Comments on: MyLife: I Want to Ride My Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Bike… http://jnarvey.com/2008/09/12/mylife-i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle-i-want-to-ride-my-bike/ The essays, nerdy updates and literary adventures of Jonathon Narvey Tue, 22 May 2012 19:09:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: jnarvey http://jnarvey.com/2008/09/12/mylife-i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle-i-want-to-ride-my-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-809 jnarvey Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:42:25 +0000 http://jnarvey.com/?p=405#comment-809 Hey Lyle, glad I got your attention. The 50,000 number comes from the strategic transportation plan out of Vancouver city hall, so the stats are about two years out of date, but still reflective of the trend. I'm not certain what exactly the proportion of cars to bikes is. For all I know, it's 1,000 to 1. But in my daily treks along side streets (since I'm waaaay to chicken to ride my bike on arterial roads just yet) I'm much more aware of how many "safety-first" cyclists are simply avoiding the main thoroughfares as much as possible. Much of the cycling traffic is simply hidden from motorists on the main streets. That bikes don't carry cargo doesn't seem to be a problem for probably 90 per cent of commuters (try to remember the last time you needed to bring a duffel bag or a suitcase to work). MindI totally agree with you that bikes are completely inefficient machines when it comes to transporting large quantities of goods -- trucks and trains will be around for a LONG time. Which is a good thing, because one day I'd like to see what happens when a truck slams head-on into a train, with both going at least 100 km per hour. Anyway, let me explain why I think the growth in popularity of cycling is not trivial. Let's say something like 15 or 20 per cent of trips in the city are by bike (I forget the exact number -- I really should read my own stuff). So, every day, we're lowering gas demand, which in turn (theoretically) lowers gas prices, and since we're plugged into a world market, this means that the Saudis have less cash to dole out to schools and mosques that are mass-producing jihadis -- assuming enough North American cities follow Vancouver's lead. That's just one benefit, but one that I think we'll both agree is significant. Hey Lyle, glad I got your attention. The 50,000 number comes from the strategic transportation plan out of Vancouver city hall, so the stats are about two years out of date, but still reflective of the trend.

I’m not certain what exactly the proportion of cars to bikes is. For all I know, it’s 1,000 to 1. But in my daily treks along side streets (since I’m waaaay to chicken to ride my bike on arterial roads just yet) I’m much more aware of how many “safety-first” cyclists are simply avoiding the main thoroughfares as much as possible. Much of the cycling traffic is simply hidden from motorists on the main streets.

That bikes don’t carry cargo doesn’t seem to be a problem for probably 90 per cent of commuters (try to remember the last time you needed to bring a duffel bag or a suitcase to work).

MindI totally agree with you that bikes are completely inefficient machines when it comes to transporting large quantities of goods — trucks and trains will be around for a LONG time. Which is a good thing, because one day I’d like to see what happens when a truck slams head-on into a train, with both going at least 100 km per hour.

Anyway, let me explain why I think the growth in popularity of cycling is not trivial. Let’s say something like 15 or 20 per cent of trips in the city are by bike (I forget the exact number — I really should read my own stuff). So, every day, we’re lowering gas demand, which in turn (theoretically) lowers gas prices, and since we’re plugged into a world market, this means that the Saudis have less cash to dole out to schools and mosques that are mass-producing jihadis — assuming enough North American cities follow Vancouver’s lead. That’s just one benefit, but one that I think we’ll both agree is significant.

]]> By: Earnest Canuck http://jnarvey.com/2008/09/12/mylife-i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle-i-want-to-ride-my-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-810 Earnest Canuck Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:56:51 +0000 http://jnarvey.com/?p=405#comment-810 I was in fact holding my breath, Jon, for these bicycling stats. But are they really gasp-worthy? Without quizzing you too hard on where this 50,000 number comes from, I gotta say that just by spending some time near the Lions Gate or Burrard bridges, it seems pretty clear that pedallers in suppository-shaped helmets constitute nothing more than a trickle, against the roaring flood of internal-combustion-propelled Vancouverites. I know it's anecdotal -- I'm just a guy who smokes dope near bridges -- but I'd put the proportion of vehicles:bikes at 500:1 or more. I s'pose that's environmentally sad, and it's true that a lot of the cars are carrying just a single commuter, which does seem wasteful. However, zero percent of the bicycles are carrying passengers; and zero percent of 'em carry any kind of cargo or freight. So what's their economic significance?? Again, dude, while I don't think self-powered transport should be *discouraged* as such, the phenomenon just seems too trivial and insignificant to factor into our traffic decisions. I'd also like to point out that I once had a moderately-cool 21-gear purple bike m'self; but like virtually every damn bike in this damn town, it got stolen. I think bigger jails would be a better investment than pricey empty bike lanes, myself. I was in fact holding my breath, Jon, for these bicycling stats. But are they really gasp-worthy? Without quizzing you too hard on where this 50,000 number comes from, I gotta say that just by spending some time near the Lions Gate or Burrard bridges, it seems pretty clear that pedallers in suppository-shaped helmets constitute nothing more than a trickle, against the roaring flood of internal-combustion-propelled Vancouverites. I know it’s anecdotal — I’m just a guy who smokes dope near bridges — but I’d put the proportion of vehicles:bikes at 500:1 or more. I s’pose that’s environmentally sad, and it’s true that a lot of the cars are carrying just a single commuter, which does seem wasteful. However, zero percent of the bicycles are carrying passengers; and zero percent of ‘em carry any kind of cargo or freight. So what’s their economic significance?? Again, dude, while I don’t think self-powered transport should be *discouraged* as such, the phenomenon just seems too trivial and insignificant to factor into our traffic decisions. I’d also like to point out that I once had a moderately-cool 21-gear purple bike m’self; but like virtually every damn bike in this damn town, it got stolen. I think bigger jails would be a better investment than pricey empty bike lanes, myself.

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