Originally Posted by
bragi
I'm tempted to stop responding to your posts; you seem unable to do anything other than to use what people say to re-state your opinions, which may or may not have anything to do with the matter at hand. It's sort of like watching Sarah Palin during her TV debate with Joe Biden. (It's the whole "talking points" thing all over again.) I suggest you listen to the point of view of others, think about their arguments, consider the possibility that they're not idiots, even if they say things you don't agree with, and then respond, in a way that's on topic, and that considers what they actually said, not what you imagined they said in light of your own limited agenda.
Now, one more time, about people who think cycling is too difficult: I never, not once, claimed that cycling is the best commuting option for everyone. If you live in a rural area, and have to commute to a job, cycling simply will not work. If you have physical limitations, it's clear that cycling is not going to be a major part of your regular schedule, either. On the other hand, for most reasonably healthy people who live in urban areas and who have a commute of 15 miles or less, one way, cycling is a no-brainer. It doesn't take the physical fitness of an Olympic athlete to ride a bike 15 miles. Even if you ride at a moderate pace, it's not much slower than driving in most urban settings over that distance. It's less expensive than driving a car, plus the health benefits are enormous. (There's a reason that even middle aged people in Amsterdam look pretty good compared to people the same age in Kentucky.) Yes, it's a little more demanding than jumping into an Escalade and driving to work. But not that much more, and the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. I can't think of a single person I've ever met that, once they tried bicycle commuting, wasn't really glad they did.
I don't think that being car-free will ever be the norm in this country, outside of NYC and SF. But I do think that, with the help of bicycles, more and more people will discover that being car-lite is a wise choice.