Good on them for trying a small gesture to help cut pollution.

It is like Alberta is bizzaro world, where people who recycle are pariahs, and people who drive SUV's are respected members of society.

Well, that's a stretch. Spots at the front of the rows SHOULD be reserved for handicapped people and mothers with small children to assist with mobility issues - not based on the type of car being driven. This is just a whole new breed of lame. Nobody in their right mind is going to spend extra dollars on a hybrid vehicle for the rights to a "special" parking spot. They either believe that it's the right thing to do or they don't. This "gesture" does squat to help cut pollution. Nada. Nothing. Zero. It just pisses people off that they (these stores) presume the rest of us are a bunch of enviro-hating neanderthals that aren't enlightened enough to buy a hybrid (regardless of functional need, budget, availability, etc.) to the point where they rub it in our faces. It's just stupid.

And since these hybrids have such great mileage, they should be the ones parking in the back 40 to save the environment. Their special parking spots should be the ones furthest from the door and the ones close reserved for the gas guzzlers, so they don't burn so much fuel looking for spots.

Your view of Alberta as "bizarro world" could be taken straight out of Toronto or Montreal newspaper. No bearing on reality, but feeding your own concepts of self-inflated importance and wisdom.

[corporatejay]

The thing that bugs me is that it says "Hybrid" not Prius. My Mazda3 gets amazing mileage, and I can almost guarantee better than a Escalade Hybrid, but the Escalade gets to park there because they are saving the environment? That's ridiculous.

[Tron_fdc]

Shouldn't close stalls be reserved for massive gas guzzling SUV's? I mean hey, if your prius gets such good mileage you should have to drive further than I do. It's better for the environment if I drive my V-8 less isn't it?

I like my math.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I agree. We should boycott every company that is trying to promote environmentally friendly behaviour. The b@stards!!

Just for my information, what are the cars out there with better MPG than a Prius?

Toyota's recent info says 50MPG for Prius. (51 Highway/48 City/50 Combined)

Volkswagen's new 'Clean Diesel' TDI is getting upwards of 55mpg. The old 'Dirty Diesel' was still around 50mpg and beyond.

Dunno, hybrids are great and all, but I find it annoying that some car markers get so much adoration for something that others (and most overseas) have been doing for decades....getting decent mileage.

[Phaneuf3]

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Shouldn't close stalls be reserved for massive gas guzzling SUV's? I mean hey, if your prius gets such good mileage you should have to drive further than I do. It's better for the environment if I drive my V-8 less isn't it?

I like my math.

Ikea likes their math more. People who drive hybrids are extremely wealthy and will spend more money at their store than the poor people who drive V8s!hehehhee.


But seriously i have no idea why stores even have hybrid parking. maybe it's to let people know what cars to key. hehehehe

[zamler]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Also, the emission friendliness of a Hybrid is less dependent on the fact that it is a hybrid, but rather, how it is driven (granny or aggressive or somewhere in between) and where it is driven (stop and go or non-stop or highway).

BS. All vehicles are tested using the same conditions. The best hybrids run very very clean, far and above the average car.

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

And for the record, in the long run a Hybrid is more wasteful to the environment than a normal car is. Where do they get the batteries for the car from?

More BS. The materials used in the batteries are the SAME materials used in other cars as well, including chrome trim, the frame etc. For example, the amount of nickel in a Prius NiMH battery pack is about the same as what an average SUV contains in the frame and base structure. A large SUV with a lot of trim etc. will contain significantly more nickel.

[vanisleflamesfan]

People who have a disabled parking tag are allowed to park in handicapped spots (or any spot for that matter) by LAW. Parking spots for mothers or expectant mothers or strollers or hybrid owners are marketing ploys. Supermoms and helicopter parents who spend thousands of dollars per month for their babies are good customers for stores to placate so as to secure their return business. The same goes for those who can afford the extra money for hybrid vehicles. There is an assumption on the part of the business that anyone who can afford to buy a hybrid has more cash to spend on products that they see as being more “eco-friendly”. The store assumes that this customer will, in seeing the store’s support for such things, associate that store with being more “eco-friendly” and thus choose that store over others.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

So you have never driven to Ikea in your entire life? hahaha.

I didn't ask Ikea to put in hybrid stalls. but i'll use them if they have them there.

So will I.

In my diesel that gets better mileage than most (possibly all) hybrids.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

So will I.

In my diesel that gets better mileage than most (possibly all) hybrids.

are you guesstimating? your diesel can get better than 4.7/litres per 100kms in the city?

I really wish people would stop thinking that all hybrids are prius's! They are so ugly beyond belief.

[burn_this_city]

They needed a filler slide to make the comic symmetrical.