Could bicycles save the world?

[Kazak]

Really, if you think about it, bikes are an amazing invention, and seriously under-utilized by our species! Bicycles dramatically increase the travel range of an individual human while making the trip invariably easier on the body. The only negative environmental effect I can think of with bicycle travel is the need to cover natural terrain with a flat surface upon which to ride...guess what, that's already done! Imagine the impact if somehow we could instill as a societal norm that any trip under, say, ten miles should preferably be travelled by bicycle. There's a REAL solution that's easily within our power, we just have to do it. 'Just a thought...

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Fat and out of shape tho I may be...

...I COMPLETELY agree with you. Hell, I actually WAS riding the 6 miles home from work every day with my wife until a nasty foot problem shut me down. It was very slightly downhill most of the way, but often into the wind, and we could still do it in just over 40 minutes, compared to up to TWO HOURS by bus. On another side note, Vegas finally has a law whereby there has to be a bike lane on any new major street that is paved, but I still hear of bicyclists getting creamed in the bike lanes all the time by fucking morans with their cell phones and inattentive driving.

I dream of a day when cars on the roads are an exception and we all have big, beautiful 6-lane streets to ride together on with little fear of injury or accidents. Maybe, if we can hold the fabric of society together just long enough, it will come to pass. :)

[mikeytherat]

5. Around here, bike lanes become turn lanes

So, some idiot is six cars back from the light but wants to make a right turn. Suddenly, it dawns on him, "Why wait for the light when I've got a perfectly good turn lane right next to me." And away he goes, almost hitting two cyclists coming up behind him, and then he runs into a left-turning car which is crossing the intersection.

I used to ride a lot - idiots like the driver in the story above are why I no longer ride much.

mikey_the_rat

[Systematic Chaos]

9. I actually had the "pleasure" of smacking a car years ago

The guy coming at me from the opposite direction turned left without using a signal and cut directly in front of me. I was fortunate that I could swerve just enough to hit the back of his car instead of getting nailed almost headon, but I still did a flip about 8 feet into the air, came down on my stomach with a 20 pound bookbag crushing my spine, and ended up with a destroyed front fork and a broken wrist. I squeezed my brakes so hard trying to slow down that the pads literally slipped UNDER my rims and became useless... both front and rear wheels. The guy then sped off and the car behind him tried to catch him and get a license plate but couldn't before the guy I hit barely caught a yellow light down the road. That one mishap cost me hundreds of dollars in aid money to cover my hospital bills (of course I was uninsured), and effectively stuck the fabled fork into my college education.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Will cease to be problem

when oil is about $400 a barrel. Might be some sense at that point in moving to smaller country like England where bikes may be a bit more practical. :)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. "I dream of a day when ... we all have big, beautiful 6-lane streets"

Think of the great roller hockey we'll be able to play.

But wait! There's no need to imagine. Just take a look at Google image search for "White House Roller Hockey". If there's a better setting for roller hockey, I can't begin to guess what it would be.

How do we know they aren't terrists?

Pennsylvania Avenue behind the White House is closed to motorized vehicular traffic. It's not closed to all vehicles, as bicycles can get through just fine.

If I didn't have a bicycle, I'd be in big trouble.

[wtmusic]

2. Bicycles (on roads) are the most efficient form of transportation

including man, machine, and animals.

Your societal norm is a worthwhile goal...and the world would be a much better place.

[Mika]

3. I ride one every day to work.

Plus, its my main form of recreation (over 12,000 miles in the last year).

[wtmusic]

8. Be sure to check out the Bicycling group:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=324

[bryant69]

4. It would be nice

I personally would like really solid public transportation everywhere.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[genie_weenie]

6. The people in most nations

which do not enjoy conspicous consumption like the US have been doing this for years. China, Italy, France, Denmark. Especially in the large cities.

[kurth]

7. Imagine China reverting to bicycles and

EXPORTING oil like in the old days... Not to mention the one-child policy.