Better M.P.G. Strategies

[bluelake]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

CF,  

From my research, the big mess in NE Tulsa isn't a roundabout.  It is a traffic circle.  There is a huge wealth of information on Modern Roundabouts.  

I love them.  I drove to Colorado last year to go see some of the ones they are installing (they have put is a lot the last several years.

Around intersections that bisect major highways, I've noticed that in some states they build a U-Turn function where a driver can do a 180-Degree turn UNDER the highway and avoid the stop and congestion at the traffic light intersection.

We have ONE intersection like that here in Tulsa, that I know of:

I-44 and Yale intersection.

Do we have others?

Texas-style turnarounds?  Theres' one under 44 at Memorial I believe.

[cannon_fodder]

Yes, I-44 and Memorial/31st street has one.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by EricP

15. When you see a line of 912 cars at McDonalds: park your gas guzzling SUV and walk your lazy donkey inside. Save money on gas, save the air and save yourself about 10 minutes of waiting in line with a bunch of lazy buffoons.

I wonder how many gallons of gasoline are WASTED each year with cars waiting at restaurant drive-through windows?

Definitely just grab the first parking space you see, and walk into the store or restaurant.  

And, you'll save gasoline and also melt some excess body fat, too.

I HATE restaurant drive-throughs.  On the rare occasion that I buy fast food, I always go inside to order.  I can't stand talking over those inaudible speakers, where you have to repeat yourself 2-3 times each way.  It takes no more time to park and order inside.  Great point.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Yes, I-44 and Memorial/31st street has one.

I believe you're right.  

We need many more of them.  They probably have to be designed into the bridge overpass construction, unfortunately regarding any potential retro-fitting.  

Shorter, better timing on side street traffic lights vs. the main thoroughfares should be immediately looked at for gasoline economy purposes.

A baseline review of EVERY 2-Way, 3-Way, and 4-Way stop sign within each square mile quadrant to determine it's necessity.  

These unnecessary signs waste truckloads of gallons of gas collectively.

And, Councilor Christiansen should re-review the City Car Take-Home policy.

Finally, ground Kathy Taylor's and Mr. Lobeck's His-and-Her private jets.

That would save a BUNCH of jetfuel.

[]

[custosnox]

quote:Originally posted by bluelake

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

CF,  

From my research, the big mess in NE Tulsa isn't a roundabout.  It is a traffic circle.  There is a huge wealth of information on Modern Roundabouts.  

I love them.  I drove to Colorado last year to go see some of the ones they are installing (they have put is a lot the last several years.

Around intersections that bisect major highways, I've noticed that in some states they build a U-Turn function where a driver can do a 180-Degree turn UNDER the highway and avoid the stop and congestion at the traffic light intersection.

We have ONE intersection like that here in Tulsa, that I know of:

I-44 and Yale intersection.

Do we have others?

Texas-style turnarounds?  Theres' one under 44 at Memorial I believe.

Got one at I-44 and 129th too.

##. Don't over accelerate, either on take off or just speeding up on the highway.  

##. Don't use AC on surface streets.  Once on the highway though, above about 55, you loose more efficiancy by having the windows down.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by custosnox

quote:Originally posted by bluelake

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

CF,  

From my research, the big mess in NE Tulsa isn't a roundabout.  It is a traffic circle.  There is a huge wealth of information on Modern Roundabouts.  

I love them.  I drove to Colorado last year to go see some of the ones they are installing (they have put is a lot the last several years.

Around intersections that bisect major highways, I've noticed that in some states they build a U-Turn function where a driver can do a 180-Degree turn UNDER the highway and avoid the stop and congestion at the traffic light intersection.

We have ONE intersection like that here in Tulsa, that I know of:

I-44 and Yale intersection.

Do we have others?

Texas-style turnarounds?  Theres' one under 44 at Memorial I believe.

Got one at I-44 and 129th too.

##. Don't over accelerate, either on take off or just speeding up on the highway.  

##. Don't use AC on surface streets.  Once on the highway though, above about 55, you loose more efficiancy by having the windows down.

We're getting some good ideas recycled here that we learned back in the 1970's Oil Embargoes, and have to just re-learn again!

Definitely, the Jack-Rabbit Start as they are called need to be retired.

EASY does it.........when accelerating.

PRETEND there's an egg between your foot and the Accelerator pedal........!!

[]

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

We're getting some good ideas recycled here that we learned back in the 1970's Oil Embargoes, and have to just re-learn again!

Definitely, the Jack-Rabbit Start as they are called need to be retired.

EASY does it.........when accelerating.

PRETEND there's an egg between your foot and the Accelerator pedal........!!

[]

I would be all for reinstituting the nationwide speed limit, say at 60 mph.  It may save lives, as well as fuel.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

We're getting some good ideas recycled here that we learned back in the 1970's Oil Embargoes, and have to just re-learn again!

Definitely, the Jack-Rabbit Start as they are called need to be retired.

EASY does it.........when accelerating.

PRETEND there's an egg between your foot and the Accelerator pedal........!!

[]

I would be all for reinstituting the nationwide speed limit, say at 60 mph.  It may save lives, as well as fuel.

Slowing down definitely saves on the rate of fuel consumption.

Should it be mandatory?

Probably will have to be, because there are so many drivers who want drive 80 MPH + on the highway.  

[EricP]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

EASY does it.........when accelerating.

PRETEND there's an egg between your foot and the Accelerator pedal........!!

[]

I like to pretend there's a rabid, hungry wolverine between my foot and the accelerator pedal and that mashing it to death is the only way I can survive. Is that not good?

[mrhaskellok]

Eric, the only problem is when you take your foot off to break the wolverine will get you...so don't stop at red lights either.  But make sure you don't go through any intersection that has those red light cameras.



Disclaimer:  I don't mean it!  STOP AT ALL RED LIGHTS!

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by EricP

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

EASY does it.........when accelerating.

PRETEND there's an egg between your foot and the Accelerator pedal........!!

[]

I like to pretend there's a rabid, hungry wolverine between my foot and the accelerator pedal and that mashing it to death is the only way I can survive. Is that not good?

It's good only if you want to help our Friends from the Religion of Peace.

[:O]

[EricP]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

Eric, the only problem is when you take your foot off to break the wolverine will get you...so don't stop at red lights either.  But make sure you don't go through any intersection that has those red light cameras.

You mean the fake red light cameras we have mocked up around the city? Has anybody actually ever received a ticket from one of those? I don't suspect Tulsa can afford them.

[TheTed]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear

quote:Originally posted by EricP

15. When you see a line of 912 cars at McDonalds: park your gas guzzling SUV and walk your lazy donkey inside. Save money on gas, save the air and save yourself about 10 minutes of waiting in line with a bunch of lazy buffoons.

I wonder how many gallons of gasoline are WASTED each year with cars waiting at restaurant drive-through windows?

Definitely just grab the first parking space you see, and walk into the store or restaurant.  

And, you'll save gasoline and also melt some excess body fat, too.

I HATE restaurant drive-throughs.  On the rare occasion that I buy fast food, I always go inside to order.  I can't stand talking over those inaudible speakers, where you have to repeat yourself 2-3 times each way.  It takes no more time to park and order inside.  Great point.

Why not force fast food joints to build walk-up windows on the outside of their buildings? They have these at Rally's/Checkers and some other places.

When you get food late at night you're forced to use your car. Which is some poor planning considering many people who purchase fast food at 2am are inebriated. (encouraging drunks to drive! brilliant!). Most times they won't serve pedestrians.

[buckeye]

Those cameras count cars, they don't have near the resolution to distinguish one car from another.  They're pretty blunt instruments.  Look at the City of Tulsa / TPD maps website has all the data for a few years previous.

Speed is not the paramount issue with road safety, but rather INATTENTION and generally poor skills.  The Autobahn is a tired argument and there's no saying that the same thing could be done here - but it does demonstrate that people can be trained to use roads well.  Driver's education is a joke here.

[Breadburner]

The cameras run the stop light timing in place of a loop detector in the paving....