"The day after tomorrow"-Does it just seem to me that attitude to cycling improves?

[Max]

I have not seen the movie yet. But I heard a lot already about it. As far as I understand - it is big and attracts attention to the problem of climate change due to fossil fuel misusage.

It seems people look at me cycling now as at the harbinger of (or saviour from) the incoming carbon-disaster. Does it only seem to me? Did anyone notice any change in attitude?

[ewitz]

I look at carbon as the saviour of cycling. Lght good STW ratio and high zoot snob appeal.

[Max]

I look at carbon as the saviour of cycling. Lght good STW ratio and high zoot snob appeal.

I did not mean the usage of carbon for bike frames. I was talking about burning the carbohydrates, aka fossil fuel, on mass scale, what causes the climate change.

I did not own bike with the carbon frame yet. By the way - it is the good idea - to use the excessive carbon dioxide for producing material for bike frames. Hmm...

[DeafLamb]

I did not mean the usage of carbon for bike frames. I was talking about burning the carbohydrates, aka fossil fuel, on mass scale, what causes the climate change.

I did not own bike with the carbon frame yet. By the way - it is the good idea - to use the excessive carbon dioxide for producing material for bike frames. Hmm...

I think he was just screwing with you...

Anyway I don't think that the majority of the human population will ever consider bicycles as an alternative to cars. The real hope is vechiles that do not use fossil fuels along with improved mass transit. Even if mass transit was greatly improved I still don't think most would go with out personal vechiles like cars. We have become so acustomed to being abel to travel long distances in short times. Who on a bicycle would try to get from new jersey to florida in 24 hours?

Ray

[LittleBigMan]

...I don't think that the majority of the human population will ever consider bicycles as an alternative to cars.

I have to agree with you there, DeafLamb. I think only people that love bicycling will ever consider cycling as an alternative to driving.

However, one thing's for sure. If driving gets expensive enough, there are a whole lot of people that will consider cycling as an alternative to walking.

:D

[iamlucky13]

Space.com posted a review of the movie and referred to an interview another source did with the director. He stated that he didn't want it to be taken as environmental awareness movie, but as more of a sci-fi thriller. If environmental awareness is going to progress, it needs to be serious, and this movie definitely isn't. It's possibly even more unbelievable than that stupid earthquake mini-series that just came out. From the review, it sounds like the world basically falls apart in a couple of days. It's pretty clear the director was just trying to have fun with special effects, with little care about plot or characters and absolutely no care for science or advancing environmental concerns.

With that said, it may still be worth watching simply to see New York and LA get wasted in graphic fashion. It can't be any worse than Deep Impact :D

[smeghead]

It was an ok movie to watch, good job on the effects but didn't have much depth to it like you said. It really fizzled out after 2/3.

[Raiyn]

<snip> I was talking about burning the carbohydrates, aka fossil fuel, on mass scale, what causes the climate change.

<snip>
What? You want to put the world on the Atkins diet?


The word is Hydrocarbons http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Hydrocarbons :rolleyes:

[slvoid]

Anyway I don't think that the majority of the human population will ever consider bicycles as an alternative to cars.
Ray

Well if you count asia and india and south america and some parts of europe, you very well do have a majority of the human population...
You must mean majority of the fat, lazy, over indulgent america population.

[cyclezealot]

The reason in some countries cycling is an alternative. Because they do not encourage urban sprawl, where they live 2 hours from work...On the surface that is crazy.. Why do we do it..I think land use and speculation...Have to go to Booneyville to live to find afrodable housing..
There should be a variety of housing in closer proximity to all work areas.. Just does not make sense...
In places like the Netherlands...People live in liveable cities with all services in close proximity.And about 60 % commute by bike...
Question...Many of our bedroom communites are sterile..Are we really happy in this sterile, artifical suburbs with no central focus, but the mall... Don't think in many communities we can find a "Cheers' like pub where everyone knows your name. Pubs in the malls are just for stangers.
But in real towns with a real city with established institutions of non-commuting citizens- you might just find a familiar bartender with old friends about.
Liked the point made in the book Asphalt Nation...Reason Americans like Disneyland, but Europeans don't ...Some are lucky enough to have real cities.
Back to the main point...In real cities with a greater sense of community..A great percentage of the population might find bike commuting possible.

[Chris L]

We have become so acustomed to being abel to travel long distances in short times. Who on a bicycle would try to get from new jersey to florida in 24 hours?



I wouldn't use a car for those sort of distances either. A plane could probably do the job in 3-4 hours, and I don't expect the cost of the ticket would outstrip the cost of fuel for the car by all that much.

[Max]

Who on a bicycle would try to get from new jersey to florida in 24 hours?


I cycled from Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh, PA, and from Hamburg to Copenhagen.

I would love to cycle from New Jersey to Florida. I would most certaily do it, if there were the comprehensible bike trail with bike camping sites.

If there were the good quality dedicated asphalt trails between ciies, many people would travel between cities on bikes. Have a look on the trail between Vienna and Linz. It is far from ideal (though the best in the word certainly), still it is travelled by thousands daily.

[LittleBigMan]

Well if you count asia and india and south america and some parts of europe, you very well do have a majority of the human population...
You must mean majority of the fat, lazy, over indulgent america population.
Touche.

[Dahon.Steve]

I think he was just screwing with you...

Even if mass transit was greatly improved I still don't think most would go with out personal vechiles like cars. We have become so acustomed to being abel to travel long distances in short times. Who on a bicycle would try to get from new jersey to florida in 24 hours?

Ray

Mass transit will NEVER be improved because there is too much power, influence and money in making you finance and pay for new cars. Furthermore, it's not just the automakers but you can add the home builders and the highway construction folks to that equation.

I've become acustomed to traveling long distances in short times too. By train. Last Saturday, I travelled over 75 miles using a train and my bicycle road along. It took about an hour and a half and came out of the train refreshed and stress free for my 50 mile ride along the beaches! Along the route, the highway was loaded with cars bumper to bumper all headed for the beach but our train traveled at 90 mph!

It's too bad people only think you can travel long distance by car. I'm glad I live in city where there are subways, lightrails and express trains.

As for going from New Jersey to Florida by Bicycle. Never. I live in New Jersey and would prefer a bus/train or airplane.

[markm109]

I live only 10 miles from work and have considered commuting by bike this summer. What is holding me back is how to not be sweaty when I get there, helmet hair and making it to work alive. Very few roads in Michigan have paved lanes for bikes. In fact the roads are barely paved wide enough for cars. I don't like the idea of biking along the white line and having SUV's and such flying by at 50MPH and wondering why I'm on their road holding them up.

I can take the dirt back roads but that means mtb and hills. It's not the hour commute vs. 20 min, it would be good exercise, but how to you stay presentable by the time you get there?

Mark

[Dahon.Steve]

it's hard to transport things on a train. like groceries, beach toys, tv's, bed, a firdge... toilets etc. O_o

I guess you haven't been to the beach in a long time as most people do NOT bring TV's or toilets!!

[billwatson58]

http://www.ucomics.com/tonyauth/2004/05/31/

another one, a bit OT: http://borgman.enquirer.com/weekly/daily_html/2004/06/060104borgman.html

[billwatson58]

I live only 10 miles from work and have considered commuting by bike this summer. What is holding me back is how to not be sweaty when I get there, helmet hair and making it to work alive. Very few roads in Michigan have paved lanes for bikes. In fact the roads are barely paved wide enough for cars. I don't like the idea of biking along the white line and having SUV's and such flying by at 50MPH and wondering why I'm on their road holding them up.

I can take the dirt back roads but that means mtb and hills. It's not the hour commute vs. 20 min, it would be good exercise, but how to you stay presentable by the time you get there?

Mark

Mark - Go to the Commuting section http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20 and you will find all kinds of advice on the sweaty issue. My routine is cool down first, and then break out the unscented baby wipes and the deodorant/anti-perspirant. Don't be afraid to take the lane when you need to, and get a helmet mounted rear view mirror.

[Dahon.Steve]

http://www.ucomics.com/tonyauth/2004/05/31/

another one, a bit OT: http://borgman.enquirer.com/weekly/daily_html/2004/06/060104borgman.html


Those comics were funny... Especially the one about all those cars going to see a movie about "Global Warming"...

Too much.

You know the sad thing about that picture is you see a cyclist in front of all those cars was exactly what happened to me. Over the weekend, I went to see "The Day After Tomorrow" on my bicycle. I was the ONLY person who did this and the parking lot was full of motorist fighting for the last spot. I met up with my brother and his wife who both rode in their motor car.

Anyway... That comic really hit home...

[Max]

it's hard to transport things on a train. like groceries, beach toys, tv's, bed, a firdge... toilets etc. O_o

This is how it is done on a bike:

[Max]

is that chick really pedaling all that weight? looks like a good training regimen.

Yes. Really. It is some company that I read about. They specialize in transporting items, which do no fit in a car.

[CroquetTragic]

Cyclezealot makes some great points.

If you want to know how our country got to be so anti-city/town and sprawled all over the place, pick up _Geography of Nowhere and/or _Home from Nowhere_ by James Howard Kunstler.

ds

[bpohl]

Cyclezealot makes some great points.

If you want to know how our country got to be so anti-city/town and sprawled all over the place, pick up _Geography of Nowhere and/or _Home from Nowhere_ by James Howard Kunstler.

ds
Amen to that... GREAT BOOKS!!!

[greywolf]

I wouldn't use a car for those sort of distances either. A plane could probably do the job in 3-4 hours, and I don't expect the cost of the ticket would outstrip the cost of fuel for the car by all that much.
I read some where that aircraft are among the largest polluters & they deliver the pollution right where it does the most harm :mad:

[Chris L]

I read some where that aircraft are among the largest polluters & they deliver the pollution right where it does the most harm :mad:

First I've heard of that. Bear in mind that an aircraft carries a lot more people simultaneously than a car does, and spends a lot less time spurting out this pollution. Now ask yourself this question. Will a plane operating for three hours put out any more pollution than 40 or 50 cars operating for three days (i.e. the time required to cover the distance in question)? Somehow I have my doubts.

[greywolf]

First I've heard of that. Bear in mind that an aircraft carries a lot more people simultaneously than a car does, and spends a lot less time spurting out this pollution. Now ask yourself this question. Will a plane operating for three hours put out any more pollution than 40 or 50 cars operating for three days (i.e. the time required to cover the distance in question)? Somehow I have my doubts.
www.knmi.nl/~velthove/aircraft.html
It seems its a well hidden form of pollution which seems to target the ozone layer, a issue which affects us here in the southern hemisphere
www.newscientist.com/hottopics/pollution/pollution.jsp?=ns99992926

[greywolf]

I read some where that aircraft are among the largest polluters & they deliver the pollution right where it does the most harm :mad:
Heres another one Chris ,this one lets you calculate how much fuel & how much pollution is used & made for each passenger on any specific flight ! www.chooseclimate.org/flying/mapcalc.html