Comments on: Will the high price of oil help make 2008 the Year of the Bicycle? http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 25 May 2013 07:21:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Rick S. http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-78672 Rick S. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:42:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-78672 Wedge shaped autos with small 3 cyl. low sulfur diesel engines ( that'll run on anything bio, like vegetable oil.) Wedge shaped for aerodynamics and with a little 'lip'forward and downward will cause the other wedge shaped car , in an impact, to slide up and over.. easily no human injury, decent "roll cage' desogn within, replaceable 'designer fenders.' All urban outside lanes specifically reserved for bicycles, split in two with second, "passing' type lane for small 49 cc scooters. Cars can make right turns only within 100 feet of intersection. Auto Gas sold based on sliding scale based on auto weight. Interstates open to < 5 BHP, typically big shoulders anyhow.. bicycles and small scooters allowed, maybe hike/bike camping allowed along the, already, huge easement. Wedge shaped autos with small 3 cyl. low sulfur diesel engines ( that’ll run on anything bio, like vegetable oil.) Wedge shaped for aerodynamics and with a little ‘lip’forward and downward will cause the other wedge shaped car , in an impact, to slide up and over.. easily no human injury, decent “roll cage’ desogn within, replaceable ‘designer fenders.’

All urban outside lanes specifically reserved for bicycles, split in two with second, “passing’ type lane for small 49 cc scooters. Cars can make right turns only within 100 feet of intersection. Auto Gas sold based on sliding scale based on auto weight.

Interstates open to < 5 BHP, typically big shoulders anyhow.. bicycles and small scooters allowed, maybe hike/bike camping allowed along the, already, huge easement.

]]> By: Mike Myers http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77942 Mike Myers Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:36:12 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77942 As others have said, America is a car culture. Most of our cities got big after the invention of the automobile, so they were designed around it. Read James Howard Kunstler's book, ""The Geography of Nowhere" if you want an insight into the history of modern American cities and the growth of the suburbs. He does not paint a pretty picture. Try to imagine sustaining the suburbs when energy prices skyrocket. Another poster mentioned Houston as an example. He's right. What will people who live 35 miles away do when their gasoline costs triple? Can the average suburban household survive a tripling of gas expenditure, plus increases in all other purchase prices? What do you do when the house in the suburbs is unsustainable? To whom do you sell it? And to bring it back to a cycling viewpoint----how many people are going to ride 70 mile round trips? When I do my commute it's a 40 mile round trip, and 20 miles before work is quite a workout----and I don't have hills to worry about. Alternative fuels? Not likely. The midwestern states are pushing corn ethanol----but then corn which is used for feed or foodstuffs will be more expensive due to increased demand. Hydrogen? Ha. They currently make it from natural gas---and that's not cheap. Oil from shale or sands? If it takes two barrels worth of oil energy to produce one barrel of oil from shale or sands, nobody's going to do it. I'm quite certain if America approached TOTALLY redesigning our country's infrastructure and mindset to one which was divorced from individual motorized transport, we could do it. We did put a man on the moon, after all. But I don't see the average fatassed American riding 10 or more miles to work. As others have said, America is a car culture. Most of our cities got big after the invention of the automobile, so they were designed around it. Read James Howard Kunstler’s book, “”The Geography of Nowhere” if you want an insight into the history of modern American cities and the growth of the suburbs. He does not paint a pretty picture. Try to imagine sustaining the suburbs when energy prices skyrocket. Another poster mentioned Houston as an example. He’s right. What will people who live 35 miles away do when their gasoline costs triple? Can the average suburban household survive a tripling of gas expenditure, plus increases in all other purchase prices? What do you do when the house in the suburbs is unsustainable? To whom do you sell it? And to bring it back to a cycling viewpoint—-how many people are going to ride 70 mile round trips? When I do my commute it’s a 40 mile round trip, and 20 miles before work is quite a workout—-and I don’t have hills to worry about.

Alternative fuels? Not likely. The midwestern states are pushing corn ethanol—-but then corn which is used for feed or foodstuffs will be more expensive due to increased demand. Hydrogen? Ha. They currently make it from natural gas—and that’s not cheap.

Oil from shale or sands? If it takes two barrels worth of oil energy to produce one barrel of oil from shale or sands, nobody’s going to do it.

I’m quite certain if America approached TOTALLY redesigning our country’s infrastructure and mindset to one which was divorced from individual motorized transport, we could do it. We did put a man on the moon, after all. But I don’t see the average fatassed American riding 10 or more miles to work.

]]> By: lalahsghost http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77276 lalahsghost Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:11:35 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77276 @ Jett: Of course I overly emphasized that statement by not elaborating on my misanthropic view on life, and that the culmination of things going on worldwide do not pan out (for me) to look like there is any hope in just about anything. (Yet I live my life honorably everyday.) Virginia Beach, I lived about 1/4 mile away from the bay bridge and rode everywhere during high school, and a few years after graduation. It was a viable option of transportation, but the road conditions and driver acceptance was well within tolerable limits from what I can recall from four or five years ago. It just really bugs me that people living on welfare and driving vehicles that I have no clue how they can afford (I have a car too, but use it only when the weather changes my mind) can look at someone who is minding their own business and abiding by all laws, and still being a passive rider gets treated as a second class person and scoffed at. I know it is a cultural thing, and I have not acclimated to this rural/poverty stricken area... but there have been many... and when I say many, I mean at least once a week where I get a comment that can typically be summed up as "Git outta here" when riding on the road, or the more profane "Get the fuck off the road". I've heard people giggle at me in VaBch for walking a bike with a flat home, but never did anyone throw their fast food trash at me or yell things you wouldn't want virgin ears to hear. I always laugh and say that I wanna go to Mich State, just so I can see what its like in Ann Arbor or other 'trendy'/accepting towns now that I ride for more than just the enjoyment of it. Oh? The gas hike? I may fill up with $20 once a month or so in my '92 Dodge Caravan. Is that a fine example on non-car reliance? :) Sorry for getting off topic, and ranting but I really wanted to explain what the cycling environment is, here in the 26201. @ Jett:

Of course I overly emphasized that statement by not elaborating on my misanthropic view on life, and that the culmination of things going on worldwide do not pan out (for me) to look like there is any hope in just about anything. (Yet I live my life honorably everyday.)

Virginia Beach, I lived about 1/4 mile away from the bay bridge and rode everywhere during high school, and a few years after graduation. It was a viable option of transportation, but the road conditions and driver acceptance was well within tolerable limits from what I can recall from four or five years ago.

It just really bugs me that people living on welfare and driving vehicles that I have no clue how they can afford (I have a car too, but use it only when the weather changes my mind) can look at someone who is minding their own business and abiding by all laws, and still being a passive rider gets treated as a second class person and scoffed at. I know it is a cultural thing, and I have not acclimated to this rural/poverty stricken area… but there have been many… and when I say many, I mean at least once a week where I get a comment that can typically be summed up as “Git outta here” when riding on the road, or the more profane “Get the fuck off the road”. I’ve heard people giggle at me in VaBch for walking a bike with a flat home, but never did anyone throw their fast food trash at me or yell things you wouldn’t want virgin ears to hear. I always laugh and say that I wanna go to Mich State, just so I can see what its like in Ann Arbor or other ‘trendy’/accepting towns now that I ride for more than just the enjoyment of it.

Oh? The gas hike? I may fill up with $20 once a month or so in my ’92 Dodge Caravan. Is that a fine example on non-car reliance? :)

Sorry for getting off topic, and ranting but I really wanted to explain what the cycling environment is, here in the 26201.

]]> By: JJ http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77274 JJ Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:42:13 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77274 To reply to the previous posting about not being able to manage a Starbucks latte on a bike carrier, it actually fits quite well in a bike's cup holder, as long as you use your own cup! Cup discount applies. To reply to the previous posting about not being able to manage a Starbucks latte on a bike carrier, it actually fits quite well in a bike’s cup holder, as long as you use your own cup! Cup discount applies.

]]> By: Jett http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77157 Jett Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:12:34 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77157 LalahsGhost, do you base your assessment of humanity's fate on young children in the back of a truck whose best shot is spitting? How were things in Virginia Beach? LalahsGhost, do you base your assessment of humanity’s fate on young children in the back of a truck whose best shot is spitting?

How were things in Virginia Beach?

]]> By: lalahsghost http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77147 lalahsghost Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:12:05 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77147 I have very little hope for this. I lived all up and down the east coast, 17 out of my 22 years of life in VaBch. I now live in North-Central WV. Here in WV, I've been spit at by young children in the back of big trucks for riding my road bike to get a few groceries at dusk. Not only are rural areas not the best places for commuting, but even if you're riding a $1000 bike, people treat you like you are poor for getting around to places w/o a car. I'm already a misanthrope, and nothing will change my mind about humanity's fate. I have very little hope for this. I lived all up and down the east coast, 17 out of my 22 years of life in VaBch. I now live in North-Central WV. Here in WV, I’ve been spit at by young children in the back of big trucks for riding my road bike to get a few groceries at dusk. Not only are rural areas not the best places for commuting, but even if you’re riding a $1000 bike, people treat you like you are poor for getting around to places w/o a car. I’m already a misanthrope, and nothing will change my mind about humanity’s fate.

]]> By: Jett http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77068 Jett Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:25:22 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77068 It's easy to find the negative because it doesn't require thinking for yourself, courage to be outside the norm, or even swimming upstream. Because no creative energy is released, nothing new is created. On the other hand, once you've taken up cycling, you're engaging all sorts of positive energy: exercise of mind and body, efficient use of resources such as fuel, energy and land, better relationships face-to-face instead of isolated in your glass and steel cage. And don't underestimate how good it makes you feel. Good cycling karma radiates. I think tapping into the positive energy is ultimately more self-sustaining than an avoidance of costs. But let's look at some costs. High fuel prices are part of it, but so is the stress of traffic, the unpredictable commute time, and the sedentary and wasteful use of your time. And there's other unpleasant costs we gloss over. We tend to ignore how likely we are to get killed or seriously injured in a motor vehicle and fail to recognize how dangerous it is to drive while using a cell phone. These costs in human life should be a bigger part of the equation as well. It’s easy to find the negative because it doesn’t require thinking for yourself, courage to be outside the norm, or even swimming upstream. Because no creative energy is released, nothing new is created.

On the other hand, once you’ve taken up cycling, you’re engaging all sorts of positive energy: exercise of mind and body, efficient use of resources such as fuel, energy and land, better relationships face-to-face instead of isolated in your glass and steel cage. And don’t underestimate how good it makes you feel. Good cycling karma radiates.

I think tapping into the positive energy is ultimately more self-sustaining than an avoidance of costs.

But let’s look at some costs. High fuel prices are part of it, but so is the stress of traffic, the unpredictable commute time, and the sedentary and wasteful use of your time.

And there’s other unpleasant costs we gloss over. We tend to ignore how likely we are to get killed or seriously injured in a motor vehicle and fail to recognize how dangerous it is to drive while using a cell phone. These costs in human life should be a bigger part of the equation as well.

]]> By: r. http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77056 r. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:09:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77056 I hear the americans will never change b/c they're addicted to the box (i.e. car) argument again. I'm also hearing the argument that cycling is a green fad thing. well, i would encourage those of you who believe this to check out NPR. i don't know where i heard the story (it might have been a local show called smart city), but it said that major societal changes start with the 1 percent of people who dedicate themselves to a certain lifestyle. I'm the one percent: a vegetarian, environmentalist, and cyclist. i've never judged those who drive everywhere i try to accept them and make them feel like they are good people. you know something i've made two of them avid cyclists and three or four committed vegans. If you wish others well, look like you enjoy what your doing (even if your really not at times), and have a positive outlook you'll affect a whole group. It may not look like your moving a mountain but you really are. Like I tell my riding buddy who thinks she can't get up the hill: "Don't stop! Just pedal!" I hear the americans will never change b/c they’re addicted to the box (i.e. car) argument again.
I’m also hearing the argument that cycling is a green fad thing. well, i would encourage those of you who believe this to check out NPR. i don’t know where i heard the story (it might have been a local show called smart city), but it said that major societal changes start with the 1 percent of people who dedicate themselves to a certain lifestyle.

I’m the one percent: a vegetarian, environmentalist, and cyclist. i’ve never judged those who drive everywhere i try to accept them and make them feel like they are good people. you know something i’ve made two of them avid cyclists and three or four committed vegans.

If you wish others well, look like you enjoy what your doing (even if your really not at times), and have a positive outlook you’ll affect a whole group. It may not look like your moving a mountain but you really are.

Like I tell my riding buddy who thinks she can’t get up the hill: “Don’t stop! Just pedal!”

]]> By: Mauricio Babilonia http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77038 Mauricio Babilonia Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:30:47 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77038 Higher gas prices won't much change single-occupant motor vehicle use. Liquid fuel shortages will. Higher gas prices won’t much change single-occupant motor vehicle use.

Liquid fuel shortages will.

]]> By: Robert http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-77030 Robert Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:52:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/03/03/will-the-high-price-of-oil-help-make-2008-the-year-of-the-bicycle/#comment-77030 The good thing is more people are talking about alternative ways to travel. My wife used to drive 20 miles one way by herself to work. Then a co-worker decided to ride share and now they are up to five people. I commute by bike to work even in the winter. People thought I was a little nutty, but now people are asking me about types of commuting bikes. I think slowly but surely things will change for the better. Maybe the most important thing is to show our kids the importance of traveling by bike. When my daughter pulls up in a Burley at preschool she receives good, positve and funny feedback from her classmates. On nonwintery days (just around the corner) she rides her own bike to school with me riding behind her. As commuters we can be positive and informative and in the long run it may payoff in changing your local atttitude. Have a great commuting day. The good thing is more people are talking about alternative ways to travel. My wife used to drive 20 miles one way by herself to work. Then a co-worker decided to ride share and now they are up to five people. I commute by bike to work even in the winter. People thought I was a little nutty, but now people are asking me about types of commuting bikes. I think slowly but surely things will change for the better. Maybe the most important thing is to show our kids the importance of traveling by bike. When my daughter pulls up in a Burley at preschool she receives good, positve and funny feedback from her classmates. On nonwintery days (just around the corner) she rides her own bike to school with me riding behind her. As commuters we can be positive and informative and in the long run it may payoff in changing your local atttitude.

Have a great commuting day.

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