The USDOE has an annual report, called the World Energy Outlook. Each year an included line item has to do with the DOE estimated time when oil supply maxes, or Peaks. A few years ago it was 2030. Then 2020. Last year they called it circa 2015. Now, 2010-2012. Is it a big deal?

The world now has about a Billion motor(highway) vehicles. This number of rubber tire vehicles is projected to double in about 15 years or less. Let’s see, DOE has put fuel plateau a couple of years out, and motor fuel consumption is on a steady climb right on through. But wait. Annual oilfield depletion is now over 5%. Man, if anyone in public transit is not INTIMATELY on top of oilfield issues by now, they are just lazy & derelict in their duty. There is such a thing as situational awareness, motormen and drivers are constantly reminded… What about the suits? Ladies too, I know some of you are at least aware there is an enrgy crisis looming.

Is it better for everyone to be ignorant about Peak Oil in absolute harmony? Some know more about it than others, but they don’t want to rock the boat? Anyone listening to Boone Pickens? Richard Heinberg has some best-selling books on energy limits. James Howard Kunstler even calls his best-selling book “The Long Emergency”; some say we are at the leading edge. Gerald Celente is another author on this subject of lack of preparedness. Type “Michael T. Klare” on the search line.

Fred, how about some book reviews in the magazine? Christopher C. Swan’s ELECTRIC WATER is upbeat and mentions public transportation in several particulars. Someone at APTA can do the motor fuel research, and put out a report to Transit Directors TMA’s and Highway department officials. Gas rationing? Let’s find out before the Federal Executive Orders are in the sealed envelopes. We need some research at leadership level, and some transparency from Washington. We KNOW rep. Bartlett (R-Md)has been giving Peaking powerpoint program to legislative and executive branch officials for years now. We know Dick Cheney knows, and knew aboutit circa 911DAY.

Sleepwalking into the mother of energy crises, sez Jim Kunstler.

Bridges? Everyone uses them, including mass transit. But mass transit? Who uses it? Depends on where you are and what your image is mass transit is. Some feel it’s the elderly that uses them to go visit their deceased upon boot hill. Or maybe for the kids to get to their playgrounds. Others use it to get to work, but busses remain mostly unused they feel. I recall a city council member was taken to a major drop-off point of transit and she was amazed just how many were using it. She had no idea! She witnessed a half dozen busses unload passengers as well as several van pool vehicles discharge passengers. This council person was overwhelmed and changed her mind of just how serious she should consider fund requests for transit.

Getting passengers to their destinations is not a issue for me as I have yet to turn down anyone waiting for the bus to ride. But, getting to their destination on time is the real issue due to heavy ridership, frequent stops both outbound and inbound on the same trip, traffic and traffic lights, construction delays, etc. It’s really discouraging not to be able to do this like we did years ago.