i just followed this thread from the shift2bikes link, thanks Donna... i appreciate all the comments on the bike move.
In question to who had the heaviest load, it was probably Tom w/ the mattress & boxspring, plus various shelves & things on his 96" (yes 8ft) long trailer. I had the trailer w/ the couch & shelf, which seemed light comparatively, tho after 12mi i was rather exhausted, too.
I feel compelled to share my comparison of a truck vs. the bike move:
by Truck
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- more "move", less "fun" (your 4-5 buddies to help you load/unload all your stuff)
- embedded energy in the truck & the corporate biz (that someone already mentioned above)
- direct fuel costs (in $ & environment)
- inherent danger in using heavy vehicles that travel fast (to other humans walking, biking or in vehicles)
- more?
by Bike
-------
- more "fun", less move (27 people to move the same stuff)
- stresses community building & self-reliance (think barnraising)
- people who bike and/or are willing to help bike move tend (imho) to be more concerned with their health and where their food (calories) are coming from... thought processes that lead to more personal action and concern for others/planet
- you get exercise
- if more people considered moving by bike for local moves, we'd have need for less corporate personal move companies (and therefore less impact)
- bike moves aren't necessarily "safer", but... just like biking to commute or for other purposes, there's the potential for safer roads as more folks shift to bike from autos
- less chance of hurting yourself lifting heavy things (things are packed smaller - for bikes & there are many more people to help lift those things)
Overall the bike move supports the kind of future i want to have and the kind of future I think we're all going to have to adapt to considering the pressure we're putting on this planet and each other.
When someone asks me to help them move, i often say yes, but secretly think "ugh...moving sucks!"... when there's an opportunity to help bike move, i try to attend and it actually makes me happy.
-Matt