Comments on: My 2013 Resolution: Shut up about how great bikes are http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/ 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: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1566366 Ted Johnson Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:47:07 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1566366 When I was in my early 20's I knew a guy who supported a family with three, four or maybe more paper routes. His system was amazing. He had a graduate degree, but preferred the freedom -- including the freedom to smoke on the job -- over the other jobs he was qualified to do. He made a big impression on me for the creative way he brought his personal priorities to his work choices. And how he managed to do the job for times more efficiently than anyone else. When I was in my early 20′s I knew a guy who supported a family with three, four or maybe more paper routes. His system was amazing. He had a graduate degree, but preferred the freedom — including the freedom to smoke on the job — over the other jobs he was qualified to do.

He made a big impression on me for the creative way he brought his personal priorities to his work choices. And how he managed to do the job for times more efficiently than anyone else.

]]> By: BluesCat http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1566298 BluesCat Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:30:05 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1566298 bergerandfries - Boy, I'm right with you about the dearth of job opportunities for young folks. Back in prehistoric times, when I was growing up, we had --- get this --- Paper BOYS who rode BICYCLES to deliver the morning paper! As I recall, they could have a route when they were as young as 13 and it wouldn't violate any of the child labor laws. The guy who delivers my morning paper is a home owner, in my neighborhood, who does it as a second job as a result of his employer cutting back his hours on his first job! bergerandfries – Boy, I’m right with you about the dearth of job opportunities for young folks.

Back in prehistoric times, when I was growing up, we had — get this — Paper BOYS who rode BICYCLES to deliver the morning paper! As I recall, they could have a route when they were as young as 13 and it wouldn’t violate any of the child labor laws.

The guy who delivers my morning paper is a home owner, in my neighborhood, who does it as a second job as a result of his employer cutting back his hours on his first job!

]]> By: bergerandfries http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1561232 bergerandfries Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:54:44 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1561232 Ted, what you described is the dilemma that so many working Americans face: Go where the jobs are, but due to the suburban densities which dis-incent moving closer, the only way to get to a remote job is via automobile. As for your son getting another job, I don't know about your area, but my 16 yr old is competing with grown men for jobs, so I bet he will take the first job offered him, no matter how far from our house... Ted, what you described is the dilemma that so many working Americans face: Go where the jobs are, but due to the suburban densities which dis-incent moving closer, the only way to get to a remote job is via automobile. As for your son getting another job, I don’t know about your area, but my 16 yr old is competing with grown men for jobs, so I bet he will take the first job offered him, no matter how far from our house…

]]> By: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1558381 Ted Johnson Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:06:44 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1558381 Or: If a car is the best tool for the job, you live too far from your job. It's kind of hard to believe that a ski resort can employ a bunch of teenagers at low wages, and expect them to drive 14 miles up a mountain. The economics of it make no sense unless one of these is true. <ul> <li>the transportation costs are subsidized (by parents) and/or shared with a co-worker</li> <li>the free season pass on the mountain -- worth $749 -- makes it worth it for avid skiers and snowboarders (of which my stepson is not, yet), or</li> <li>the employees don't bother to think of the economics of the situation</li> </ul> Frankly, I'm so happy to have him working that I won't make a fuss. His living expenses are subsidized (for now). I suspect that if/when he had to pay for his own housing, food, etc. He'd quickly realize what a bad deal it is. He's a smart guy. Or: If a car is the best tool for the job, you live too far from your job.

It’s kind of hard to believe that a ski resort can employ a bunch of teenagers at low wages, and expect them to drive 14 miles up a mountain.

The economics of it make no sense unless one of these is true.

  • the transportation costs are subsidized (by parents) and/or shared with a co-worker
  • the free season pass on the mountain — worth $749 — makes it worth it for avid skiers and snowboarders (of which my stepson is not, yet), or
  • the employees don’t bother to think of the economics of the situation

Frankly, I’m so happy to have him working that I won’t make a fuss. His living expenses are subsidized (for now). I suspect that if/when he had to pay for his own housing, food, etc. He’d quickly realize what a bad deal it is. He’s a smart guy.

]]> By: bergerandfries http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1558312 bergerandfries Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:35:25 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1558312 Ted, so you just confirmed what I always tell my wife when she confides feeling guilty about driving the car instead of riding her bike: Sometimes a car is the best tool for the job. Some trips are better served with motor vehicles than bikes or even e-bikes. In that case, your 2013 resolution is very appropriate. Thanks again for the great blog... Ted, so you just confirmed what I always tell my wife when she confides feeling guilty about driving the car instead of riding her bike: Sometimes a car is the best tool for the job. Some trips are better served with motor vehicles than bikes or even e-bikes.

In that case, your 2013 resolution is very appropriate. Thanks again for the great blog…

]]> By: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1553085 Ted Johnson Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:28:51 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1553085 Great idea! Uh. Except that last bit from the base of the mountain to the ski resort -- the last seven miles -- has an elevation gain of 1,500 Feet (467.6 Meters). I reckon I would could do it once. I just think it's a helluva commute for anyone. The problem is that it's an ideal commute for encouraging the notion that car is necessary. It's really great argument for an e-bike -- maybe an even better argument for a free employee shuttle van that picks up workers in town and drives them up the mountain. Great idea!

Uh. Except that last bit from the base of the mountain to the ski resort — the last seven miles — has an elevation gain of 1,500 Feet (467.6 Meters).

I reckon I would could do it once.

I just think it’s a helluva commute for anyone. The problem is that it’s an ideal commute for encouraging the notion that car is necessary. It’s really great argument for an e-bike — maybe an even better argument for a free employee shuttle van that picks up workers in town and drives them up the mountain.

]]> By: bergerandfries http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1552941 bergerandfries Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:49:15 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1552941 I think that you need to ride to his work to visit him. Go eat lunch with him on his lunch break or something. Ride there, and show him that it can be done. Do the ride on that e-bike thing of yours. Lead by example of action, not remonstration. If a conversation does develop, ask him leading questions: "So, how are you getting to work today?" "Hmmmm, I don't know." "Well, can you list all of the options?" "Borrow your car" "What else?" "You drive me" "Come back to this planet; what else?" "Hitch a ride, walk, bike, e-bike, take a cab" "Ok, great! Which ones can you afford?" "Hitch, walk, bike, e-bike if I can borrow yours" "I think you've done well! Pick one and be on your way son!" I think that you need to ride to his work to visit him. Go eat lunch with him on his lunch break or something. Ride there, and show him that it can be done. Do the ride on that e-bike thing of yours. Lead by example of action, not remonstration. If a conversation does develop, ask him leading questions:
“So, how are you getting to work today?”
“Hmmmm, I don’t know.”
“Well, can you list all of the options?”
“Borrow your car”
“What else?”
“You drive me”
“Come back to this planet; what else?”
“Hitch a ride, walk, bike, e-bike, take a cab”
“Ok, great! Which ones can you afford?”
“Hitch, walk, bike, e-bike if I can borrow yours”
“I think you’ve done well! Pick one and be on your way son!”

]]> By: Jeff Gardner http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1536693 Jeff Gardner Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:37:53 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1536693 We all build most things in our lives upon inferior or incorrect information. We all spend inordinate amounts of time defending those decisions, and resist ferociously improvements upon them. Your son will makes the correct, most rational decision for the knowledge he has at this point in life. He will make rational decisions upon better information and awareness when he is ready to do so and probably not a minute sooner. Just like the rest of us. Until those parts of his journey unfold, probably the best you can do is be certain you are not altering the reality of his decisionmaking in any appreciable way -- subsidizing gas and maintenance, licensure if he accepts it and insurance if he pursues that. We all build most things in our lives upon inferior or incorrect information. We all spend inordinate amounts of time defending those decisions, and resist ferociously improvements upon them.

Your son will makes the correct, most rational decision for the knowledge he has at this point in life. He will make rational decisions upon better information and awareness when he is ready to do so and probably not a minute sooner. Just like the rest of us. Until those parts of his journey unfold, probably the best you can do is be certain you are not altering the reality of his decisionmaking in any appreciable way — subsidizing gas and maintenance, licensure if he accepts it and insurance if he pursues that.

]]> By: Charlene Paulus http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1525857 Charlene Paulus Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:13:07 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1525857 Who will pay for transportation expenses? May be a very expensive job if a car is involved. I applaud his work ethic but if you end up paying for a car, his job might cost you more than he makes. Who will pay for transportation expenses? May be a very expensive job if a car is involved. I applaud his work ethic but if you end up paying for a car, his job might cost you more than he makes.

]]> By: BluesCat http://www.commutebybike.com/2012/12/31/my-2013-resolution-shut-up-about-how-great-bikes-are/comment-page-1/#comment-1525385 BluesCat Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:32:30 +0000 http://www.commutebybike.com/?p=22524#comment-1525385 I dunno, Ted. An alternate bike route home from work takes me by the student parking lot of a big high school. As near as I can tell, this truism still holds: the flow of testosterone in the American male of high school age is STILL somehow directly connected to high performance internal combustion engines. Somehow, I just can't see a young fellow cruising his bicycle up by a couple of cheerleaders and opening up with a pickup line of "Hey, Baby, I'm environmentally friendly!" When it comes to acceptable transportation, here's more goin' on here than just responsible economics! I dunno, Ted. An alternate bike route home from work takes me by the student parking lot of a big high school. As near as I can tell, this truism still holds: the flow of testosterone in the American male of high school age is STILL somehow directly connected to high performance internal combustion engines.

Somehow, I just can’t see a young fellow cruising his bicycle up by a couple of cheerleaders and opening up with a pickup line of “Hey, Baby, I’m environmentally friendly!”

When it comes to acceptable transportation, here’s more goin’ on here than just responsible economics!

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