Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race- H.G. Wells
... The bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created. Converting gasoline into human calories, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist
At the conclusion of last week’s episode I’d asked you to think of three positives of living without a car. I wasn’t kidding, post ‘em as comments! I asked you to do that as change is sometimes a little scary. You might want to change your life a little, and that can be uncomfortable. Your customers are thinking of this also, so be ready to tell them what you learn.
The reasons to drive a car are obvious, and recently the reasons to drive less are also. Your reasons WHY are personal, and important. Honestly, do you really need 300hp in a 4000lbs vehicle to go get a soda? Where could you cut out that one trip in the dino-burner? Work? Groceries? Where is that one excess trip that you can eliminate?
An obstacle to getting started in this is your perspective from the vehicle, “those other drivers have serious issues”. So don’t ride the same road as them. Please navigate over to www.bikely.com, and take a look at alternate routes to your destination. For most trips you may find at least one alternate route, but it can be safer. Or cleaner/nicer. Until you know of alternatives, feeling trapped makes sense.
As usual, your comments are welcome. Next time let’s look at carrying methods and bike options.
3 comments:
This might sound funny but by biking instead of driving you breath in less car fumes then being stuck in your car.So therefore you will have health lungs a lot longer then the person who drives to go get some milk.
-FLICK
My store is selling the commuter bikes left and right. Our hybrids and topeak bags are selling through the roof because we are showing the customers how they can pack the bags for work and how easily they can get their bikes on the metrolink. They also seem to have more confidence in themselves when I tell them that I'm a type I diabetic and I'm riding 12 miles to and from work 5 days a week.
My top three positives of living without a car:
1) Less gas (duh)
2) Insurance
3) I would be in a lot better shape
I ponder this issue every morning as I drive from Queen Creek to Tempe for summer school. How much is this class really costing me? About 1k in tuition plus one gallon of gas each way (about 30 miles). So nine bucks a day in gas. The class runs 8 weeks, 5 days a week. Wow, 360 bucks in gas for this class. A car is a necessity for this class, and also as a trainer as I drive from store to store. I view it as a necessary evil, but I try and combine trips whenever possible by making multiple store visits a day. I look forward to this continued discussion!
Post a Comment