Commuting - Going mobile

America is perhaps the world's most mobile society. Our vast network of roadways, railroads and airlines has tied this giant young nation together as one. Today, we can jump in a car and travel in less than one hour the same distance it took our great- grandfathers all day to go. We have conquered time and space.

But when we step out of our machines, we can hardly walk to the next automotive device: an elevator, escalator, car. We have become the most mobile people on the planet. We have become the most immobile people in the world.

And the bicycle started it all.

Originally posted by MisterJ
And the bicycle started it all.

:eek: Oh, my!

Indeed it did. I believe it was in the LAB magazine I was reading over the weekend a blurb about how the whole system of improved roads started because of pressure from hundreds of thousands of cyclists who needed improved riding surfaces.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
But when we step out of our machines, we can hardly walk to the next automotive device: an elevator, escalator, car.[/B]

...with the escalator being the most depressing example. Even though the escalator is moving, that doesn't mean YOU have to stop, stare blankly into space, and block the way until it gets to the top. It's not a ride! Even if you aren't in a hurry, climbing some stairs is a great way to get a bit of free, quick, and easy exercise. The worst, of course, is people who won't even walk down the escalator.

Ok, sorry about the rant!

Originally posted by Neil G.
...with the escalator being the most depressing example. Even though the escalator is moving, that doesn't mean YOU have to stop, stare blankly into space, and block the way until it gets to the top.

In many places, escalator etiquette requires you to stand to the right so that people who want to climb/descend it like a normal staircase can do so to the left. Same with moving sidewalks such as at airports which have clear markings to this effect.

Originally posted by khuon
In many places, escalator etiquette requires you to stand to the right so that people who want to climb/descend it like a normal staircase can do so to the left. Same with moving sidewalks such as at airports which have clear markings to this effect.

I'm going to add this one to the Pet Peeve thread. Thanks for reminding me!

Originally posted by MisterJ
And the bicycle started it all.

That's interesting. All the propoganda from the auto-industry seems to say that everyone had a horse and cart before they had cars. Of course, they'd never tell us a lie...

Would they?

Originally posted by Chris L
That's interesting. All the propoganda from the auto-industry seems to say that everyone had a horse and cart before they had cars. Of course, they'd never tell us a lie...

Would they? If that was the case it might have evolved a bit differant , the horses would be riding the bikes ,now theres a thought :D us riding a horse while the horse is riding the bike , I think a helmet would be a must , for the human & the horse . A horse on a tandem should be able to get up quite a speed !

I'm sure that Pete had something else in mind when my tongue in cheek comment hijacked the thread. It is an excellent point that while we in the United States take our ability to move freely absolutely for granted, we have in many ways almost become enslaved and copendendent on our technological props.

Originally posted by MisterJ
I'm sure that Pete had something else in mind when my tongue in cheek comment hijacked the thread. It is an excellent point that while we in the United States take our ability to move freely absolutely for granted, we have in many ways almost become enslaved and copendendent on our technological props.

"Moving freely" can be interpreted a number of ways. I don't necessarily argue that moving great distances equates with moving freely. Particularly when you are so at the mercy of other factors outside your control.

I believe I move more freely on my bike than I ever could in a car. How so? Well, my bike is immune to traffic jams, so I can ride a 30 minute commute and know that it's going to take 30 minutes, not 2 hours. I can fix virtually everything that goes wrong, or at least rig it up well enough to get home. My fuel is my body, which is largely self-replenishing.

So are we moving freely or moving great distances?