6/14/2005: Naked Madrid bike ride

[Happy Monkey]

Actually, until I got a job outside the city, I never even got a driver's license in DC, because of the subway. Of course, now that I have a car...

[warch]

We're not ditching the car, just moderating and sharing. One car, one family. Oh, and I just got a new bike for city driving and a rack (not mine, a metal one for the back), so I can really make some mileage. And save a lot of money and headaches.

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by mrnoodle

Yeah, got to love that fresh, clean air.

Here in the New World, we have this substance called "land" that separates our cities. Unless you want to make a week out of it, you gotta drive. There are still horse rental places, but only in the tourist towns.

People are going to take the easiest mode of transportation that their budgets and schedules will allow, unless they're exercising. This is a nearly universal law, and one that will never change as the result of morons getting naked and riding their bikes around.

And my I.Q. is 165. so thpthpthtphtpphp

or it was before college. I might've drank some points away.

Not only that, but public transportation isn't available everywhere in the states like it is in Europe. There are few places that have subways or undergrounds, usually metropolises, and even in L.A. where there is a metro rail, it's usually another 45 minute drive from the metro stop to your job.

Out here in podunk NC, there is a bus system available for the college students. No student ID, no bus. and it's 3 miles to the nearest bus stop to my house.

So it's not about IQ or closed mindedness on noodles part, jag, and shame on you for getting personal with it.

[BigV]

yeah, jag. here, have some of my shame too, I got extra.

[warch]

Not only that, but public transportation isn't available everywhere in the states like it is in Europe.

Maybe we should address this. A little civic planning and investement? Better rail? Workable bus? even promoting hybrids? It would be a good economic, political, and environmental strategy.

Most people who drive, drive less than 20 mile a day. I read that somewhere. It might not be true. Is for me though.

[wolf]

If public transit were ever cheaper and more convenient than owning and operating a car, I would consider it.

In my current circumstances, I could get TO work, but would be stuck there over night. From the end of my shift to the next bus there is a 6 hour gap.

[Happy Monkey]

The one time (my job interview) I used public transit to get from home to my job, it took about an hour and a half each way, transferring from one subway to another to a bus that zigzagged through VA neighborhoods. I work 9 hour days, so that's not feasible. But if there were a way to do it in an hour or less (driving takes 30-45 minutes), I'd probably do it, just for the reading time.

[warch]

Mpls finally got light rail running between the airport/Mall of America in the south and downtown (metrodome area) Its been wildly popular. Convenient, less time than driving, and saves $ on parking. Great for visitors. Plans are to expand to St Paul- that will be terrific, also swamped, and then to connect to regional cities like St Cloud, maybe Rochester. On the right track.

[wolf]

I should be going to a convention at Mall of America in Oct 06, so I'll have to keep that in mind.

[jaguar]

If your IQ is 165 maybe it's your comprehension that's so poor, I was talking about Amsterdam, not London. We also have these newfangled things called trains, inter-city routs come in both overnight and far-faster-than-you-can-legally-drive flavours between all major cities. I've heard of an even newer one called an aeroplane as well but I think that's still classified, let me know if you hear anything kthxbye. Anyway, I thought you were ignoring me, fucknut.

I wouldn't make it personal if everything he said wasn't so deeply irritating and very often, as in this case, factually incorrect.

[mrnoodle]

Originally Posted by OnyxCougar

So it's not about IQ or closed mindedness on noodles part, jag, and shame on you for getting personal with it.

Here's a bit of a revelation. I found that if I stopped taking things personally, it no longer bothered me. So regardless of the intent of the poster, I really gotta stop getting mad at people calling me a poo poo head. It only adds to my irritation, and matters not a whit to the person I'm mad at.

Plus, having him on my ignore list drastically reduced my production of stomach acid, a necessary component of proper digestion. I have my health to look out for.

[glatt]

Public transportation is a choice. You can choose to live near public transportation or not. Sure, it costs more to live close to public transportation. But that's the trade-off. We bought a house 1.5 miles from a metro station. I do that walk every morning and every night. Keeps me in shape. My house is smaller and more of a dump than if we bought something outside the Beltway for the same price. It was a choice we made so I could use public transportation. I drive my car on the weekend. Put maybe 5 miles on it in a typical week. My wife is at home with the kids, and she drives a lot more running errands during the day.

I have considered riding my bike in to work. I work in the District, about 8 - 10 miles away. There is a great bike path right next to my house that would take me straight into the District without having to deal with traffic or stop for traffic lights. Faster than driving! Only problem is that once I cross the river into downtown, the bike paths end, and I'd have to deal with dangerous drivers for the last 2-3 miles. It would just be a matter of time before I got hit by a car. Maybe a few years, but it would happen. We even have lockers and showers at work, so I could shower and dress once I got in. But I won't do it unless they extend the bike paths.

The USA is dependant on cars. The country was built, for the most part, with cars in mind. It's unfortunate. I think it may be our undoing once the oil gets turned off. (Unless we make the transition to nuclear power and electric cars before then. But that's another thread.)

[warch]

I should be going to a convention at Mall of America in Oct 06, so I'll have to keep that in mind.

Hmmm. I know where the good beer is.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by jaguar

(snip-growl) We also have these newfangled things called trains, inter-city routs come in both overnight and far-faster-than-you-can-legally-drive flavours between all major cities. (snip-rant)

I hear the one to Hogwarts is very fast.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by warch

Hmmm. I know where the good beer is.

I will bear that in mind.

The convention hosts will be a bunch of EMTs and Firefighters from that area. They are usually as good or better at finding good beer as they are small children in closets in smoke-filled houses.

You know how at most conferences the sessions start at 8am and everybody misses the first few? This one has built in hangover recovery time. Really.