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Pedaling Toward Cleaner Cities

by Alison Raphael

"WASHINGTON - What single silver bullet can simultaneously reduce air
pollution and oil dependency, roll back urban congestion, and fight
obesity?

It’s not a pill, nor a complicated formula concocted by the World
Bank. People around the world are turning to bicycles by the millions,
as governments rush to create incentives for the low-tech transport
alternative to gas-glugging, smog-making, traffic jam-producing
automobiles.

Some 130 million bikes were produced worldwide in 2007 — more than
double the number of cars rolling off assembly lines (52 million)..."

More:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/05/14/8938/

Alas, it doesn't seem to apply to the UK though.

--
Critical Mass London
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
"We aren't blocking traffic, we are traffic".

Doug typed:
> Pedaling

Good.

> Alas, it doesn't seem to apply to the UK though.

Shame.

--
Dogpoop
http://www.glass-uk.org/
"You would probably do better not to bother with renewable
energy" Doug, UK.Transport 29/04/2008 08:53.

On May 16, 9:34 am, "Dogpoop" <dogp...@hotpop.com> wrote:
> Doug typed:
>
> > Pedaling
>
> Good.
>
> > Alas, it doesn't seem to apply to the UK though.
>
> Shame.
>
> --
> Dogpoophttp://www.glass-uk.org/
> "You would probably do better not to bother with renewable
> energy" Doug, UK.Transport 29/04/2008 08:53.

Doesn't mention carbon emissions and global warming - oh, I see,
American.
In the UK for many years I believe we've bought more bikes than cars
per annum, we just don't use them. Similarly, we have lower car
ownership than countries such as Germany, we just use our cars much
more. Strange habits.
Tim

In article <583ca474-105c-433e-8a3e-
b5958993f7fb@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>, Doug says...
> Pedaling Toward Cleaner Cities
>
> by Alison Raphael
>
> "WASHINGTON - What single silver bullet can simultaneously reduce air
> pollution and oil dependency, roll back urban congestion, and fight
> obesity?
>
> It?s not a pill, nor a complicated formula concocted by the World
> Bank. People around the world are turning to bicycles by the millions,
> as governments rush to create incentives for the low-tech transport
> alternative to gas-glugging, smog-making, traffic jam-producing
> automobiles.
>
> Some 130 million bikes were produced worldwide in 2007 ? more than
> double the number of cars rolling off assembly lines (52 million)..."
>
Still doesn't get me to work 28 miles away in a decent amount of time..

--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On May 16, 2:34 pm, Conor <conor_tur...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> In article <583ca474-105c-433e-8a3e-
> b5958993f...@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>, Doug says...
>
> > Pedaling Toward Cleaner Cities
>
> > by Alison Raphael
>
> > "WASHINGTON - What single silver bullet can simultaneously reduce air
> > pollution and oil dependency, roll back urban congestion, and fight
> > obesity?
>
> > It?s not a pill, nor a complicated formula concocted by the World
> > Bank. People around the world are turning to bicycles by the millions,
> > as governments rush to create incentives for the low-tech transport
> > alternative to gas-glugging, smog-making, traffic jam-producing
> > automobiles.
>
> > Some 130 million bikes were produced worldwide in 2007 ? more than
> > double the number of cars rolling off assembly lines (52 million)..."
>
> Still doesn't get me to work 28 miles away in a decent amount of time..
>
> --
> Conor
>
> I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
> looking good either. - Scott Adams

That's because you either live or work in the wrong place.

In article <642a0234-7af7-4dcf-b485-5929d0b9be30@
59g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, TimB says...

> > Still doesn't get me to work 28 miles away in a decent amount of time..

> That's because you either live or work in the wrong place.
>
Well according to our resident eco-mentalist, I can't move to where I
work either as it's in the middle of nowhere and nobody should be
living in the country. Which kind of leaves everyone in a quandry as
food comes from the country.

--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

TimB wrote:
> On May 16, 2:34 pm, Conor <conor_tur...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> In article <583ca474-105c-433e-8a3e-
>> b5958993f...@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>, Doug says...
>>
>>> Pedaling Toward Cleaner Cities
>>> by Alison Raphael
>>> "WASHINGTON - What single silver bullet can simultaneously reduce air
>>> pollution and oil dependency, roll back urban congestion, and fight
>>> obesity?
>>> It?s not a pill, nor a complicated formula concocted by the World
>>> Bank. People around the world are turning to bicycles by the millions,
>>> as governments rush to create incentives for the low-tech transport
>>> alternative to gas-glugging, smog-making, traffic jam-producing
>>> automobiles.
>>> Some 130 million bikes were produced worldwide in 2007 ? more than
>>> double the number of cars rolling off assembly lines (52 million)..."
>> Still doesn't get me to work 28 miles away in a decent amount of time..
>>
>> --
>> Conor
>>
>> I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
>> looking good either. - Scott Adams
>
> That's because you either live or work in the wrong place.

If you ask Doug nicely, and give him all your details he will post a
report on how you can improve your travel ling.

Oh, hang on ......


--
Tony the Dragon

Tony Dragon wrote:
> TimB wrote:
>> On May 16, 2:34 pm, Conor <conor_tur...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> In article <583ca474-105c-433e-8a3e-
>>> b5958993f...@b64g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>, Doug says...
>>>
>>>> Pedaling Toward Cleaner Cities
>>>> by Alison Raphael
>>>> "WASHINGTON - What single silver bullet can simultaneously reduce air
>>>> pollution and oil dependency, roll back urban congestion, and fight
>>>> obesity?
>>>> It?s not a pill, nor a complicated formula concocted by the World
>>>> Bank. People around the world are turning to bicycles by the millions,
>>>> as governments rush to create incentives for the low-tech transport
>>>> alternative to gas-glugging, smog-making, traffic jam-producing
>>>> automobiles.
>>>> Some 130 million bikes were produced worldwide in 2007 ? more than
>>>> double the number of cars rolling off assembly lines (52 million)..."
>>> Still doesn't get me to work 28 miles away in a decent amount of time..
>>>
>>> --
>>> Conor
>>>
>>> I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
>>> looking good either. - Scott Adams
>>
>> That's because you either live or work in the wrong place.
>
> If you ask Doug nicely, and give him all your details he will post a
> report on how you can improve your travel ling.
>
> Oh, hang on ......

Can we wait for that one until Vince's report is published? I think
that's what you were referring to..

--
John Wright

What would happen if you eliminated the autism genes from the gene pool?
You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and
socialising and not getting anything done!” - Temple Grandin

Doug wrote:
> Pedaling Toward Cleaner Cities
>
> by Alison Raphael
>
> "WASHINGTON - What single silver bullet can simultaneously reduce air
> pollution and oil dependency, roll back urban congestion, and fight
> obesity?
>
> It’s not a pill, nor a complicated formula concocted by the World
> Bank. People around the world are turning to bicycles by the millions,
> as governments rush to create incentives for the low-tech transport
> alternative to gas-glugging, smog-making, traffic jam-producing
> automobiles.
>
> Some 130 million bikes were produced worldwide in 2007 — more than
> double the number of cars rolling off assembly lines (52 million)..."

In the UK most bikes sold (the £40 "ATB" horrors) are
landfill-in-waiting, doomed to be ridden for one summer than forgotten.

The big problem is that we've become used to long commutes which are
impossible by bike. Half our office comes in from 40 miles away.

On May 17, 4:11 am, Zog The Undeniable <hrothga...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> The big problem is that we've become used to long commutes which are
> impossible by bike.  Half our office comes in from 40 miles away

But what's the distance for the rest? You may have 50% of your office
within practical commuting distance.

I surprised myself a while ago when I looked up some commuting stats
for Canada (where we have some looong distances) A bit over 60% of
all Canadians had a one way commute of less than 10km.
http://ca.geocities.com/jrkrideau/cycling/commute.png

I wonder what the UK figures are?


John Kane Kingston ON Canada

John Kane wrote:
> On May 17, 4:11 am, Zog The Undeniable <hrothga...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>>The big problem is that we've become used to long commutes which are
>>impossible by bike. Half our office comes in from 40 miles away
>
>
> But what's the distance for the rest? You may have 50% of your office
> within practical commuting distance.
>
> I surprised myself a while ago when I looked up some commuting stats
> for Canada (where we have some looong distances) A bit over 60% of
> all Canadians had a one way commute of less than 10km.
> http://ca.geocities.com/jrkrideau/cycling/commute.png
>
> I wonder what the UK figures are?

Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be similar.

On 17 May, 22:16, Nick Finnigan <n...@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> John Kane wrote:
> > On May 17, 4:11 am, Zog The Undeniable <hrothga...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >>The big problem is that we've become used to long commutes which are
> >>impossible by bike. Half our office comes in from 40 miles away
>
> > But what's the distance for the rest? You may have 50% of your office
> > within practical commuting distance.
>
> > I surprised myself a while ago when I looked up some commuting stats
> > for Canada (where we have some looong distances) A bit over 60% of
> > all Canadians had a one way commute of less than 10km.
> >http://ca.geocities.com/jrkrideau/cycling/commute.png
>
> > I wonder what the UK figures are?
>
> Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be similar.

No problem on a bike.

--
UK Radical Campaigns
www.zing.icom43.net
It takes about 10 acres to feed a car on ethanol for a year.
The world supply of grainland is about three-tenths of an acre per
person.

Doug wrote:
> On 17 May, 22:16, Nick Finnigan <n...@genie.co.uk> wrote:
>> John Kane wrote:
>>> On May 17, 4:11 am, Zog The Undeniable <hrothga...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> The big problem is that we've become used to long commutes which are
>>>> impossible by bike. Half our office comes in from 40 miles away
>>> But what's the distance for the rest? You may have 50% of your office
>>> within practical commuting distance.
>>> I surprised myself a while ago when I looked up some commuting stats
>>> for Canada (where we have some looong distances) A bit over 60% of
>>> all Canadians had a one way commute of less than 10km.
>>> http://ca.geocities.com/jrkrideau/cycling/commute.png
>>> I wonder what the UK figures are?
>> Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be similar.
>
> No problem on a bike.
>
> --
> UK Radical Campaigns
> www.zing.icom43.net
> It takes about 10 acres to feed a car on ethanol for a year.
> The world supply of grainland is about three-tenths of an acre per
> person.

That would depend on the terrain & the user, but for most it should be
no problem.

--
Tony the Dragon

Nick Finnigan wrote:
> John Kane wrote:
>> On May 17, 4:11 am, Zog The Undeniable <hrothga...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> The big problem is that we've become used to long commutes which are
>>> impossible by bike. Half our office comes in from 40 miles away
>>
>>
>> But what's the distance for the rest? You may have 50% of your office
>> within practical commuting distance.
>>
>> I surprised myself a while ago when I looked up some commuting stats
>> for Canada (where we have some looong distances) A bit over 60% of
>> all Canadians had a one way commute of less than 10km.
>> http://ca.geocities.com/jrkrideau/cycling/commute.png
>>
>> I wonder what the UK figures are?
>
> Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be similar.

Is that "average" the mode, the mean or the median?

Tony Dragon <tony.dragon@btinternet.com> wrote:

> Doug wrote:
> > On 17 May, 22:16, Nick Finnigan <n...@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> >> John Kane wrote:
> >>> On May 17, 4:11 am, Zog The Undeniable <hrothga...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>>> The big problem is that we've become used to long commutes which are
> >>>> impossible by bike. Half our office comes in from 40 miles away
> >>> But what's the distance for the rest? You may have 50% of your office
> >>> within practical commuting distance.
> >>> I surprised myself a while ago when I looked up some commuting stats
> >>> for Canada (where we have some looong distances) A bit over 60% of
> >>> all Canadians had a one way commute of less than 10km.
> >>> http://ca.geocities.com/jrkrideau/cycling/commute.png
> >>> I wonder what the UK figures are?
> >> Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be similar.
> >
> > No problem on a bike.
> >
> > --
> > UK Radical Campaigns
> > www.zing.icom43.net
> > It takes about 10 acres to feed a car on ethanol for a year.
> > The world supply of grainland is about three-tenths of an acre per
> > person.
>
> That would depend on the terrain & the user, but for most it should be
> no problem.

sure if one is a cyclist, but may well not be any faster than other
forms, particaly if count changing time etc, 10 miles or close to at
least, is getting on to the needing to be keen cyclist.

as is the way of averages most are likely to have shorter journeys look
at average wages for comparison only the Mean would give a better idea.

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

Nick Finnigan wrote:

> JNugent wrote:
>> Nick Finnigan wrote:

>>> Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be similar.

>> Is that "average" the mode, the mean or the median?

> Arithmetic mean.

So it's possible that no-one travels 8.7 miles to work (in the same way
that the average - that is, the mean - number of legs per person in the
UK is less than two)?

Nick Finnigan wrote:

> JNugent wrote:
>> Nick Finnigan wrote:
>>> JNugent wrote:
>>>> Nick Finnigan wrote:

>>>>> Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be
>>>>> similar.

>>>> Is that "average" the mode, the mean or the median?

>>> Arithmetic mean.

>> So it's possible that no-one travels 8.7 miles to work (in the same
>> way that the average - that is, the mean - number of legs per person
>> in the UK is less than two)?

> No.

Sorry.. "no" to what?

JNugent wrote:
> Nick Finnigan wrote:
>
>> JNugent wrote:
>>
>>> Nick Finnigan wrote:
>
>
>>>> Average commute distance 8.7 miles, the break down may well be
>>>> similar.
>
>
>>> Is that "average" the mode, the mean or the median?
>
>
>> Arithmetic mean.
>
>
> So it's possible that no-one travels 8.7 miles to work (in the same way
> that the average - that is, the mean - number of legs per person in the
> UK is less than two)?

No.

JNugent wrote:
> Nick Finnigan wrote:
>
>> JNugent wrote:
>>>
>>> So it's possible that no-one travels 8.7 miles to work (in the same
>>> way that the average - that is, the mean - number of legs per person
>>> in the UK is less than two)?
>
>
>> No.
>
>
> Sorry.. "no" to what?

"No" is the answer to your question, quoted above.

Nick Finnigan wrote:

> JNugent wrote:
>> Nick Finnigan wrote:
>>> JNugent wrote:

>>>> So it's possible that no-one travels 8.7 miles to work (in the same
>>>> way that the average - that is, the mean - number of legs per person
>>>> in the UK is less than two)?

>>> No.

>> Sorry.. "no" to what?

> "No" is the answer to your question, quoted above.

I think we must be at cross purposes.

Taken at face value and applied to the question, your "no" could be
taken as a denial of the fact that a mean commuting distance of (say)
8.7 miles might mean that no-one actually has a commuting distance of
8.7 miles. I don't think that can be what you mean.