When will the bike begin to really compete with the car again?
07-29-15, 02:55 PM
#101
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,658
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11012 Post(s)
Liked 7,549 Times
in
4,218 Posts
I would agree that many people get the two mixed up. I can say for sure its because they don't follow the definition that your cited professionals use.
07-29-15, 08:32 PM
#102
Senior Member
There are TONS and TONS of blubber, just waiting to be harvested, from the millions upon millions of overweight Americans who depend on automobiles to move their large bodies from place to place. Coal gasificiation? The future belongs to the engine that can most efficiently convert the liposuction by products to automotive fuel! Americans can keep the car dependent lifestyle - and lose weight while doing it. Sounds like a win-win situation!
07-29-15, 08:35 PM
#103
Senior Member
Or we could just ride our bikes. I guess that would be a lot simpler.
07-29-15, 09:14 PM
#104
Prefers Cicero
07-29-15, 10:27 PM
#105
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
If the world was designed better, non-automotive transportation would not be a hardship in many areas that are urban or suburban. Good public transit, good infra for walking and bicycling would create a situation where most people could travel comfortably for most of their trips without cars. They would also save money, pollute less, and still have an enjoyable trip.
But meanwhile, we've got to work with what we've got.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
07-29-15, 10:37 PM
#106
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,990
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,541 Times
in
1,049 Posts
I believe you are correct - we will do ANYTHING to keep those cars running. Which brings up a most interesting thought.
There are TONS and TONS of blubber, just waiting to be harvested, from the millions upon millions of overweight Americans who depend on automobiles to move their large bodies from place to place. Coal gasificiation? The future belongs to the engine that can most efficiently convert the liposuction by products to automotive fuel! Americans can keep the car dependent lifestyle - and lose weight while doing it. Sounds like a win-win situation!
There are TONS and TONS of blubber, just waiting to be harvested, from the millions upon millions of overweight Americans who depend on automobiles to move their large bodies from place to place. Coal gasificiation? The future belongs to the engine that can most efficiently convert the liposuction by products to automotive fuel! Americans can keep the car dependent lifestyle - and lose weight while doing it. Sounds like a win-win situation!
07-30-15, 05:43 AM
#107
Prefers Cicero
That's not intended to describe anybody in this thread either, right? I just don't want make the same unfair assumption I did with your "Taliban" comment and leap to the conclusion that you were directing some kind of sarcastic insult at some of us here, when maybe it's just a totally innocent and completely good hearted comment about the world in general.
Last edited by cooker; 07-30-15 at 08:31 AM.
07-31-15, 08:11 AM
#108
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
Unfortunately it is also a rather pessimistic answer. Less frightening scenarios are possible, though perhaps not much more likely.
Populations are growing. Our consumption of fossil fuels is not abating. The supply of fossil fuels is dwindling. These trends will continue until the supply of fossil fuel is so depleted that we have to start using it a bit more carefully.
Unless we find another source of free energy, energy will become increasingly expensive. It does not look like we will. Nuclear proved to be much more expensive than advertised. Solar and wind are all well and good, but they will not supply enough energy that individual people can drive indiscriminately the way they do now. Driving will eventually become too expensive. Other modes of transportation will become more attractive, including bicycles.
I don't know when this will happen. Perhaps not in your lifetime. But if you think it will never happen, you are mistaken.
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
07-31-15, 08:22 AM
#109
Banned
Black Budgets and Collusion of Oil -Spooks-Banksters , revolving door in congress and corporations and the permanent war economy
will have to end first .
and Bus Riding is no longer considered for losers who cannot buy a Car.
will have to end first .
and Bus Riding is no longer considered for losers who cannot buy a Car.
07-31-15, 08:52 AM
#110
Sophomoric Member
Right. This is a plausibly correct answer to the question originally posed. As much as we might like the answer to be "never," "never" is an incorrect answer.
Unfortunately it is also a rather pessimistic answer. Less frightening scenarios are possible, though perhaps not much more likely.
Populations are growing. Our consumption of fossil fuels is not abating. The supply of fossil fuels is dwindling. These trends will continue until the supply of fossil fuel is so depleted that we have to start using it a bit more carefully.
Unless we find another source of free energy, energy will become increasingly expensive. It does not look like we will. Nuclear proved to be much more expensive than advertised. Solar and wind are all well and good, but they will not supply enough energy that individual people can drive indiscriminately the way they do now. Driving will eventually become too expensive. Other modes of transportation will become more attractive, including bicycles.
I don't know when this will happen. Perhaps not in your lifetime. But if you think it will never happen, you are mistaken.
Unfortunately it is also a rather pessimistic answer. Less frightening scenarios are possible, though perhaps not much more likely.
Populations are growing. Our consumption of fossil fuels is not abating. The supply of fossil fuels is dwindling. These trends will continue until the supply of fossil fuel is so depleted that we have to start using it a bit more carefully.
Unless we find another source of free energy, energy will become increasingly expensive. It does not look like we will. Nuclear proved to be much more expensive than advertised. Solar and wind are all well and good, but they will not supply enough energy that individual people can drive indiscriminately the way they do now. Driving will eventually become too expensive. Other modes of transportation will become more attractive, including bicycles.
I don't know when this will happen. Perhaps not in your lifetime. But if you think it will never happen, you are mistaken.
Another version: "This party can't go on forever. Let's all go to Denny's for breakfast."
We must realize that inevitability is, um, inevitable. The gas will run out. The climate will change. The roads will get so congested that we can't go anywhere. The sooner we accept all this and start planning for it, the smoother it will go when it does happen. Making smart changes does not have to be the end of our economy or our way of life. But if we keep ignoring and denying the problems associated with cars, the worse the inevitable transition is going to be.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
Last edited by Roody; 07-31-15 at 08:56 AM.
07-31-15, 10:32 AM
#111
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA
Posts: 3,804
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Yes, very well put and you expand on the sustainability crowd's favorite tautology: "If it can't last forever it won't last forever." Sometimes it's necessary to restate the obvious because people just don't get it.
Another version: "This party can't go on forever. Let's all go to Denny's for breakfast."
We must realize that inevitability is, um, inevitable. The gas will run out. The climate will change. The roads will get so congested that we can't go anywhere. The sooner we accept all this and start planning for it, the smoother it will go when it does happen. Making smart changes does not have to be the end of our economy or our way of life. But if we keep ignoring and denying the problems associated with cars, the worse the inevitable transition is going to be.
Another version: "This party can't go on forever. Let's all go to Denny's for breakfast."
We must realize that inevitability is, um, inevitable. The gas will run out. The climate will change. The roads will get so congested that we can't go anywhere. The sooner we accept all this and start planning for it, the smoother it will go when it does happen. Making smart changes does not have to be the end of our economy or our way of life. But if we keep ignoring and denying the problems associated with cars, the worse the inevitable transition is going to be.
07-31-15, 12:16 PM
#112
Sophomoric Member
It is discouraging when you see how many people use religion and ideology to make their decisions, instead of science and common sense. But let's not give up until we have to.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
07-31-15, 12:50 PM
#113
Senior Member
There are TONS and TONS of blubber, just waiting to be harvested, from the millions upon millions of overweight Americans who depend on automobiles to move their large bodies from place to place. Coal gasificiation? The future belongs to the engine that can most efficiently convert the liposuction by products to automotive fuel! Americans can keep the car dependent lifestyle - and lose weight while doing it. Sounds like a win-win situation!
Edit: so long as they aren't cremated after death.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
catalancyclist
Living Car Free
146
04-23-16 08:17 PM
Roody
Living Car Free
98
04-08-14 01:55 PM
