I find it very interesting...
10-16-06, 03:54 PM
#1
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I find it very interesting...
I find it very interesting that there are two very similar forums; one "commuting", and the other "Living CarFree". It's great that the subject is so vast and popular that it has divided into separate identities, but the only downside is that I might lose the audience of one , when posting on the other, when ultimately I want to exchange with both. In CarFree, I was just going on about how I strive to be CarLite (I think the 'hurdles' thread). I live way the heck out of the way from town (I'm not complaining, I love it up here!), and with a hyoog climb to boot, so bike commuting from my neck of the woods isn't for pansies. However, I strive and strive and strive, and admire the bike commuters above all others ! I attack each one of my obstacles patiently. I have it down to a couple hard to clear obstacles, but I'm definitely facing the right direction. The Obstacle is The Path.
~jen
~jen
10-16-06, 03:59 PM
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No kidding, I just posted a Train story in Road cycling that could easily be posted here or in Classics. When in doubt I post in Road. https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/237611-stop-train.html
10-16-06, 04:16 PM
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Interesting comment. I am finding that the only two sections of the bike forums that I ever read (except for an occasional side trip to some others) are commuting and living car-free. Maybe that's because I don't particularly enjoy riding a bike, I just like driving a car less.
10-16-06, 04:32 PM
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Some of us commute but there's no way I can live without a car. The job just doesn't permit it and I like my life with a car.
10-16-06, 05:05 PM
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I could live Car free if I ware not married. It takes the kids to long to go anywhere on the bikes.
10-16-06, 05:13 PM
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The reason for two different forums is simple - not everyone who commutes is car-free and I suspect that not everyone who is car-free commutes by bicycle. A lot of folks are active on both (and more). So you're probably reaching the audience you want, and if the results of a thread indicate otherwise, you can always start a similar thread in the other forum. Relax, see the ball, be - the - ball... 
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-16-06, 05:13 PM
#7
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Hm, I find myself looking only at Commuting and Advocacy & Safety. The former, because I get good tips about types of gear and ways of negotiating traffic; and the latter, because I am a voyeuristic masochist.
I agree that Commuting and CarFree have a lot in common. I am definitely not car-free; as other posters mentioned, I ride in other people's cars plenty (lunch trips, visits to friends, etc.) although I am essentially car-free in that I possess a title to a car that is currently rotting in the driveway with a dead battery.
In my imagination - and feel free to correct me - CarFree is more politically active, and Commuting is mainly about getting to and from work without getting squished.
I agree that Commuting and CarFree have a lot in common. I am definitely not car-free; as other posters mentioned, I ride in other people's cars plenty (lunch trips, visits to friends, etc.) although I am essentially car-free in that I possess a title to a car that is currently rotting in the driveway with a dead battery.
In my imagination - and feel free to correct me - CarFree is more politically active, and Commuting is mainly about getting to and from work without getting squished.
10-16-06, 05:14 PM
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Car lite is a perfect middle ground. Still, when my wife's car is paid off I think we may go up to two vehicles. I want a motorcycle! However, when would I ever ride it?
10-16-06, 05:14 PM
#9
Destroyer of Wheels
If I lived somewhere that it was practical for me to have a car I absolutely would - but ideally commute by bike to work/school.
I just love the road trip way too much.
I also pretty much read all the forums since I have a mtn bike that I ride on the road, I have a vintage folding bike, and am a Clydesdale. Gotta learn how to fix all this stuff too! And I think the fixed crowd is neat and at some point will either convert my ss folding bike to fixed or get a fixed bike. After I get a touring bike.
I just love the road trip way too much.
I also pretty much read all the forums since I have a mtn bike that I ride on the road, I have a vintage folding bike, and am a Clydesdale. Gotta learn how to fix all this stuff too! And I think the fixed crowd is neat and at some point will either convert my ss folding bike to fixed or get a fixed bike. After I get a touring bike.
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10-16-06, 05:18 PM
#10
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(prepares to duck) I think the mods ought to do some linking of appropriately multi-topic threads.
(actual crosslinking, not crossposting...one thread able to be commented on by links from multiple forums)
maybe that's the next big thing in forum software...who knows.
I read both (as I've got 1 leg in the carfree community but the other still occasionally drives since I don't have good cold and wet weather gear.) and there's definately a difference of philosophies. We commuters are mostly worried about bikes, lights, weather gear and interacting with traffic while the LCF (living car free) forum is more concerened with solving the really interesting problems like how to haul a TV, pumpkin or child back and forth on a bike, as well as with the general lifestyle of living without cars.
I think since car-free people are by nature commuters, that they read this forum too and that possibly car-free related things that fall more into commuting can be put here without much worry of being missed.
(actual crosslinking, not crossposting...one thread able to be commented on by links from multiple forums)
maybe that's the next big thing in forum software...who knows.
I read both (as I've got 1 leg in the carfree community but the other still occasionally drives since I don't have good cold and wet weather gear.) and there's definately a difference of philosophies. We commuters are mostly worried about bikes, lights, weather gear and interacting with traffic while the LCF (living car free) forum is more concerened with solving the really interesting problems like how to haul a TV, pumpkin or child back and forth on a bike, as well as with the general lifestyle of living without cars.
I think since car-free people are by nature commuters, that they read this forum too and that possibly car-free related things that fall more into commuting can be put here without much worry of being missed.
10-16-06, 05:22 PM
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CarLite!
Originally Posted by bbonnn
In my imagination - and feel free to correct me - CarFree is more politically active, and Commuting is mainly about getting to and from work without getting squished.
Anyway, I think then, that CarLite is it's whole separate politics... perhaps more compassionate to the realities of those with families, or those who live up steep mtns away from town (me)
, or those who have one or many unsurmountable obstacles --- but who try regardless!!!PartWay commuting , where you bridge the gap, do whatever it takes so you actually ride at least some of it/most of it/ all of it some days -- for whatever reason -- health, example to community, obsessive-compulsive disorder
.... whateverCarLite is what I strive for , though I am truly in deep admiration of the CarFree.
~jen
Last edited by guenevere; 10-16-06 at 05:43 PM.
10-16-06, 05:32 PM
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The carfree forum has too much of a religious "Cars-R-Coffins" fervor about it for my tastes. I tune into the Commuting forum for reports on your commutes, and discussion related to solving commuting difficulties - gear reviews, riding techniques, whatever... Maybe it gets a bit preachy here too from time to time, but I can handle it.
10-16-06, 05:49 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by Phantoj
The carfree forum has too much of a religious "Cars-R-Coffins" fervor about it for my tastes.
10-16-06, 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
Car lite is a perfect middle ground. Still, when my wife's car is paid off I think we may go up to two vehicles. I want a motorcycle! However, when would I ever ride it?
I end up using that motorcycle for all of my longer trips (>15 mi). I have to make frequest trips to a few nearby cities, one is 60 mi (each way) one is 109 mi, and the other is 178 mi. The motorcycle is ideal for this purpose and it helps keep the expenses low. Keep in mind that a motorcycle is really no cheaper to opperate than a used econoboxer. So, you have to like riding.
Of corse, here in China, we are living entirely car free. There is a complete infrastructure and society built up around making this possibe here that simply does not exist in the part of the US that we come from.
10-16-06, 07:28 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by Phantoj
The carfree forum has too much of a religious "Cars-R-Coffins" fervor about it
10-16-06, 09:27 PM
#17
Every lane is a bike lane
Originally Posted by krazygluon
(prepares to duck) I think the mods ought to do some linking of appropriately multi-topic threads.
(actual crosslinking, not crossposting...one thread able to be commented on by links from multiple forums)
(actual crosslinking, not crossposting...one thread able to be commented on by links from multiple forums)
In answer to the original question, it's because they are different topics. Yes, there are some similarities between commuting and living car-free, but there are also differences, different topics that may not necessarily be relevant to the other. That is why the living car free forum was set up as a separate forum from commuting.
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10-16-06, 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
Car lite is a perfect middle ground. Still, when my wife's car is paid off I think we may go up to two vehicles. I want a motorcycle! However, when would I ever ride it?
It is nice to have one motor vehicle in the family though. We regularly visit my wife's 96 y/o grandfather, and it's just too far for all of us to ride. In fact the trip is actually part of the Knoxville double century.
10-17-06, 05:38 AM
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Just visit the ones you like. I'm in SS/FG, Commuting and Classic and Vintage every day, and sure, there are some things that could be in all three. I go to Car Free when I'm a little bored, and alt-bike, and then to Road if I'm REALLY bored. It's all good.
10-17-06, 05:59 AM
#20
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Originally Posted by guenevere
...hyoog...
I just spent 45 seconds of my life trying to figure out what the hell that word meant. I will never get it back.
Last edited by Doggus; 10-17-06 at 08:23 AM.
10-17-06, 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by scottmorrison99
When my wife's car is paid off, I'm getting another bike! It is nice to have one motor vehicle in the family though. We regularly visit my wife's 96 y/o grandfather, and it's just too far for all of us to ride. In fact the trip is actually part of the Knoxville double century.
It is nice to have one motor vehicle in the family though. We regularly visit my wife's 96 y/o grandfather, and it's just too far for all of us to ride. In fact the trip is actually part of the Knoxville double century.
10-17-06, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Doggus
I just spent 45 seconds of my life trying to figure out what the hell that word meant. I will never get back it back.
Fortunately, I don't play with words all that often.
~jen
10-17-06, 07:29 AM
#23
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I regularly visit the commuting forum because I ALWAYS commute by bike.
I rarely visit the car-free forum because I NEVER intend to be car-free.
So two forums seem appropriate to me.
I rarely visit the car-free forum because I NEVER intend to be car-free.
So two forums seem appropriate to me.
10-17-06, 07:38 AM
#24
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I went to the car free forums once and decided it was way too HOT in there with all the flame wars going on.
OP: Had to drive my grandma to the hospital cause she was dying last weekend...
poster #2: ZOMG (Hot FIRE hot FIRE) why didn't you put her in your bike trailer?
Op:...
Poster #3: Yeah this is "Car Free" ok...I mean really ...just dispicable
Op:...I....ummm...
I'm just kidding but really there seems to be a culture of one-upsmanship and negativity rather than sharing and congratulating like on the commuting threads. I mean I'm not saying one is better but than the other. However the commuting section is better. HAHAHAHAHa flame on....
OP: Had to drive my grandma to the hospital cause she was dying last weekend...
poster #2: ZOMG (Hot FIRE hot FIRE) why didn't you put her in your bike trailer?
Op:...
Poster #3: Yeah this is "Car Free" ok...I mean really ...just dispicable
Op:...I....ummm...
I'm just kidding but really there seems to be a culture of one-upsmanship and negativity rather than sharing and congratulating like on the commuting threads. I mean I'm not saying one is better but than the other. However the commuting section is better. HAHAHAHAHa flame on....
10-17-06, 07:43 AM
#25
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Mayber I'm an anomaly (I bet there are a few others) but I commute to work by bicycle (85% of the time) but I still enjoy my motorized vehicles. I have a pickup truck, a full size van, a sporty car, and a small (all wheel drive turbocharged) wagon that my wife drives. I have a commuter bike, a road bike, a couple of moutain bikes, and a tandem (plus a bunch of bikes for the kids and wife.) I enjoy watching bicycle racing almost as much as I enjoy motorsports. I enjoy driving and I enjoy bicycling. I'm a big proponent for mass transit systems and making communities (not just the roads) more bicycle and walker friendly. However, I love my car and I love driving it.