Small, More Fuel Efficient, Vehicles Gaining Popularity

I’ve long been a fan of European cars. I was just 4 when an older brother got a “New Cars for 1971” magazine, for years I’d thumb through the pages skipping over the Mavericks and Novas to reach the foreign section.  There it was, the new Peugeot 504 sedan.   I’ve never had a Peugeot, but I have had 3 Volvos, 2 Saabs, 1 VW and 1 Audi.

I loved each of these European cars even though they weren’t fuel savers, or cheap to operate.  When the Mini Cooper came out nearly a decade ago I test drove one, same for the smart four two, and just recently, the Fiat 500. All cute, stylish and fun.  But the fuel economy just isn’t what you’d expect in such a small package. This will change:

After decades of fighting higher federal gas mileage standards, the big automakers have agreed to new standards that will require a average of 54.5 MPG by 2025.

High gas prices, new energy-efficient technologies and strong sales of small, high-MPG cars this year may have convinced the companies that the new standard — which is being announced today and will affect all vehicles an automaker sells in the Untied States — was both desirable and feasible. Automakers are already on their way toward meeting a 35.5 MPG average for 2016.

One reason Ford, GM and Chrysler may have gone along with the new regulation is that they got a lower standard for their profitable pickup trucks. The cumulative 2025 standard for cars is 60 MPG. But the lower truck requirement brings the overall average down to 54.5. (The White House had originally been pushing for a 62 MPG overall average, but Ford, General Motors and foreign automakers managed successfully lobbied for the lower figure.) (CBS MoneyWatch)

Auto makers already have vehicles and engines that will help them meet the new standards, they just aren’t sold here yet. Not everyone is happy though:

Volkswagen AG didn’t sign the agreement to support the Obama administration’s proposal, the Wolfsburg, Germany-based carmaker said in an e-mailed statement. The “positive impact” of so-called clean diesel, used by the company’s mid-size Passat TDI, which can get 43 mpg on the highway and travel almost 800 miles on a tank of fuel, doesn’t receive consideration in the proposal, Volkswagen said. (Washington Post)

Maybe in 2030 I can buy a used 2025 model of something with great milage? In the meantime I just might buy a lottery ticket now and then so I can get a new Fiat 500.

– Steve Patterson

Traffic Backup at Noon

Friday the 15th I observed an unusual sight, traffic backing up on Washington Ave at 11:45am. At the moment some cars were sitting on Washington Ave waiting to turn onto  16th Street. Obviously some big event at City Museum was attracting lots of people, and their cars.

Other than before and after events, downtown has no traffic to speak of.  It would be nice if more people would use transit or at least not try to park in front of the door of their destination. Most of these people probably ended up parking a block or two away anyway. I see the same thing at other venues all the time, drivers on 18th street waiting to turn onto Clark Ave to reach Scottrade Center. Really? What are they thinking?

If you are driving to a major event downtown please don’t try driving to the exact spot where the event is held, target a block or two in any direction. Better yet, take a bus or train.

– Steve Patterson

Saturday Jubilee Food Drive July 30th

A week from today, Saturday July 30, 2011, is Saturday Jubilee:

“Together we can help area families through the toughest economic times we have known. We have the opportunity to be the change we are seeking. In an area of plenty, let us show our gratitude by giving back.”

Non-perishable food items will be collected (9am-5pm) at numerous grocery stores throughout the St. Louis region. Food collected at four stores will go directly to The Bridge St. Louis, which serves thousands of meals per month to the homeless.

I will be volunteering at Schnuck’s Culinaria (315 N. 9^th Street  63101) from 9am-11am. The other three locations benefitting The Bridge are:

• Schnuck’s Kirkwood (10233 Manchester  63122)
• Schnuck’s Twin Oaks (Ballwin: 1393 Big Bend  63021)
• Schnuck’s Woods Mill (Chesterfield: 1060 Woods Mill Plaza 63017)

Again, the drive is from 9am-5pm. Please plan to grocery shop that day, purchasing just one or two items on the provided list will be very helpful.

In the month of June The Bridge:

• Served 12,741 meals to 5,700 persons
• Provided mail service to 1,627 persons
• Had 271 volunteers provide 870 service hours.

That’s a lot of food! You can follow The Bridge on Facebook & Twitter.

– Steve Patterson

The Sound of a Suitcase Being Dragged

While I was waiting at 16th & Olive for the #10 bus the other day, I heard someone dragging something in the street behind me. Eventually a man passes by me and then makes his way up onto the sidewalk. The suitcase had no wheels, the bottom was in shreds.

My assumption is he is homeless. I say it that way because he may not be, but if not, he is probably close. Most likely everything he owns is in that ragged suitcase.

This post has no point, the sound of that suitcase on the asphalt stuck with me.

– Steve Patterson

Bank of America Thinks I’m a Cubs Fan (I’m Not)

I’m not a baseball enthusiast but I do root for the home team, the St. Louis Cardinals. After all, I live downtown about a mile from Busch Stadium.  I can even hear the home run fireworks. So you can imagine my shock when I opened my mailbox Wednesday:

Now I realize Charlotte NC is a long way from both St. Louis and Chicago.  They have the minor league Charlotte Knights, but no major league team.

I had to look up to be sure the St. Louis Cardinals have always been in St. Louis:

The Cardinals were founded in 1882 as a member of the American Association called the St. Louis Brown Stockings. The club quickly achieved success, winning four AA pennants in a row in 1885–1888. St. Louis played in an early version of the World Series, the first two times against the National League’s Chicago White Stockings, now named the Chicago Cubs. The 1885 series ended in dispute, but St. Louis won the 1886 series outright, beginning a St. Louis-Chicago rivalry that continues today.  The American Association went bankrupt in 1892, and the Browns moved to the National League, leaving much of their success behind for the next three decades. The club changed its name to the “Perfectos” in 1899, before adopting the “Cardinals” name in 1900. (Source)

So no living person working at Bank of America should be confused.  St. Louis did have the Browns, but they moved to Baltimore in the 1950s to become the Orioles. What about the Cubs?

William Hulbert, president of Chicago’s club, the White Stockings, signed multiple star players, such as pitcher Albert Spalding and infielders Ross Barnes, Deacon White, and Adrian “Cap” Anson, to join the team prior to the N.L.’s inaugural season of 1876. (Source)

As I thought, the Cubs have always been in Chicago.

Wrigley Field is 300 miles from Busch Stadium and nobody would confuse one with the other. Wrigley Field is in zip code 60613 and Busch in 63102, pretty distinctive. Somehow Bank of America got very confused. A couple I know, who are big Cardinals fans, got the same mailer at their home in the 63104 zip code.

I want to set the record straight, I’m not a Cubs fan.

– Steve Patterson