17 APR 08: MUSCOGEE IDLE

Tenth Avenue in Columbus contains what might be called several "crossroads of decision." Turn in the proper direction, and you'll drive merrily on your way. Make the wrong turn at the wrong time, and you'll pay a penalty - by having to wait on crossing trains. And you'll probably wind up wishing the only trains in Columbus were high-speed Amtraks.

I was reminded of this Wednesday afternoon as I ran a few errands. I headed west to the corner of Tenth Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The way straight ahead looked clear, toward the Public Safety Center. But I needed to turn left - and when I did, several freight cars blocked the avenue. The hookups of those trains may explain why "speed dating" isn't catching on in Columbus.

Tenth Avenue was blocked between Ninth and Tenth Street for at least 15 minutes, as a long freight train apparently was brought together. When drivers in a hurry run out of patience, turn around and drive away from the crossing, they must think "railroad hobos" have been hired to run the lines.

My schedule wasn't that packed, so I relaxed at the railroad crossing for a few quiet minutes. But I turned off my car engine while I waited. It makes no sense to keep it idling and running during a long delay. And with gas prices as high as they are, it also doesn't make dollars....

Did you notice yet another gas price jump across Columbus Wednesday? The "low price" along Victory Drive is now $3.27 a gallon. It's enough to make you wish traders in crude oil futures would follow the lead of the housing market, and go into foreclosure.

The higher gas prices go, the more thankful I am for deciding to buy a high-mileage compact car 14 years ago. My brave little Honda only needed one gas fill-up during March - and its gas tank is much smaller than your typical SUV's.

While I'm trying to be wise with how I use fuel, an e-mailer Wednesday suggested other people in Columbus are not....

I was in your neighborhood today around noon and saw a convoy of school buses waiting for the 'Toad and Frog' to finish at the River Center. As a tax payer I was not pleased to see them idling waiting. I can't afford to run the A/C in my car while I eat lunch, I'd rather they save my gas money too.



Rock Chalk - Congrats

We should clarify something first - the children were seeing a musical called "A Year with Frog and Toad." This was NOT a presentation by school board members, about the proposed sales tax.

But anyway: I've noticed at other times what this reader saw - school buses parked and running, while children are inside at activities. I took a couple of guesses as to why. Perhaps the buses are old, and difficult to start. Or perhaps the drivers have to be ready for an emergency evacuation -- for instance, if a child mishandles a plastic knife during lunch.

I searched online for answers about this Wednesday night, and found there's a movement to reduce or eliminate idling by Georgia school buses. The "Georgia Clean Diesel Campaign" recommends engines be turned off -- only its main issue is reducing pollution. But aren't all the diesel fumes a great way to signal the school day is about to end?

Our searching found there are several states where school bus idling has been banned. But a proposal in Texas which was vetoed last year seemed to explain why they're left running -- to heat or cool buses, before students get on them. If you can't run your car air conditioner during the lunch hour, consider how not all school buses can park under shady trees.

The Environmental Protection Agency actually has computed how much fuel is burned by running a parked school bus. One hour of "idling time" typically burns one gallon of diesel fuel. Think about that, the next time the drive-through lane at McDonald's seems to circle the building.

I've actually tried to cut down on my use of drive-through lanes as well, to conserve as much gas as I can. But that can lead to other "crossroads of decision" as well. Turning off Third Avenue into the lane for paying Columbus Water Works bills can be.... well, a reminder of why I avoid gambling in casinos.

OVERHEARD OVER HERE: The church school teacher looks over his adult class. "You all seem to be in good physical health - except for this man with a cane, and he could be carrying that to look fashionable."

"Now hold on," that exception answers. "I could be making a political statement."

"A political statement?"

"That's Me-Cane."

With no political endorsement intended toward anyone, let's send some Instant Messages....

+ To whomever gave the Ledger-Enquirer that page-one headline, "There's No Such Thing as a Free House": Who said it was free in the first place? Those St. Jude Dream Home tickets cost 100 dollars each.

+ To WRBL: Who decided to ask Columbus shoppers if they would drive to Alabama, should that state remove the sales tax on groceries? Did anyone bother telling you Georgia removed its grocery sales tax more than ten years ago?

+ To Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine: OK, you're running for Governor. Thanks for confirming something we suspected 17 months ago [9 Nov 06] - and really suspected when you started making all those guest appearances on TV newscasts.

+ To Dougherty County District Attorney Ken Hodges: OK, so you're NOT running again. It should be safe for you to visit Columbus again next January - after you're out of office, and you can't be held accountable anymore for the Kenneth Walker grand jury.

+ To Columbus State Rep. Calvin Smyre: Wow - you were able to see the White House ceremony for the Pope! But were you as offended as he probably was, when they fired the 21-gun salute? Such violence....

+ To Columbus State University women's basketball coach Jay Sparks: What's going on here? You let the Kendrick girls' basketball players sign college letters with Lander and Savannah State. Is softball coach Tiffany Tootle throwing you THAT many curve balls?

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Our next post will not occur until we are finished with our annual Serious Spring Cleaning. We hope this will happen by midday Friday - but we know from experience that anything could happen.)

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 621 (+ 19, 3.2%)

TRUDGE REPORT, DAY 46: Spring cleaning, 90 minutes. Total: 157.3 miles run, 15.4 walked

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.