Originally Posted by Big Dave
In today's job market, housing market, and culture, it is rarely practical to move from one place to another merely to cut your commute.
This energy thing didn't just happen last month. Like Kachi, I made it a requirement when house shopping that it be within easy bicycling distance to work. That was 22 years ago. I wonder how much gas I hypothetically saved? I think I estimated it once... I have lots of schaudenfreude for the ones that arranged their lives on the premise of cheap fuel forever. HA HA
I've also mentioned before how when flying over cities, the fact that every road is packed in every direction at commute time suggests that people have made the conscious decision to live at the opposite end of town from where they work.
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I was driving a 86 Golf Diesel, 4-1/2 years and over 80,000 miles later I figured out how silly it all was.
However, I did spend a lot more on good shoes, hats, scarves and other walking essentials.
I did try my bicycle on and off, but the trip was so short it made it uneventful. And I really hated getting my pant legs all greasy. I tried rubber bands, special Velcro loops and so forth, but finally gave up.
__________________ George Architect, Artist and Designer of Objects
1977 Porsche 911s Targa
1998 Chevy S-10 Pick-Up truck
1989 Scat II HP Hovercraft
They didn't have those for my bike back then. At least not at the couple of bike stores at the time which I checked at.
Someone I know does a Park& Ride (lives out in country), and bikes in form the lot. He said shorts are the only answer, guards cannot be counted on to work most of the time.
Maybe things have changed. PM me a link of something which works, and I might try it.
__________________ George Architect, Artist and Designer of Objects
1977 Porsche 911s Targa
1998 Chevy S-10 Pick-Up truck
1989 Scat II HP Hovercraft
They didn't have those for my bike back then. At least not at the couple of bike stores at the time which I checked at.
Someone I know does a Park& Ride (lives out in country), and bikes in form the lot. He said shorts are the only answer, guards cannot be counted on to work most of the time.
Maybe things have changed. PM me a link of something which works, and I might try it.
A piece of plastic , a pair or strong scissors , a few zip ties and some duct tape would fix that problem .
Ok. Back on topic. :-)
I have been reading a lot about Goggles fleet of autonomous Prius's .
The technology is expected to trickle down to the common man within decades. ( sooner if you believe the hype. )
Sadly living closer does not always solve the problem. I talked to a guy that lives in the Los Angeles area and he lives close enough to walk to work. His problem is two things first there is no safe way to walk to work and traffic is terrible when it takes over an hour to get 5 miles.
Old Mechanic sadly I agree about steel not being replaced very soon but maybe for different reasons. If not for the lighter weight or giving more jobs to farmers plant based plastics would to wonders in the rust belt and other places that deal with lots of rust issues.
My dad and oldest brother both worked at Douglas Aircraft.The commute from Woodland Hills to Long Beach was so long,they ended up taking an apartment close to Douglas.We only saw them on weekends.Insane amount of people.
Politics are largely the problem when it comes to the future potential of vehicle designs and the replacement for the need of automobiles. When I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area the majority of voters approved building 70 miles of Rail Transit and bicycle paths.
The project revives the long-dormant but publicly owned railroad right of way.
4 years later and the first phase of the project was just approved. Phase 1 covers 38.5-miles of the 70 miles planed. A projected 4-5 years before anythings functional.
Stop the political BS and get things done thats why China and other countries are surpassing us.
I talked to a guy that lives in the Los Angeles area and he lives close enough to walk to work. His problem is two things first there is no safe way to walk to work and traffic is terrible when it takes over an hour to get 5 miles.
Look at that pic. On a bike you can legally thread your way through that mess. DAH. Another thought re: that pic of L.A. traf****: a few more condoms would go a long way towards solving that problem.
Re: bicycle chain pant leg stains: A combination of things helps: 1) the leg band 2) don't over oil the chain! Studies have shown really dry chains to be as efficient as really messy ones. The lube's main purpose is to keep corrosion and contaminants at bay.
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