Comments on: Green Tuesday: the grass is greener http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/ Bike Your Drive! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:39:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ack! I’m Turning Green! « An Adventurous Life http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-11789 Ack! I’m Turning Green! « An Adventurous Life Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:31:35 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-11789 [...] I think this means I might need to pick up a trailer for my bike so I can schlep gardening stuff home from the local Lowes/Hoem Depot/Menards. Good thing I am selling my car and am committed to becoming a year-round cyclist. This blog entry was the inspriation for my post today. Green Tuesday [...] [...] I think this means I might need to pick up a trailer for my bike so I can schlep gardening stuff home from the local Lowes/Hoem Depot/Menards. Good thing I am selling my car and am committed to becoming a year-round cyclist. This blog entry was the inspriation for my post today. Green Tuesday [...]

]]> By: Jami http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-11777 Jami Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:49:10 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-11777 I am going to link to this from my blog if that's ok. I grew up in the Seattle area, so environmentalism has been in my vocabulary for quite a while, but since moving to Omaha, it is very easy to forget where I came from. Omaha is so spread out, like most midwestern cities, and it is very car centric. I am definitely the wierd person in all circles of friends because I am in the process of becoming car-free. Everyday the weather is bad, everyone I know asks if I rode my bike. They seem dumbfounded and in awe of the fact that I am willing to sacrifice comfort for 20 minutes in order to ride instead of drive. I am hoping to get involved in bike advocacy in Omaha soon. Keep up the good ride! I am going to link to this from my blog if that’s ok. I grew up in the Seattle area, so environmentalism has been in my vocabulary for quite a while, but since moving to Omaha, it is very easy to forget where I came from. Omaha is so spread out, like most midwestern cities, and it is very car centric. I am definitely the wierd person in all circles of friends because I am in the process of becoming car-free. Everyday the weather is bad, everyone I know asks if I rode my bike. They seem dumbfounded and in awe of the fact that I am willing to sacrifice comfort for 20 minutes in order to ride instead of drive. I am hoping to get involved in bike advocacy in Omaha soon. Keep up the good ride!

]]> By: Jett http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6282 Jett Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:46:47 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6282 I like the points about preaching to the choir because I often feel my blog posts are just that. Having said that, I find my cycling-positive influence is getting the most traction with fellow riders. In the US, most cyclists are rec cyclists and many of those drive to where they ride. To counter this, I lead rec rides leaving from our neighborhood and also lead a couple of commuter rides. During our rec rides, I recruit commuters and utility cyclists. It's all about getting more cyclists on the road, right? Some people respond to the need for more miles during the week. Some respond to finding ways to spend more time with family or friends. Personal relationships is what connects us together and allows us to share our passion. And then there's the bicycle advocacy organizations. Join your local advocacy group and get involved. They could probably use your help with a project and through you membership would certainly use their stronger voice to help bring about the infrastructure changes we seek. Even here though, it's all about getting more cyclists out on the road. I like the points about preaching to the choir because I often feel my blog posts are just that. Having said that, I find my cycling-positive influence is getting the most traction with fellow riders.

In the US, most cyclists are rec cyclists and many of those drive to where they ride. To counter this, I lead rec rides leaving from our neighborhood and also lead a couple of commuter rides. During our rec rides, I recruit commuters and utility cyclists. It’s all about getting more cyclists on the road, right?

Some people respond to the need for more miles during the week. Some respond to finding ways to spend more time with family or friends. Personal relationships is what connects us together and allows us to share our passion.

And then there’s the bicycle advocacy organizations. Join your local advocacy group and get involved. They could probably use your help with a project and through you membership would certainly use their stronger voice to help bring about the infrastructure changes we seek. Even here though, it’s all about getting more cyclists out on the road.

]]> By: Jeff the Veloteer http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6219 Jeff the Veloteer Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:36:39 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6219 Quinn, there is no need to put blame on anyone brother. And honestly, I think if there is a separate vocabulary that goes with caring for creation, then it is doomed to fail. So you, or anyone else, should not be required to learn a new vocabulary. Quinn, there is no need to put blame on anyone brother.

And honestly, I think if there is a separate vocabulary that goes with caring for creation, then it is doomed to fail. So you, or anyone else, should not be required to learn a new vocabulary.

]]> By: Quinn http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6214 Quinn Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:29:08 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6214 Jeff - i will take some of the blame too, i have never been much of an environmentalist, i got into cycling through my disability, so i never learned the vocabulary of environmentalists. Jeff – i will take some of the blame too, i have never been much of an environmentalist, i got into cycling through my disability, so i never learned the vocabulary of environmentalists.

]]> By: Jeff the Veloteer http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6211 Jeff the Veloteer Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:48:46 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6211 Thanks for the feedback Quinn. I understand that part of the fine art of communication involves actually being able to communicate with your audience, so I'll have to be more careful with my "presentation." Afterall, it does no good to preach to the choir - those who understand the lingo - at the expense of those who stand the most to learn. I really think I have done the very same thing in this comment. Dang! I keep laughing at the "if you pave it they will drive." Specifically, I think back to college and how on football weekends (at an SEC school no-less), if there was concrete, there was a car parked on it. Thanks for the feedback Quinn. I understand that part of the fine art of communication involves actually being able to communicate with your audience, so I’ll have to be more careful with my “presentation.” Afterall, it does no good to preach to the choir – those who understand the lingo – at the expense of those who stand the most to learn.

I really think I have done the very same thing in this comment. Dang!

I keep laughing at the “if you pave it they will drive.” Specifically, I think back to college and how on football weekends (at an SEC school no-less), if there was concrete, there was a car parked on it.

]]> By: Smudgemo http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6210 Smudgemo Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:14:03 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6210 If you pave it, they will drive. If you pave it, they will drive.

]]> By: Quinn http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6209 Quinn Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:34:38 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6209 Jeff, I think this Green Tuesday is a Good idea, just 1 thing- It might just be me but, I go cross-eyeed trying to understand the verbage, As a bike commuter,...... give this to a motorist and they Might get though the second paragraph. Jeff,

I think this Green Tuesday is a Good idea, just 1 thing- It might just be me but, I go cross-eyeed trying to understand the verbage, As a bike commuter,…… give this to a motorist and they Might get though the second paragraph.

]]> By: Ol http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6207 Ol Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:30:32 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6207 Crappy roads are a problem everywhere then I guess. Luckily for us in the UK the mayor of London has recently announced a $1 billion overhaul of the cycling infrastructure of London. Including a similar bike hire system as seen in Paris and, most excitingly, 12 'radial cycling corridors'. Behind the weird language theres the promise of highways for bikes that cut through swarthes of some of the busiest routes (and most expensve real estate) of one of the busiest cities in the world. Cool no? If (if!), it works then there could be real ramifications for other cities... Crappy roads are a problem everywhere then I guess. Luckily for us in the UK the mayor of London has recently announced a $1 billion overhaul of the cycling infrastructure of London. Including a similar bike hire system as seen in Paris and, most excitingly, 12 ‘radial cycling corridors’. Behind the weird language theres the promise of highways for bikes that cut through swarthes of some of the busiest routes (and most expensve real estate) of one of the busiest cities in the world. Cool no?
If (if!), it works then there could be real ramifications for other cities…

]]> By: russ roca http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6204 russ roca Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:29:23 +0000 http://www.bikecommuters.com/2008/02/12/green-tuesday-the-grass-is-greener/#comment-6204 Nice post Jeff....I think one obstacle to large changes is that many people can't imagine beyond the current status quo.... The car is so deeply ingrained into the American psyche that our instinctual response to solving traffic is to add more lanes (which is really just like sticking your finger in a dam...it may hold for a while but only covers up the symptoms of a much greater problem). Traffic lanes can't be added indefinitely. Something else has to change. I use to commute from Long Beach to West LA by car and on some days, I would be spending anywhere between 3-4 hours in a car!!! At the time, I didn't think there was anything I could do so I just accepted it. Looking back at it, I realize how completely absurd it was, how much time I lost and how much gas I used a week. I did manage to break the cycle but it took major changes; a new job, my truck to break down and my willingness to step outside my zone of familiarity. These are difficult steps, nowadays, because we want everything easy (cars that park themselves, carrots pre-cut and individually packaged, a self-cleaning shower, etc.,). This is the mentality that we're up against. It's not necessarily some willful evil, but just plain laziness. People too lazy to walk, or to bike, or to think outside the box. City council members too lazy to look for long-term solutions that maybe difficult but could provide real lasting improvements. Consumers too lazy to think for themselves so they let advertisers think for them. Developers too lazy to create something innovative and responsible than the same cheap crackerjack buildings. City traffic engineers too stuck in their ways to imagine an infrastructure where the car isn't king.... Nice post Jeff….I think one obstacle to large changes is that many people can’t imagine beyond the current status quo….

The car is so deeply ingrained into the American psyche that our instinctual response to solving traffic is to add more lanes (which is really just like sticking your finger in a dam…it may hold for a while but only covers up the symptoms of a much greater problem).

Traffic lanes can’t be added indefinitely.

Something else has to change.

I use to commute from Long Beach to West LA by car and on some days, I would be spending anywhere between 3-4 hours in a car!!! At the time, I didn’t think there was anything I could do so I just accepted it.

Looking back at it, I realize how completely absurd it was, how much time I lost and how much gas I used a week.

I did manage to break the cycle but it took major changes; a new job, my truck to break down and my willingness to step outside my zone of familiarity.

These are difficult steps, nowadays, because we want everything easy (cars that park themselves, carrots pre-cut and individually packaged, a self-cleaning shower, etc.,).

This is the mentality that we’re up against. It’s not necessarily some willful evil, but just plain laziness.

People too lazy to walk, or to bike, or to think outside the box. City council members too lazy to look for long-term solutions that maybe difficult but could provide real lasting improvements. Consumers too lazy to think for themselves so they let advertisers think for them. Developers too lazy to create something innovative and responsible than the same cheap crackerjack buildings. City traffic engineers too stuck in their ways to imagine an infrastructure where the car isn’t king….

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