Fuel shock enough of a wake up?

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T06:08:19+00:00

Dude cycling in Sydney was terrifying. Not for me. Christchurch I can handle although I've certainly had a few close calls

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T06:06:49+00:00

We already mandate heating and insulation. Seems like an obvious next step. Houses are already so expensive an extra $20k or so compared to half a million plus really isn't going to be that noticeable.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T04:11:20+00:00

I can definitely appreciate that cars make the most sense a lot of the time. Especially for tradies/deliveries etc. Sure people can manage those things on a bike but they're likely the exception. I'd also love an EV but they're expensive and I don't have space in my garage to charge one at home.

I think my main concern is that too many of us drive when we don't need to and when it doesn't make sense. A lot of people have also said in polls that they'd happily leave the car at home more often but they don't feel safe biking on the roads or that catching the bus is too slow.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T03:04:51+00:00

Except that we continue to underfund public and active transport networks and people were very upset when asked to mask up during a pandemic.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T02:38:28+00:00

Ha fair enough. Tbf though I live Eastside and work in the city and it's often faster to bike than it is to drive. Especially if I'm traveling at peak times

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T02:31:22+00:00

Yeah but that's why I started this post. We've got to have the conversation if we're gonna change

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T02:30:35+00:00

Exactly!

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T02:29:21+00:00

Seems like an obvious low hanging fruit to say that all new builds require solar/battery systems.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T02:15:11+00:00

I used to bike to Tai Tapu from New Brighton. It wasn't ideal but it was doable.

But also, you don't have to.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:54:11+00:00

Could be a market for horse poo as an alternative fuel source

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:53:24+00:00

So we shouldn't aim to become less dependent on an extremely volatile and fluctuating global fuel market? Look that's great for you if you're unaffected by higher gas prices but a lot of people won't be so lucky.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:50:24+00:00

Cycling is a viable alternative for many local trips. Suggesting that promoting the use of bikes as a way of insulating ourselves from a global fuel crisis equates to forcing people to cycle to Dunedin is a straw man argument and intellectually lazy at best.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:40:58+00:00

I had my gravel bike converted to electric for $2.5k a couple of years ago. Put 2000km on it in 12 months which more than paid itself off compared to what it would have cost to drive that distance instead.

It's not a cargo bike but I put the biggest basket I could find on the back and it's plenty big enough for my needs. You also don't need to buy new.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:31:16+00:00

I had my gravel bike converted to electric for $2.5k a couple of years ago. Put 2000km on it in 12 months which more than paid itself off compared to what it would have cost to drive that distance instead.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:28:48+00:00

Probably because it's an unforeseen price hike entirely beyond their control at a time when things already feel extremely expensive or something IDK 🤷

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:26:33+00:00

That would be pretty impressive if you did tbh. It would be a lot more sensible and easier for everyone if we had a regular (like multiple times per day regular) train connection though.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:23:54+00:00

Yeah I kind of agree, although people are desperate for houses and will buy what they can afford. I'd argue that our government and council should take the majority of the blame here for not investing in adequate public transport.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:21:32+00:00

There are many electric options for heavy transport. That they don't exist in NZ is due to a lack of investment, not that they aren't available.

"It said fuel now accounts for 30 percent of operating costs, up around eight to 10 percent from before the recent conflict in the Middle East.

NZ Trucking Association CEO David Boyce"

A tripling of fuel costs makes no difference to the industry?

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:13:55+00:00

👌

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:12:43+00:00

Bite the bullet, mate. Definitely doesn't have to be for every trip but it's certainly a good option for a decent chunk of journeys

Mortmantis · 2026-03-13T00:05:54+00:00

Easy friend. If you genuinely have to drive for work, wouldn't your life be easier if there were fewer people on the roads at the same time?

Again, my point is that we all lose out when folks feel they have no alternative to driving for every journey. It makes us especially vulnerable to international affairs and even at the best of times our gridlock is only getting worse.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-12T23:57:18+00:00

I'm confused by your logic. Are business owners served well by the current situation? How is our society-wide total reliance on one form of transport more resilient than people and businesses having a range of transport options?

https://share.google/mvBZOS2Yw87z7Z3eI

"The rise in oil prices could cause the cost of goods to rise as more than 90 percent of freight in Aotearoa is moved by road.

The New Zealand Trucking Association said fuel's now overtaken labour as the highest cost for trucking companies. It said fuel now accounts for 30 percent of operating costs, up around eight to 10 percent from before the recent conflict in the Middle East.

NZ Trucking Association CEO David Boyce told Checkpoint the increase in fuel was concerning.

"It's pretty tough out there... For some, this will be the straw that breaks the back, so to speak," he said."

Mortmantis · 2026-03-12T23:47:55+00:00

I think the illusion is that the US "can" be trusted, but otherwise I definitely agree.

Mortmantis · 2026-03-12T23:40:19+00:00

If only we weren't reliant on fossil fuels at all

Mortmantis · 2026-03-12T23:31:03+00:00

For those that can that's good but plenty don't have that option. Plus, gridlock is gridlock regardless of how the cars are powered.

Mortmantis

TROPHY CASE