Comments on: 650 foot commute — by car http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bill http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-131760 Bill Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:36:21 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-131760 Agreed. What a waste of a bicycle. If this guy was to lazy to walk 650 feet, he's not going to ride a bicycle. 650 feet isn't even far enough to ride a bike, WTF?? Agreed. What a waste of a bicycle. If this guy was to lazy to walk 650 feet, he’s not going to ride a bicycle. 650 feet isn’t even far enough to ride a bike, WTF??

]]> By: MGPSMITH http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85816 MGPSMITH Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:50:07 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85816 I totally see your point...I did a 5-7 (oneway) daily commute in Montrose/Rice area of Houston for several years on my bicycle so I know exactly the attitude you're talking about. (Houston: no protected bike lanes, aggressive drivers, and no worse riding weather anywhere except way up north in the winter) I'm sure the attitude is not unique to Houston, Austin, or TX for that matter... I totally see your point…I did a 5-7 (oneway) daily commute in Montrose/Rice area of Houston for several years on my bicycle so I know exactly the attitude you’re talking about. (Houston: no protected bike lanes, aggressive drivers, and no worse riding weather anywhere except way up north in the winter) I’m sure the attitude is not unique to Houston, Austin, or TX for that matter…

]]> By: Paul http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85813 Paul Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:52:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85813 MGBSMITH-I do have access to a car by using www.austincarshare.org whenever I feel like going on a road trips say to SA, Fredericksberg, Big Bend for the weekend, etc. Those 2 fat people at work think I'm crazy for not driving everwhere and pay $500 a month car payments, outrageous money for car insurance, car repair. They have to scramble, just like so many people I know here in Austin, to find ever more roommates to share their tiny apartments with just to "afford" that HUGE truck or SUV status symbols. So its just as much (or more) about being SEEN in the BAD ASS vehicle as it is about the excuse about no sidewalks, buses, trains, bike trails, as well as, too hilly, hot, sweaty, unsafe... MGBSMITH-I do have access to a car by using http://www.austincarshare.org whenever I feel like going on a road trips say to SA, Fredericksberg, Big Bend for the weekend, etc. Those 2 fat people at work think I’m crazy for not driving everwhere and pay $500 a month car payments, outrageous money for car insurance, car repair. They have to scramble, just like so many people I know here in Austin, to find ever more roommates to share their tiny apartments with just to “afford” that HUGE truck or SUV status symbols. So its just as much (or more) about being SEEN in the BAD ASS vehicle as it is about the excuse about no sidewalks, buses, trains, bike trails, as well as, too hilly, hot, sweaty, unsafe…

]]> By: MGPSMITH http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85794 MGPSMITH Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:38:59 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85794 Paul, The problem isn't the presence of cars....I think you're shooting yourself in the foot by not having a personal way to get to the Hill Country, San Angelo or Big Bend in a country that lacks a meaningful public transportation network....it's how those cars are used. Right now our country is beset by an epidemic of obesity and profligate energy consumption in part because we haven't demanded walkways/bikeways/public transport in the same way we've demanded cheap gas, big cars and suburbs. The chicken/egg question is culture/access to safe non-car transportation. Change culture by making gas really expensive and provide alternatives with the funds generated...including dedicated bikeways. Paul,
The problem isn’t the presence of cars….I think you’re shooting yourself in the foot by not having a personal way to get to the Hill Country, San Angelo or Big Bend in a country that lacks a meaningful public transportation network….it’s how those cars are used. Right now our country is beset by an epidemic of obesity and profligate energy consumption in part because we haven’t demanded walkways/bikeways/public transport in the same way we’ve demanded cheap gas, big cars and suburbs.

The chicken/egg question is culture/access to safe non-car transportation. Change culture by making gas really expensive and provide alternatives with the funds generated…including dedicated bikeways.

]]> By: Paul http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85786 Paul Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:35:58 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85786 I know 2 FAT people at work, who are both younger than 25 years old that drive a huge suv and truck less than 1/2 mile to work! Sometimes I wonder why americans even bother wearing shoes! I got rid of my oil addiction 2 years ago and ride my bike/walk everywhere in Austin TX, sometimes almost 50 miles a day for errands. I'm ALWAYS surrounded by FAT people in huge vehicles going NOWHERE fast while on my bike... I know 2 FAT people at work, who are both younger than 25 years old that drive a huge suv and truck less than 1/2 mile to work! Sometimes I wonder why americans even bother wearing shoes! I got rid of my oil addiction 2 years ago and ride my bike/walk everywhere in Austin TX, sometimes almost 50 miles a day for errands. I’m ALWAYS surrounded by FAT people in huge vehicles going NOWHERE fast while on my bike…

]]> By: Adam Watts http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85336 Adam Watts Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:50:22 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85336 I have an even more ridiculous one! The president of a local major university is provided a very nice, large house right next to campus. He is also provided his own parking space outside his office building, essentially next door to his house. You can see his car every day in his reserved spot. His front door, office, and parking spot form, essentially, an equilateral triangle! In other words, he can walk the same distance from his house as his parking spot, yes he chooses to drove out onto a busy, divided road, turn right, make a u-turn (his office it to the left), come back past his office (driveway does not cross) make another u-turn, and pull into the driveway. And the campus has a shortage of available parking, so others have to park a few blocks away and walk. I have an even more ridiculous one! The president of a local major university is provided a very nice, large house right next to campus. He is also provided his own parking space outside his office building, essentially next door to his house. You can see his car every day in his reserved spot. His front door, office, and parking spot form, essentially, an equilateral triangle! In other words, he can walk the same distance from his house as his parking spot, yes he chooses to drove out onto a busy, divided road, turn right, make a u-turn (his office it to the left), come back past his office (driveway does not cross) make another u-turn, and pull into the driveway. And the campus has a shortage of available parking, so others have to park a few blocks away and walk.

]]> By: MGPSMITH http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85224 MGPSMITH Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:51:18 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85224 Bingo! (understand that I'm not anti-car...my other mechanical love is a 60-year old sports car; but that's a weekend luxury and as such why do I have any right to cheap fuel for it?) Bingo!
(understand that I’m not anti-car…my other mechanical love is a 60-year old sports car; but that’s a weekend luxury and as such why do I have any right to cheap fuel for it?)

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85111 Fritz Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:44:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85111 MPGSMITH, if gas is $25/gallon, everybody would be on bikes and there wouldn't be any other traffic on the road. MPGSMITH, if gas is $25/gallon, everybody would be on bikes and there wouldn’t be any other traffic on the road.

]]> By: MGPSMITH http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-85043 MGPSMITH Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:06:46 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-85043 Automobile fuel is still WAAAYYY too cheap. I advocate taxing fuels for personal transportation at exceptionally high rates...like make gas $25 / gallon...and put the funds towards dedicated bike lanes (everywhere a road goes, so should a dedicated bike lane) and related public conveniences for cyclists. Automobile fuel is still WAAAYYY too cheap. I advocate taxing fuels for personal transportation at exceptionally high rates…like make gas $25 / gallon…and put the funds towards dedicated bike lanes (everywhere a road goes, so should a dedicated bike lane) and related public conveniences for cyclists.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/07/05/650-foot-commute-by-car/comment-page-1/#comment-84971 Jeff Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:14:08 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2301#comment-84971 I've met a few people in the DC area who drive to work, even though they live within 1 mile of a metro stop. Insanity! But hey, it's their $$ going towards gas. I'll keep biking to work! I’ve met a few people in the DC area who drive to work, even though they live within 1 mile of a metro stop. Insanity! But hey, it’s their $$ going towards gas. I’ll keep biking to work!

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