C
Clark F Morris
Guest
On Fri, 1 Jun 2007 13:40:06 -0500, "Amy Blankenship"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Pat wrote:
>>> On Jun 1, 8:41 am, Bill <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> I hate the cross posting but agree on the nature of rural living. My 2
>>>> LBS even are over 6 miles through hairy traffic and I moved to a small
>>>> town to get away from the traffic. As for shopping, it can't be done on
>>>> a bike unless the items are very small and local. This is due to the
>>>> American way of sprawl, and I can't fix it by becoming a target. The
>>>> bridges I have to cross have to be done one the sidewalk on one (Freeway
>>>> and 65 MPH) and the other is not big enough to haul even a small bicycle
>>>> trailer. When I need to buy a new A/C unit or refrigerator (big
>>>> appliance) good luck with a bike. Home improvement supplies are another
>>>> big item. Electronics for my computer involves a 45 mile trip each way
>>>> to Sacramento or pay twice as much for a very limited selection.
>>>> We don't all live in big cities and don't want to be forced into it.
>>>> Some of us actually have to go to business meetings and those are beyond
>>>> bicycle range. The other factor is how are the suits going to take
>>>> someone serious when they show up on a bicycle? I like to ride but in my
>>>> business I have to put on a professional face. That's the way life works
>>>> unless you are a city office drone.
>>>> Sorry, but a reality check is needed by some of the bike fanatics.
>>>> I try to drive my most economical car (35 MPG) on these trips but won't
>>>> spend more than it is worth to buy a hybrid (yet, at least).
>>>> Bill (realistic) Baka
>>>
>>>
>>> One weekend next month I have to go about 30 miles north west of here
>>> to photograph a wedding. The next day I need to leave first thing to
>>> drive about 200 miles to the east to get the kids to a lacrosse game.
>>> After the game, I'll probably keep going another 150 miles to go to my
>>> mother's house for a few days.
>>>
>>> That ain't going to happen on a bicycle. I won't even happen on my
>>> motorcycle.
>>>
>>>
>> Proving that any sane person with a family needs a car at least some of
>> the time.
>
>Because we fail to arrange our space in such a way that it can be avoided.
>
Given where Pat says he lives (and in fact where I live in rural Nova
Scotia), it is hard to do without a car. It would still be awkward
and limiting if I lived in the nearest town where I would be on the
every other hour transit line and have one bus a day to Halifax. I
would assume that this is true of most rural areas in North America
and Europe.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Pat wrote:
>>> On Jun 1, 8:41 am, Bill <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> I hate the cross posting but agree on the nature of rural living. My 2
>>>> LBS even are over 6 miles through hairy traffic and I moved to a small
>>>> town to get away from the traffic. As for shopping, it can't be done on
>>>> a bike unless the items are very small and local. This is due to the
>>>> American way of sprawl, and I can't fix it by becoming a target. The
>>>> bridges I have to cross have to be done one the sidewalk on one (Freeway
>>>> and 65 MPH) and the other is not big enough to haul even a small bicycle
>>>> trailer. When I need to buy a new A/C unit or refrigerator (big
>>>> appliance) good luck with a bike. Home improvement supplies are another
>>>> big item. Electronics for my computer involves a 45 mile trip each way
>>>> to Sacramento or pay twice as much for a very limited selection.
>>>> We don't all live in big cities and don't want to be forced into it.
>>>> Some of us actually have to go to business meetings and those are beyond
>>>> bicycle range. The other factor is how are the suits going to take
>>>> someone serious when they show up on a bicycle? I like to ride but in my
>>>> business I have to put on a professional face. That's the way life works
>>>> unless you are a city office drone.
>>>> Sorry, but a reality check is needed by some of the bike fanatics.
>>>> I try to drive my most economical car (35 MPG) on these trips but won't
>>>> spend more than it is worth to buy a hybrid (yet, at least).
>>>> Bill (realistic) Baka
>>>
>>>
>>> One weekend next month I have to go about 30 miles north west of here
>>> to photograph a wedding. The next day I need to leave first thing to
>>> drive about 200 miles to the east to get the kids to a lacrosse game.
>>> After the game, I'll probably keep going another 150 miles to go to my
>>> mother's house for a few days.
>>>
>>> That ain't going to happen on a bicycle. I won't even happen on my
>>> motorcycle.
>>>
>>>
>> Proving that any sane person with a family needs a car at least some of
>> the time.
>
>Because we fail to arrange our space in such a way that it can be avoided.
>
Given where Pat says he lives (and in fact where I live in rural Nova
Scotia), it is hard to do without a car. It would still be awkward
and limiting if I lived in the nearest town where I would be on the
every other hour transit line and have one bus a day to Halifax. I
would assume that this is true of most rural areas in North America
and Europe.