Yesterday I received this strange email from a project manager acting on behalf of the university where I'm conducting research:
Dear Students,
Over a 10 week period commencing Wednesday 23 February 2011, 200 additional car park bays will be constructed on the southern side of the P4 car park on B campus. During this time, a small section of the P4 car park will be fenced off as part of the construction site.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your patience and understanding while the works are carried out to extend the P4 car park.
Regards
Neil H
A/Senior Manager
Major Projects
Capital Works and Facilities
The strangeness of this email prompted me to respond immediately, as such:
dear neil,
200 additional car park bays?
we're entering a period of permanent expensive oil as this resource has peaked and entered decline.
any construction based around the car is twentieth century thinking, wasteful and is heading in the entirely wrong direction.
cld you pls let me know what public transport and bike infrastructure works the university is currently developing.
university buses with the ability to carry bikes is now urgently required to cope with today's economy.
it is simply not good enough for a progressive university to be making provisions for regressive and polluting technologies.
many thanks,
patrick (doctoral student, b campus)
As chance would have it, my friend
Ianian sent me this image today of a parking lot at one of the abandoned car factories in Flint, Michigan:
Image: Wes Janz. His accompanying essay can be read here.
"Speaks volumes," said my friend.
I look forward to Neil's reply and the chance to respond to him with this image, alone, because what else can one say?
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