Rolf:
Well said! But, the industrial use of petroleum just makes the need for alternative fuel that much more important.
If I remember correctly, an oil field barrel is 41 or 42 gallons and yields only 17 gallons of gasoline. Add that to poor mileage and it is not a very efficient use of a valuable raw material.
Posterity may well be incredulous that we burned the stuff up instead of making things out of it!

Also, I think bikes are great, but I just don't want to ride to work in 96 degrees F. and 96% humidity! Lord bless all who do!