Comments on: 1979′s ‘Americathon’ Depicted a Bike-Friendly America

By: Reinder Dijkhuis

Reinder Dijkhuis — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:52:57 +0000

I think “business as usual until the clock runs out” is still the most likely scenario. Developed nations will continue guzzling gas until there’s no more gas, and when that hard landing comes, they’ll be all “now what?” Filling the existing infrastructure with bicycles is really the best we can hope for at this point.

Looking forward to seeing the movie when I have some time.

By: bergerandfries

bergerandfries — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:11:16 +0000

I liked how the trainer praised his wimpy workout on the bench press as a great workout. That over-praise of mediocrity is ALSO in play today. I get a cold shiver watching this!!!

By: John M. Hammer

John M. Hammer — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 01:13:05 +0000

I was a John Ritter fan (Three’s Company sucked, but he was charming and a good slapstick comedian in the Dick Van Dyke mold) so I remember this movie well. Especially the slogan which got the President elected:

“I’m not a schmuck!”

Today’s politicians could try to live up to that, at least.

By: Jeff Gardner

Jeff Gardner — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:22:01 +0000

Island Dave –

2.50 FRNs in 1978 was the same purchasing power at 8.83 FRNs in 2012. Nearly nine-dollar gas today would surely confirm Abbott’s prediction.

By: David Washburn

David Washburn — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:14:35 +0000

Its a stupid movie, imagine the Arab & Jewish partnership buying America

By: Island Dave

Island Dave — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:54:21 +0000

What a hoot.

Elvis Costello and Meat Loaf? I’m going to have to get this movie……LOL

I have an article from the August 1978 issue of Bicycling Magazine titled “The Practical Side of Speed Contests”, written by Dr. Allan Abbott. Dr Abbott was the guy who went over 140 mph in 1973 on a specially designed bicycle drafting off of a race car on the Bonneville salt flats.

He starts out in the article by mentioning (then) current predictions that when gas hits $2.50 a gallon no one will be able to afford to drive their cars.

Here we are 34 year later and gas has been tapping at and exceeding $5.00 a gallon for quite a while now. Motor vehicle traffic this past Summer on Martha’s Vineyard was the worse that I have seen in the 30 years that I have lived here.

By: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:31:13 +0000

My thoughts exactly.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:18:35 +0000

This looks Awesome!!! It looks like maybe a precursor to Idiocracy.

Thanks for the post!