Biking vs Driving

[thartley]

I was just wondering if any of you out there have been riding a bike more often for short trips than you used to due to the rising cost of fuel....  I feel like I am in training while I am here in Nong Khai for not being able to afford gas in my car when I get back to the states. 

Interesting article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/a...11/ap_on_bi_ge/work_bikes

Have any of you changed your normal habits of how you get around?

[ianh68]

I used to live in London and now in Bangkok. When my last car died (in London) I took to public transport and haven't driven since (except to hire a car for the odd long trip). Can't really justify using a car in a big city, what with global warming and everything. Also parking no longer a problem.

Oddly enough I am planning to move to Nong Khai one day and envisage getting a car then if we live out of town. I concede there are times when you have to have a car.

On another note, they've banned cigarette advertising (over glamorising a dangerous product). When will they do the same to car adverts? Think of the money they must pump into them! 

[ZeroG]

My vanpool had 8 riders today. It holds 9. We have 11 signed up for the van. A month ago there were times it was only 2 of us. Usually 4-5. I filled up my truck for the first time in about 3 weeks and I think that is why we have so many riders now.

I keep reminding people, the more gas rises, the more you save by riding the van.

I am starting to see more bike riders around. Also, I have walked Graham to the grocery store two times in a week.

[Nick Lane]

...Can't really justify using a car in a big city, what with global warming and everything...On another note, they've banned cigarette advertising (over glamorising a dangerous product). When will they do the same to car adverts?...

With all due respect, that is simply ridiculous. We don't even know if global warming is our fault, and if it's not, then who the hell are we to interfere? And as far as the ads go, come on! Cigarettes are dangerous cancer causing bad habits, cars are somewhat necessary modes of transportation. No comparrison. I am sory to be so short, I just get frustrated when it is late at night.

Here is what we need to do to solve the crisis:

1) I am a Capitalist, and I praise our Government for being so, but excuse me...these gas prices are ridiculous. The Government needs to put caps on the oil companies in order to force them to charge less. That is the problem, they are over charging and making record profits off of something we all need. It is not soley because of the crude oil prices and it is definitly not because of the War in Iraq.

2) Drill in Alaska and Anbar Province to gain a temporary fix of cheap oil.

3) Develope a more long-term plan to create alternative/viable fuels. Something that will actually work while not taking away from the design and performance aspects of today's (and yesterday's, for that matter) vehicles.

[ZeroG]

Hey Nick,

At least you are passionate about it.  I saw a presentation last week by the author of Making Sense of Oil Prices. The article was written in 2005, but basically predicts what we see today.

Briefly, he claims that the world will experience the Big Rollover, where demand exceeds supply. This is where we are now. It is now a sellers market, and is the result of a lack of investment in exploration over the years.

From the US point of view, we need to think long and hard about opening up drilling off the coast of California and the north slope of Alaska. The upside of higher prices is that it forces the issue of finding alternative fuels. So, the lack of exploration could be a blessing in that it forces the issue, a little before we actually do start running out.

Don't get me going on global warming.

[thartley]

Biking rocks...sometimes.

Not when it is storming.

Or the mean dogs are loose next door.

Or I want pizza but its 9:00 at night.

Or I want to buy a toaster AND bath towels at the mall.

[Ginafish]

At least your bike has a basket. When it's stormy, you'll just have to weigh the pros and cons and for the mean dogs, I have a good plan for that... pedal like MAD!!

[Nick Lane]

Thanks for your post ZeroG. I am pretty passionate about things like this (and politics in general). In fact, I write my own political blog and keep up with the facts and the times.

PLEASE get me going on global warming! I love a good debate...

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I like bikes, I have a nice Diamondback that I ride around my property. See, where I live, it is hard to use a bike for much since things are so spread out and hills are as common as sidewalks are in the city. It is great excercise, though.

[KitKat]

I can't even begin to explain how this is possible. 

[thartley]

Well, apparently some people are going back to riding horses....

http://www.news4jax.com/a...tive/16262389/detail.html

[Ginafish]

Don't tell my kids!! They think we can keep a horse in the garage! But I'm thinking Horse=Feed=pond=shelter=grooming and saddle supplies=Vet and shots = $$$$$

Bike=a little elbow grease to keep it tuned=$ or almost free!

What cracks me up about that article is that school officials are looking for more stall space! I'm glad the teen is aware of not using gas and all that though.

[thartley]

hmmm, I have recently heard from two different people back home in Florida who tell me they are starting to ride their bikes more for short trips because gas is so expensive.  One person is wiring a basket to the front of his bike so he can carry stuff.

Looks like coming here has acted as a training ground of sorts to get me back into the habit. 

[thartley]

This sounds like a pretty good initiative, but I dont see how they will prevent theft....

http://www.happynews.com/...-mayors-rybak-coleman.htm