Re: BOLO pervert cyclist

On 9/8/2024 2:18 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:

On 9/8/2024 1:14 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Sat, 7 Sep 2024 23:32:51 -0400, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>

America is different. See
https://www.thedrive.com/news/26907/you-dont-need-a-full- size-pickup-truck-you-need-a-cowboy-costume
>
Among other points the author makes, "...a significant portion of truck
owners never use their trucks for these capabilities. According to
Edwards’ data, 75 percent of truck owners use their truck for towing one
time a year or less (meaning, never). Nearly 70 percent of truck owners
go off-road one time a year or less. And a full 35 percent of truck
owners use their truck for hauling—putting something in the bed, its
ostensible raison d’être—once a year or less."

>
Nope.  The reason Americans buy such trucks is that "light duty"
trucks are exempt from the "gas guzzler tax".
>
"Energy Tax Act"
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Energy_Tax_Act#Gas_Guzzler_Tax>
>
"Gas Guzzler Tax"
<https://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/gas-guzzler-tax>
"The Gas Guzzler Tax is assessed on new cars that do not meet required
fuel economy levels. These taxes apply only to passenger cars. Trucks,
minivans, and sport utility vehicles (SUV) are not covered because
these vehicle types were not widely available in 1978 and were rarely
used for non-commercial purposes."   (hah-hah-hah)
>
"Navigating the Gas Guzzler Tax"
<https://www.supermoney.com/encyclopedia/gas-guzzler-tax>
"The gas guzzler tax does not apply to trucks, SUVs, minivans, or
other vehicle types that were not prevalent as passenger vehicles when
the law was enacted in 1978. The exemption for “light-duty trucks” has
been exploited by manufacturers, impacting the overall tax collection.
This exemption has contributed to the continued popularity of these
vehicle types among consumers."
>
"Gas Guzzler Tax"
<https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gasguzzlertax.asp>
"Auto manufacturers were keen to take advantage of a loophole in the
gas guzzler tax and its interpretation through regulatory agencies
like the EPA that exempted "light-duty trucks" from the law.
Consequently, the amount of gas guzzler tax collected by the U.S. in
the fiscal year 2019 was under $43 million."

 The (absence of) the gas guzzler tax motivated the manufacturing companies to make and promote the trucks. The buyers don't say "I'm buying a grossly huge pickup because it bypasses the gas guzzler tax." They certainly don't buy them to save money, given their inflated costs. They buy them because they're in fashion, and that fashion makes the dudes buying them feel a bit more masculine. Or makes the relatively few ladies that buy them feel either more "cool," or safer - by imposing the danger externalities on others, in a size and mass arms race.
 Note the survey results in the top paragraph. With rare exceptions, people are not buying these trucks to do the special things that trucks can do.
 

And yet they remain insanely popular.
People like what they like. For any reason or no reason.
A list of 'advantages/disadvantages' spelling out what is important to you will not dissuade anyone.
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971