Originally Posted by crtreedude
Often the measurement of the sanity of an approach is "What would happen if everyone did what you are doing?"
Well - if everyone rode a bike instead of driving a car - we would be saving a lot of gas. They choose to use a vehicle requiring gas. If you slowed me down on a bike - well, I might consume some more food, but that would be it. The key fact is that bike lanes are not provided for you. The people who are wasting the fuel are the drivers - and the city planners. If you don't ride your bike, there is no hope of ever getting the bike lanes. Chicken and egg scenario.
I wouldn't sweat it - you are doing your part - and you are not guilty for them not doing theirs. If you are concerned about your environmental impact - I believe you are doing the right thing.
Interesting observation though.
I agree with the saying that if more people were biking there would be less gasoline used.
But speaking of the chicken and egg scenario. Could it be possible that if there were no cars then biking would not be like it is today, maybe even less popular to the extent it is now, in the sense that road biking depends on roads.
Of course there would be many other things in the world that would be different if the car were not developed for transportation.
I think that it is good that the OP is sharing one of his angles with us, even though I don't agree with it. In most cases I think that if drivers were, on the whole, more courteous, respectful of the law and people around them, they would find it much easier and faster to get around the city.