Modes Of Transportation | Fast Lane

Car Headaches

Cars are absolutely necessary in today’s culture. They not only transport us from point to point, but allow us the freedom to travel on our own terms. Not to mention that sometimes it’s the only way to shop at the grocery store. It can be stressful when your car breaks down, especially these days when funds are tight for a lot of people. Here are a few steps and helpful hints to take into consideration.

1. Ask Friends and Family

It seems like there’s always that one friend or family member that knows a thing or two about cars. Don’t be afraid to pick their brain a bit before you decide to take you car into a shop. The problem could be very simple to fix, which will end up only costing you the price of the part and a little something extra for the family mechanic. Hey, even a plate of cookies could do the trick! If they can’t fix it or figure out what’s wrong, you’re not out much.

2. Make Friends With a Mechanic

Taking your car to a mechanic can be terrifying. You have to sit and wait while the fate of your car (and pocketbook) hangs in the balance. So first, ask friends and family who they recommend. Also, it never hurts to try and make friends with a mechanic. They really know what’s what when dealing with cars, so they are a huge asset when you are in desperate need of repairs.

3. Finding the Funds

There are some things that friends and family just can’t fix for free. So, if it comes down to it, there are steps that you can take to help yourself find the funds to pay for the much needed repairs. One great way is using a site like paydayone.com. There, you can apply for and receive funds quickly and painlessly.

Filed Under: Cars Tagged With: Automobile, Mechanic

It’s Electric!

: Image via Wikipedia

It the heart of the economic crisis, many cities are trying to figure out a way to create more revenue for the government without raising taxes. One city in California has decided to try to create revenue through a very unique and environmentally friendly way.

Riverside, California has developed the idea of placing electric car outlets throughout the city. More and more people are starting to make the switch to electric cars because these cars are environmentally friendly and reduce the world’s dependence upon fossil fuels. However, many people are not making the switch to these types of cars because of the lack of outlets to plug the electric car into, which is why many Riverside property management companies, government agencies, and other places have come up with the idea of placing electrical car outlets all over the city.

These electrical car outlets can be found anywhere from parking garages, driveways, and even out on public streets. An electric car driver would be able to pull up to the outlet, swipe a credit or debit card in the machine, and get the electricity that their car needs to run. It is believed that the city would be able to profit from the demand for such a service. It is also believed that if the city of Riverside was more electric-car friendly, then visitors from other surrounding areas would be encouraged to make the trip to Riverside and shop at the surrounding businesses. This increase in shops and revenues would help the city and businesses owners.

As more and more people start switching to electric cars, and the demand for electrical car outlets grow, more cities will start to develop the concept of creating public electrical car outlets. It’s a great way to increase revenue for the cities and businesses while encouraging people to change to environmentally friendly ways to drive.

Filed Under: Cars, Travel

Handling The Emergency

No one starts out on a trip expecting there to be an emergency. Fortunately, there are not a huge amount of emergencies and most people will not experience a serious emergency in the entire time they drive a car or travel in any way. However, if an emergency should occur, it is most important to be prepared. Having a knowledge of what to do in an emergency may never be used, but if an emergency occurs, it will be the most important thing you ever learned.

There are minor emergencies, flat tires, running out of gas, someone getting sick and needing to pull over. These emergencies will be more likely to occur than the more serious ones. Knowing how to change a tire or pump your own gas becomes essential in these types of emergencies, and you will be so happy you took the time to learn either skill. Make sure your spare tire is okay before going on a long trip, thereby avoiding the added expense of having to be towed somewhere to get the tire fixed. Making sure your gas gauge is working properly can avoid the problem of running out of gas.

Having an emergency kit in your car is a valuable friend in an emergency. It may sit in the back of your car or in your trunk for years, but when it is needed, it will be the best investment you ever made. Maybe you need a flare to warn other cars of a breakdown, or a patch for a quick fix.

Even though you may never, ever need it, you should be prepared for a serious emergency, a car run off the road, someone getting into your car and taking over or your car being abandoned on a side road. Being prepared for anything will make your emergency less frightening and hopefully you will get through it with the least amount of damage.

Filed Under: Cars, General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Automobile, Emergency, Parts and Accessories, Spare tire, Tire

Cross Country On A Budget

Taking a long trip, especially one across this great country of ours takes a lot of planning. While the anticipation of a great sight seeing adventure builds, the preparation for such a trip is an immense responsibility.

First there is the transportation. Is it more economical to fly, take a bus, take a train, or pile into the car? While all types of land travel will give you the opportunity to see the country while you are traveling, which one is the most economical? There is the added expense of food and lodging, which leaves you much less of a choice with the bus or the train, wherever they stop is where you have to stay and eat.

If you choose to travel by car, you can plan your route, keeping in mind that you want to take the most economical route. You can get on line and find out how much food and hotels cost in all areas along your trip route. Taking some snacks and drinks along, maybe even packing sandwiches or cold food can save you quite a bit along the way. You may not need to stop three times a day just to eat. You may not need a four star hotel to stay in for the evening. If you want to just get some sleep and get an early start, there are many economical choices. It is probably a good idea to find out, before you go, how much gas you are going to need as well as the gas prices for each state through which you will be traveling. Of course, keeping a supply of things you will need for the car, washer fluid, oil, and various other fluids, will prevent you from having to stop and pay for them along the way.

A little preparation will help you enjoy your trip more, and maybe have a little extra spending money when you get there.

Filed Under: General, Modes of Transportation, Planes, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Tourism, Travel

A Luxury Car That’s Safe and Fashionable

: Image via Wikipedia

Money can buy you a lot of things. Sometimes money can buy you things that the normal person wouldn’t dream of owning. So, when you are a self-made millionaire not yet forty, then you have the luxury of buying whatever you want, no matter how outrageous it seems. For Mark Ecko, the founder of the ultra cool and hip clothing company, Ecko Unlimited, that comes in the form of one of the most exotic armored cars on the planet.

The eccentric and always fashionable Ecko bought himself a Gurkha Armored Car. This car is not just an ordinary vehicle. It’s got the cache of a Hummer, but far more protection and unique features that make it one of the hottest cars on the market (not that there are a lot of stores that you can get it from).

The car has a five cylinder Diesel engine that can hold up to 63 liters of diesel gas. It comes equipped with a five speed transmission, making it a car that is not just durable, but fun to drive. In order to make sure that the ride is as smooth as it is safe, the car comes equipped with telescopic shock absorbers and it’s own anti-roll bar. The short version is that this car can’t be harmed and can’t put you, the driver, in harm’s way.

Of course a car like this comes with some other interior features as well. It’s got air conditioning, and all five sides of the car are armor plated to ensure that the people in the car have maximum protection. The battery in the car is protected by armor, and it seats up to six fully protected people.

Ecko could be doing the car for safety, or he could have chosen it because there is nothing more stylish than a car that no one else has. Either way, driving with him just got a whole lot safer.

Filed Under: Cars, General Tagged With: Luxury vehicle

Who Makes Our Cars Safe?

When purchasing a new or used car, you take many things into consideration. What exactly are you looking for? Purchasing a car, whether new or used, is a huge investment. You want to make sure that your purchase is exactly what you want and has all the necessary things you need in a car. What kind of car do you want? Is it an SUV, a sedan, a luxury model, or are you open to all models? Maybe the car company itself is the most important factor, you will only buy American made or one company has always had your family’s business. Whatever choice you make, you count on the car company to make sure the automobile you will be driving for years to come is safe. How do we know it is safe?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues the minimum federal motor vehicle safety standards and regulations that the car manufacturers must comply with. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent group that conducts crash tests and issues safety ratings approved by insurance companies. Crash tests are performed for front impact, side impact, rear impact. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the only body that tests rollover type accidents. These tests are done with different weights of passengers, sitting in different seats within the car, using different passenger or driver “dummies” that represent the weight of an adult or a child. The crashes are simulated and the damage is observed.

Different cars are tested from different manufacturers, and are given ratings from poor to excellent. The “star” rating is then given based on these ratings. These ratings are across the board for car manufacturers and insurance companies all using the same system, thus regulating that cars have a minimum overall rating to insure the safety of its passengers. It is comforting to know that these regulations will keep us safer on the road. And just like taking the time to meet with your CPA, do your taxes and file now rather than late, it is a smart move to make sure you check out the safety reports and buy a safe vehicle.

Filed Under: Cars, General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Automobile, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Sport utility vehicle

Train Travel

It is time to take that all important vacation with the family. You have decided where you want to go, your destination. How you get there is just as important as the destination, and may be an integral part of the vacation itself.

For example, if you decide to arrive at your destination by train, there are several ways to make this happen. There are express trains, which will take you directly to your vacation destination, no stops. If you are traveling a good distance this can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a day or more, riding the rails. Trains have dining cars, where you can a snack or even take in a full meal if you are traveling a far distance. Some trains have a place for you to sleep, if you are going to be traveling for ten or more hours, and you can choose to sleep in your seat if you would like. Some trains even have cars that will carry your car. The auto train is very popular if you would like to have transportation locally once you arrive at your destination. You rent a space on the train for your car, and once you arrive you claim your car as you would your luggage at an airport.

You can also plan a train trip with multiple stops. Researching the railways and which trains will be stopping and where, can be a vacation within itself. There are trains that stop in every state, sometimes in several places within one state, so you can check out the local sites and attractions. There is a lot to see in this great country of ours. Many of us just want to get to our destination and choose the fastest way possible. Fortunately for us, there are cultures and sights all across the country, and a stop at any one of them will make for a memorable vacation.

Filed Under: General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Trains, Travel Tagged With: Train

Are Cars Safer Than Airplanes

It is an age old question. Is land travel safer than air travel? There are statistics that show that the likelihood of an accident is 200 times greater in an automobile than on an airplane. Most people we know have been in at least one car accident. Can we say the same thing about air travel? However, in practicality the chances of walking away from a car accident are substantially greater than that of surviving a plane crash.

We can look to the government and their safety requirements for both forms of travel. Both are stringent and carefully followed. There are strict guidelines for safety features for both.

Is it fair to compare the statistics when there are exponentially more cars on the road than planes in the air? It is more difficult, and requires more school and education to get a pilot’s license as opposed to a driver’s license. There are very few sixteen year old people out there flying planes, but they are driving cars every day of the week. It is much easier to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then be a pilot and get away with flying under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, it does happen.

We can say that the burden of safety lies with the individual. A pilot goes to work knowing that someone has checked out the airplane he is about to fly. Someone before him has made sure the safety checks are all in place and that the plane is ready and safe. As a driver, it is our own responsibility to ensure the safety of our vehicle and that of our passengers. Make sure your car is kept in excellent running condition, all fluids are checked, and you know what to do in case of an emergency. Don’t get into your car if you have been drinking or doing drugs. Do your part to keep our roadways safe.

Filed Under: Advancements, Cars, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Trains, Travel Tagged With: Air travel, Aviation, Fixed-wing aircraft, Traffic collision

Roadway Emergencies

We spend a significant part of our day in our cars. We drive to work, we drive the kids to school. We drive home from work, we stop at the store. We pick up the kids, maybe a few friends, back to home. Out again at night for whatever activity, and the list goes on. For the most part, the travel part runs smoothly. What about when it does not? Do you know what to do in the event of a road emergency?

You should keep a few “emergency” fixes in your car at all times. Have a gallon of water handy, as well as a new piece of hose. Overheating of engines is a problem that is not that uncommon and with a clamp or a new piece of hose and a fresh gallon of water, you can get the car running again, at least to get you to the nearest service station. Learning to change a flat tire is a great skill to have. You may never need it, but you will be so happy you learned it, if you find yourself in that situation. Again, you can avoid the expense of a tow truck with a little knowledge.

However, if you have an emergency that requires a tow truck, be careful. Unfortunately a tow truck pulling up is not necessarily as cut and dry, especially if you are traveling alone. Make sure when you call the towing station that you know who is coming to help you. Get an identification number, a name or make sure you tell them you want to see identification. Give them your exact location as best you know it, and maybe tell them some fact that they will have to tell you when they get there. This way you will know that the man with the tow truck is the person you called for. Keeping yourself safe is just as important as fixing the car.

Filed Under: Cars, General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Travel, Trucks Tagged With: Transportation and Logistics

How best to Travel Long Distances Inexpensively

Traveling from A to B inexpensively often involves doing a bit of research before securing travel plans. Creating an itinerary that is economical can increase the quality of the trip. Here are some tips on how best to travel long distances inexpensively.

Start by writing down each day of the trip. Include travel details to the destination and while in the destination city. Choosing proper hotel amenities, airline travel, or rental car is easy online.

Reading reviews of recent travelers experiences can keep the price point in perspective. It is wise to spend extra money each night to be in a hotel where service, safety, and cleanliness is important to the staff. If there is a limited budget for hotel stays, consider staying at camp grands or state parks. Many times there are nice cabins or RVs’ that can be rented overnight. If there is no budget for a hotel consider sleeping briefly at rest areas with a security guard.

Many hotels offer free breakfast. It is easy to order discount gift certificates online for restaurants that are along the travel route. Like survey software, hotel online software is also a creative way to get the job done online.

Write out daily food budget. Fruit is an inexpensive way to eat breakfast while on the road. Eating a large early lunch in a nice restaurant is good way to stretch a daily meal budget. Lunch times often start as early as eleven am.

Stopping for dinner right when lunch time ends can help to take advantage of lunch prices twice in one day. This may be as late as four o’clock in some restaurants. Left overs can be stored in a cooler and warmed up in a hotel or gas station microwave.

If a personal vehicle, RV, or rented car is being used to drive long distances plan stops in safe areas full of people. Use these tips to travel long distances inexpensively.

Filed Under: Advancements, Cars, Modes of Transportation, Planes, Safety, Trains, Travel Tagged With: Budget, Car rental, Recreational vehicle, Renting, Travel