The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man....
Posted by John Tackett on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Under: bicycling
"The
bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of
transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure
in heart. " ~ Iris Murdoch, The Red and the Green
Think about this for a minute.. The bike is the most civilized conveyance known to man.. When I ride my bike it take on a different attitude then when I was just a motorists. I would think that I was indestructible in my auto and that the roads existed strictly for me. But as I started to ride, I became more relaxed, less frazzled by the day, and generally a more pleasant person to be around. I know for a fact that my blood pressure dropped significantly and did many of the headaches I used to get.
I see the world at a slower, more calming pace and this then allows me to "spread the joy" so to speak in regards to my interactions with other cyclists and motorists. In other words, to be more civilized.
Now lets think about the next sentence.. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish.. When I think upon this line I don't think of cars are becoming nightmares themselves, even though simple maintenance on cars are something of a nightmare. I think about how automobiles have created a "nightmare" in our world.
Automobiles have contributed to global warming, they have contributed to health issues because of the pollutants they produce, they have added wasted hours for commuters who sit in their cars daily going to and fro.Because of the consumption of fossil fuels by automobiles, our world oil supplies are getting harder and harder (read "more expensive) to access. And with developing nations such as China and India joining the fray, it it adding even more to the nightmare.
And because Americans are not riding bikes and exercising like they used to, health related issues have become a nightmare. In just one generation, the number of kids who ride their bikes to school dropped from 50% to 15% (http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/27892/80579), while at the same time obesity among school age children has tripled (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html).
In the words of a favorite author of mine, H.G Wells; "When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."
Think about it while you are sitting in traffic in your mankind induced "nightmare."
Peace, Love and Spinning Wheels
Think about this for a minute.. The bike is the most civilized conveyance known to man.. When I ride my bike it take on a different attitude then when I was just a motorists. I would think that I was indestructible in my auto and that the roads existed strictly for me. But as I started to ride, I became more relaxed, less frazzled by the day, and generally a more pleasant person to be around. I know for a fact that my blood pressure dropped significantly and did many of the headaches I used to get.
I see the world at a slower, more calming pace and this then allows me to "spread the joy" so to speak in regards to my interactions with other cyclists and motorists. In other words, to be more civilized.
Now lets think about the next sentence.. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish.. When I think upon this line I don't think of cars are becoming nightmares themselves, even though simple maintenance on cars are something of a nightmare. I think about how automobiles have created a "nightmare" in our world.
Automobiles have contributed to global warming, they have contributed to health issues because of the pollutants they produce, they have added wasted hours for commuters who sit in their cars daily going to and fro.Because of the consumption of fossil fuels by automobiles, our world oil supplies are getting harder and harder (read "more expensive) to access. And with developing nations such as China and India joining the fray, it it adding even more to the nightmare.
And because Americans are not riding bikes and exercising like they used to, health related issues have become a nightmare. In just one generation, the number of kids who ride their bikes to school dropped from 50% to 15% (http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/27892/80579), while at the same time obesity among school age children has tripled (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html).
In the words of a favorite author of mine, H.G Wells; "When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."
Think about it while you are sitting in traffic in your mankind induced "nightmare."
Peace, Love and Spinning Wheels
In : bicycling