Many of us here in bacon land ride bikes as basic everyday transportation, not just for recreation. And if you look around, we’re not alone. The good weather and the bad gas pricing has nudged people out of the bucket seat and onto the saddle in recent months. Still, as Jeff points out on bikecarson.com, you’d be hard pressed to call this a sea change.
I’d add to the discussion that getting around without the use of your car at least once a week, or even once a month, if everyone does it, can save money for fuel, maintenence on your car, and save us all a lot of money on maintaining the roads. Check out the RTC Washoe Website for information on Public Transportation and the RTC Rideshare program, where you can use a database to connect with people with similar schedules and commuting routes EVEN ON BIKES.
Also, let’s not loose sight of larger problems when gas prices are high. Carbon emissions and air quality is still a major issue here in the Truckee Meadows. Hopefully our resident CO2 expert can elaborate on that for us. And riding some crappy moped you bought at a garage sale might save you some cash, but it’ll put out way more emissions than an H-2. In the long run that will be seen as stepping over dollars to save dimes.
And I can’t help but wonder when people will be priced out of their pickup trucks. I’m not talking about people like the GrislyBikeGeek who uses his truck for work. I’m talking about that douchenozzle in the magnum powerwagon with dubs and the NorCal sticker who floors it on the green and rides your ass only to have to hit the breaks going uphill! You have to assume that behavior will change before people get rid of their vehicles which obviously are closely tied to their self image…
-M
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Thanks for the link and taking the subject for a while. I touched a couple nerves when I wrote my post, and I didn’t even use an angry tone! I think any threat to our current way of life will be met with resistance. We do have it pretty good. Some people think I’m just trying to be green or politically correct, but I believe that riding bikes more will be a necessity down the road. Now is the time to practice!
I also like your statement, “closely tied to their self image”. I’ve heard a similar statement recently, and I think that’s another topic that needs to be explored. For most Americans, a car shows people “who you are” when you’re out in public; for example, a Porsche says, “I’m successful and have lots of money. I like to go fast and take risks.”. How will people project their self image without a car? It’d take way more than a Chris King headset to turn heads. Will lawyers be riding Italian race bikes? And if so, will people care?
Yeah. I know I go out on a limb saying that last bit. What does a 2003 Forester with stickers and bike racks that looks like a locker room / dog house inside say about me? I think whatever it says it’s spot freaking on.
At the same time I think my commuter bike says a lot about me too:
-M
Great post, Wolfy, thanks. Since we’ve just past the 4th of July and one of my favorite parts of that is listening to NPR read the entire text of the Declaration of Independence without comment, I will quote from that:
…accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government.”
Replace “government” with “mode of transportation” and you have your answer. No one will change until forced to submit to despotism; even then only a small fraction will. Are we not there already? You know when I meet people who say they don’t believe in global climate change I make two arguments: First, I say don’t believe in gravity (I don’t) but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. The second thing I say is why do they insist on funding terrorists. Face it, oil is a global and fungible commodity and, like it or not, some fraction of the money (in the trillions of increasingly worthless dollars) goes to terrorism. That has and will lead us directly to despotism, both from within (can you say PATRIOT act?) and without.
This is why I argue against adding roads, and suggest we reduce them, force people to slow down and generally make it a pain in the ass to drive. All the more likely people won’t. Making those evils un-sufferable is the only way out. No one (present company excepted) will change because they “should” — only when they are forced to either economically or practically (when its faster on a bike).
Cheers,
–J
I’m unfortunately (hopefully temporarily) in the position of driving everyday for my job. Even though my work pays for the gas, I made the decision to drive our hand-me-down Geo Storm instead of my beloved Forester. With un-tinted windows and an obnoxious squeak in the steering column, it is slightly less comfortable than the suv, but my gas mileage improved by at least 5 mpg over the Forester. Then my husband and I started encouraging each other to drive MORE SLOWLY and our mileage was improved by another 3 mpg! Just by changing our driving habits, we have been able to make a considerable impact on our family’s fuel consumption. For me it’s not about saving money, it’s just about not being wasteful. I am encouraged to see so clearly the improvement by such small changes on my part, and find hope that if everyone adopted equally small changes we will finally be on the right path.
http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/C/CHENEY_CLIMATE?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-07-08-10-33-05
-M
The reasons don’t necessarily matter. My situation is this: I drive 30 miles each way to work and am not in the least bit concerned about prices. That’s because I’ve always been conscientious about mileage and what I’d be able to afford going forward. To me if you change because it’s costing you too much, that’s perfectly fine and no worse than if you just feel like doing it because you care. It’s how the free market works. I do wish we paid a much closer to real cost for gasoline, and would have no problem if prices continued to rise, as it might fuel (ha!) growth in alternative areas. You won’t make people do it for the right reasons, but they do need to do it. So worrying over why isn’t a good use of energy or brainpower. Just be happy that it might be shifting at all.
Jerz,
It is worth the effort if you’re seeking to advocate alternative transportation as i am
But the equation has got to be changing even for you! That’s $9.00 minimum per day for your commute. That’s a lot of cash every year. When Smella started working in Carson the price of gas was under $2. as such the RTC Intercity bus was expensive. Not sure what the cost is now, but it’s got to be cheaper now, but then you’ve got the time inconvenience. That’s where the premium is paid.
-M
I get better mileage than you realize, but you’re close. It just doesn’t matter, though, as I know the consequences of my decision and budget for it. I laugh at the Suburban driver with nobody else in the car bitching about prices on the news. Retards. My point is that it’s time to lose the self-righteousness and start praising people who are making the right decisions, regardless of the reason behind it. Maybe they’ll like their new lifestyle is they get the right encouragement.
I feel like we’re both arguing similar points, though.
Sure, but where is the self-righteousness you speak of? Calling a douche a douche isn’t self-righteousness. Neither is calling a retard a retard. (unless it’s an actual retard, then it’s mean)
-M