On Jan 19, 6:47 am, Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net> wrote: > On Jan 19, 2011, at 7:26 AM, newenglandbike wrote: > > > The point about bicycle culture/laws in Holland, and the reasonability > > of incentives for commuting in a safe, non-polluting manner is > > something that's resonated with me for a long time. Sometimes I long > > to move to a place like that, but then I wonder why shouldn't I just > > try to be be more active in trying to help change happen here, which > > i'm woefully not and just riding a bike doesn't really do > > anything. > > Sure riding a bike makes a difference. If you're riding a bike in place of > driving a car, you're keeping about 1.1 pounds of carbon dioxide out of per > mile out of the atmosphere (if you have a ten mile round trip, that's about > 2200 pounds of CO2 per year). And that's only one greenhouse gas! > > You're an example to others, especially if you're not dressed like Alberto > Contador *and* you look like you're having fun. Someone may see you and say > "hey, that looks like fun. I could do that." We've got examples of that on > this very list, and it changed their lives for the better. (ow, here in > Minnesota when non-cyclists see cyclers going down the street with 3 foot > snowbanks and it's -10F, they just shake their heads and turn the heaters up > in the car. You can't have everything, I suppose). > > You get the health benefits of cycling: less fat, better cardiovascular > health, stronger muscles, better bones, a better brain. As someone who works > with the elderly, those benefits are not to be sneezed at. > > In short a bike is a miracle machine. It can save your life, improve your > quality of life, improve your health, improve America's energy security, > reduce the costs of road construction and maintenance, reduce pollution, > reduce long range health care costs... it's patriotic to ride a bike. When > you're out there, you are a shining example to others whether they are > looking or not. > > Have a great ride!
Agree! I have a friend who moved out to the suburbs. He drives everywhere and probably fills up his Lexus at least twice a week! One day he asked me how do people ride bikes when its cold (40 degrees - yes, for those back east, that's a heatwave and they would be happy to ride naked, but in SF Bay Area, its considered cold!). He says it makes no sense to be out in the cold with wind blowing in your face and freezing your butt off. He would just as soon get back into his car and turn up the heater. I tried to explain to him the virtues of riding - fun, more green, fun, better health and fit, fun, save gas, fun, save money, fun....his response: "The War is Over, Get Over it!" He thinks I'm nuts and nothing but a cheap-ass. Further, since I have to gas guzzling cars (my late wife's Toyota Sienna minivan and 20 year old BMW), any "green savings" is minimal. Admittedly, with two young girls and an elderly mother, I do drive more than I like, but that's it. Still, I only fill up ever couple of weeks and since I started commuting by bike, I do get some exercise that I wouldn't get if I drove or took public transit. My commute is only a few miles (10 miles roundtrip), but I do have a nice climb to get home and it feels good to sweat at the end of the day. I completely agree with Tim that riding is the best way to not only save your life, but improve its quality. Good Luck! -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
