Originally Posted by AFCommuter
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Anyway if you actually followed the link I put out there it is showing you that there are people that are working on the very things you were suggesting. My comments about the cost ratio were not meant as a discourager but rather an encourager I was implying that it would take people getting off their lazy butts and doing something about it. You are a textbook example of the instant gratification epidemic that has struck the American people. You probably expect that there is a diet pill being covered up by the government that would magically drop you down to 6% body fat overnight but they're keeping it from you so they can point and laugh.
The very example of American enginuity that you are citing is being practiced by the people in this forum every day. I believe there was one individual that has a 23 mile commute that drives halfway and bikes the rest of the way in saving 1/2 of the commute in gas.
Bottom Line is that the only way to force change is to hit the companies where it hurts, their profits, it's capitalism at it's simplist. If we no longer demand something it will go away (or fade into the background e.g. pet rocks) and be replaced by something else. As Hybrid sales surge automakers are converting their staple cars (Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Toyota Highlander, etc...) to Hybrid and reducing the number of non-hybrid...it's really quite simple.
So I am not a nay-sayer...I am saying that it is YOU that has to affect change not just whine about why it's not happening...just this morning a co-worker of mine saw that I rode in and is now considering commuting as well. Good habits are just as contagious as bad habits.
And by the way, I did look at that site. It's very interesting and an encouraging first step. Yes, it's expensive, but so were the hybrids at first. When they get the bugs worked out and get it in production the price will come down. I very much encourage those who can afford it to go for it.
As for riding to work, I'd love to be able to. I've briefly described the route before, so for the sake of clarity I'll do so more in detail now. As I've said, it's 14 miles one way. Not a big deal, I regularly ride that far for fitness purposes. The first 6 miles is a narrow 2 lane with no shoulder to speak of due to a widening project that will make it a 4 lane divided highway. The posted speed limit in the construction zone is 45, which means the yuppies and other morally superior persons are driving about 60. At the time would have to leave to get to work on time via bike, its usually near bumper to bumper traffic. Once you get past that, it opens up into divided 4-lane (this part was finished a couple years ago) for the next 5 miles or so. This wouldn't be too bad to ride on, there is a fairly decent shoulder, except for the 4 lane bridge over the town's water supply (read that lake) that's close to a 1/2 mile long with a posted speed limit of 60 (which of course means everyone runs 70 or more). For anyone on a bike, this would be a good place to get dead. Anyway, once past this, there's 3 more miles of narrow road with no paved shoulder, just a steep sided ditch (at some points this ditch is more than 3 feet deep and only about 6 feet wide). Once past the ditch, I'm on a road that coming from the other direction, a 4 lane necks down to this little narrow road so there's lots of oncoming traffic that seriously restricts anyone from passing the slow moving bike. Yeah, that would be me. At almost 50, especially near the end of a 14 mile ride, I"m going to be moving pretty slow. In any case, I am simply unwilling to play this 2 wheeled version of Russion Roulette. My work hours are 7:30 to 4:30 for an 8 hour day, which I rarely get to do, its usually 10 or more. That makes it 7:30 to 6:30. In the winter, this entire commute both ways would be in the dark. You guys can howl all you want to, but this hillbilly ain't doin' it. It's simply too dangerous.
And before you get started, there is no other route, or at least not one that's just as bad. In 2 counties, there are only 5 places to cross that lake I mentioned and the other bridges are farther away than this entire commute. Since it's a rural area, there are no side roads that run more or less parallel that don't increase the distance by at least a factor of 2. And yes, this is a choice that I made, and no, I'm not moving to town. We inherited the land (40 acres), and I've got about 15 more years to pay on the house we put on that piece of ground. Before any of you take off about me whining about the distance, take that and stuff it. I'm not whining, I'm just tellling you why I choose not to ride to work. It is by my choice, I know that, and I refuse to change it. The house will be paid for about the time I retire, and I'm staying put. There is nothing in the city that would make me move there. The crime and the noise and the neighbors with thier noses stuck in my business, above, below and on each side of me complaining because the tv is too loud or my friends/kids/wife/I laugh too much....been there, done that, hell with it. $5 a gallon for gas is cheap compared to that crap.
If you have read the other posts I made, I have not whined as you put it about why things such as the company you linked to were not happening. What I complained about was all the people who, no matter what alternative idea gets posted, have a dozen reasons why it won't work. I'd love to see the hydrogen thing get off the ground, I think that could be a very good solution, at least until some other technology comes along. If battery technology can make some strides, electrics will be wonderful. Sure, they have thier problems, any alternative will. What I was saying was the same as you AFCommuter, lets solve these problems instead of talking the idea to death.