Originally Posted by guenevere
It was brought up in another thread (by Cooker) how " Cars aren't a particularily efficient transportation system. People value them for the sense of individual control they offer, but as society has adapted to the presence of cars it's gotten very inefficient: gridlock, sprawl, oil wars... "
I fear there will always be some form of vehichle which alleviates actual physical exhursion --- that by nature, our culture here in the Western World is far too reliant on technology to evolve/retrograde "back" to Human Powered Vehichles. I would LOVE to find my fears dead wrong in another 20 or 30 years !
It was then brought up "A society re-engineered without private cars (compact, walkable, lots of public transport, cabs for the wealthy...sort of like a universal Manhattan) would actually be much more efficient. "
I personally think we need lots and lots of education in our schools, and thats a start. Somewhere on this forum I saw a saying "a movement begins with one person" (or some such thing)... that means WE the cycling advocates might consider volunteering educating in the schools? Get the youth excited about alternatives !!! Make a documentary film !!!!
I'd like to bring up the subject for discussion, just how we passionate cycling advocates *can* begin to influence the masses in this direction.
As much as I like this idea in theory, I despise it in practice. I really don't want to live in a crowded city environment. I just went to look at an apartment in the DC suburbs last night, and realized I wouldn't be happy at all living in a high rise building. What I really want is my own house with backyard and a large basement for nefarious bike-related purposes
There are lots of environments where cars and cycling and walking are ALL efficient forms of transportation, and I have to say those are my favorites. For example, the university towns where I grew up and went to college. In my hometown of East Lansing, MI, I can drive to pretty much any store or friend's house in 10-15 minutes, and there's hardly ever traffic or problems parking. If I want to ride my bike, it's flat and drivers are generally polite to me. Every time I go home I am amazed to rediscover what a pleasant place it is to get around... REGARDLESS of the particular means of transportation.
So, I guess what I want is to live in a pleasant, walkable environment that's not overcrowded... which means that it has to be in the midwest somewhere, because if it's on the coasts it will instantly get overrun and turned into a crowded city
