195 replies to this topic

[Mike456]

...am I the only one who came in here expecting this thread to be about intestinal gas, and not fuel?

[GENTLYPORKING]

I drive 70-80mi a day. I would be fucked without my mileage reimbursement which the IRS finally increased to .555 a mile.

Whaaa? How do I suckle off the sweet teat of this government handout?

[joe.distort]

itemized taxes

[joe.distort]

Never owned a drivers license and I never plan to. I don't want half my income going to some unstable machine... I have no gas fees, no car bills, no maintanence fees, no mechanical problems, no parking tickets, no moving traffic tickets, no insurance fees, no DMV fees, no false identity associated with a motor vehicle, no worry about vandalism, no pollution to the environment, no waiting in traffic... Biking brings you closer to nature and forces you to move your body, to exercise every time you wish to leave home.

I couldn't live anywhere that'd be difficult/dangerous to travel by bike because of no bike lanes, drivers that don't like sharing the road, or commutes that are too far. At my last job, I used to commute 22 miles round-trip every day year-round (in rain, snow, wind, hail...) which I got totally used to and has saved me thousands and thousands of dollars. I can load over $50 of groceries in my bike bags, and even more if I had a trailer, so it's not like I can't transport things.

I can get places faster than the bus most of the time, and even cars if it's rush hour. Biking is winfinity. You win by having fun, getting good exercise and engaging in a social activity if you ride with others, your wallet wins, the environment wins, the potential roadkill wins, and fortunately the crooked oil/auto industry LOSES. Drive less and bike more if you want to start winning!

'location:portland'

not trying to be a dick but i read your statement then saw that and started laughing. you gotta admit thats funny

[Arm Cannon]

Going on full US tour this summer. Not excited to fill the tank.

[GENTLYPORKING]

'location:portland'

not trying to be a dick but i read your statement then saw that and started laughing. you gotta admit thats funny

Ha, I have friends and acquaintances who live in Portland who are smug as shit because they don't own a car. But they're also smug as shit because they're (most of them): Vegetarians, hipsters, don't work for a large corporation or are unemployed, don't watch TV, don't play video games, won't listen to the music I listen to, etc.)

Portland: The land of the smug as shit.

[Ashane]

'location:portland'

not trying to be a dick but i read your statement then saw that and started laughing. you gotta admit thats funny

Because Portland is the cycling capitol of the US and I have it much easier being a cyclist here? That's true, and it would've been funny if I actually assumed everyone else could do it just as easily. That's why I said in my post I wouldn't live anywhere where cycling conditions are unfavorable, and for me that'd be a pretty good reason to move...Maybe not for you, and that's cool. Not trying to put anyone down for driving a car, just sharing some of my experience.

[Ashane]

'location:portland'

not trying to be a dick but i read your statement then saw that and started laughing. you gotta admit thats funny

Ha, I have friends and acquaintances who live in Portland who are smug as shit because they don't own a car. But they're also smug as shit because they're (most of them): Vegetarians, hipsters, don't work for a large corporation or are unemployed, don't watch TV, don't play video games, won't listen to the music I listen to, etc.)

Portland: The land of the smug as shit.

I've never even met you. You don't know me.

EDIT: Apparently this post wasn't directed at me, but the above statement is obviously true for those who +1'd that post.

[GENTLYPORKING]

'location:portland'

not trying to be a dick but i read your statement then saw that and started laughing. you gotta admit thats funny

Because Portland is the cycling capitol of the US and I have it much easier being a cyclist here? That's true, and it would've been funny if I actually assumed everyone else could do it just as easily. That's why I said in my post I wouldn't live anywhere where cycling conditions are unfavorable, and for me that'd be a pretty good reason to move...Maybe not for you, and that's cool. Not trying to put anyone down for driving a car, just sharing some of my experience.

Ah, btw, didn't know that you were from Portland and was making just a general statement based off of Joe's portland obeservation, not directed at you. Meant no ill will towards you.

If I was in an area that I could bike everywhere, I'd probably be a much happier individual. As it is, I'm usually sitting in traffic 3-5 hours every day...

[OverCoat]

Seattle is also bike friendly to a degree, and I am proud of it

If I ever go downtown I always take the bus or the new light rail, which is fuckin sweet, and costs me less than $5 if I wanna get in and out of town. Fortunately the bus system isn't as scummy as I've heard it is in other cities.

[Battlerager]

This thread is fascinating to me as a European (or German or whatever )

First I thought "holy hell these prices can't be right" until I realized you guys use gallon, not liter...

Then I thought "holy hell these prices are LOW" when I realized the prizes converted to liter.

[Ryan8bit]

I'd love to be able to bike to work. Back when I lived TWO MILES AWAY from my work it was amazing and I totally had a potential opportunity, but I just never got around to it for a variety of reasons (and I still would have to have a car).

Probably one of the biggest reasons is weather. This winter was pretty amazing for road conditions, but there are other winters that would be basically impossible / dangerous / stupid. And even in the summer when it's hot and humid, I couldn't just show up to work all sweaty and rank. That pretty much goes for most weather conditions.

Yeah, I suppose you could say to move somewhere that has better weather, but that's such a glib solution to any problem that ignores a multitude of factors. Instead, I'm fine with driving, costs associated and everything because it's insanely convenient. Yeah, gas prices going up sucks, but complaining about it is like complaining that the sky is blue. The prices will fluctuate and there's pretty much nothing you can do about it should you choose to drive. It's out of your control.

[C.C. Z28]

If gasoline prices rose at the same rates as education costs, there'd be blood in the streets.

[Classic-wolf]

I'd love to be able to bike to work. Back when I lived TWO MILES AWAY from my work it was amazing and I totally had a potential opportunity, but I just never got around to it for a variety of reasons (and I still would have to have a car).

Probably one of the biggest reasons is weather. This winter was pretty amazing for road conditions, but there are other winters that would be basically impossible / dangerous / stupid. And even in the summer when it's hot and humid, I couldn't just show up to work all sweaty and rank. That pretty much goes for most weather conditions.

Yeah, I suppose you could say to move somewhere that has better weather, but that's such a glib solution to any problem that ignores a multitude of factors. Instead, I'm fine with driving, costs associated and everything because it's insanely convenient. Yeah, gas prices going up sucks, but complaining about it is like complaining that the sky is blue. The prices will fluctuate and there's pretty much nothing you can do about it should you choose to drive. It's out of your control.

Don't be such a scaredy cat, it's just snow, ice and multi-ton blocks of rolling metal; pedal it up and if you get in a fatal accident dance it o-...
Oh...

[armor]

I bike all winter. Slips are only an issue in fresh snow, and that's with skinny road bike tires. Wind and cold are a non issue since I have nice cold weather gear, not specific to biking but simply living in the north. If your bike happens to slip from under you it's pretty easy to just stamp down and make a tripod and you feet just slide too.
56 degrees north.