Living Car Free - Bike vs. Animal Transport?

With gasoline prices so high, I'm seeing a lot more people ride bicycles. However, cycling takes effort...a big difference from driving!

I wonder if humans have become so addicted to the physical-effortlessment [?] of driving that, if people start using, say, horses again, they'd start using animals for transportation.

What do you guys think? Personally, I'd have a tough time choosing between my Camel and Trike... Yes, the trike would probably win, but, damn, I love that camel!

With gasoline prices so high, I'm seeing a lot more people ride bicycles. However, cycling takes effort...a big difference from driving!

I wonder if humans have become so addicted to the physical-effortlessment [?] of driving that, if people start using, say, horses again, they'd start using animals for transportation.

What do you guys think? Personally, I'd have a tough time choosing between my Camel and Trike... Yes, the trike would probably win, but, damn, I love that camel!

Hey Now! It's a family board, keep what you do with your camel to yourself!:twitchy::eek::innocent::roflmao2:

The Amish never gave up on animal transportation. You should see all the buggies hitched up at Walmart.

in all the time i lived in Appleton, I never once saw a camel!

As long as local municipalities enforce the poop situation I'm fine with it.

I just don't want to step in it.

As long as local municipalities enforce the poop situation I'm fine with it.

I just don't want to step in it.

yeah.

Those pesky cyclists pooping everywhere...gets annoying.:D

yeah.

Those pesky cyclists pooping everywhere...gets annoying.:D

That's why I got me some of them cycling shorts. They have a little diaper built right into them.

That's why I got me some of them cycling shorts. They have a little diaper built right into them.

I THOUGHT you were walking a little bow legged.
:roflmao2:

Having kept working horses...they ain't cheap! In reality, as cars become more expensive to operate people will shift to motorized 2 wheel transport with bicycles being the transit choice of last resort....except for a few of us diehards.

Aaron:)

Having kept working horses...they ain't cheap! In reality, as cars become more expensive to operate people will shift to motorized 2 wheel transport with bicycles being the transit choice of last resort....except for a few of us diehards.

Aaron:)

Even at the peak of animal powered transport, only a minority of people actually used horses for personal transport. I don't think they'll ever be very practical in most areas for personal travel.

They might work for some short-distance cargo transport--delivery wagons, moving vans, taking freight from the RR station to businesses and residences, etc.

Pack llamas were very efficient in Peru for the Incan Empire.... Everyone had a at least a few of them, they were not just for a minority. There is no reason that the Horse should be the default animal for transportation. They are however, great for warfare! I could see a whole lot of people owning smaller pack/ride animals and having it work out ok. I mean, I know a lot of girls who have dogs that are so big they could probably ride them! Maybe if gas really does finally dry up AND no one is willing to give up their effortless style of transportation, we could come up with genetically designed species of animal that is really efficient and strong? How about riding modified Ostriches? Kangaroos? Suggestions?

Chocobos?

As long as local municipalities enforce the poop situation I'm fine with it.

I just don't want to step in it.

Poo flying off the front wheel doesn't sound fun. I passed the Houston rodeo trail ride last year on bike and they were just plain slow and messy. Can you get a DWI(DUI) riding an animal is it just a PI?

Poo flying off the front wheel doesn't sound fun. I passed the Houston rodeo trail ride last year on bike and they were just plain slow and messy. Can you get a DWI(DUI) riding an animal is it just a PI?

Probably PI...but they did bust one guy around here for running moonshine on his horse...he was riding down the middle of a 5 lane road at 3 am, drunker than all get out. Apparently the horse knew where it was going, got pulled over by the local police and they noticed the multiple gallon jugs hanging off the saddle:rolleyes: He was arrested, incarcerated and the horse was impounded.:roflmao2:

Aaron:)

Having had a little experience with horses; bikes are a whole lot less expensive and a whole lot less trouble. Plus you won't likely find a bike that thinks it's funny to bite you or kick you when you're back is turned; and various other little tricks.

Even at the peak of animal powered transport, only a minority of people actually used horses for personal transport. I don't think they'll ever be very practical in most areas for personal travel.

They might work for some short-distance cargo transport--delivery wagons, moving vans, taking freight from the RR station to businesses and residences, etc.

What???? Have you ever watched a western before? Everyone in those movies were riding horses. ;)

Having had a little experience with horses; bikes are a whole lot less expensive and a whole lot less trouble. Plus you won't likely find a bike that thinks it's funny to bite you or kick you when you're back is turned; and various other little tricks.

Bicycles don't eat when you aren't riding them. And there are two bike stores locally, I not sure where my local farrier or stable is.

Chocobos?

Yes please. I'll take a gold one.

My grandfather (who lived in Northern Canada...) used to keep a team of dogs. He didn't own a motor vehicle of any sort, so it was his only means of moving cargo in the winter.

If you think driving a car is a hazard... imagine commuting to work and having to worry if your vehicle will eat a pedestrian.

If every car in this country was replaced by a horse, the smell would be unbearable.
Horse droppings would pollute the waterways after every rainstorm.
The tainted runoff would cause an explosion of algae to bloom in the oceans and lakes.
This would then cause all the fish to die.
When it comes to pollution, no matter how bad cars are, they are not nearly as bad as horses.

My grandfather (who lived in Northern Canada...) used to keep a team of dogs. He didn't own a motor vehicle of any sort, so it was his only means of moving cargo in the winter.

If you think driving a car is a hazard... imagine commuting to work and having to worry if your vehicle will eat a pedestrian.

Works for me...especially on the MUP:roflmao2:

Aaron:)

You mean like, herding the cats and hitching them to a wagon to pick up groceries? My life means more to me than that. Besides Toronto has some hard and fast laws about animal transport. I think it's mostly one of the cats freaking out (just one?) and attacking another animal transporter. I can't imagine the fine.

If every car in this country was replaced by a horse, the smell would be unbearable.
Horse droppings would pollute the waterways after every rainstorm.
The tainted runoff would cause an explosion of algae to bloom in the oceans and lakes.
This would then cause all the fish to die.
When it comes to pollution, no matter how bad cars are, they are not nearly as bad as horses.

And that was one of the main arguments made in favor of cars in the early 1900s. Think of tryinto dispose of all the manure dumped in New York City in one day! :eek: Another consideration was that cars were thought to be safer than horses--many people were killed by runaway teams.

(It seems strange now, but people back then actually did stop and think about it befiore investing in the automobilke. There were many political and social discussions, letters to the editor, Congressional hearings, etc.)

If every car in this country was replaced by a horse, the smell would be unbearable.
Horse droppings would pollute the waterways after every rainstorm.
The tainted runoff would cause an explosion of algae to bloom in the oceans and lakes.
This would then cause all the fish to die.
When it comes to pollution, no matter how bad cars are, they are not nearly as bad as horses.

Aren't there already about twice as many beef cattle worldwide as automobiles? Throw a saddle on them.

And yes, they're quite an environmental problem as well, though noone wants to hear about that.

If every car in this country was replaced by a horse, the smell would be unbearable.
Horse droppings would pollute the waterways after every rainstorm.
The tainted runoff would cause an explosion of algae to bloom in the oceans and lakes.
This would then cause all the fish to die.
When it comes to pollution, no matter how bad cars are, they are not nearly as bad as horses.

Exactly. When the automobile was first becoming popular, it was touted as being cleaner than the horse. During the 19th C., disposal of horse manure in the larger cities was a MAJOR public health concern.

With gasoline prices so high, I'm seeing a lot more people ride bicycles. However, cycling takes effort...a big difference from driving!

I wonder if humans have become so addicted to the physical-effortlessment [?] of driving that, if people start using, say, horses again, they'd start using animals for transportation.

What do you guys think? Personally, I'd have a tough time choosing between my Camel and Trike... Yes, the trike would probably win, but, damn, I love that camel!

You want a good example of what it would be like? Take a trip to our Mackinaw Island sometime around June, July or August. Bring your own clothespin.

You want a good example of what it would be like? Take a trip to our Mackinaw Island sometime around June, July or August. Bring your own clothespin.

On Mackinac Island they usually get that crap cleaned up almost before it falls out of the horse. It would be harder to do this in a "real" big city that didn't have a lot of tourist doollars.

There are a lot of dogs around that would like to work some more if done the right way. Most of them are bored stiff and getting fat and understimulated, just like theyr owners.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk51/badmother-bikes/Royashorse.jpg

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk51/badmother-bikes/GetAttachment.jpg

Dog # 2 doesn't appear to be working very hard!

:)

Dog # 2 doesn't appear to be working very hard!

:)

Same dog, same trailer. Sometimes he pulls it, sometimes he ride in it when on long rides. Just got him a great leather harness for pulling.

http://www.cartingwithyourdog.com/

http://www.dogpoweredscooter.com/

http://www.messybeast.com/history/working.htm

http://www.messybeast.com/history/working2.htm

http://www.messybeast.com/history/dogcarts.htm

http://www.cartingwithyourdog.com/

http://www.dogpoweredscooter.com/

http://www.messybeast.com/history/working.htm

http://www.messybeast.com/history/working2.htm

http://www.messybeast.com/history/dogcarts.htm

Unfortunately I don't have a dog. Any ideas for a team of cats?

Unfortunately I don't have a dog. Any ideas for a team of cats?

The Norse Goddess Freya was said to travel in a chariot drawn by giant cats.

Unfortunately I don't have a dog. Any ideas for a team of cats?

Remember, dogs have masters, cats have staff. :D

http://www.siberiancats.com/race_files/sledcats19.jpg