> and little need to haul anything often forget
The dutch created the cargo bike for this very reason. But they have the climate and biking infrastructure to support that kind of lifestyle. We (Americans) don't, I wish we did.
The dutch created the cargo bike for this very reason. But they have the climate and biking infrastructure to support that kind of lifestyle. We (Americans) don't, I wish we did.
If cold was a problem, cars wouldn't work either because they'd be unable to handle snow. However, we maintain our car infrastructure and plow the roads
Most normal people take public transit into consideration when moving to a new place.
Car ownership is forced upon us here. Some of us would prefer a functional system of busses and trains.
My reaction is the opposite. You’d stick a baby in a car to go a distance you could travel by bike?
If you’re going to the next town over, by all mean, go with the car. But I wouldn’t drive to the store with the car when the bike would do (or I’m particularly lazy that day)
Now sure if I want to spend a nice leisurely Saturday afternoon riding a back then maybe I’d take a bike but that would make my intent the bike ride rather than shopping.
- "there should be fewer cars in cities"
- "I need my car in my rural area, there's no-one close by"
- 200 pages of back and forth talking over each other
If you're not in a city or city adjacent, any infraatructure change won't affect you at all.
Nothing wrong with snail paced riding of course. But going fast is pretty damn fun in a city with decent infrastructure that makes it reasonably safe. I routinely keep pace or beat traffic on shorter trips on my road bike. It's not really that hard to maintain 18mph if you do a lot of riding and have a moderately well-maintained bike (mine isn't even nice lol, it was like $400 used and is almost 50 years old, with a few choice part upgrades). And a lot of city traffic is stuck at that speed or lower during congestion hours in many areas. Granted, I'm closer to 12 mph on the trip home if I'm hauling several days worth of groceries.
America got conned into a car, suburbia, new construction scam that benefited a small number of rich people.
A bike lane is a street you don’t let cars drive on.
This is the reason why motorists lose their minds over bike lanes. It takes up space on THEIR roads and they hate when they can't use roads they personally paid for with THEIR taxes.
I personally find it hilarious they think their taxes cover the maintenance of even 1/10th of a km of a road let alone all of them they drive on all year.
So are many rural areas, but since you don't have to get out of your car, you don't see it. Also, cities with mild climates (not boiling hot) where people are biking, walking, and taking public transit, are going to necessarily have larger homelessness problems than cities with crappy weather (I'll leave it to the reader to reason about why).
I love my car too, for all the same reasons. Plus, I can get 4 people and luggage very far pretty cheap. Two tanks of gas can put me in the desert, mountains, or beach from where I live. I enjoy a walkable neighborhood but I won’t be giving up a vehicle in my lifetime for sure.
You're not going to haul lumber or sheet metal in a cargo bike, and that's the easy case.
Although, yes, you do haul lumber in a electric cargo bike in some countries (e.g. China), although I wouldn't call it a very wise thing to do.
I'd rather not spend all my money on a rapidly depreciating asset that harms the environment around me, is hard to park, and runs the risk of running over children because I can't see them over the hood... but what do I know. Apparently supporting car alternatives is being "opposed to progress" in this country.
Myth that SUVs have big baggage space is a just that, a myth. Most of them have essentially less space than normal cars with similar usage pattern. Station wagons, vans and many other are better in this regards and also are safer for users and pedestrians alike.
Slightly raised car like vehicles with a full fold down back row, I can and have moved regular sheet ply in one.
You can get really popular as the one guy/girl with a pickup who people can call on to help them move that one time a year. I know someone who met his wife that way.
Not that I'm arguing it's super practical, but it's kind of neat that there are open possibilities for those who are determined and creative.
Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can) https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU via @YouTube