em_te Posted October 2, 2005 Share Posted October 2, 2005 http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051001/ts_al...es_051001131528 WASHINGTON (AFP) - More bicycles than cars have been sold in the United States over the past 12 months, with rising gas prices prompting commuters to opt for two wheels instead of four. Not since the oil crisis of 1973 have bicycles sold in such big numbers, according to Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, an industry association. ... "Our sales have quadrupled in the last two months," he said. "I think it's a major paradigm shift. It's here to stay." ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Veteran Posted October 2, 2005 Veteran Share Posted October 2, 2005 That would be great if you lived in a city where most everything was centrally located. But for me, I can't see getting up at 3:30 or 4 am to pedal 10 miles to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaryn Posted October 2, 2005 Share Posted October 2, 2005 That would be great if you lived in a city where most everything was centrally located. But for me, I can't see getting up at 3:30 or 4 am to pedal 10 miles to work. 586609399[/snapback] As long as the people that *can* do it start to (not use cars that is), it will be better for everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevcart3 Posted October 2, 2005 Share Posted October 2, 2005 That would be great if you lived in a city where most everything was centrally located. But for me, I can't see getting up at 3:30 or 4 am to pedal 10 miles to work. 586609399[/snapback] That is my exact problem, everything is too far away for me, I would be riding a bicycle 90% of my time just to go places, because they are so far away. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ0943 Posted October 2, 2005 Share Posted October 2, 2005 bah...its just cause biking has become alot more popular in the past year. Things are too spreadout in the US to actually switch to biking. If cities were tightly knit like overseas then I would think differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boffa Jones Veteran Posted October 2, 2005 Veteran Share Posted October 2, 2005 I could almost do it, but it is winter for about 5 months here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristotle-dude Posted October 2, 2005 Share Posted October 2, 2005 That would be great if you lived in a city where most everything was centrally located.? But for me, I can't see getting up at 3:30 or 4 am to pedal 10 miles to work. 586609399[/snapback] Have you considered living closer to where you work? Why do people insist on living in suburbs and then complain about gas prices and traffic? Most things you would need on a daily basis are usually centrally located. Do you need to do shopping several times a week or can organize your food storage to shop once a week? Maybe it is time for America to rethink the trend towards sprawling suburbs and big box stores. I noticed that in Rome, there were more smaller shops dispersed through out the neighbourhoods and I did not see any houses where I was staying. I think this gas price issue may end up revitalizing the downtown cores of larger cities and hurting the big box retailers like Walmart. I think this is a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman2000 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I can drive, but I always choose my bike as it keeps me fit and dosent pollute the environment, I can see many people live far from their work but still the more peple using bike more healtier they will be and better for the planet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNay Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I could almost do it, but it is winter for about 5 months here. 586610635[/snapback] Yea i'd do the same, but the weather ruins that.. lol :( Snow is coming next month, NOOOOO! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metro Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Have you considered living closer to where you work?Why do people insist on living in suburbs and then complain about gas prices and traffic? Most things you would need on a daily basis are usually centrally located. Do you need to do shopping several times a week or can organize your food storage to shop once a week? Maybe it is time for America to rethink the trend towards sprawling suburbs and big box stores. I noticed that in Rome, there were more smaller shops dispersed through out the neighbourhoods and I did not see any houses where I was staying. I think this gas price issue may end up revitalizing the downtown cores of larger cities and hurting the big box retailers like Walmart. I think this is a good thing. 586610702[/snapback] Not everybody can afford to live in places that make your commute to work easier. Some people do need to move farther away from the city to be able to afford a place to live. I can't see paying $1,200 a month for an apartment in downtown Portland near everything and right off of mass transit when I can pay half of that and live 10 miles away for a bigger apartment. I only live 5 miles away from work, but I also live pretty much in the city and traffic is too dangerous for someone to ride a bike. I would feel safer getting hit while in my car than getting hit on a bicycle. You have to take in all of the different scenarios and possibilities before you make an assumption. It is different for everybody. Another thing, when you get into the spread out number of independent retailers and away from the big box retailers, economics show that the little guys tend to be more expensive because they don't have the capabilites to compete as well with a bigger counterpart. They have to sell things a tad more expensive to make a reasonable profit because their business draw isn't as much. Some people will pay extra for the convenience, but some would rather commute to save some cash. Depending on where you live, it may be more reasonable to stick with the big box retailers. Like I said before, each situation is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Veteran Posted October 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted October 3, 2005 Have you considered living closer to where you work?Why do people insist on living in suburbs and then complain about gas prices and traffic? Most things you would need on a daily basis are usually centrally located. Do you need to do shopping several times a week or can organize your food storage to shop once a week? Maybe it is time for America to rethink the trend towards sprawling suburbs and big box stores. I noticed that in Rome, there were more smaller shops dispersed through out the neighbourhoods and I did not see any houses where I was staying. I think this gas price issue may end up revitalizing the downtown cores of larger cities and hurting the big box retailers like Walmart. I think this is a good thing. 586610702[/snapback] I work at a large Chemical Company....quite honestly, there's no way I'd want to live closer to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyLarry Veteran Posted October 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted October 3, 2005 Have you considered living closer to where you work? I am sure everyone here has considered, and for that matter would love, living closer to where they work. If only life were so easy. As many said financial reason usually make it next to impossible for people to do his, never mind other scenarios such as mine... I live with my gf, and right now we are at about the halfway point for both of us to where we work, as it is in complete opposite directions. Moving closer to one of our jobs would make the commute hell for the other person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristotle-dude Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Which is cheaper? Spending money on gas and time to commute to work from while paying less in rent or paying more in rent while saving money on gas and general wear on on your vehicle? You might be surprised by how much that commute costs you over a year. Take a out a calculator and figure it out. Some people can get away without using a car to get to work by walking or using transit. Moving may not work for everyone for other reasons like DirtyLarry pointed out but financial situations can be a bit more complex than they may appear on the surface. The cheaper option is not always the one you see at first glance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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