Commuting - Have your cake and eat it, too

Cycling as transportation addresses so many specific ills that I wonder why it is not already on front page news.

1) Obesity.

2) Pollution.

3) Urban gridlock.

4) Heart disease/stroke.

5) Financial difficulty.

6) Depression.

7) Boredom.

Is there any other single thing that does all of these things, yet actually costs less than every other alternative?

What have I missed?

I was reading an essay by S. I. Hayakawa last night, in which he pointed out that people want "magical" solutions for their woes--they don't want to make any effort.

That might be why cycling hasn't caught on despite all its indisputable benefits (which you have pretty thoroughly listed).

And I suspect it isn't front-page news because the oil and automotive companies control the front pages. :mad:

Thanks, Jon!

Sometimes I forget the Bikeforums are already saturated with
revelations like these...

Hey, it came from my gut, anyway!

Here's my point (just between boring old people who repeat themselves too much: ) if it were a new genetically engineered new drug, or a revolutionary fitness/diet program by [insert your favorite fitness guru here,] or maybe a newly discovered everyday household product (like baking soda or something,) or Ovaltine, or anything but bicycling, it would make millions.

People would be killing themselves with it. It would make the news just because people were dying from it.

:)

I was reading an essay by S. I. Hayakawa last night, in which he pointed out that people want "magical" solutions for their woes--they don't want to make any effort.


That's why I love cycling. It seems like cycling really does accomplish that.

I get to work and back in the same amount of time I'd spend on the train or driving. So I get my aerobic fitness without having to spend any extra time "exercising."

I spend less money. I have more fun. I get to buy new stuff, guilt-free. I can feel smug about how I'm not damaging the atmosphere.

What's not "magical" about that? :p

RichC

Originally posted by JonR
And I suspect it isn't front-page news because the oil and automotive companies control the front pages. :mad:

Yeah, man. Look at that list. There is an industry built around treating the symptoms of each item! :eek:

Originally posted by roadbuzz


Yeah, man. Look at that list. There is an industry built around treating the symptoms of each item! :eek:
I love doctors. My father is one.

But if cardiologists are highly paid (relatively speaking,) then how much should we pay Effective Cycling Instructors?

Originally posted by Pete Clark
I love doctors. My father is one.

But if cardiologists are highly paid (relatively speaking,) then how much should we pay Effective Cycling Instructors?
Unfortunately all the Effective Cycling instructors I've met are volunteers and get only a few dollars for each class they teach. May not even cover their costs. :irritated

People pay for professional instruction in skiing, horseriding, skydiving, sub-aqua diving, yet the death and injury numbers for these is pretty small compared to cycling.

If you are bought up with a cycling culture, then its obvious what you have to do, but today, most people dont know what to do, and even worse, dont realise their ignorance, believing that everyone still knows about this skill. Even worse, they dont even realise that it is a skill, believing that "It's as easy as riding a bike".

How can you charge money to teach something which
a. is inherently easy
b. everyone knows how to do.

Originally posted by MichaelW

How can you charge money to teach something which
a. is inherently easy
b. everyone knows how to do.
Ask sex counselors! :D

Seriously, though, good point, Michael.

Originally posted by MichaelW
Even worse, they dont even realise that it is a skill, believing that "It's as easy as riding a bike".

How can you charge money to teach something which
a. is inherently easy
b. everyone knows how to do.

I saw a billboard for Comsec on the way home from a ride once, claiming they make on-line share trading as easy as riding a bike. I remember thinking they obviously weren't thinking of where I had just been when they made that particular add. :eek: