Rise of the Pedaltarian

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

The bicycle is superior to the motor-car. Healthier for people and the environment.

We should invest in bicycle culture.

Human power should be a major source of renewable energy that we look into.

Comments

[zen-monk.livejournal.com]

(am a shameless lurker with shameful anime/video game icons)

So then instead of a sedan, we should sedan "chairs" with willing human laborers to heft the palanquin of upper class might unto their shoulders? :P

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

scooters too! P-Town are friends of mine

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

I've heard good things.

you in Portland?

all it is like a big big lie.

[zebra24.livejournal.com]

"Invest" means profit. If so then just leave it as is - mankind will find this profit and make it for you.

Otherwise you just trying to push other "green" project for taxpayers money.

Human power IS less effective than Horse and even less effective than engine's power.
Both in terms of speed AND price AND quality.

(try to hire anybody to drive you on his legs into the town 20 miles from you).

Then try to use Taxi or your own car.

Actually, no.

[squidb0i.livejournal.com]

If you're talking about a direct one to one ratio of work vs time, absolutely, the car wins hands down every time.

But if you actually look at total energy input that goes into mining the metal and other materials to make the factory to make the parts that make the car to burn the fuel found at great expense pulled out of the ground defended by the worlds largest military budget, refined, and shipped to where the car is... bicycle wins.

[merig00.livejournal.com]

that reminded me...

http://gothamist.com/2010/04/22/nypd_seen_confiscating_bikes_along.php

NYPD Confiscated Bikes on Obama Motorcade Route
"citing security concerns that bikes might be secret pipe bombs, NYPD officers clipped the locks of hundreds of bikes along Houston Street this morning in preparation for President Obama's speech at Cooper Union. The bikes were unceremoniously put in the back of the truck. Onlookers were not given information as to what would become of the bikes. Happy Earth Day!"

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Hey don't ridicule, a friend of mine actually had a bicycle bomb dropped in front of him once. Of course he was in Saigon at the time and he ran away faster than the kid who left it :D

[korean-guy-01.livejournal.com]

Al Gore and the other Green worshippers should get right on that.

[thies.livejournal.com]

they are pootering around on their eco friendly segways and can't hear you over the turbines of their learjets

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

I want levitating easy-chairs, ala Dune.

Bicyclists are annoying.

[reality-hammer.livejournal.com]

Look how well it worked for China!

[zebra24.livejournal.com]

Please tell me about it! :)

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

What?!!! Are you anti-beaver?

let me walk

[http://users.livejournal.com/aviation_/]

nothing better than douchey bike riders complaining about cars and then being complete assholes towards pedestrians

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

it would not surprise me that after the oil runs out and surplus populations remain, that people are paid hourly wages to exercize on stationary bikes to power industry. Cheaper then paying the carbon tax

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

And then move on to just putting them into modules that use the biochemical energy in their bodies directly...

[thies.livejournal.com]

after the apocalypse, when cities are being rebuilt with that in mind - sure

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

In my mind I heard a crunching sound there.

[evildamsel.livejournal.com]

No thank you.

[satellitewish.livejournal.com]

Way to discriminate against physically disabled people

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I was hoping that someone would say this so that I wouldn't have to. Thank you.

Seriously, for able-bodied people, biking or walking to work is a brilliant idea. I intentionally moved to within walking distance of my job for two different jobs now, and I love my walking-based lifestyle. But what happens if I become disabled tomorrow? It could happen to ANYONE, no matter how young and healthy. You might be hit with a crippling illness, or (while biking to save the planet) hit by a car.

So what about the disabled folks? Are they only supposed to bike, too? And what happens when suddenly you find yourself unable to walk or bike?

[sgiffy.livejournal.com]

I'll handle the disabled, you deal with the old! We'll have to find someone to handle those pesky kids though.

Look I am all for investing in bike infrastructure. Please tax me more and build it even though I don't bike. But no, it is not going to be the primary mode of transportation for a huge number of people

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Holland. The spaces are very small there. The idea would work in those conditions perfectly.
In America? I'm not so sure. I can't imagine someone living in NYC, Chicago or Houston who works 20 km away from home, taking that distance twice a day by bike.

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

We don't only travel for work!

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

Awesome idea. I'll just pack my two kids up, and go biking to the store. I live in Michigan so this should be an especially awesome idea from November-March.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Extreme Snow Biking, home edition.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

No disagreement from me here :D Except I'd prefer the term "pedaltariat" it'll scare the wingnuts more :P

[dukexmachismo.livejournal.com]

Just for the record: are you suggesting completely replacing cars, or have like 20 people misunderstood you? Thanks for the clarification. ;)

Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to have the EPA put Energy Star stickers on all the SUVs?

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

People constantly misunderstand me.
I have come too soon.

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

The bicycle is much better than the auto because it promotes exercise, health, enjoyment, public safety and a sense of community. The only thing you get from autos is that stinking exhaust and that fat ass you sit on all day long.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Suburbs and work commutes are what makes this seem unlikely right now. After WW2, cheap production of cars, then followed by the development of the Interstate highway system allowed people to move out of cities, which in turn allowed long distance commutes to jobs in the cities. Coincidently, that was about the last time many public transit systems had any major increases in either infrastructure spending or new lines (e.g. here in New York City) or saw reduction in services. Until gas prices get to a level where they encourage people to stop long distance commutes, nothing will really change in this country.

[peamasii.livejournal.com]

Yes, but the solutions are clear, if we could stop being so subservient to the economies of scale mentality. Stop suburban sprawl construction, invest in redesigning denser and more practical city cores, invest in public transport infrastructure, and concentrate living space around workplaces (or alternately allow telecommuting) and schools. Jobs and schools are where most active people spend most of their time. Limit mobility in jobs in and schools (the legal and social systems are quite weak for this), there's no need to move every two years in search of something that pays off better. Put the brakes on mobility, what we gain as individuals we lose as a community.

New Urbanism tends to deal with some of these issues and how planning can transform the empty wastelands built around freeways into dense communities which have practical and cultural appeal. But people have to stop thinking in terms of maximizing annual incomes and start thinking about more sustainable, cleaner ways of working and living together. The whole system of freeways, commutes and larger paychecks only leads to the exhaustion of resources and loss of confidence in ourselves as society. I for one enjoy walking when I need to go to the store, living in a neighbourhood where children have many places to play safely, trusting my neighbours, biking through parks close to my home, going to public swimming pools in the summer, etc. You don't need to recreate all the comforts within a suburban home when you can enjoy them publicly with your peers, architecture and planning are part of the local culture. The local culture should be alive, promoted and subsidised, and that all this is part of a quality of life which people are deprived of, in most places.

Tongue firmly in cheak

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Human power should be a major source of renewable energy that we look into.

You mean Bean & Chease Power.

My bicycle is a burrito-powered conveyance.