http://www.cnbc.com/id/24599474?photo=1
Jax could be a far bigger bicycle friendly city:
1. Bicycle weather year round
2. No hills, all flat
But zero infrastructure.............................
If you consider the gas prices keep climbing
The biggest problem in Jax is the distance between work places and housing. There is so much sprawl here that even when there are bike accomodations the entire distance and a nice shower and bike parking awaiting someone at their place of work, they still aren't going to bike. It would take the average person almost 2 hours to travel 20 miles to work each day...and then have to ride that same 20 miles back home.
When Jax corrects, or simply builds, a mass-transit solution, then you'll see more bikes. It'll make more sense for someone to ride 3-4 miles to a commuter rail station that drops them off a mile from work where they can finish the ride in, than the solution that exists today.
Personally, I hope gas prices continue to rise. You'll see an increased demand in folks moving closer to their places of work and tighter communities will be formed. There really will be towns formed instead of these quasi-towns developers have built over the past 5+ years. People will be less likely to use their cars and more likely to bike or walk. Maybe their lives will slow-down a bit and they'll have less stress, more time with their families and a greater sense of life. I can dream.
Quote from: second_pancake on May 29, 2008, 09:26:03 AM
Personally, I hope gas prices continue to rise. You'll see an increased demand in folks moving closer to their places of work and tighter communities will be formed. There really will be towns formed instead of these quasi-towns developers have built over the past 5+ years. People will be less likely to use their cars and more likely to bike or walk. Maybe their lives will slow-down a bit and they'll have less stress, more time with their families and a greater sense of life. I can dream.
I hope things like this develop through better planing and use of transit. I hope gas prices go down because of less demand. Sound Pollyanna well consider this some sort of energy will take fossil fuels place sooner or later. So even if gas price increases do what you hope, it would only be temporary. The next cheap energy would simply take gas's place.
Quote from: second_pancake on May 29, 2008, 09:26:03 AM
The biggest problem in Jax is the distance between work places and housing. There is so much sprawl here that even when there are bike accomodations the entire distance and a nice shower and bike parking awaiting someone at their place of work, they still aren't going to bike. It would take the average person almost 2 hours to travel 20 miles to work each day...and then have to ride that same 20 miles back home.
When Jax corrects, or simply builds, a mass-transit solution, then you'll see more bikes. It'll make more sense for someone to ride 3-4 miles to a commuter rail station that drops them off a mile from work where they can finish the ride in, than the solution that exists today.
Personally, I hope gas prices continue to rise. You'll see an increased demand in folks moving closer to their places of work and tighter communities will be formed. There really will be towns formed instead of these quasi-towns developers have built over the past 5+ years. People will be less likely to use their cars and more likely to bike or walk. Maybe their lives will slow-down a bit and they'll have less stress, more time with their families and a greater sense of life. I can dream.
I'm with you on this one Pancake. good post.
I think it's a shame for anyone to hope that prices continue to increase, why would anyone want to make it more difficult on others? I'm an avider bicyclist, but that doesn't mean I want to see the gas prices continue to increase so that others may want to ride.
Now, JeffreyS has the right idea
QuoteI hope things like this develop through better planing and use of transit. I hope gas prices go down because of less demand. Sound Pollyanna well consider this some sort of energy will take fossil fuels place sooner or later. So even if gas price increases do what you hope, it would only be temporary. The next cheap energy would simply take gas's place.
Im joining the biking masses next week. I am one of the lucky ones who lives a mile from work, so I can swing it pretty easily.
Quote from: downtownparks on May 29, 2008, 05:07:29 PM
Im joining the biking masses next week. I am one of the lucky ones who lives a mile from work, so I can swing it pretty easily.
what kind of bike dtp? congrats and welcome. :)
Its just Just an old Trek MB I bought off craigslist. It seems to carry my larger than average load with out any real complaints :-) Perhaps if I ride it enough, it will no longer be larger than average :-)