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VK6BE > FUEL 27.04.11 02:40l 51 Lines 2947 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 4D0174VK6BE
Read: GUEST DK3UZ
Subj: Re: Fuel prices hurting?
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0MRW<DB0ERF<DB0TUD<DK0BLN<DB0BLO<DB0ZEH<SR1BSZ<IV3SCP<
IW0QNL<IK6ZDE<DK0WUE<7M3TJZ<PY1AYH<LU2FHX<YV5KXE<CX2SA<OK2PEN<VK6HGR<
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Sent: 110427/0007Z @:VK6ZRT.#BUN.#WA.AUS.OC #:2105 [Boyanup] $:4D0174VK6BE
From: VK6BE@VK6ZRT.#BUN.#WA.AUS.OC
To : FUEL@WW
There is no decrease in vehicular traffic in this part of my country,
Paul.However conditions are vastly different from the UK because of the
distances involved.. If I want to travel to our capital city (Perth) I
have three choices - car (mine), bus (takes 6 hours) or air (1 hour but
fare over $500 return). There is a railway but it carries goods only, and
even then most freight goes by road. Perth is 410 km north of here.
I go to Carnarvon each year for a couple of weeks' holiday - the only
transport - car or air. If I go by air I have to hire a car when I arrive
or else I am stuck in a motel or caravan park. No rail at all. No bus
service. Distance 1200 km. Broome and Derby are further north again, air
or car to get there. Most people choose car. Distance 3000 km to Derby,
further to towns further north again and still in West Oz! Air or car
again, and most people drive.Many drive four wheel drives such as Land
Rover.
On the local scene, I live about 5 km from the CBD of this small city.
There are occasional buses to some parts, but most people use cars. We are
stuck with the mmotor vehicle, there is little alternative. However the
pattern of what to buy in the way of cars has changed. We are rapidly
changing from large family type vehicles such as Ford Falcon and Holden
Commodore (the most popular makes as far as large cars are concerned) to
smaller vehicles because of the price of fuel. Many drivers have stuck to
the larger vehicles but gone for either diesels or run their petrol
engines on LPG which is much cheaper than petrol.
As for the shop floor worker not having his own vehicle that is not the
pattern here either. The first thing an 18 year old does here when
starting work is to buy a vehicle. The result is that most families have
at least one car but some have two or three, every member with his or her
own. At my daughter's place there are two vehicles plus another for the
son and one for his partner making four in all and that is pretty much the
pattern.
The elderly go for gophers, the little electric shop riders which are
limited to 10 kph but can drive on footpaths. Cheap to buy at anything
from $1500 to $6000 depending on the size and configuration. There are
hundreds of these in use in this city.Mopeds are now proliferating too. I
used one for a while till my doctor told me not to be stupid - I should
not be riding one of those at 88 years of age!! I got rid of it but
sometimes wish I had not.
Fine on the solar power. It is used extensively here and has been for some
years for airport and marine beacons both audible and visible, rural
telephone exchanges, and a multitude of other purposes. Now witha
Government subsidy many people are installing solar power in conjunction
withe the grid and the roof tops are sprouting the panels. Solar hot water
systems have long been in use; sunlight is not scarce here!!
Cheers,
Bob VK6BE.
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