Why I Ride
I make no secret about my feelings about internal combustion engines and other forms of conspicuous waste. This leads some folks to jump to conclusions about me like I am some sort of extreme tree-hugger or I watched "An Inconvenient Truth" and went off the deep end. I have meaning for a while to write down the reasons I have chosen this lifestyle so here goes.
1) Waste. Cars are the right tool for some jobs. I appreciate the speed of an ambulance ride. The problem is that most people view a car as the right tool for every job. My goal was to use the most efficient tool for getting around. It didn't take long to realize that I really don't need a car at all.
2) Patriotism. America's dependence on foreign oil makes us vulnerable to our enemies and tempts our leaders to make stupid decisions. Riding a bicycle does more to support the troops than putting a yellow sticker on anything. (I won't speak for others, but chances are unless you live in an oil exporting country the same probably holds true.)
3) Family. Oil is finite. At some point we will have used it all. Much sooner than that it is going to become very expensive and even more environmentally destructive to obtain. We need to start a transition towards a sustainable lifestyle as soon as possible. We owe it to our children, not only to address the problem of global warming while we might still be able to do something about it, but to prepare them for a future where there will be less energy available for everything.
4) Health. Most people do not get enough exercise. Getting everywhere under my own power goes a long way to solve this problem.
5) Time. Even though it takes longer to get places now, I have more free time. First of all I don't have to set aside extra time for exercise. More than that I think much more about the trips I take now and as a result make fewer of them. It's amazing how much time can be saved by not driving to the store for a quart of milk, or driving out to the dry cleaner, or driving to dinner. When you ride a bicycle, you learn to triple-check the shopping list and cooking suddenly doesn't sound like so much work after all.
6) Role Model. My dad rode a bike to work when he could up into his sixties. I learned from him to think more clearly about transportation and many other things. What are you role modeling for your children?
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Re: Why I Ride
Thank you,
I appreciate you taking the time to put that out there.
I helped me think about the choices I am making day-to-day.
I expecially like "we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
Thanks,
Matt
Re: Why I Ride
I agree with all your remarks except for Number 2.
The oil producing countries are not enemies of the US. Their populations are justifiably angry at the US for invading and destroying their countries and/or years of propping up corrupt leaders and stationing US military forces on their land in order to control the oil under their soil. They are also angry about the US's unconditional multi-billion dollar support for a particular nuclear-armed near-eastern country, populated by foreign white settlers, that was founded on the violent ongoing dispossession of a people from their ancient lands.
So, a better way of phrasing remark Number 2 is that our profligate oil usage is being supported by the blood of a million Iraqis over the past 4 1/2 years (or almost two million if you count the US sanctions before the war). Buy gasoline, be an accessory to an ongoing crime against humanity...
Check out Pacifica's TV/Radio program "Democracy Now"
http://www.democracynow.org/stations.pl?op=search&state=CO
Re: Why I Ride
The oil producing countries are not enemies of the US.
Are you sure?
I think there's several aspects to this. First there are several oil producing countries and they don't all have the same opinions. Canada is for example very friendly to the U.S. whereas Venezuela is justifiably afraid of the U.S. (given the recent coup attempt backed by the U.S. Government). Second, I think they may be manipulating U.S. government so that they (the oil producers) are extortioning the maximum amount from the U.S. Why, for example, is the Bush family so close to the leading Saudi families including the bin Laden's.
Third, I think the oil producers are generally "not enemies" of the U.S. because of the other point you raise. Those other countries have themselves been manipulated to have leadership which is complicit with U.S. leadership. But that leaves the populations angry at the U.S. (generally).
I think it's a moral thing.. that there's manipulation of governments all around, and that "we" the people are complicit with this manipulation so long as we do not protest it.
And, I agree 1000% with the endorsement of Democracy Now. I listen almost every day, and I've seen Amy Goodman speak in person a couple times. I think she's rather intense but the show is very good.
- David Herron, The Long Tail Pipe, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, What is Reiki
Re: Why I Ride
There is always a risk when a thought is compressed into a few words. I agree with your statement, but I don't count Iraq as an enemy. I'm thinking about Venezuela, Russia, Iran, and others. As David Herron points out a number of governments who are nominally friendly with us to so by alienating their population: Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt come to mind. The next regimes in these countries may not be so friendly to us. Anybody here remember the Shah of Iran?
If we ween ourselves from foreign energy we can choose better friends and not be tempted to commit atrocities as you so eloquently describe. The good news is that we don't have to wait for the government to do anything. Each of us chooses how much energy we use. Choosing to use less is what I call patriotism.
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
Re: Why I Ride
The next regimes in these countries may not be so friendly to us. Anybody here remember the Shah of Iran?
That's a very appropriate connection to make. The word "Blowback" was coined due to the overthrow, by the CIA, of a democratic government and installation, by the CIA, of the Shah of Iran. The CIA operatives who did the deed, in their report predicted "blowback" or undesirable results arising from the action. There is much badness in the middle east situation which arose from installing the Shah in Iran, not the least of which is Iran as an enemy state.
And I do remember the Shah. The first time I attended college was at the U of Louisville in 1977-8, and I attended the Speed Engineering College. There were many Iranians attending U of L, it was before the overthrow and I suppose there were cooperation agreements between the U.S. and Iran to host many Iranian students for training in the U.S. There were also extensive protests held on campus almost weekly. They used the free speech area and staged elaborate productions portraying the evils of the Shah of Iran.
As an 18 yr old I had no idea what the truth was about it or even paid it much attention. But it made an impression on me.
The other thing which made an impression was the Oil Embargo's of 1973 and 1978. In 1973 we lived in Reston VA (near Washington DC) and it impressed me very deeply the long lines of cars waiting to fill their tanks etc. And the rationing programs that were used. Supposedly the oil companies made sure the Wash. DC area had it worse than other areas to make sure the inside-the-beltway types got the message loud and clear.
I wasn't a driver at the time, but an impressionable teenager and it made quite an impact.
- David Herron, The Long Tail Pipe, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, What is Reiki