US has 4.5% of world's population and uses 26% (21.5 MB/D of world's oil output (84 MB/D).
US uses 75% of all oil, domestic & imported, for transportation.
So fixing the US transportation system will solve many of the world's future oil supply problems.

If the dam is leaking, fix the biggest hole first!

Sad to say, but I find this type of article a waste of time.

I thought the idea of TOD was all about the world's energy crisis - how humanity will survive in a post-oil energy decline.

Hmmm, I never got that impression. Indeed, the reason there are various TOD sites (NYC, Europe) is because there is plenty of regional interests as well as global commonalities. I've always thought the orginal TOD (this one) was North American biased simply because of origin.

You've also skipped over the idea that as the world's largest user and importer of oil, what the US does to modify its oil use will affect everyone else.

Also, the issue the US has with size/density/rail tractability is true of Canada and somewhat Australia too. Note that on a per capita basis those two countries have energy use very close to that of the US, but at 1/10 the population their totals just don't add up as much.

Finally, as I mentioned below the SYSTEM needs support by the manufacturers and maintenance contractors, which does affect European economies. E.g., light rail components manufactured in Germany. Any truly significant re-engineering of American transport will have plenty of companies from Europe, Japan, and China bidding for business.

Postscript: Although Stuart has done some analysis showing the limited returns (economically) of current mass transit systems, wrt dealing with US automobile use, there really is no other way to move masses of people if you want to live a non-agrarian lifestyle. Without breakthroughs in areas such as very high temperature superconductors (for electric automobiles), or genetically enhanced algal bio-diesel (and the subsequent massive investment in production facilities), the concept of current US (and Canadian) lifestyle will change when oil production has dropped noticeably. In my mind it is not a question of whether the US will need to do a significant rail investment, but only of how (public/private) and when.

So this topic will not go away.

Ian,
"what they all said above" is too trite, but it's kind of what I want to say. The US, in a lot of the ways, is the problem and the solution, and is the most likely to suffer going backwards unless the policy chosen is to secure as much oil as possible around the world...

oh...hmm. I guess that doesn't affect anything or anyone. Yeah, you're right, I'm sorry Jerome posted this. It obviously doesn't matter.

Ian,

This seems to be the way Americans think. Most Americans really have no idea what happens outside the US, even people posting at TOD. They have heard about it, they read about it, but it seems to be very difficult to understand, even with the best intentions. That is a real pity, because the US is by far the richest country in the world and if anybody could help here, it would be the Americans.

The simple fact is that PO is not very difficult to solve. Just raise tax on gasoline a bit and keep raising it every year. And while you're at it, also raise tax on NG, electricity and a few other energy sources. That should do it. You would end the war in Iraq, cool down the nuclear standoff with Iran or end the genocide in Darfur along the way, just as a by-product. Even have a good shot at global warming.

You don't need new technology, no new scientific breaktroughs or 'Manhattan Projects' like this one (another favorite daydream). You can buy a car that runs 50 mpg for less than 10.000 US$. Where is the problem?

The whole world is addicted to oil, but the US seems to have caught a particulary naughty strain of it. It has to do with the 'Non-negotiable' part of the way the US is currently organized.

However, before we start explaining to Americans how to run their own country, we also should look at ourselves. Your name indicates you're from Australia, and Australians have a lifestile which looks very much like the Americans, if not worse. Remember, the US did not sign the Kyoto treaty, but also Australia didn't either. How's that for a good example?

Maybe it's also the other way around. Maybe people outside the US really do not get the way Americans think.

So instead of explaining to eachother what to do, lets fix our own issues first.

Ian, it's pretty simple. If you don't like what we do here, don't come back or start your own site. Have a lovely day.