- AntFoolish, on 08/12/2008, -95/+288Unfortunately, our country (I'm assuming you're talking about the US) is far too fat for anything like this to ever come close to happening. It would take an act of government (as I'm pretty sure happened in the case of this picture as well).
- Fracture98, on 08/12/2008, -7/+88Even with an act of government, you'd just end up with thousands of electric scooters...
- D14BL0, on 08/12/2008, -8/+148It's still better than thousands of Hummers.
- Dokument, on 08/13/2008, -5/+22I completely agree but am afraid that it isnt widely practical. I live in Birmingham Alabama and it is a drive (here in the foothills that means up and down a lot also). That along with the fact that I could not transport 1/8th the things I constantly carry in my FJ on a bicycle. In the city yes this is a wonderful idea and they should have parking lots where you can park and get a bicycle for free (city run). Over a large area it just isnt practical.
- whatsthatsmell, on 08/13/2008, -23/+5I could totally go for a few hummers right now (on the receiving end please. from a girl)
- SpyDerMann, on 08/13/2008, -4/+18What America needs is a Flintstones car. Put those legs to work.
- kinggimped, on 08/13/2008, -11/+7Now what you need to do for the Americans is attach a combustion engine to the back wheel of the bicycle which gets about 1 mile to the gallon, and get a picture of Paris Hilton blowing an orang utan while riding one. Include a drinks holder on the handlebars, as well as 2 separate holder for a halfpounder cheeseburger and supersize fries. Paint an American flag on the spokes and give an iPhone to every 1000th bike sold, and you've got yourself a country full of fat cyclists.
- voodoochilli, on 08/13/2008, -2/+1Yeah or the Sinclair Segway. Only in America would they invent a device that takes away the need to walk.
- HillerMylife, on 08/13/2008, -0/+11Bikes tend to lose their practicality for commuting when you live 20 miles from your job. Or in the summer. Or in the winter. Or in the rain. Or if you live in a hilly area. Or when you want to bring in presentation materials. Or when the roads are pockmarked with potholes. Or if you're traveling with another person. Or...
- ManOfVirtues, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4But my scooter doesn't do well in 18" of snow.
@HillerMylife ... From Omaha too I see. :) - shitforbrains, on 08/13/2008, -6/+3Oh look a bicycle factory. How cute. As long as I can afford my SUV why shouldn't I own an SUV? If you want to live shoulder to shoulder with a billion and a half people who have to ride a bicycle to work because it's the only transportation they can afford, then by all means move to China. If you want to be somewhere you can ride whatever you can afford without too much government interference (other than mandated mileage and having to wear seat belts and the jillions of other regulations that the safety nazis have imposed on us) then stay here or move to Germany.
- badnewshotel, on 08/13/2008, -40/+185Since when is the governments job to force people to ride bikes? Move to China if you want that *****.
- pintomp3, on 08/13/2008, -43/+54no need to force people. just raise gas taxes to reflect their true cost, including the amount of money we spend on wars to secure gas.
- badnewshotel, on 08/13/2008, -78/+19Good idea pintom3, you dorkboy... while you're at it, just shut down the entire world economy.
Please, don't reproduce. - samthurston, on 08/13/2008, -4/+61we wouldn't need to raise gas taxes, just end gas subsidies and let the free market decide.
Badnewshotel, if you want to decide who can and can't reproduce, move to China. - quomen, on 08/13/2008, -5/+24Pinton3, I highly disagree with you, but badnewshotel's decision to insult you with 'dorkboy' is just an epic fail.
- hadelbg, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Or to The Netherlands...
http://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?s=64f3e7 ... - Morgonslak, on 08/13/2008, -0/+15No need to involve the government at all, save building the damn bike fence.
In Sweden for example, a lot of companies offer their employees financial benefits if they choose to ride a bicykle to work, go to the company Gym more than tw o times a week, give up smoking, etc etc - edwartica, on 08/13/2008, -12/+17Since cars pollute. I shouldn't have to breathe your smog just because you're too lazy to get your fat ass out of a car and ride a bike!
- domomike, on 08/13/2008, -4/+17You people act like there are no other benefits to a car other than to not be "lazy." Some of us enjoy to have free time spent on things other than riding bicycles around in the 103 degree heat.
Our government can make it more attractive to ride bicycles with incentives. But it cannot tell us that we have to ride bicycles. Sorry, to get all your totalitarian needs you'll have to go to another country.
And by the way, I am very fit and ride my bike often. You all have a "fitter than thou" attitude. :P - FairDinkumMate, on 08/13/2008, -13/+20Bloody arrogant prats. Stop saying "Move to another country if you want that"
It's REALLY simple. As soon as the US figures out how to limit the pollution caused by its vehicles to its own airspace, you're great. Then you can tell everyone else in the world to mind their own business. Until then, STFU!
When you drive inefficient gas guzzlers that impact on everyone else & then have the nerve to lecture countries like Brazil on protecting the Amazon(why, so it can absorb US pollution?) you drive the world crazy. The "other countries" you keep referring to are the ones that don't have subsidised gas, most actually tax their gas to reflect something closer to real cost, have twice the fuel efficiency of the US, etc.
THE US PRODUCES MORE GREENHOUSE GASES PER PERSON THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY ON EARTH - EVER!!!
My suggestion - fix your country before it ***** everyone elses. - infiniphunk, on 08/13/2008, -7/+2Wow, the McFails are up late/early huh? I thought you people needed to get more sleep?
- sh1tman, on 08/13/2008, -12/+8@FairDinkumMate
"THE US PRODUCES MORE GREENHOUSE GASES PER PERSON THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY ON EARTH - EVER!!!"
Guess what. I can make ***** up too and not cite the source. - FairDinkumMate, on 08/13/2008, -7/+12Guess what else sh1tman - the earth is round - need a source?
- corneliusJones, on 08/13/2008, -2/+9Uh, except I live 15 miles from my job. I travel on 2 major highways to get to work. I'll take my Honda Accord thanks.
- CressCrowbits, on 08/13/2008, -8/+4cornelius: which is part of the problem - this culture where people live miles and miles away from their work. It may be a reason, but it isn't an excuse.
- SaDan, on 08/13/2008, -0/+7Everyone cannot live within walking or biking distance of their job. People will have to commute, it's a fact of life. The population in the USA is split about 50/50 between people who live in "rural" areas and people who live "in the city". So, even if everyone in the city walked, biked, or used public transportation (a fair amount already do this), you still have half the population with no reasonable alternative to driving their own vehicle.
I'm getting sick of hearing "we should all do this", when it only applies to a certain segment of the population. How about everyone STFU, think about what YOU can do as an individual to reduce your global impact intelligently, and then make the required changes to improve the environment around you. - coyote1284, on 08/13/2008, -0/+9Fine, edwartica, but don't ***** with me when I have one of my kids riding on the handlebars and the other on the back pegs so I can get them to school, sports, etc. Now I just have to figure out how to get groceries for a family of 4 from the store to home on a bicycle.
IOW, ***** your "GOVERNMENT SAVE ME!" attitude. You complain that the government is trampling your rights, but you want it to take care of you from cradle to grave? You can't have a government that stays out of your business *and* protects you from all the things you don't like. - Zakolus, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6 It really grinds my gears that anyone from other countries has the grand vision that we are fat, unremarkable, lazy slobs.
Most Americans are NOT like that, it's the one's that are, that drive around in other countries with their cars because they have money, buy large amounts of food, and destroy things, that give us a bad name.
While it is true that we have a "weird" view of what other countries are like, maybe you should stop attacking us and educate us, show us that your country isn't full of "Poor uneducated people".
Maybe instead of assuming what a large majority of a country is like, get to know people. sheesh.
Note: While some Americans are indeed fat, some (Insert Country Here)-ans are fat as well, we are not all like that.
Note2: I am not "for" any one country, I could care less what you think about my country, but, seriously, I can't stand ignorance, which is what this boils down to. - FairDinkumMate, on 08/13/2008, -2/+1@Zakolus -
That American vehicles are only half as efficient as European vehicles isn't ignorance - it's FACT
That America has less than 5% of the world's population yet uses 25% of the world's oil supply isn't ignorance - it's FACT
That average miles per person driven in the US are far higher than comparable countries(Australia, Canada, etc) isn't ignorance - it's FACT
Now it's not that people in the other countries are naturally more environmentally friendly than Americans in general(although some Europeans would have you believe so!), these countries simply had governments that taxed oil after the 70's oil shock to reduce their usage. Thus gasoline went up & consumers demanded(& got) much more fuel efficient vehicles. But it is ignorant of Americans to think that they can continue to pollute unnecessarily & without consequence.
The whole debate in the US about oil right now seems to be only being addressed by one bunch screaming to increase supply(drill offshore) & the other saying we need electric cars. The average age of a car in the US is 9 years. If people from today bought vehicles with equivalent efficiency as those used in Europe & still drove the same amount, oil consumption would drop in the US by about 3% per year - FOR THE NEXT 18 years! This would have a much bigger impact than offshore drilling & can be done in unison with the introduction of electric hybrids. But your politicians have been bought & sold by big oil which is why CAFE standards & such are not being improved. Then they convince consumers that it's better for them! America's economy is now effectively dependent on supply of a product that has huge & increasing global demand & is from the most unstable region on the globe & that's better for you? - samthurston, on 08/13/2008, -2/+1@FairDinkumMate - if you want to tell people to stop telling people to move places, why don't you move to Australia? Otherwise you're pretty much right on the mark.
Attention the rest of you whiny car bitches: you're right that bicycles are not a complete solution. Public transit also plays an important role. You like your free time not spent riding a bike? How about a train or a bus where you can spend your time reading instead of cursing out the guy in the lexus who cut you off?
Public transit does take an act of government, but it's not "government save me," it's "let's not have 5 competing light rail systems for one town because that would be needlessly wasteful." it also takes an act of government to build the ***** roads you drive on, are you all going to bitch about that? "Government save me, build some roads so I don't have to use the 4-wheel-drive on my Ford Exploder" Government doing things isn't implicitly bad. Get over it. - tkstock, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3FDM,
"That American vehicles are only half as efficient as European vehicles isn't ignorance - it's FACT"
A fact that contradicts what in Zakolus' comment? Americans are now demanding more fuel-efficient cars now that the cost of gas is rising. Market forces at work, isn't it amazing? I love this country!
"That America has less than 5% of the world's population yet uses 25% of the world's oil supply isn't ignorance - it's FACT"
Again, this contradicts what in Zakolus' comment? Americans have 1/4 of the worlds cars, so it makes sense that we would use 1/4 of the oil.
"That average miles per person driven in the US are far higher than comparable countries(Australia, Canada, etc) isn't ignorance - it's FACT"
Our country is a lot bigger than these other countries and has a better automobile infrastructure, so it lends easily to driving everywhere. Again, I'm not seeing the contradiction in Zakolus' comment.
"...these countries simply had governments that taxed oil after the 70's oil shock to reduce their usage."
Is that why they overtaxed oil? Not because they wanted money, but just to curtail usage?
"The whole debate in the US about oil right now seems to be only being addressed by one bunch screaming to increase supply(drill offshore) & the other saying we need electric cars."
Actually, one group wants a comprehensive policy which includes all forms of energy (to include electric cars), and the other just wants electric cars.
"If people from today bought vehicles with equivalent efficiency as those used in Europe & still drove the same amount..."
1) You can't replace 200 million cars overnight. You can't make that many that fast.
2) Most people can't afford to buy a new car.
"...can be done in unison with the introduction of electric hybrids."
Oil drilling can be done in unison with the introduction of electric hybrids (which is currently happening, in case you didn't notice)
"But your politicians have been bought & sold by big oil which is why CAFE standards & such are not being improved."
That part is true.
"Then they convince consumers that it's better for them! America's economy is now effectively dependent on supply of a product that has huge & increasing global demand & is from the most unstable region on the globe & that's better for you?"
I don't know where you get the idea that the oil companies have convinced consumers that oil consumption is better for us. It's a necessity for the lack of alternatives. Until those alternatives are widespread and accessible to everyone, we will continue to be dependent on oil. That's why we need to start getting oil from more stable sources (such as ourselves!!!!) - edwartica, on 08/13/2008, -5/+1"Uh, except I live 15 miles from my job. I travel on 2 major highways to get to work. I'll take my Honda Accord thanks."
Then you have two options. Either move closer to work, or get a job closer to where you work. Its 'burbanites like you that are the biggest problem in this country. Ohhh wah, but I like my neighborhood. TOUGH TITTIES! I DON'T WANT TO BREATHE YOUR ***** POLLUTION!!! - tkstock, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4edwartica,
I have a job really close to where I work. LOL, just kidding, I know an accidental misstep when I see one.
Not everyone can arbitrarily move closer to work. I work in a crappy part of town where I definitely wouldn't want to live. Some of us IT contractors move around from place to place (within the local area) as our contracts change - we can't always up and move our family each year just to live closer to work. Plus, why should I have to pay 6% realtor's fees each time I have to buy and sell a home?
If it was so easy to get a job closer to where you lived, we wouldn't have 5.5%+ unemployment. Changing jobs or homes is not trivial - you'll understand when you have a home and a family to support. It's quite obvious from your attitude that you have neither.
Stop being such an angry young person and be part of a constructive, realistic solution. - FairDinkumMate, on 08/13/2008, -3/+2@tkstock - Basic comprehension not your strong point?
"Market forces at work, isn't it amazing? I love this country!" A market distorted by subsidies & failing to take into account one of its biggest costs (pollution) should hardly be held up as an example of capitalism at its best
"Is that why they overtaxed oil? Not because they wanted money, but just to curtail usage?"
So to you it's coincidence that most of the developed world in unison suddenly taxed oil a lot harder after the 70's oil shock? Didn't they want money before that?
"If people FROM today bought vehicles with equivalent efficiency..." Read it & understand. Nowhere did I suggest replacing the entire US vehicle fleet tomorrow. If you did, the reduction in consumption would be about 50% immediately as opposed to the 3% a year I quoted wouldn't it? Let me do the math for you. Each new car is 50% more efficient. The average age of the US vehicle fleet is 9 years, so after 9 years half of the vehicle fleet would be 50% more efficient. So that's a total drop of 25% over 9 years or about 3% per year.
"I don't know where you get the idea that the oil companies have convinced consumers that oil consumption is better for us"
This idea comes from the fact that virtually nothing has been done in the US to improve fuel efficiency for 30 years(which is why it is one of the only fields where America is a long way behind the rest of the world). Why not? Ford & GM sell much more fuel efficient vehicles in every other market, so you know they can make them. Every time CAFE standards came up for a vote, the oil companies & their lackies convinced(bought) politicians that it would be bad for the economy. These politicians then convinced the consumers that they were doing THEM a favour by not introducing higher standards! - tkstock, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3The US doesn't subsidize gas. Places like China and India do - they've recently reduced their subsidies to curb demand. Our gas market is one of the few that ISN'T distorted. And, the market is demanding and the people are getting more-efficient (both from a fuel consumption and pollution standpoint) cars, so yes, it is a good example of free market capitalism.
The reason I ask about European fuel taxes is their refusal to reduce the tax is in part because public services are financed partially by energy taxes. http://www.iht.com/articles/2000/09/12/belg.2.t.ph ...
And, yes, I did miscomprehend what you said about fleet replacement. However, Americans are demanding more fuel efficient cars, and we're buying them as we speak. I'm seeing more "smart" cars around, more hybrids, etc., and sales of SUVs are in the toilet. So, we are already doing what you are suggesting we should do... and all without government mandates, or extra taxes.
The reason why nothing has been done to improve fuel efficiency in America is because there wasn't a need to - gas was cheap (relative to income) until recent times. Buying a car that got 15MPG versus 30MPG made little difference when gas cost 99 cents per gallon. Now that market forces demand change, it is occurring.
You think it's a great thing because you allow your government to manipulate your market for your own good. I think it's a great thing because we don't allow our government to do so to us.
Besides, anyway, comparing the American economy to any other country is useless. Ours is a free market economy which allows its participants to thrive or fail on their own merits. Government does get involved (too much at times), but we are more successful for the freedom we have. And that freedom includes the freedom to fail.
- tas08, on 08/13/2008, -6/+191It's more like our country is far to spread out. I can bike to work (a 12 minute drive) but almost everything else I do is out of biking distance (practically speaking, not what I'm physically capable of doing), usually 10+ miles. If you're in NYC, or say, Beijing it makes GREAT sense, otherwise for suburbs or less dense areas.... not so much.
- joshuajargon, on 08/13/2008, -58/+20Stop building suburbs, stop building big box stores that require people to drive, and stop building roads that aren't biker friendly. Problem solved.
- tippmann1, on 08/13/2008, -4/+49@joshuajargon BRILLIANT!! using you genius solution we could solve the gas problem by next year.
/sarcasm - stark2051, on 08/13/2008, -38/+13Agreed joshuajargon. Huge problem in the US. Suburbs are the worst incarnation of everything that is American. I want everything big, cheap, and close, but not so close that I have to walk. Oh, and make my house look just like my neighbors' houses.
Some of the 'greenest' places in America are big cities like Chicago, NYC and SF, because individuals take up less space, don't drive, consume less, buy locally etc. - amnesiac096, on 08/13/2008, -6/+26@stark2051,
you're a dumbass, Chicago has more people driving then suburbs, plus all the ***** stop and go traffic. I was there a week and a half ago and I sat on the road 2 miles from where I needed to be for over an hour due to traffic congestion.
I would have biked, but the trip alone was over 6 hours. Chicago has sooo much smog, I hadn't been there since I was 6, so it was a shock to see all the smog.
I don't see a smog filled, car congested city as "green" - ZenMojo, on 08/13/2008, -1/+36You realize this is a picture of a train station, right?
- jeremyosborne81, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7I'm just hoping stark2051 is being sarcastic.
- kinseyincanada, on 08/13/2008, -2/+7stop building ***** so god damn far away from everything.
- mistertrogdor, on 08/13/2008, -12/+6@joshuajargon & @stark2051
You guys must live in Ohio right?
Allow me to elaborate. Both of their comments point out the inefficiencies of the US's current infrastructure in some areas. Most of the Small Town USA's are generally spread out and alot of people commute to work, shop, do all their daily races ect.
Our cities don't have other means of mass transit besides some buses, but people are usually forced to use their own vehicle because of the different locations people have to be, that are TOO far to ride a bike to. People also have time constraints, and places to be and can't spend all the extra time biking around.
Haven't seen I-71 backed up for miles full of cars and SUV's sitting in the heat of summer running their AC units?
Some people don't have a choice when they have to commute to and from Dayton and Cincinnati, because there is NO other means besides your own personal jet-pack.
@ the other commenteers getting positive diggs. I congratulate you all on your subjective views. I'm so glad you can all think in the "now" in reference to only yourselves instead of looking at the future for everyone.
@joshuajargon: Yes eventually we have to stop building cities and towns the way we are now and look towards a more efficient and innovative architecture and design. But saying "STOP NOW" just makes you look like you want to stop the Earth itself.
@stark it's a shame you are getting dugg down.
If people can't realize that suburbs are just corporate housing projects clone-stamped along the highways of America along with the strip malls and Wal*Marts and McDonalds, that for some reason seem to be intentionally spread out to waste people's time and money, then they deserve to live in their enclosed, individually prepackaged live's of distraction and repetition, dooming future generations to the exact same "suburban lifestyle". Your lives are like movies, the trick is to try and not have a repeat of the same damn show. I also understand the reasons why life in and urban environment is appealing. It's like a hive full of energy and vibrancy. There is everything to do within walking distance.
I guess not everyone played Sim City as a kid...
Subjective observations along with
objectivity can be used to be critical of our own follies.
Jesus Christ people I don't even go to college... yet.
Read stuff, and don't watch TV for anything other than Entertainment.
Take a walk every once in a while.
Astronomy is a humbling experience.
And don't forget to floss kids. - 10scott10, on 08/13/2008, -1/+6I live in LA. bikes aren't useful for long distrance transportation here
bikes really are not practical for getting around due to how spread out the city is, the heat, and the hills.
in a compact city like NYC, they could be very useful but there are a lot of places where it couldn't work.
although a lot these problems could be solved with a good public transti system. - blahtastic, on 08/13/2008, -2/+11"Jesus Christ people I don't even go to college... yet."
Yes, and it shows.
(Not that it will help any, the vast majority of college students these days are morons as well.) - tas08, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2@ Zenmojo
You realize I was replying to someone else's comment, right? - FairDinkumMate, on 08/13/2008, -4/+9What a bunch of whiny, excuse making wankers!
How does the layout of the US have anything to do with the fact that the US vehicle fleet is half as efficient as the European vehicle fleet? Fix that in the next few years(avg age of a vehicle in the US is 9 years so in 9 years consumption could drop 25%!!!)
"Oh, I don't have the time for public transport" - Well designed & implemented public transport is as fast or faster than private vehicles. What is your government doing about public transport? Talking about offshore drilling! Yeh, that's really a solution to overconsumption!
"The US is too big!" - What a load of crap. Australia is the same size with 1/15th of the population, still has suburbia & doesn't have half the problem! On top of that, the US population is centralised in cities anyway. For everyone who legitimately says "I live in the middle of nowhere" there are 20 people too lazy to get off their arses & get on a bus, train or bike.
/steps off soapbox - infiniphunk, on 08/13/2008, -5/+1@blahtastic
I'd be willing to bet that kid's IQ is double, maybe triple, what yours is. - MaruLono, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1i think we need more affordable train stations as well, it costs my $60 round trip from LA to San Diego because Amtrak is the only train that goes there, plus i think a train from LA to Las Vegas would be much more welcomed than that dreaded 15 fwy.
- Zipko, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3"Huge problem in the US. Suburbs are the worst incarnation of everything that is American. I want everything big, CHEAP, and close, but not so close that I have to walk."
You hit it right there with cheap and didn't even realize it. Do you realize how expensive it is to live in a major city? It costs more to rent a studio apartment in most cities than it would to just buy a house 50 miles out even when you factor in the cost of commuting. The reason so many people live in cookie-cutter suburbs is because it's efficient to build them and they're cheap to live in. Throw a couple hundred homes, a grocery store and a strip mall out in the middle of nowhere and boom, you've got a town. People will flock to it because it's far cheaper than trying to find a place to live close to work and you've created more jobs by building a service industry around that town.
The American suburb is efficient, and we have so many of them because we have the space for it. I'm willing to commute into a city for a good job, but there's no way I'd live there when I can pay less to have more land and a bigger house in the suburb. - aliengoods, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3@FairDinkumMate
I agree with your sentiment, but I think you've missed the point that American car manufacturers haven't given us the choice yet. I own a car and a truck. I use the truck when I have to haul lumber, otherwise I use the car, which is 15 years old and gets 30MPG. I only wish I could get an affordable car which got 50MPG, but seeing as I can't afford to buy a new vehicle, I have to wait until everyone else does and then decides to sell it. If I could afford one, I would love an electric car where I didn't need to use a drop of gas during my daily commute, but right now that's just not an option (financially, I would do a conversion if I could afford it). - HillerMylife, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I live in NYC, and if I used a bike to get around, I'd probably be dead. I don't know how the couriers/delivery boys/messengers do it!
- coyote1284, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1@FairDink
That argument was at least rational. Viable alternatives to auto and air really do need to be explored in the US. Take Omaha and Lincoln, NE. Each should have a cross-town rail and an inter-city rail for those that communte from one to the other (and imagine the business it'd get when the Huskers are playing at home!) - bobbyi, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Spoken like someone who has never actually had to ride a bike through the streets of NYC.
- ITFeed, on 08/14/2008, -0/+0What we need is a good and reliable public transit system + bicycles. There are some instances where driving SUV or a car is the only last option but it should be the LAST OPTION you have. People who commute to work, school or shopping should have bicycle if we are really serious about cutting carbon emission and taking on the problem with obesity(US, Aus, British to name a few).
Bicycle parking spots should be provided at train stations, shopping centers, workplace(need to accommodate for the extra time it takes to travel on bicycle) and schools to make this work otherwise people keep finding excuses to show off their latest gas guzzler. We are addicted to oil and you know it.
I am surprised that the US and Australian government is not putting much effort and emphasis in this matter. All they talked about is making electric hybrid cars or car that runs on alternative fuel, never about improving or expanding the public transit network or encouraging cycling to work and school. What I do know is it is very profitable for the government to be in bed with the oil(energy) companies.
- Soave, on 08/13/2008, -8/+79/we don't have as dense of a population, hence you can't ride 20 miles to work every morning.
Also, "an act of government," really? You have the wrong idea about the purpose of government.- jon31rm, on 08/13/2008, -1/+19He just said "it would take" an act of government. Not that it would be justified.
E.g. the phrase, "It would take an army..." - sharkus414, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3What is the point of government then? They already encourage you to buy houses and buy hybrid cars and gas by offering up subsidies.
This would just be another subsidy for showing that you drove less than x miles a year. This test could easily performed when they do emissions. - Vodd9, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Why not use both your car and a bicycle? My guess is that you're driving from the suburbs to the cities, so if you can park your car, let's say 5 miles from where you work (in the suburbs) and use your bike for the rest of it, you'll probably save parking fees, you'll contribute to your general health by making yourself in good shape (maybe instead of paying for the gym), you'll save money on gas, and you can rest your mind by telling yourself that you're doing your part to save the environment.
Of course, transporting your bike can be a bit tedious, but supports to carry them are inexpensive, and if your car is a hatchback, you won't even need any at all, as it's easy to fit it inside (by lowering the backseat, considering that you don't plan to have people sitting here) - throop77, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1This seems the perfect job for government. The government builds roads, they could easily add bike lanes, and they do in many places. I really don't see the private sector adding bike lanes to a government built road.
- jon31rm, on 08/13/2008, -1/+19He just said "it would take" an act of government. Not that it would be justified.
- Zempz, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3like you said, this would be great for the cities tho...like imagine if nyc/la/washington/san fran etc...all the major cities in the us cut their car usage by even 30%...that would be huge for resource consumption
- acleversheep, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0NYC is already the greenest city for resource consumption in the US on a per capita basis. 50% of New Yorkers don't even own cars, mass transit is very heavily used, and 20% of all commuting happens by bikes and good old feet. New Yorkers on average use less than 50% of the electricity that San Franciscans use and less than a quarter of the electricity of Dallas residents. (http://tinyurl.com/5bhww5) It would be nice if other cities would emulate New York City, but for that to happen, governments need to start realizing that road-building money is a resource-usage multiplier, while every dollar spent on mass transit building and promotion cuts down on resource usage at many times its cost.
- mikeliketrike, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1@Zempz
Imagine if we could drive flying dogs that farted Fabreeze and peed rainbows. But the only hitch is that for the dogs to gain the ability to fly they needed to consume the hopes and dreams of 30% of the children in America.
What a huge resource saver that would be.
@acleversheep
San Fransisco is the pinkest (and most fabulous) city resource glitter consumption in the US on a per capita basis. 82% of 'Sissssconians own, on average, 3.8 4 quart tupperware containers that are 90% full of glitter and other fantastic paraphernalia.
The city coming in a close 2nd is Las Vegas for an entire different set of "clientele".
- OC73, on 08/13/2008, -3/+34It's not a matter of being fat, it's about the lifestyle Americans prefer. As China becomes wealthier, it too is abandoning the bicycle for the automobile.
- infiniphunk, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4And then they too will become fat.
- QuadZeroRoute, on 08/13/2008, -4/+20Lets say the picture is an image of Shanghai, China. According to Wikipedia, "Shanghai is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world, with over 20 million people in its extended metropolitan area."
If you had that many people in a US city you would probably have that many bicyclists and that many more taking public transportation because there would not be enough parking spots and the parking available would be to those who could afford to pay it, which would make it very expensive.
The people in the United States are fine, they do not live like Chinese...they do not have infrastructure problems like China either.- exomni, on 08/13/2008, -27/+6The US don't have infrastructure problems? What? Are you ***** crazy? What planet are you living on? Our bridges are ***** FALLING DOWN. Randomly CRUMBLING because they are so poorly maintained.
- exomni, on 08/13/2008, -17/+7Why am I being dugg down? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20079534/
On top of that, anyone who's been to London or Paris knows our infrastructure is like a third-world country in comparison. When you get off the plane in New York, it's pot-holes galore, traffic jams everywhere, and cell phones are unreliable. - ostack, on 08/13/2008, -3/+9A single bridge collapses, and suddenly we have a mass infrastructure problem across the US? Bridges randomly crumbling? Think about it.
That is why you are being dug down. - skankyBacon, on 08/13/2008, -0/+10He said Americans "do not have infrastructure problems LIKE CHINA" (emphasis mine). He didn't say we don't have infrastructure problems period.
- Gizza, on 08/13/2008, -0/+7I'm always amazed when I read those stats, because I live in Australia and that city has more people than this entire country.
- misterS, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Why are you comparing to the *largest* city in China? Do you think it's not possible for a city with less citizens to have a bike-park like in the picture?
You don't have to have 20 million people around you to ride a bike, you know? - tas08, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2@exomni
You're blowing things out of proportion. I live in St. Paul (which, if you don't know, is Minneapolis's 'twin city' because they are so close, biking distance actually) and the bridge collapse didn't cause some major meltdown in traffic. It's been an inconvenience but it didn't take long for people to adjust their routes and compensate for the time differences and people don't even talk it about it anymore. They haven't been talking for many months (in regards to the traffic).
And you seem to be poorly educated on the the I 35W bridge collapse, but I don't care to get into it.
- patRIOTik, on 08/13/2008, -0/+17Apparently you have ever been to a large college town, which really doesn't surprise me.
Someone needs to take a picture of the front of the Francisco Torres dormitories at UCSB.- Verdanic, on 08/13/2008, -0/+17http://flickr.com/photos/mister_goleta/2513781891/
- AntFoolish, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0Actually, I live in a college town, but thanks for making a baseless assumption and being a dick about it. College towns are not at all indicative of the rest of the country, unfortunately. If they were, we'd be a much more liberal country, and would be much better off for it.
- exomni, on 08/13/2008, -9/+6You think China forced their people to stop driving cars? You're an idiot. China would want their citizens to use cars, as it would be better for their image as "advanced". The reason why they ride bikes is that they can't afford cars.
It doesn't take an act of government to make people ride bikes, it takes good city planning, public transportation for long distances, and unaffordable gas and car prices.- 10scott10, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3they actually didn't want them to use cars to get rid of the smog.
it has been in the news. - swiftekho, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1You're dumb. I just got back from China a couple weeks ago and you couldn't walk on the sidewalk without being afraid of the HUGE amount of cars.
- Lisho, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0And swiftekho you just missed the point.
- tkstock, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1"Beijing took 300,000 high-emission cars off its roads in early July. From July 20 private cars will be banned on alternate days according to their odd or even number license plates, in a bid to improve air quality and ease traffic congestion.
From June 23 to July 19, only half of the 22,800 vehicles used by all-level party organs, governments and public institutions under the Beijing administration were be allowed on the road." - swiftekho, on 08/14/2008, -1/+1Actually I didn't miss the point. If you look at the picture there are clearly no cars. exomni said that they can't afford cars, I was stating that the definitely can, indirectly.
- 10scott10, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3they actually didn't want them to use cars to get rid of the smog.
- DavidYeah, on 08/13/2008, -5/+7Why is everyone assuming that by "an act of government" the poster means "forcing people to ride bikes with the butt of a gun?"
It could be something like "if you ride a bike to a store, get a piece of paper validated by a storeowner nearby and you get a tax rebate of some tiny percent that might add up to something significant if you ride your bike hundreds of times a year" or something.
Or maybe tax rebates for parking in a bike parking lot.
Of course something like that is OBVIOUSLY rife with abuse problems but it's the first thing that popped into my brain.- thall, on 08/13/2008, -5/+7Making it a tax rebate yields the same control in the end because choosing to not ride a bike means you have to pay a penalty through taxes, and refusal to pay your taxes is considered a crime....just as if the government made it law that you had to ride a bike.
- infiniphunk, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1@thall
Of course it would be criminal for the gov't to take a stance against the automobile and oil industries. But the day they call your boy to go fight some damned war to secure oil in the middle-east, you'll swallow it whole. - DavidYeah, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1thall: oh, so you're doing the old "your reward is my penalty" switch. Because making it a law to ride a bike is exactly the same as providing incentives to do something, and the more you do that something the more you're rewarded.
So I guess that means that punitive taxes, like that on cigarettes, is for me somehow liberating, doesn't it, seeing as I'm freed from having to pay taxes on something I WASNT ***** DOING ANYWAY? Or does your logic shift slightly because now it's an actual, real punitive tax? - throop77, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Or just add some shoulders to the roads and bike lanes so people don't fear for their lives riding their bikes :)
- ejhdigdug, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1Making it easier to commute on a bike would be better. I commute 22 miles, 17 of those miles I take a train, the rest I bike. I find it to be a lot easier then driving, plus I can do other things. It's changed my life.
The government could build bike paths, buses with bike racks and train cars just for bikers. This is what they need to do. This is what other countries do. In Denmark they have bikes everywhere, you can rent one for 75cents on any street corner.
The main problem is the government is controlled by big oil, and big oil wants you to drive more. This isn't going to change until that changes.
- kakwakas, on 08/13/2008, -3/+20Or it's that some of us wouldn't quite enjoy the 40-mile bike ride to work or school like the one I would have to take. Not all of us live in the middle of a ***** metropolis.
- seraph582, on 08/13/2008, -1/+14DING DING DING DING DING!!!!
Common knowledge, FTW. The fact that, unlike in the rest of the world, citizens of the US don't all live on top of each other is the sole reason that we don't use manual modes of transportation anywhere near as much on a national level, and our mass transit systems aren't used anywhere near as much. - MrBleh, on 08/13/2008, -5/+4And who's fault is it for living so far away from work? Maybe because you can't afford to live close to work? So we're kind of the opposite of China where people can't afford cars so they ride bikes and live closer to work. Here, we can't afford to live near our work, so we drive cars. So we both can't afford something and have opposite problems.
- FairDinkumMate, on 08/13/2008, -4/+6@seraph - DING DING DING - You're a moron!
How decentralised do you think America really is? Why don't you compare it to an equivalent country like Canada or Australia?
The US has 15 times the population of Australia, is about the same size(a little bigger), a similar urban planning setup & yet Australia's major cities all have effective public transport with high usage rates.
On top of that, how does geography explain the fact that the US vehicle fleet is half as efficient as the vehicle fleets in rest of the developed world. Do you need bigger cars & engines to haul your fat arses?
The US drives the world nuts with ridiculous excuses like this! As soon as you guys work out how to keep the pollution you create in your own airspace, I'll STFU. Until then, I'll rant everytime I see a prat like you making a ridiculous & unsupported ***** excuse for him &/or his fellow Americans being too lazy to get off their arse! - Myonosken, on 08/13/2008, -2/+1@seraph: Nowadays ***** Russia has good public transport links. The "we're so far apart boohoo" excuse doesn't hold water now.
- throop77, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4The U.S. average one-way commute is 16 miles. The majority of Americans could be biking to work if the government would add bike lanes and better roads. I bike 10 miles to work, but I need to ride my mountain bike so I can ride in the grass when I get run off the road. There are so few people that ride a bike where I live that its actually dangerous. I think some drivers get pissed they have to slow down to avoid running me over.
- queenstarsha, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2wait. why are you swearing at us because you decided to live 40 miles from where you work?
- seraph582, on 08/13/2008, -1/+14DING DING DING DING DING!!!!
- ostack, on 08/13/2008, -0/+8The Chinese people are increasingly driving cars. They are experiencing the "feeling" of freedom that the US first felt in the 60's to now. World manufacturing has been concentrated primarily in China over the last 10 years, and the people of China have become more wealthy because of it. Many more Chinese can afford cars and are driving as much as they can. Of course overall, they are poor and cannot afford to drive, but given their numbers, even a small percentage increase in personal automobile ownership translates into a huge increase in numbers. Bike lots as pictured will never go away, but make no mistake, that picture does not tell the story implied by the submitter.
- Cwo655321, on 08/13/2008, -8/+3We already have that here! Next time you're on google maps look up Gooktown, USA.
- comptonstomp, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7your such an idiot guy. i guess you've never been to UCSB? francisco torres looks exactly like this if not MORE bikes. "it would take an act of government", or maybe just poor college students.
- tas08, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1You're*
- nasalspray, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0Apparently, he has never been to UCSB either.
To quote Blahtastic (in response to someone above):
"(Not that it will help any, the vast majority of college students these days are morons as well.)"
- cam0man, on 08/13/2008, -2/+7yes, because this is practical in all countries. As others said, I'm not biking 20 miles to work every day, and I'm certainly not biking to work 20 miles in 3' of snow.
- ZenMojo, on 08/13/2008, -7/+3That's a train station, champ.
- MrBleh, on 08/13/2008, -3/+4How about moving closer to work?
- mikeliketrike, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1Dugg because here in New England we had one of the worst winters in history last year and I can't imagine having to rely on my bike to get to work in the middle of a blizzard. A blizzard that lasts for days.
- FibrillatorD, on 08/13/2008, -1/+12Come to Minneapolis. Bikers dominate parts of this god blessed city. Most drivers are pretty respectful too.
Google midtown greenway- roryk27, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2dugg because you are from minneapolis.
- mieprowan, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I respect that - ironic that someplace that's so damned weather-ridden is so bike-friendly, while so many warmer and dryer areas are not.
- Buckwyld, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7Honestly, it's not that we are too fat. I just can't picture people biking 40 miles each way to get to work in Los Angeles in the morning.
I can bet you a majority of these people live less than 3 miles from work.- MrBleh, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Imagine that? Living closer to work. What a marvelous idea. There are condos in downtown LA and living there would certainly cut down on commute. Oh wait, maybe we want to live in a bigger house as oppose to a condo, so we must sacrifice something. Granted the condos in downtown LA aren't cheap and you can get a much bigger place if you live 40 miles out. Something's gotta give right?
- queenstarsha, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1and i bet you they're the kind of geniuses who consciously decided to live near a place they'll have to be five days a week.
- catchneyez, on 08/13/2008, -3/+9I'm a civil engineer; i do a lot of site development and infrastructure. Let me tell you why this won't happen any time soon. We have gotten to a point where local government relies entirely on private land owners and developers to create everything new, with the exception of roads and municipal utilities. Even most "city sidewalks" are paid for by the land owner. Every single jurisdiction has their own rules about what they require a developer to do, and none of them require a developer to put in bike parking. The reason is that it's way too expensive for very little use; kind of like a lot of the handicap accessible things we have to put in. That lot in the picture would cost roughly a half million dollars to build, and some rich guy looking to make profit is not going to front that kind of money. Just one more example of how the corporate world controls the U.S.
- ChromaVita, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Or just fence off some of the lanes in the parking lot. The problem isn't that companies won't build it; it's that it doesn't need to. The facilities they build don't get enough use to justify spending more to accommodate bikes. I live in a suburb and hardly anyone bike to the stores that are within a mile or two of nearly every house around here. Even though I see most people coming out of the store with only a few bags.
- Kajon, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4There's a lot of bikes here in Sweden. It is very safe to ride since you usually can take roads which are reserved for bikes and pedestrians. Stockholm even got special bike lanes on many of the big roads through the city.
Otherwise we usually got nice mass transit systems...
No reason to own a car if you live in Stockholm.
I noticed a huge difference when I was in italy.. noone wanted to ride a bike... cars everywhere... which made it to dangerous to try to ride a bike,- infiniphunk, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1what's it like living in a civilized country?
- elbartdaaawwg, on 08/13/2008, -2/+0how frivolous a statement.
obviously another mindless drone from America.
and it would seem to me that Sweden are doing much better for world economy than you are.
don't you think?
- ricemonster, on 08/13/2008, -5/+3***** you for stereotyping an entire nation.
- elbartdaaawwg, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1what a copout.
don't think for one second it isn't the nature of the human
to generalise and prejudicate.
what do you think keeps you safe?
idiot.
- elbartdaaawwg, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1what a copout.
- MitchC, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Sustainability...
- bradhunt5, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1We all know acts of Government, are as rare as acts of God!
- lamiaconfitor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Where do you live? God hasn't done anything in 2000+ years from what I can tell.
- bradhunt5, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Well when was the last time the Government did something for you.
- lamiaconfitor, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Seriously, ***** you, I am American, and own a bicycle, and have it pretty damned pimped out, thank you very much. I wouldn't even trust it in a parking space like that. Someone would take my bike computer/radio.
- Lisho, on 08/13/2008, -3/+0If you read into it a bit you'll find they don't ride fancy $5000 bikes as their transport.. they ride bikes costing only $100 or so.
- nasalspray, on 08/13/2008, -7/+2I hope someone steals your radio and smashes it right in front of you. Who the hell would put a radio on a bicycle anyway??
Eh... someone who chooses to trade one form of pollution for another - or to put it another way - an American.
Do you have one of those things in the spokes that clicks loudly when the wheel turns, too? - lamiaconfitor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Mine cost 250 before modifications, then not even that much, still... what is the big difference? and to nasal spray.. how much pollution does my radio produce, *****? If you are talking about batteries I use rechargeable ones, and if you think you want to smash my radio, go ahead and PM me for the address, Id like to see you try.
- ejhdigdug, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1Get a bike locker.
- ksgant, on 08/13/2008, -1/+8Get back to me with your bike when there's 3 feet of snow outside and it's 10 below zero.
- tweedius, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Reality is a harsh one for those who are wishful thinkers. Would I like to be able to ride a bike to work/class? Yes! Why can't I? Because the US is a country with lots of land. We all like to live a decent amount of space away from each other, because we can. Towns and cities become spread out. Miles and miles of space end up between where we live and where we work and study. Riding bikes to said work and class becomes unreasonable. It doesn't happen.
Secondly, an act of freaking government? I thought this was a free country...why is it that we're asking government to legislate our lives for us? The more libs talk, the more I think they want us to be in that big brother state they tell us they are trying to avoid. - schreiber, on 08/13/2008, -0/+7you haven't seen nothing yet....
the public bike rack at the Amsterdam central railway station is soooo much bigger:
http://amsterdam.netherlands.photrax.com/index.php ...- ejhdigdug, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1I remember seeing something just like this in Denmark. What blew my mind was that I couldn't see any with a bike lock.
- Kriegg, on 08/13/2008, -2/+0..."an act of Government? Why is it that morons like this always think Government is the answer ?
- XtheXlanternX, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I'll be sure to hop on my bike starting tomorrow for my 100+ mile commute every day... if our country wasn't designed to be so spread out it would be a much different story.
- queenstarsha, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2darned... geography! you had no choice but to obey its dictates. helpless, you are.
- jlburke, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2"It would take an act of government (as I'm pretty sure happened in the case of this picture as well)."
That picture could be any Scandinavian country, Netherlands, or Germany, and believe me (I live in Sweden and ride a bike to work), the governments of those countries dont force anybody to ride a bike, gimme a break!!! Its a personal choice (forced partially, I must concede, due to the high prices of gas here), but reinforced by the personal choice of caring for the environment and exercising a bit on the side. - Cyberpoop, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1I don't think it is a case of being fat or not, I think it is a case of where people live and how much they pay for more comfortable transportation. Only recently have people been noting a movement of Americans from suburbs and rural areas into the city. For most individuals in the countryside or in suburbs, it is unreasonable to bike or walk to work. Relocation of individuals into more urban areas will make bicycling more of an option for them.
Secondly, as US gas prices increase to rates common in most parts of the world you will begin to see (and you should already have seen) a general movement to alternative forms of transportation: mass transit, bicycling, and walking. In addition, high gas prices will also help prompt migration to more urban areas.
- Fracture98, on 08/12/2008, -7/+88Even with an act of government, you'd just end up with thousands of electric scooters...
- sshhaammss, on 08/12/2008, -42/+350yeah. we're all a bunch of pussies. most people i know whine about having to walk anywhere over a block, and they act like riding a bicycle 5 blocks is an epic journey.
- badnewshotel, on 08/13/2008, -6/+3
- SuperIntendo, on 08/13/2008, -6/+1I lol'd...
- koft, on 08/13/2008, -8/+78You obviously don't live in the southern US during the summer time.
- UberNick, on 08/13/2008, -26/+13Agreed. Obviously because he doesn't sound the slightest bit fat and lazy.
- rockefeller2, on 08/13/2008, -17/+13I live and Florida and ride my bike 20 miles each way to work in the summer. I haven't been riding alot lately, only maybe 1 or 2 times per week.
Stop making excuses. - Tyrghast, on 08/13/2008, -8/+8Florida? Pussy. Try deep south, in the desert and plains.
- WorldLeader, on 08/13/2008, -14/+5Deep South? pussy, try KANSAS. YEAH, IT GETS HOT HERE TOO AND I SLEEP IN THE ATTIC OH GOD IT'S HOT I'M GONNA DIE!!
- nick0lis, on 08/13/2008, -10/+7haha, i though florida was about as deep as you could get.
- mustanggt1989, on 08/13/2008, -8/+3I live in Austin Texas and ride 3 miles to and from work in 100+ heat daily. It ain't no thing.
- thebza451, on 08/13/2008, -3/+2320 miles each way in the summer? gee, i feel sorry for whoever has to work with you stinky man
- tomarocco, on 08/13/2008, -6/+13Intelligent people have figured out how to move away from the South.
- MrBleh, on 08/13/2008, -4/+2You're talking about heat. Obviously, you've never been to Asian countries. The weather in China during the summer is suffocating. It's humid and hot. I've been to Asian countries during the summer and Florida the entire summer and I can tell first hand, Florida is a breeze. So stop making excuses about riding in the heat.
- soupdawg30, on 08/13/2008, -4/+1@mrbleh Do you really think that city's in America do not get hot and humid? Try Louisiana or Southeast Texas.
- lebatte, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3Dude, everybody knows the south is the epicenter of obesity: http://www.delandloper.com/Abel/map23.jpg
- jimmick, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3America? Try Darwin, pussy.
- jlmillstein, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Michael Bluth did it in AZ. You can too.
- ScottyQuest, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Obviously... because he can spell.
- queenstarsha, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1i biked in tucson in the summer. it was fine. you just have to decide if you value your health, your pocketbook, and the environment, or shuttling from one a/c venue to another smelling like a daisy with nary a hair out of place. if you're a delicate flower, so be it. i ain't.
- VivaCalligula, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1Ha, haha, ahahahahaha!
I live in Chattanooga, TN, almost dead center in the South. I know MANY people who will drive around in a parking lot for 10 minutes to find a close spot rather than park at 90 second walking distance.
Have you ever seen the obesity statistics for the South? Alabama is the highest in the nation, closely followed by pretty much every other state in the South except FL and VA.
- bigdee973, on 08/13/2008, -24/+4LMAO i just declined an invitation to go walking with someone not far up a few blocks and i said HELLLL NO lol...screw that man im too lazy for that b.s. lol guess thats just the way some of us are built here in the northern eastern part of the USA.
- Verdanic, on 08/13/2008, -2/+5.. Are you proud of that?
- feoren, on 08/13/2008, -2/+7Nice excuse buddy. LMAO I just stabbed and killed seven innocent people lol . . . guess that's just the way some of us are built.
- queenstarsha, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1lazy and smug?
- rcmatt4321, on 08/13/2008, -4/+7I usually take a good 7 mile ride around my neighborhood every other day or so. Any day I don't have marching band till 7. Its good exercise, and its not actually that tough, and it only takes about 25 mins.
- tendonut, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Where I work, I park a good 4-5 city blocks from my office in downtown Buffalo, mostly because it's the only parking lot downtown I can park at that is not over $80-100 a month. During the winter months when weather gets really bad, I still have no qualms about walking that four blocks, but when I tell others about my walk, they think I'm bloody insane for not paying 3x my normal parking rate to park at the overcrowded parking ramp right across the street from the office. I even have co-workers who park illegally at other locations and would much rather pay parking tickets or get their car out of the impound lot periodically then walk that extra half block or so.
I live 15 miles away in Niagara Falls so public transportation is out of the question. But if I lived anywhere near Main street though, I'd be taking the subway every damn day.- danwgre, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4Buffalo has a subway? Who knew!
- pleasanttom, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0Yeah, sort of. It goes up and down main street, that's it. I personally ride my bike everywhere in Buffalo, it's flat as can be.
And you can usually find parking for free on North Pearl if you're willing to walk a few extra blocks.
- Pusod, on 08/13/2008, -2/+11yeah, how practical would that be for those who commute to work 40 miles each way and go from sea level to 4000 feet.
- tomarocco, on 08/13/2008, -9/+8How practical is it for those people to maintain their current living ararngements?
- pagno, on 08/13/2008, -1/+8*Wheeeeew...*[pan up at twisting mountain road.]
That would suck. - MrBleh, on 08/13/2008, -7/+5And it's really practical to live 40 miles and 4000 ft up away from work. The problem is we're too stupid and want to live 50000000 miles away from work. Try moving closer to work save some gas money.
- Pusod, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6I happen to love living in a rural community in Acton California where there are ranch homes and rolling hills. We are away from the hustle and bustle of inner city madness, no gangs, no crime, no smog, and the best part... 30 minutes from L.A where I work. Riding a bike between those elevations is not my cup of tea. Carpool FTW!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acton,_California - zhaojon, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1It would be really fun on the way home though.
- spookyttws, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7We're not a bunch of fat, lazy, beer drinking, dumb Americans. Now that that's out of the way, you mentioned something about Whine? I could really use a drink.
- MrBleh, on 08/13/2008, -5/+0We're not a bunch of fat, lazy beer drinking, dumb Americans. We just don't know how to make good living arrangements.
- linksus, on 08/13/2008, -4/+1Yes you are.
- Whitehat51, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3I ride my bike everywhere. I can't stand people who are that lazy, but they're out there.
- UnstableMind, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1WTF is it with people like you who despise others who drive a car or have a lengthy commute to work. You spout nothing but drivel and I don't give a ***** if you want to ride a bike everywhere, more power to you. I'd like to arrive clean and professional looking, not drenched in sweat and smell like ass. I live 18 miles from where I work in a subdivision that the cost of living is 1/4th where I work, hence the reason I communte 18 miles. If I want to drive a Hummer or a damn Fit, that's my perogative, ***** you for trying to tell me what to drive. If you want to live as a sheep and be told what to do and supported by a ***** nanny government, get your ass to China. They all seem to "like" riding bikes and the air is cleaner b/c of it....Oh wait...
- ophello, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Not where I'm from...
- greywolfexcel, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Uh, where do you live? I don't know anyone that acts like that, and I've lived in Washington, Idaho, and Maryland (as well as knowing people that live in several other states as well).
- AriaStar, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4It's not an epic journey?!
/sarcasm - AeonTorpor, on 08/13/2008, -1/+5I live in Arizona. It's a 5 mile ride to my work in 110+ degree weather. Nah, I'm good taking a vehicle. If I ever feel like getting to work soaking wet I'll just not dry off after taking a shower.
- DAC1138, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1BAHAHA!!! In Australia, I rode 5 miles in 110+ heat to get to the university. It's not that hard and with the proper traffic flow it goes quite fast. All you need is willpower...and water.
- Merlaak, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I hear you on the soaking wet part. I don't think most of the people on here who ride to work on bikes have to wear suits. I'd love to ride a bike to work but yeah, I don't think me showing up sweaty and nasty would make a good impression.
- nutzngum, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I don't even have a drivers' license - I live in Toronto, and between insurance, parking and gas being around $5/gallon, I don't mind the 16km round trip that I make to work and back on my bike each day. There are even a couple of bike lanes and after a while, you learn which areas to avoid (king and bay anyone?)
- badnewshotel, on 08/13/2008, -6/+3
- jefuchs, on 08/12/2008, -15/+53By the time it happens here I'll be too old to ride a bike.
- synystar, on 08/13/2008, -2/+5I have a neighbor who is 90-something and rides daily.
- cardshark69, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Really??
That is amazing!
- cardshark69, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Really??
- badnewshotel, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2017?
- exomni, on 08/13/2008, -2/+4I intend to be dead before I can't ride a bike.
Old age does not require immobility. Only if you're a complete dumbass and don't take care of yourself. I know an 78-year-old who bikes halfway up the state (Michigan) each year. - ousthouse, on 08/13/2008, -1/+9You know... you dont have to wait for everyone to get a bike before you can start.
- Hangly, on 08/13/2008, -0/+7You can get a big people bike.
- EgaoNoGenki, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I'm 23, and hope not to be too old to ride bikes by the time we see this. How about yourself?
- synystar, on 08/13/2008, -2/+5I have a neighbor who is 90-something and rides daily.
- slothchunk, on 08/12/2008, -10/+614i'm holding out for teleportation
- hagerman, on 08/13/2008, -12/+23Here's the problem with teleportation. Assuming a device could be invented, which would identify the quantum state of matter of an individual in one location and transmit that pattern to a distant location for reassembly. You would not have actually transported the individual, you would have destroyed him in one location and recreated him in another.
- BryanJK, on 08/13/2008, -5/+23what is the issue with it? our bodies aren't the same matter they used to be anyway
also, you should cite the TV show you quoted that from because it looks like you're taking credit for it - benburned, on 08/13/2008, -1/+37IMO it would be better if we were to somehow find a way to copy the information on our brains to another storage device, then put that into robotic body, and when you want to "teleport" you simply send your data along fiber optic cables to wherever you want to go and it will be received by an identical robot body.
that solves the problems of teleportation and aging, killing two stones with one bird. - thall, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3Does the quantum state even include the inertial frame, energy, momentum, etc? If not, such a device would need to detect that information, transmit it, and recreate it. It would suck to end up on the other side and suddenly implode because all the electron momentum started at 0 and fell into the nucleus.
- VigilanteP, on 08/13/2008, -0/+7@benburned
You should read Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan, it deals with a future where that exact technology is widespread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_Carbon - timewarp424, on 08/13/2008, -1/+5Straight out of a philosophy book: What comprises a human person? Just the body, or something else? If you assume that the essence of a person transcends just his or her body, then yes, the one person upon disassembly would die and the created person, although 100 percent identical in physical features, would be entirely a new and different entity.
- ath1337, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Ghost In The Shell?
- Th3Kyle, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3I just bought Altered Carbon for 35 cents + shipping as per your advice VigilanteP. I'm a huge fan of Ghost In The Shell, so I'm sure I will love it.
- skankyBacon, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1There was an Outer Limits episode (new series) about that. I think Elliot from Just Shoot Me was in it.
- Hangly, on 08/13/2008, -0/+7Then I wish my clone good luck on the other side.
- norm7, on 08/13/2008, -8/+1pointless explanation is pointless
- JDLamb88, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1That was in a stupid Canadian cartoon as well.
- Exekutor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3You're assuming teleportation works with science. I'm waiting for a teleportation based in magic.
- WCBoot, on 08/13/2008, -6/+0@ BryanJK
I think you just raped that guy - rentmitchum, on 08/13/2008, -3/+1This reminded me of when Luke makes that guy look like a pussy for thinking they couldn't drop the proton torpedoes in that shaft.
- xander411, on 08/13/2008, -2/+0@timewarp424
There is also another other viewpoint. I, for one, don't believe in a 'soul' as it were, yet believe teleportation as pop-culture currently defines it would consist of killing and cloning. For me, continuation of conciousness is the important thing in defining a person, and this is violated through the destruction of the physical body. - gubatron2, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4not necessarily, that's how YOU think teleporting should be... creating and destroying a copy.
What if there's another way where you actually travel realfast by bending space/time, and you just jump in space in close to 0 time?
- BryanJK, on 08/13/2008, -5/+23what is the issue with it? our bodies aren't the same matter they used to be anyway
- aquadoctorbob, on 08/13/2008, -2/+11What about the part where a copy of you walks out the other side thinking its the original and the only person who knows what really happened is dead...?!
*existential panic attack*- ParkourRunner, on 08/13/2008, -0/+8like off that movie "the prestige" or whatever
- BigE89, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Sounds like something out of Robert J. Sawyer books.
- Taiyoryu, on 08/13/2008, -0/+17I'd rather hold out for portals. Bend space such that two locations are connected via an event horizon.
- jasonliman, on 08/13/2008, -0/+39make sure no flies go in while you are teleportating.
- Calamier, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4Logged in just to Digg this.
- Ploosheeta, on 08/13/2008, -0/+15Logged in just to let you know that I logged in.
- rentmitchum, on 08/13/2008, -2/+2Logged in just to poop a log.
- Weip, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Logged in just to.. aww what ever...
- Rhonwyn, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Digging you for making a Fly reference instead of the obvious and over played video game reference.
- NCocca, on 08/13/2008, -3/+1It was a simpsons reference
- rheaume, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2You first :)
- moocow1452, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Just twist off a space bubble and shove it from a PoO to a receiver. Problem solved.
- xdevit, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I donno, Comcast will filter the teleporter to we will all end up deformed.
- sewerraccoon, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Spy's sappin mah telleporter!
- Licurgo, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1no, you copy the body and then you drown the original.
dont you see the movie "the prestige" - iridescence, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Heisenberg_compens ...
- Hoogs, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I always wondered why all the people on Star Trek weren't fat. I mean, they teleport everywhere!
- hagerman, on 08/13/2008, -12/+23Here's the problem with teleportation. Assuming a device could be invented, which would identify the quantum state of matter of an individual in one location and transmit that pattern to a distant location for reassembly. You would not have actually transported the individual, you would have destroyed him in one location and recreated him in another.
- Hetman, on 08/12/2008, -12/+44It is a really cool picture. I walk or ride my bike almost everywhere I go. But it is easy if you live in a major city and you do not feel like paying 300$ a month just for parking. Once you figure in gas price, insurance, and car payments it just makes more cents to ride, walk, or use public transportation.
- ThePwnyExpress, on 08/13/2008, -1/+17it makes more cents to hold on to your quarters and nickels too
- Verdanic, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I do that, I roll up the contents of the jar every couple months and find myself with a spare $80 or so. Makes sense to me.
- mtvkilledusall, on 08/13/2008, -2/+47I ¢ what you did there.
- xerigen, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Yeah, I've rode my bike everywhere I possibly could this summer. In the last 30 days I've only used $15 worth of gas in my car.
- Dorktoh, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Bad pun. BAD PUN!
- xbair, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1What ever happened to horses?
- celotil, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4Lack of hitching posts, too many people annoyed by the smell of fresh manure, and horses tend to be skittish when amongst traffic.
What annoys me is that if you live somewhere that horses are a viable option for transportation, such as Rosewood, Marburg, Lowood, or anywhere more then ten kilometres west from where I live, you can still get arrested for DUI - The horse is the Designated Driver damn it, he's not about to walk into a tree or step over a cliff just because I'm a drunken idiot.
- celotil, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4Lack of hitching posts, too many people annoyed by the smell of fresh manure, and horses tend to be skittish when amongst traffic.
- ThePwnyExpress, on 08/13/2008, -1/+17it makes more cents to hold on to your quarters and nickels too
- D14BL0, on 08/12/2008, -40/+669This is a bicycle outlet.
And they're closed.- Gravey9, on 08/13/2008, -10/+57pwned!
- plr4ever, on 08/13/2008, -4/+16How can you tell? Makes sense though.
- ceceliamurphy, on 08/13/2008, -7/+1i tend to agree
- MrZee, on 08/13/2008, -21/+5PWNED to the max, my Gravey9 friend. I am high as a kite, man.
- Sucka27, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2dugg down but I laughed. +1
- bross29, on 08/13/2008, -9/+3You're right, you can tell because the bicycles are caged in with no entrances or exits.
- MarshalBanana, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2You can't even see the fence all the way around, and with the far side it's hard to tell. AND even a bike depot would need an entrance so it MUST be there anyway.
- Oppslagsverk, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Maybe the bicycles are jailed.
- Alex2, on 08/13/2008, -1/+6At first, I thought this was the Toronto Police collection of stolen bikes.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/31/f-bike-t ...- Verdanic, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1So, so happy they FINALLY busted that asshat Igor.
- tehWhisp, on 08/13/2008, -3/+1***** stole my bike?
- mneinast, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Naga stole my bike?
/e pities the fool.
- blckngldhwk, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2I'm glad they provide plenty of parking for cars at the bike outlet though.
- sh4rkb1t3, on 08/13/2008, -8/+3We need more and bigger parking spots for Hummers. F*ck bikes.
- Hangly, on 08/13/2008, -3/+37It's a bicycle parking lot outside a train station in Japan. I've seen hundreds exactly like it.
- tomarocco, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Cheeseheads pwned!!!
- SuperMoses, on 08/13/2008, -0/+9It could be in Amsterdam where bicycles are very common:
http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yoNycj8udXA/Rr7h9mGTd-I/AAAA ...
But it's most likely Japan:
http://bp1.blogger.com/_RbZ1AlRKGEA/R7jpOXlKt9I/AA ...- kelpdip, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I believe it is near the main train station in amsterdam, right next to the river.
- Rotzooi, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2That ski-epic link is very cool.
Thanks. - hasansexy, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Man this is so funny, I live near Amsterdam and reading http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/ is hilarious, everything that guy thinks is weird is normal here, like the circular locks, no helmets, dynamos, 2persons1bike etc. It's the same when someone says to someone from the US: Omg you drive cars? With headlights? With inflatable tyres? It's just so weird:p
- AnalJustice, on 08/13/2008, -1/+6lol how is this a bicycle outlet?
they're ***** everywhere if you've been to east asia - cmsjustin, on 08/13/2008, -2/+3http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmsjustin/559540252/i ...
Amsterdam, Netherlands - pros599, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Yeah... They went out of business, that's why there are no cars there.
- Paulish, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Who would store new (or even used) bikes that are going to be sold outside? That's just retarded.
- tmacfan123, on 08/12/2008, -21/+2see this is ok in america because most people are too lazy to bike anyway...
- Danby123, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1ever heard of supply and demand?
- Brad324, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1That would piss me off to have to deal with that many cyclers on the road, all thinking they're something special.
- rc22nyrocket, on 08/13/2008, -28/+39apparently none of you people have ever been to an ironman triathlon, and by the looks of it, thats what this is. they have a lot of these in the US.
- lexpattison, on 08/13/2008, -3/+10Aren't those cruisers? The bike tires are all different sizes and there are rear mud guards along the entire set... I don't think it's an Ironman unless single gear bikes are now being used :)
- Auraness, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7Either that or China...
- Lukesed, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Judging by the cars in the background, I doubt it. I went there for a few weeks last year, and there were two kinds of cars: decades old ones imported used and really shady looking black luxury sedans with tinted windows. I don't think I saw a single shiny minivan my entire time there.
- CabesMojo, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1I was going to say that reminded me a lot of my first triathlon.
- noumuon, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2it's probably china
- gwhardyiv, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Chinese triathlon.
- dafreshfish, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2It is Japan. The streets are much cleaner and the cars are definitely Japanese (boxy 4 cylinders). I lived in Beijing and bikes are not stacked as orderly as they are in the photo.
- BN2L, on 08/13/2008, -0/+11Those are definitely not racing bikes.
- rc22nyrocket, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2true, the cars look japanese and i forgot to check if the bikes were racing bikes, but still, stuff like this goes on in the US all the time so people shouldn't over look that. the US isn't just one country of fat people, theres still tons of people out there that are in shape.
- cliffzdude, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I've been to, and in some triathlons. This is definitely not a triathlon transition area. The bikes have fenders.
- Asshate, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4Triathlon on girls' bikes with fenders? Doesn't sound too ironman to me.
- soulkitchen, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Pretty good bet that most diggers have not been in a triathlon.
- johnbr, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Apparently you've never been to a triathlon either. Those are not racing bikes, there are no numbers on the bikes, the only person in the cage is wearing slacks and there are bikes jumbled all along the edges in a terribly disorderly fashion.
- whodoes, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1if you say so, I havent seen anything similar.
- Rhonwyn, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Apparently you've never been to an Ironman triathlon either. I've never been to a triathlon where someone was racing with a basket on the front. Good try though. I should take a picture of all the bikes at my next tri and use that as a counter to these kinds of stories.
- ThePwnyExpress, on 08/13/2008, -2/+15..... and where is this?
- tensaibaka, on 08/13/2008, -2/+8I'm guessing this is either right outside of a train station somewhere in Japan, or somewhere in China based on the characters barely visible on some of the signs in the background.
- ZeeZee2k, on 08/13/2008, -1/+6It's probably not China, our bike parking lots don't look this organized, beside, not a single person in the pic.
- Hangly, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5It's Japan. That monstrous white walkway is unmistakable.
Also no trash everywhere.
- witicism, on 08/13/2008, -1/+14This is definitely Japan. I live there and there are scenes like this all over the country
- 68024, on 08/13/2008, -5/+5Looks like the Netherlands to me. Could be Leiden train station or something like that.
- Baloo, on 08/13/2008, -0/+13It is Japan. Almost every train station looks like this. with massive bike parking areas outside the station.
- yergi, on 08/13/2008, -0/+9This is most certainly Japan. There is Katakana on the building in the background, and that alphabet is only used within the Japanese language.
Peace;
yergi - carbonsulfite, on 08/13/2008, -0/+8It's in Japan, the original picture can be found here...
http://picasaweb.google.com/philzale/Spring2007Tri ...
...and this is the flickr page it is linking to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeontv/2757257987/- lamiaconfitor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1"Notice the parking lot to the left ... cars ... *empty*. Notice the parking lot to the right ... bikes ... *PACKED*. That's what $6.00/gallon gas will do to ya."
Yes, and the parking to the far/top right? All big wigs I would guess.
- lamiaconfitor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1"Notice the parking lot to the left ... cars ... *empty*. Notice the parking lot to the right ... bikes ... *PACKED*. That's what $6.00/gallon gas will do to ya."
- snek, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Hmm you could have fooled me it was the Netherlands as well :)
Although we usually don't have bike parking this neat.. Here we just dump our bikes wherever there's space :P
Although I only put my MTB in protected parking since it's too expensive to just leave outside. - Ryanx0r, on 08/13/2008, -2/+3This is most likely Amsterdam (or just some other place in the Netherlands)
- lamiaconfitor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4The internets.
- diggimator, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3It's the free parking area at the southern exit of Niigata Station, Japan. Last pic in this blog post:
http://tono.way-nifty.com/bike/2005/09/2_69ca.html
I have officially spent too much time on the internet today.- Musk, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0Yes you have now get back to work!
Good job though - now we don't have to waste our time wondering where the hell this is. - carbonsulfite, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0But you were helping mankind to locate an empty parking lot.
Niigata, Niigata (Japan), 37º 54' 36.27" N 139º 3' 37.11" E
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1438212
("c'est bien rangé , c'est propre ,c'est japonais.")
- Musk, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0Yes you have now get back to work!
- tensaibaka, on 08/13/2008, -2/+8I'm guessing this is either right outside of a train station somewhere in Japan, or somewhere in China based on the characters barely visible on some of the signs in the background.
- mike17032, on 08/13/2008, -21/+16No thanks.
- CannedCorn, on 08/13/2008, -8/+45You're right, we do need more parking in nyc.
- tas08, on 08/13/2008, -3/+343Uh oh, I forgot where I parked my bike. Lets see, it's blue.....
- indubitably, on 08/13/2008, -0/+65mine's the one with the baseball card in the spokes
- KMartSheriff, on 08/13/2008, -1/+24Mine has wheels on it.
- tdogg241, on 08/13/2008, -0/+14Not any more it doesn't. Sucker!!!
- lou2005, on 08/13/2008, -3/+1I would never ever find my bike.
- sc0rpi0n, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Good thing I installed remote-controlled beeper.
- AresDiggs, on 08/13/2008, -2/+28Mine just has a pole.. with no seat...
...no *****- fredrockbluff, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3*clicks remote* BEEP BEEP there it is.
- KingGorilla, on 08/13/2008, -0/+17Remember we're in the Itchy lot
- Jerryskid02, on 08/13/2008, -3/+1...thought I was in the Donald Duck section....
- gilgtc, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1that is true, I remember when i lived in holland i was always puzzled, and at the same time impressed, at how people can find their bikes. I have seen much "worse" that that.
- thebestever, on 08/13/2008, -41/+4CLICK MY GREEN THUMB PLEASE
- ch4os1337, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Red Thumbed!
- thebestever, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2lol
- mashmash, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0no
- OkamiImako, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5*****, I missed.
- ch4os1337, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Red Thumbed!
- badnewshotel, on 08/13/2008, -31/+11***** bikes.
- thatspsychotic, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7***** your mom.
- UserNull, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4***** your couch.
- AnalJustice, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5***** your mom sitting on your couch
- zhaojon, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3***** your couch sitting on your mom.
- mearom, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1***** your moms little pet dog sitting on your moms lap
- OC73, on 08/13/2008, -31/+13"We need more of this here."
No we don't.- AnalJustice, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3yeah we don't
what we really need is a big metal bar to spank your ass with- facetowncollege, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1thats just weird
- cardshark69, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Why not?
Having bikes anywhere is a massive improvement to cars...
I don't see what you have against an environmentally stable future.
- AnalJustice, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3yeah we don't
- RashandCurious, on 08/13/2008, -11/+29I'd put money on it being the Netherlands.
- KMartSheriff, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4I visited Delft in Holland once and they had a bike parking garage which looked pretty much like this (except the one I saw was multi-story).
- enakra, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Most definitely, saw a lot of these there.
- Chronictrees, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Yeah, they had a huge multi story bike garage right next to the Central Station in Amsterdam. Makes this one look small.
- PolarZoe, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Bike Garage next to central station in amsterdam:
http://www.bakfiets-en-meer.nl/wp-content/uploads/ ...
This is just one of the places to park your bike, on the other side of the station there is another little smaller than the one on the original pic to park your bike and a converted ferry for even more bikes.
And of course there are always lots of bikes chained to the fences of the canals.
And now I'm only talking about central station, don't get me started on the rest of Amsterdam/the Netherlands.
But yeah, for dutch standards this is a very small place to park your bike :-P
- PolarZoe, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Bike Garage next to central station in amsterdam:
- Baloo, on 08/13/2008, -1/+22It is NOT the Netherlands.
It is Japan.
The box cars in the background.
The light post in the car park
The design of the train station
The green boards with the yellow flags
and oh yeah
the writing in the background.- adrenalmedulla9, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3dude, brutal.
- yergi, on 08/13/2008, -2/+11You lose.
japanese manufactured automobiles (both yellow and white license plates)...
oh yeah, Katakana on the building.
It's Japan. - aceCannon, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Specifically, I believe it's Osaka - perhaps Namba station.
- djm19, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0they have a lot of these in the netherlands. bike stealing seems to be a big problem. Everyone rides beat up pieces of junk to make them undesirable.
- diggimator, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1It's the southern exit of Niigata Station
http://hpcgi3.nifty.com/himenosawa/log/hime.cgi?da ...
It may be already gone since they're doing reconstruction around the station.
- holi1, on 08/13/2008, -4/+0China
- halaric, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0Nope, too clean and tidy.
- halaric, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0Nope, too clean and tidy.
- ninavicci, on 08/13/2008, -24/+19goddam hippies quitcherbitchen!
- Plasmodia, on 08/13/2008, -8/+3This is Chinaworld
- mogebier, on 08/13/2008, -22/+19Yeah, we need more ass hole bikers who zip in and out of traffic and do not ever obey any traffic law.
Sure, we do.- Ymeg, on 08/13/2008, -3/+5Easy points, imo.
- mogebier, on 08/13/2008, -2/+3Yeah, I need to install bigger bumpers on my car.
- BoneheadFarker, on 08/13/2008, -1/+5@mogebier
Don't forget the spikes. And flame throwers. And buzz saws. And cats.
- Ramble, on 08/13/2008, -2/+3That would describe car drivers too. Everyone ignores traffic law, but on a bike it's far more dangerous so you're far more likely to comply.
- mogebier, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Bikers fly through lights and stop signs all the time. They never signal either. I am amazed when one obeys a law and does something right.
- mogebier, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Bikers fly through lights and stop signs all the time. They never signal either. I am amazed when one obeys a law and does something right.
- tightscrummy, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Was that you this morning? Hahahahahahahahahaha!
- Ymeg, on 08/13/2008, -3/+5Easy points, imo.
- Cydonia21, on 08/13/2008, -6/+206More of that will just lead to more of this
http://viescha.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/yourbik ...- shzdeR, on 08/13/2008, -0/+16Good counter-post.
- Daxx22, on 08/13/2008, -3/+40Wow. First I marveled at the piles of bikes, then I noticed the dude at the door...
- Chicken, on 08/13/2008, -12/+127***** stole my bike?
- thegbe, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1chicken...
- tightscrummy, on 08/13/2008, -2/+2What do you call a black kid on a bike?
- DestroyFascism, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1If he has a gun, Sir. If he does not, unlicensed...
- thegbe, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1chicken...
- had3l, on 08/13/2008, -9/+67that ***** stole a lot of bikes
- ceceliamurphy, on 08/13/2008, -4/+2and if each of those was a car?
- wyefye, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0he would be a red-neck
- j3ff86, on 08/13/2008, -1/+22I logged in to digg that.
- pixelguru, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3I looked at that photo and thought - what a nice collection, but he could fit more if he got rid of the lame swimming pools.
I'm a bicycle guy... I admit it. - jjb123, on 08/13/2008, -4/+8http://bikestash.ytmnd.com/
- purplehaze420, on 08/13/2008, -2/+1Hahaha awesomeness.
- Decipi, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0You can swim in the pool with the cover on.
- jgreene777, on 08/13/2008, -0/+15did anyone happen to notice the stack of crutches on the steps? wtf?
- ChuckIT, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1i was just thinking that when i looked at the ytmnd link.
- tomarocco, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3I was gonna call White Trash until I saw...
- furio3d, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5haha! what's the story behind that?
- spuddly, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Once upon a time some guy piled up a ***** of bikes in his back yard. He lived happily ever after. The end.
- djm19, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0This picture makes no sense!
- rentmitchum, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1LOL IM AMERICAN YARD
- Vodd9, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2I don't generally like sterotypes, but a black man with at least a hundred bicycles in his yard?
I mean.. come on.- zhaojon, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Black men can be bike enthusiasts, too, ya know...
- Vodd9, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Haven't you ever heard of the line "***** stole my bike!"?
- Cyberpoop, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1Yeah. Give up this clean transport crap. Stick to this:
http://www.motherjones.com/blue_marble_blog/car_ju ...
http://k53.pbase.com/v3/90/78990/1/46806450.Scenic ...
- pjr12345, on 08/13/2008, -14/+43You want bikes... go there.
- Ascendancy5, on 08/13/2008, -17/+9I get it, it's a picture. Can we please drop (pic), [PIC], and [IMAGE] from titles?
- JakeW, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6No.
- aussieNickuss, on 08/13/2008, -2/+4No. This is why.......
http://i33.tinypic.com/2hewnqu.jpg- WickEd101, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1I don't get it
- aussieNickuss, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2"I don't get it"
When you're looking at digg from a mobile, you can't tell if something is a video, picture or just a plain article. That's what the [tags] are for.
- mtnone, on 08/13/2008, -1/+0no. I like funny pictures.
- DarkDx, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3This is digg. you are doing it wrong.
- OfNumbers, on 08/13/2008, -24/+9***** stole my bike.
- greenlight2001, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2This seems appropriate right now: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/266901269_93336 ...
- UserNull, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Yeah well it wasn't. Good try!
- facetowncollege, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1he got dug down for his saying "*****" which offends diggers
- oduska, on 08/13/2008, -2/+99If people here didn't drive like idiots I would ride my bike more often.
- xerigen, on 08/13/2008, -3/+9It's amazing how stupid drivers in the US become when a bike is nearby. They always expect that THEY should go first when you have the walk light on the crosswalk and they want to turn right. I can't believe how much I get honked at in this situation when I ride my bike.
- secrity, on 08/13/2008, -1/+6I don't know why the walk light would have anything to do with it unless you were walking. The green light would have much more to do with it.
- Verytastycheese, on 08/13/2008, -2/+2If you're on the road, you should be in the right lane and either in front of or behind said car, not tucked away far on the right. Just like driving behind them, you need to slow down and let them turn... you don't have a lane of your own on the shoulder.
If you've hopped off your bike on the sidewalk and are walking across as a pedestrian this of course doesn't apply. - DragonForce4, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3"you don't have a lane of your own on the shoulder."
Where I'm from we do, it makes everything a whole lot easier
- Freya23, on 08/13/2008, -1/+13I totally agree - I finally talked my boyfriend into getting a bike in LA since he lives like 10 minutes from work, and he got hit by a car in the middle of the day while he was riding on the sidewalk and the idiot drove off (of course), then a week later he gets hit AGAIN by someone else, same thing, they drive away and he's left with a broken vertebrae and ribs. The medical bills are a lot more expensive than just paying for gas. Go figure.
- 0gre, on 08/13/2008, -1/+11Not to be critical but the sidewalk is just about the worst place for a cyclist to ride. You need to be out in traffic where people can see you. That has it's own problems but it's much better than the sidewalk where people don't look for you.
- Freya23, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Yeah, agreed, but you would assume that cars don't typically drive up over the curb and onto the sidewalk either.
- tehxen3, on 08/13/2008, -1/+8He got hit again? I guess he never learns.
- tomarocco, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Sounds like you need a new boyfriend.
- Freya23, on 08/13/2008, -3/+1Haha, I'm in the application process. :)
- tightscrummy, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2What a loser.
- HenryLegge, on 08/13/2008, -1/+5Jesus, on the pavement (side walk) how the ***** do you get hit there? Did he get their number plate and was it like a hit and run situation?
- Jforsyth89, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5I tend to stay on roads that have a dedicated bike lane, or are at least wide. But still, sharing the roads with some of the drivers out there is nerve wracking at times. It's gotten to the point where I am afraid to go straight past a right-hand turn with a car nearby in the driving lanes. I've had too many close calls with idiots a) not signaling, b) not looking, and c) almost hitting me when taking a sudden turn.
- bmystry, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1You could make the ultimate sacrifice and let yourself get hit to teach someone a lesson, the guy would be held at fault.
- purplehaze420, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Amen, got hit by a car last summer in Toronto. Glad to live in Calgary now, where there are as many bike trails as roads.
- TheKyle27, on 08/15/2008, -0/+1...and if it wasn't 105 degrees out right now.
- xerigen, on 08/13/2008, -3/+9It's amazing how stupid drivers in the US become when a bike is nearby. They always expect that THEY should go first when you have the walk light on the crosswalk and they want to turn right. I can't believe how much I get honked at in this situation when I ride my bike.
- androothebear, on 08/13/2008, -7/+2do they have drive thru's designed for bikes, ya think?
- secrity, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Most drive throughs prohibit bicycles because they are a traffic hazard.
- tightscrummy, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2Something tells me that it's a rule that rarely needs to be enforced.
- secrity, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Most drive throughs prohibit bicycles because they are a traffic hazard.
- itbescott, on 08/13/2008, -3/+29I ride my bike to work and the store and I live in the good old US of A. I love riding by bike and spend less that 20 bucks on gas a month. I really don't understand why people are so against it (unless they live really far away).
- CabesMojo, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4Can't ride my bike uphill in the snow in my snowboard gear, until that day...........
- pixelguru, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Maybe you're just riding the wrong bike?
http://www.surlybikes.com/pugsley.html - MrBleh, on 08/13/2008, -5/+0Those days you drive you idiot! I don't think people here expect anyone to ride bikes in extreme conditions.
- pixelguru, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Maybe you're just riding the wrong bike?
- KMartSheriff, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4I don't think it's that we're against it, it's a choice. I mean most of the time I either have to A) drive far, B) am going on a date/to lunch with someone, C) it's waaayyy to hot outside, D) people drive like idiots, E) Carry a lot of items (enough that they couldn't fit in a backpack).
- itbescott, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4I'm not talking about using ONLY a bike. I have a car too (an SUV at that, well barely, it's a four-banger 5-speed manual) and in some situations it doesn't make sense or is impossible to use a bike. But most of the driving that people do is to and from work. Why take a whole car when you're pretty much taking just your body? I would ride to work as long as it was less than 10 miles and I would still consider it at further distances. It's the attitude that people seem to have that bikes are for children and "I don't have to do that ***** anymore" now that I'm grown up that puzzles me or just the general distain for things physical that we have that puzzles me.
- m00n1, on 08/13/2008, -4/+5So you...
a) have chosen a bad area to live in
b) have friends who can't ride bikes as well
c) live in a #@(*$( desert (eg Arizona or whatever)
d) true, but it's a self fulfilling prophesy
e) carry too much stuff
I thought, despite his flaws, one of Al Gore's greatest pieces of genius was the name of his movie.
Yes, making changes is inconvenient. Moving closer to work is inconvenient. If you chose to live in a desert, that's just stupid.
Stop making excuses, start making inconvenient changes. - 10scott10, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4so basically you want a total evacuation of the southwest because we can't ride bikes?
what about the places where it is too cold to ride a bike?
or if you can't afford to live close to your job?
or have things to carry?
seriously, some things are what they are.
but i will be dead before i try and commute the twenty miles in 100+ degree heat. but i guess i am just whining - CabesMojo, on 08/13/2008, -2/+4m00n1, wow, your ignorance is just outstanding. I can only assume you're trolling digg because you're bored. I read a couple more of your comments on this thread though and you honestly can't be this mentally handicapped.
Then again, you follow the Goracle so chances are you actually probably are. - KMartSheriff, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1@m00n1:
b)? I've "chosen" friends who can't ride bikes? Really? Come on now. You might as well wear a cape that says "TROLL" on it.
Oh, and on c) you misspelled "*****" (or whatever "#@(*$(" is supposed to be). I cannot believe people actually dugg you up.
- danlbuckley, on 08/13/2008, -0/+9I would if I could. But, I have a 30 mile commute each way until my son is out of school - I want him to finish where he is. So, until then, I am at the mercy of OPEC.
- pixelguru, on 08/13/2008, -2/+7I ride my bike about 1 1/2 miles every day and catch a bus into the city from there. I figure I'm saving over $300 a month in gas & parking (not even factoring in car wear & tear). I get some healthy exercise on my commuter bike, plus time to read or relax on the bus. Still, friends, neighbors and coworkers remain puzzled as to why I'm not driving. "Is something wrong with your car?" "Did you lose your license?" "Are you struggling financially?" No, no and no. Even if I'm only one out of 10,000 morning commuters doing this, I'm showing that it can be done, and I'm setting a good example for my kids even if nobody else 'gets it'.
- personalj, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Every time I ride the bus there are homeless guys and thugs.
- Bahamut240, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Then don't piss the thugs on the bus off, sort of like how you don't piss off the thugs that are driving cars.
- pixelguru, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2Haven't seen anyone who looked homeless riding the bus, and judging by the frequency with which I get a bench seat all to myself, I'm probably the scariest person on the bus thug-wise.
About half of the bus riders are working professionals who are either listening to iPods, or reading books to pass the time. These people probably have fairly nice car parked at home, but are riding the bus to save money and help the world just like me.
The other half is lower income workers or moms with kids in tow who probably don't have a car but still need to get from A to B. Everyone is polite, I've never seen anything illegal going on.
I've heard that some of the other bus lines can be a bit rougher depending on what neighborhoods they serve, but my line is as friendly as can be.
- billymeade, on 08/13/2008, -1/+3nobody's "against" it. People just don't want to do it. Maybe some people LIKE driving (shocking, yes).
- SpacePoet, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I think it is more that they like being by themselves and not have to deal with other people in real life. In other words, they like their bubble.
- infiniphunk, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2"I really don't understand why people are so against it "
Precisely because you are not spending your $$ on gas. - konezero, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Try riding one in 3 feet of snow and two inches of ice to work in Denver in the middle of winter. Did you consider the lower class family of six that has to commute out of the ghetto (where living is cheap) to get that above-minimum wage job in the nicer neighborhood?
Your philosophy is perfect if your country is the size of Rhode Island, located in a consistently warm climate with no snow or sleet and the ghetto right next door to every job.
- CabesMojo, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4Can't ride my bike uphill in the snow in my snowboard gear, until that day...........
- synystar, on 08/13/2008, -0/+9I tend to lose bits of paper that I stick in my pockets for some reason and I sometimes have trouble finding my car in parking lots. I'd have to attach a remote beeper to my bike or this just wouldn't work for me. I'm an absent-minded idiot.
- ace7196, on 08/13/2008, -4/+1You are an idiot.
Go ride your bike.- synystar, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Thanks Ace. Will do... I ride every day! I am an idiot. I think I might have even mentioned that. But God you're so smart. Could you give me some more tips though? You left me hanging with "You are an idiot." and "Go ride your bike." I'm just not sure what to do next.
- Ridesabike, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Hey, atleast you can admit it!
- ace7196, on 08/13/2008, -4/+1You are an idiot.
- mrgeekguy, on 08/13/2008, -8/+6Mmmmmmm.......Scrap Metal.
- knightwalkerz, on 08/13/2008, -12/+7pfff...yeah maybe if you throw a motor on those i'd THINK about it.
- rc22nyrocket, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2fatty mcfatt fat.
- LongBong, on 08/13/2008, -13/+18Im not even gunna say it
http://viescha.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/yourbik ...- tas08, on 08/13/2008, -0/+12I am Lord of Bicycles!
- gitrplaya4u, on 08/13/2008, -2/+21No need; I understand.
For those of you who don't:
This man, of the darker-toned persuasion, has procured these bikes through illegal means, from you and I.- driftwood07, on 08/13/2008, -3/+17http://niggastolemybike.ytmnd.com/
bike bike bike
- driftwood07, on 08/13/2008, -3/+17http://niggastolemybike.ytmnd.com/
- phanfromcheese, on 08/13/2008, -0/+9I agree, an in-ground pool would've definitely added more to his resale value.
- KLowD9x, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Check out the pile of crutches!
- LongBong, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2he robs cripples too?
- algaeturd, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2OOPS....I think I see mine over there towards the front right. This must've been taken in southern California in about 2001.
Damn, I loved that bike. Anybody know the address so I can swing by and pick it up tomorrow after work? - Shmock, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1wtf? Why would a trampoline need a ladder?
- tightscrummy, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Bouncing butt sex.
- greeniemeani, on 08/13/2008, -17/+11Black person's paradise.
- Ryan166, on 08/13/2008, -5/+2hahaha. Are those parking spaces lines of cocaine?
- LongBong, on 08/13/2008, -9/+2damn sumone beat me to it
- cl2yp71c, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Should've rode your bike.
- brainscab, on 08/13/2008, -4/+6I think all landlords should put a covered bike shack up behind each apartment complex. It would really increase the number of bikes on the street.
- secrity, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3It there were a market for such a thing, it may be worth while for an apartment building owner to build a covered and secured bike parking area and rent out spaces.
- SteveMTyler, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4yeah you really need a locked room. Bikes get stolen so much.
- leftyslament, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, but yes, bikes actually do get stolen all the time. However, people could just bring their bikes inside their apartment.
- NCocca, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Apartments are small. We have 4 people in our apartment, and certainly not enough room for 4 bikes. We can't keep them on the porch (locked) because they get stolen.
- tresvold, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0we have bike spaces in our underground parking
- borez, on 08/13/2008, -1/+7Bollocks... I know I left it somewhere around here.
- pstroll, on 08/13/2008, -5/+20In Obesity, USA??? Imagine wheelchairs instead of bicycles
- NyaraSha, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4At least you might get a good bicep workout?
- scy1192, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2not unless you're going backwards
- cl2yp71c, on 08/13/2008, -0/+10The electric kind.
- MisterNipples, on 08/13/2008, -2/+2In Canada, they have Moose racks instead of bike racks
- NyaraSha, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4At least you might get a good bicep workout?
- Br3ach, on 08/13/2008, -0/+85In the land where I've seen people wait in their cars for someone to pull out to get a parking space up front, longer than it would have taken their lazy ass to park 5 stalls down and walk to the front of a store...good luck with that
- Rainemaker, on 08/13/2008, -12/+6Almost dugg for tree huggerness and blasphemy in same sentance.
- homerang, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Almost understood what you were trying to say.
That was a lie. - Rainemaker, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I sucked.
- homerang, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Almost understood what you were trying to say.
- themagicfetus, on 08/13/2008, -5/+1could this have anything to do with the driving ban in beijing?
- microview2007, on 08/13/2008, -0/+40Same all over Europe.
This is in Malmo Sweden
http://www.flickr.com/photos/microview/2757950687/- ch4os1337, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Wait... So yo have to lift them up those stairs to get out?
- microview2007, on 08/13/2008, -0/+9No there was a gate at road level. The stairs goes up to the train platform. The other awesome thing I saw there was the sidewalks are extra extra wide and split between pedestrian and bikes. The sidewalks go anywhere and everywhere, no playing in traffic. They certainly have a system we can learn from.
- RRJackson, on 08/13/2008, -0/+10This is in Amsterdam.
http://flickr.com/photos/r_jackson/1925003238/ - fredtehcat, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Does this happen ANYWHERE in the US? I've honestly never seen it.
- queenstarsha, on 08/14/2008, -0/+2i've seen massive bike parking after big recreational bike rides. but nothing on this scale every day.
- Carlsen, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Copenhagen.
http://flickr.com/photos/19410529@N03/2428549215/ - zielgruppe, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6Münster, Germany (underground parking for bikes)
http://flickr.com/photos/phillippix/540078354/
http://flickr.com/photos/phillippix/540078326/ - Nayson, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Oxford, England.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/229817875 ... - gubatron2, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4Amsterdam, Central Station, Bike Parking lot
http://flickr.com/photos/gubatron/2731574822/in/se ...
Leiden, Central Station, Bike Parking lot
http://flickr.com/photos/gubatron/2731696430/in/se ...
- ch4os1337, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Wait... So yo have to lift them up those stairs to get out?
- eviephenomena, on 08/13/2008, -3/+24One of the things I miss about my old job is that it was within walking distance of my home. I also had a free gym membership through my employer, and the gym was on the way to work. I could get up in the morning, walk to the gym, walk home, walk to home, and then do it all over again. It was wonderful.
Unfortunately with my current job this is just not possible. The commute is too far and there is no safe place to walk much less bicycle. I'm not sure it's an issue of Americans being too lazy (although I'm sure that's a case for some) but for many of us its just not realistic.- m00n1, on 08/13/2008, -9/+3No, they have made lifestyle choices that make it inconvenient. Move house or changes jobs. Yes, it's inconvenient. So is global warming.
- ace7196, on 08/13/2008, -6/+1That's a BS excuse. Driving your car is more dangerous than biking:
http://www.etsc.be/documents/Yearbook_2005.pdf#pag ...
Suck it up and change your life for the better.- orlyfactor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Sometimes one cannot just "suck it up". I drive a whopping 5 miles to work and would bike except a) I have to wear a shirt and tie to work and b) there is no place to shower/change here. So on our beautiful 95 degree days here, I'd roll into work all sweaty and dirty, without a proper place to clean up. Oh, and on some of the roads I take to work, there is nary space for 2 cars, much less a bicycle and 2 cars - I'd say I'm safer in my metal box (that gets 33+ mpg), so I use about 1.5 gals a week for commuting. Big ***** whoop.
- orlyfactor, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Sometimes one cannot just "suck it up". I drive a whopping 5 miles to work and would bike except a) I have to wear a shirt and tie to work and b) there is no place to shower/change here. So on our beautiful 95 degree days here, I'd roll into work all sweaty and dirty, without a proper place to clean up. Oh, and on some of the roads I take to work, there is nary space for 2 cars, much less a bicycle and 2 cars - I'd say I'm safer in my metal box (that gets 33+ mpg), so I use about 1.5 gals a week for commuting. Big ***** whoop.
- gubatron2, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4I just came from Holland, and you're right, their countries are built around biking, every damn street has a bike lane, there's bike parking lots, great railway system, it's all convenient.
In many cities in the US biking is just impossible, try biking in Miami for example, where people commute 45 mins by car sometimes, and there's hardly any freaking sidewalks. People hardly walk, its too spread out.
- Awspire, on 08/13/2008, -16/+11Friggin hippies. Hey, how about we go back to burning wood for warmth, but then you'll have no one left to hug.
BTW, I rode bikes all my life, still do for exercise, though they're not real practical riding 30 miles to work on 100 degree or 20 degree days.- AresDiggs, on 08/13/2008, -0/+6dugg for "Hey, how about we go back to burning wood for warmth, but then you'll have no one left to hug."
- tightscrummy, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2How about you and the other 20 hicks above who have to commute 50 miles through Death Valley and over the Himalayas while fighting off hostile Apache warriors or whatever the ***** you excuse is get together and carpool? You'd save a lot on gas.
- AresDiggs, on 08/13/2008, -0/+4because you cant race each other if you are in the same car....
- JK1150, on 08/13/2008, -15/+9poor people?
- burjzyntski, on 08/13/2008, -3/+3I make $20/hr and ride my bike wherever I need to go for work (computer repairs, not prostitution).
I've even got this really cool shirt that illustrates how proud I am to get infinite mpg.- pradvan, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1So, you are poor
- burjzyntski, on 08/13/2008, -3/+3I make $20/hr and ride my bike wherever I need to go for work (computer repairs, not prostitution).
- badnewshotel, on 08/13/2008, -5/+33Riding a bike hurts my sensitive parts.
- MuskokasFinest, on 08/13/2008, -2/+50You're doing it wrong.
- rsh28630, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Of course it does. One of the best kept secrets is the absurd design of bicycle seats. Take a look at this site.
http://www.spongywonder.com/
And before you think others may laugh at you, consider what you are damaging with a conventional seat. My bike receives many envious glances from riders who have 'hurt their sensitive parts'.- Capta1nA, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1$70 for a bike seat?
Good luck with that. - tomarocco, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3$70 isn't that expensive for a bike seat...unless you're riding a $70 Huffy.
- ohmyscience, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0I'd get it, but I'd just be asking to get jacked whenever I'm back in the hood.
- Capta1nA, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1$70 for a bike seat?
- PilotHead, on 08/13/2008, -1/+6your gut?
- snek, on 08/13/2008, -1/+1Something is wrong with your bike then.. Either the frame is too big or your saddle is the wrong shape for your body. It could also be that the saddle is too low.
- HenryLegge, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkfgTPl-dHs
- ruforealz, on 08/13/2008, -1/+12looks like Germany when I was there this summer... biking was everywhere. Also there was an excellent train system with special cars for people with bikes.
- pittpat, on 08/13/2008, -13/+5This is America god dammit! We don't need your ***** "I'm saving the earth by riding bicycles *****!"
/redneck sarcasm - dubdope, on 08/13/2008, -9/+25that looks like somewhere in japan. with a tiny little country with over 100 million people, japan's air is fairly clean. why? because the japanese are not lazy fatasses who are worried about looking like a "pussy" for riding their bikes or taking public transportation. their government also invests a lot of money into a proper public transportation system that allows you to get to almost anywhere you want to go.
- ScottMitchell, on 08/13/2008, -3/+13You nailed the reason mass transit works in Japan - it's a small country with dense urban areas! Good luck trying to build an affordable mass transit system in the US where there is much lower population density. Yes, it works in dense urban centers (NYC, San Francisco, etc.), but it is too costly in less dense issues like, say, Omaha or Kansas City or Memphis or Tallahassee.
- PrintScrn12, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Public Transport is also great in and between the lower density and size towns. Towns smaller and less dense than your examples. Bicycle use and parking facilities are also still popular in smaller towns. It's not an issue primarily of density as you describe it. A big part is the culture. There is a higher demand in terms of quantity and quality of public transportation within Japan. Where there is greater demand you can fill more trains and buses with a smaller population.
- MorganMghee, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Take half the money from roads and invest it in public transit. Require public transit only in urban areas and reduce the number of full roads in those areas.
- ScottMitchell, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2PrintScrn12: The problem is it's not cost effective to roll out public transport to too small an audience. I went to college in a town of 20,000. How can you justify the costs of building light rail or running a bus service when there are too few patrons to make it economically viable?
Another issue is the sprawl that is common in many towns and cities. There is so much land in America that oftentimes it's much cheaper for builders and town planners to build out rather than up. Consequently, density is much lower and therefore mass transit must extend further. Either you suck it up and extend it to the far flung populace at the expense of fiscal concerns, or you limit the mass transit reach and therefore suffer lower usage.
I don't think it's an Americans hate public transport issue so much as it is an economic and geographical correlation. - PrintScrn12, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2I was talking about towns close to Memphis or Omaha in population i.e >150,000. Once you get to 20,000 of course demand is limited. However it is possible to fill a bus service. 20,000 people still need transport and a bus takes 40 well packed.
As for sprawl, it is both a cause of and caused by bad public transportation. It is also hard to change. Then again adoption of public transport is hard to change. What comes first, development or demand? Both need the other. - ScottMitchell, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1PrintScrn12: I agree that getting public transit is not easy. My point is that the hump that has been overcome in countries like Japan but not on main street USA is because of population density differences, and NOT because of cultural differences.
- PrintScrn12, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1The thing is though there are differences in expectations and demand for public transport independent of population size or density. That is a cultural difference. There are other cultural issues too such as living expectations. Within the USA locals might want larger homes while in Japan smaller homes are acceptable, meaning less sprawl. There is a greater emphasis on individuality and independence within the US leading towards private transport being more popular. Japan is fitter meaning walking and bike riding become more popular, and by extension public transportation. The very strong emphasis in Japanese culture for formal punctuality drives demand for reliable train services.
These are all causes of and caused by the quality and quantity of public transport. Density and size is just one part of the equation. Culture is another. This is shown when smaller towns in Japan have better transportation than larger towns. The comparison can be made to some European countries too. - ScottMitchell, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1PrintScrn: We're back to a chicken and egg issue, IMO. American sentiment toward sprawl would be different if we didn't have such a big old country. Likewise, Japan wouldn't likely have an imbued sense of small houses being acceptable if they didn't live on an island with limited natural resources.
- sat0shi, on 08/13/2008, -1/+8Also there are strict regulations on emissions for cars. We have to get our cars inspected every 2 years and they are completely tuned up to the best condition possible. Many parts are replaced, and while it usually ends up costing $1500-$2000... I think it's worth it in the end. Better air and safer cars driving on the roads.
- viserov, on 08/13/2008, -2/+5Japan? Isn't that the country where they have subway employees shove people to fit inside the trains?
- MorganMghee, on 08/13/2008, -0/+3Yup, but that's only twice or three times a day on several Tokyo stops, not all of them. And they are quite nice about it, think mr. miagi and not new york bar bouncer.
- Le3f, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5Last time I was in Japan, I saw a woman in heels, biking in the rain while holding an umbrella and talking on her cell phone.
- tightscrummy, on 08/13/2008, -1/+8She was steering with the huge tentacle coming out of her ass?
- onsenguy, on 08/13/2008, -1/+0Yes, this is Japan.
Probably a station far on the outskirts of Tokyo where they cycle 10-20 minutes to get to the station and then ride the train for an hour or more to their work in downtown Tokyo. Before they had these bicycle parking lots the sidewalks around the stations would become crammed with bikes. They'd be collected from time to time but it wouldn't fix the problem as the owners would just get new bikes. - snek, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Looking like a pussy?? Pffff.. If you don't want to look like a pussy get a bike which suits you..
Personally I ride a powdercoated all-black full shimano XT series MTB with disc brakes and oil suspension.. It looks seriously bad ass ;p
Much more so than most small Asian cars, plus it keeps me in shape. If I drove a car everywhere I'd probably be a fat ***** within a year.
- ScottMitchell, on 08/13/2008, -3/+13You nailed the reason mass transit works in Japan - it's a small country with dense urban areas! Good luck trying to build an affordable mass transit system in the US where there is much lower population density. Yes, it works in dense urban centers (NYC, San Francisco, etc.), but it is too costly in less dense issues like, say, Omaha or Kansas City or Memphis or Tallahassee.
- fracktica, on 08/13/2008, -14/+7This is probably the T1 transition area of an Ironman triathlon. A typical Ironman has 2,000 participants. It's an absolutely inspiring thing to watch - swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a marathon (26.2 miles). I am currently "Ironstruck" and hoping to give one a shot in 2010, despite the fact that I have yet to complete a triathlon (Yes, I am crazy).
If you're in the mood to try hold back the tears, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPLCaAu_H2U- CabesMojo, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Yeah do a few tri's first. I know when I started the swimming beat my ass.
- BrickTamaland, on 08/13/2008, -0/+5If you think these are triathlon bikes you have a lot of training to do before 2010
- fracktica, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Yeah, you're right. I should have had a closer look at the image before replying. Not sure why you had to be all prickish about it though.
- fracktica, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Yeah, you're right. I should have had a closer look at the image before replying. Not sure why you had to be all prickish about it though.
- sfacets, on 08/13/2008, -1/+2That's really gay. And the comments are gayer (on youtube)
- brakzilla, on 08/13/2008, -16/+9Looks Photoshopped to me....
- haylcron, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Know why? Because it is. Low rez on all the bikes, repeating colors... look at the parking spaces, they all have the exact same "dirt" marks from the cars... yeah... if you want more photoshop in this country go to fark.
- KidGT, on 08/13/2008, -2/+2Its not photoshopped. The picture is from Holland on one of the last few stops on the intercity train between Brussels and Amsterdam. Hell the bicycle park outside of Amsterdam Centraal is even more packed.
Dont be an internet "PHOTOSHOPPED!!!" douche. - jahjaylee, on 08/13/2008, -0/+0agreed
- izikdela, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1it's Japan, not Holland.
- KidGT, on 08/13/2008, -2/+2Its not photoshopped. The picture is from Holland on one of the last few stops on the intercity train between Brussels and Amsterdam. Hell the bicycle park outside of Amsterdam Centraal is even more packed.
- haylcron, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1LOL If you can't tell this is photoshopped, I feel bad for you and the country in which you live. Please do not reproduce.
- haylcron, on 08/13/2008, -0/+1Know why? Because it is. Low rez on all the bikes, repeating colors... look at the parking spaces, they all have the exact same "dirt" marks from the cars... yeah... if you want more photoshop in this country go to fark.
- kshenoy, on 08/13/2008, -2/+8how would you remember where you left your bike?
- bwdd, on 08/13/2008, -0/+11*click* *beep beep*
- CrushThemTorg, on 08/13/2008, -1/+10I'd paint a huge, erect penis on the side of mine. 1) It's easy to pick out. 2) Who's going to steal the dick-bike?
Downside: I'd be that guy with the dick-bike ... I think I need a new plan. - MorganMghee, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2How did we used to know which plants to eat and which would kill us before books? How did we know when the herds would come and go so we could eat them?
- snek, on 08/13/2008, -1/+4Do you also forget where you park your car?
- Sunshah, on 08/13/2008, -0/+2Build one of these.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=geIsWq5xOSE
- washingtonydc, on 08/13/2008, -5/+12we're getting a bike share program in DC next month. it's a start, I suppose.
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Show 51 - 100 of 214 discussions
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