Discussion:
Cyclists may lament a chicken-and-egg problem
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His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
2013-08-28 15:44:40 UTC
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Cyclists may lament a chicken-and-egg problem. Most people are unwilling to ride a bike because of the lack of bike facilities. But the designers of bike facilities have been slow to make them because there's few people riding bikes. And when they make them, the bike facilities are rather stupid, so no one is encouraged to ride them unless he's willing to struggle or die. Bike lanes simply don't connect or are poorly designed. Others say --rather the skeptics-- that bike facilities are just an effort to feed corruption while looking good. One interesting sign that pops up around here --even on blind curves-- is "bicycle may take the full lane." But why not take the full lane all the time?

"TAKE THE LANE CAMPAIGN" MAKES SENSE. CARS ENJOY THE "LION'S SHARE," AND THE SCRAPS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. DON'T BE AN IDIOT TO FOLLOW THE SIGNS.


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http://BANANAREVOLUTION/webspawner.com
His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
2013-08-28 20:47:46 UTC
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Post by His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
Cyclists may lament a chicken-and-egg problem. Most people are unwilling to ride a bike because of the lack of bike facilities. But the designers of bike facilities have been slow to make them because there's few people riding bikes. And when they make them, the bike facilities are rather stupid, so no one is encouraged to ride them unless he's willing to struggle or die. Bike lanes simply don't connect or are poorly designed. Others say --rather the skeptics-- that bike facilities are just an effort to feed corruption while looking good. One interesting sign that pops up around here --even on blind curves-- is "bicycle may take the full lane." But why not take the full lane all the time?
Generally, you do, and you let them pass when it's safe. You have to do the
thinking for them.
It's hard to make a Christian think, assuming they are Christian.
OK, let's analyze this: There's about 80% chance that the driver is Christian statistically speaking --provided that you trust the statistics. Christians are followers, not creative thinkers that go, "Oh that guy needs his own space and respect. He's like Jesus on his donkey!"

Oh no, they never do that. They go and blast the horn!

The question now is if you trust the statistics. They may be lying, you know...

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90356&page=1

A free thinker on the other hand would think along the lines of "Gee, this monkey is having fun and doing something about Climate Change. Hey, COOPERATION in the jungle."
His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
2013-08-29 04:16:32 UTC
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On Wed, 28 Aug 2013 08:03:13 -0700 (PDT), "His Highness the Wise
Post by His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
Cyclists may lament a chicken-and-egg problem. Most people
are unwilling to ride a bike because of the lack of bike facilities.
No, most people are unwilling to ride a bike because THEY
DON'T LIKE RIDING BIKES. The prospect of sweatin' like
a pig so your trip to work or the store can take ten times as
long as it would with your air-conditioned SUV ... just not
much appeal there. The older you get, the less appeal.
Even the Chinese are buying cars as fast as they can
possibly afford them and leaving the bikes to the kiddies
and po' folks.
Now shiny MOTOR-bikes ... different story.
Tell that to Dutch or Danish who ride bikes in freezing temperatures. The laws of evolution favor the fittest, not the couch potato. It's only a combination of ADVERTISING & FEAR that keeps people driving cars and trucks that enslave them and make them fat.
His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
2013-08-29 14:37:37 UTC
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On Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:59:41 -0700 (PDT), "His Highness the Wise
Post by His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
On Wed, 28 Aug 2013 08:03:13 -0700 (PDT), "His Highness the Wise
Post by His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
Cyclists may lament a chicken-and-egg problem. Most people
are unwilling to ride a bike because of the lack of bike facilities.
No, most people are unwilling to ride a bike because THEY
DON'T LIKE RIDING BIKES. The prospect of sweatin' like
a pig so your trip to work or the store can take ten times as
long as it would with your air-conditioned SUV ... just not
much appeal there. The older you get, the less appeal.
Even the Chinese are buying cars as fast as they can
possibly afford them and leaving the bikes to the kiddies
and po' folks.
Now shiny MOTOR-bikes ... different story.
Tell that to Dutch or Danish who ride bikes in freezing temperatures.
Americans are not Dutch.
We are NOT gonna ride bikes in the heat or snow
in preference to SUVs.
Get used to it.
Oh yea ... look up the term "urban geography". I once
took a college course in it. American cities are laid out
much differently than european cities. In America,
everything is far away from wherever you are.
Doesn't matter. Unless you live in the boondocks (which really suck) you can move on you bike within a 5 mile radius (make that 2 if you prefer) and you should be able to find a supermarket and other stores to keep you supplied. There's NO EXCUSE whatsoever for having all those cars at the local supermarket.

How can we be based on the same Laws of Evolution and still see the World so different? Remember what I told you about the hunter gatherer: keep moving, use it or lose it!

(ladies will love that last one)
Jane Doe
2013-08-31 21:00:39 UTC
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On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 07:37:37 -0700 (PDT), "His Highness the Wise
Post by His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
In America, everything is far
away from wherever you are.
Doesn't matter. Unless you live in the boondocks (which really
suck) you can move on you bike within a 5 mile radius (make that
2 if you prefer) and you should be able to find a supermarket
and other stores to keep you supplied. There's NO EXCUSE
whatsoever for having all those cars at the local supermarket.
A 47 yr. old friend frequently along with a variably
changing group of like minded friends in the age 45 to 65+ regularly
bicycles with them 4 or 5 times each week 60 to 100 miles each of
those days.
This summer his kid was in a camp about 120 miles fm. his
house and, tho the kid's mother drove her car to visit, he bicycled to
visit then returned by bike that night.
BUt I don't know whether or not he are any of his cycling
colleagues ever stop at a store to buy groceries or other supplies.
His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
2013-09-01 18:09:52 UTC
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Post by Jane Doe
On Thu, 29 Aug 2013 07:37:37 -0700 (PDT), "His Highness the Wise
Post by His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
In America, everything is far
away from wherever you are.
Doesn't matter. Unless you live in the boondocks (which really
suck) you can move on you bike within a 5 mile radius (make that
2 if you prefer) and you should be able to find a supermarket
and other stores to keep you supplied. There's NO EXCUSE
whatsoever for having all those cars at the local supermarket.
A 47 yr. old friend frequently along with a variably
changing group of like minded friends in the age 45 to 65+ regularly
bicycles with them 4 or 5 times each week 60 to 100 miles each of
those days.
This summer his kid was in a camp about 120 miles fm. his
house and, tho the kid's mother drove her car to visit, he bicycled to
visit then returned by bike that night.
BUt I don't know whether or not he are any of his cycling
colleagues ever stop at a store to buy groceries or other supplies.
There are many types of cyclists but I find the "hunter gatherer" the most exciting. I mean you go hunting for bargains and go in and out the stores while socializing here and there. And at the end of day, you have this saving on gas.

We just got these panniers and they are the most awesome in size and very cheap...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAH67RS/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Beware of the type of rack and bike you got though. You may bump it with your heels and may want something smaller or more round. You may carry supplies for a family of four for a couple of days, but not the tusk of a mammoth.
His Highness the Wise TibetanMonkey, Most Humble Philosopher
2013-09-02 07:07:47 UTC
Permalink
POSTED TO THE LOCAL FORUM:

This is a clever idea and it's not coming from Europe...



Imagine having this "ciclovia" on Sundays extending from South Beach to Hollywood. I bet many tourists would come just for that reason, and locals may be just happy to enjoy such outdoor fun. Colombia has some bicycle visionaries like former mayor Enrique Penalosa and others. Maybe we should invite him to have a bike tour around Miami Beach and talk to our own mayor. If we can get a mayor to care we may have it done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Pe%C3%B1alosa

On the other hand all those "bike facilities" popping up here are just a waste. Downtown Miami has a bike budget, some $100,000. There's money out there but a shortage of ideas. Well, let's face it, the people doing those bike facilities don't care.
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