Again, sorry for the delay. Hopefully things will get back on track now, at least until the end of the tournament.
Bikes
Positive News Stories (20 out of 30)
Hm! I'm really surprised at what I found when I started searching for 'bike' in the news search. There are actually some pretty interesting things going on with bikes. While many of these news stories are really nothing groundbreaking, the fact that they continue to make headlines shows that there is continued interest in biking, at least in the US.
I read stories about bike taxi companies, stories about teaching kids with developmental disabilities how to ride bikes, stories about bike cops, and stories about bike summits. All in all, I'd say people are pretty interested in biking still and I don't see this as a trend that will be ending any time soon.
Negative News Stories (-3 out of -30)
I really can't say much bad about biking. I searched and I searched, but the worst stories I could find were about people stealing bikes. I did, however read an article about the same biking summit that I mentioned in the previous paragraph, except this story was told from a negative point of view. Check it out here. It's pretty interesting to see the other side of the same story. Regardless, I couldn't find too many people that were all that upset with bikes or any negative environmental consequences of the increased use of bikes in this country.
User Comments (4 out of 20)
Bikes. Word. In that I mean that 'Bikes' is a single word.
Tomorrow we'll continue to explore the world of Hybrid Vehicles. Can another #1 seed be knocked out by an underdog?? We shall see...
Showing posts with label biking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biking. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Tournament Round 2, Match 3 - (1) Bikes vs. (5) Trains
Sorry about the whole being late thing... You know, holidays! What are you going to do about 'em? Anyway, here's the long awaited Bikes vs. Trains!
Bikes
Before I get started, I just have to say that learning how to ride about a bike is just about mandatory for children in this country. It's almost like a rite of passage or a coming of age event in people's lives.
Green Pride (14/20)
I know for a fact that you know, or at least know of, someone in your life that is a total jerk about riding their bike. These are the people with the spandex pants and the people that always talk about how Lance Armstrong is their personal hero. These people rub it in your faces that their carbon footprint is smaller than the parking space that they need to park their bike at work every day. Never mind that they have an hour and a half commute each way. That's not the point. The point is that they're better than you.
Green Guilt (3/20)
The hard thing about biking is that it doesn't work in the winter. Everyone in the northern part of the country (world, really), wakes up on January 1st and says "I should ride my bike more to reduce my carbon footprint and get into shape." Haha, then they rationalize it that it's snowing out and they'll wait until April to start that New Year's Resolution. But by April, most people have forgotten that they made that promise to themselves and feel really no guilt about it.
Reader Comments (0/10)
I couldn't decide either. Maybe next time!
Trains
Trains pulled off an upset last round, can they do it again?
Green Pride (10/20)
Sorry, Trains, I don't have any really great anecdotes or witty remarks about how people love riding trains and how people herald them as the saviors of the environment. Yes, there is a lot of push for high speed rail to be installed in this country, but I don't see that as an environmental issue first and foremost. It's mostly an economic issue that people want to see cities connected by things other than roads and airports.
Green Guilt (0/20)
When was the last time that you rode a train? One of two things just happened. You either didn't have to think much about it because you do it every day and it's a necessity and not an environmental choice. The other is that you had to think for quite a while and couldn't really remember the last time. That's because it doesn't bother you that you're not riding trains. If you're concerned about your environmental footprint, you're going to do other things (like ride bikes) and not choose to ride the train more.
Reader Comments (0/10)
They're worth double now, so make sure you comment!
Time to tally the scores!
Bikes: 17
Trains: 10
Wow, lowest scores we've ever had here. Bikes are lucky that Trains were such an uninspiring competitor.
Next up: (2) Electric Vehicles vs. (3) Hybrid Vehicles. That should be interesting!
Bikes
Before I get started, I just have to say that learning how to ride about a bike is just about mandatory for children in this country. It's almost like a rite of passage or a coming of age event in people's lives.
Green Pride (14/20)
I know for a fact that you know, or at least know of, someone in your life that is a total jerk about riding their bike. These are the people with the spandex pants and the people that always talk about how Lance Armstrong is their personal hero. These people rub it in your faces that their carbon footprint is smaller than the parking space that they need to park their bike at work every day. Never mind that they have an hour and a half commute each way. That's not the point. The point is that they're better than you.
Green Guilt (3/20)
The hard thing about biking is that it doesn't work in the winter. Everyone in the northern part of the country (world, really), wakes up on January 1st and says "I should ride my bike more to reduce my carbon footprint and get into shape." Haha, then they rationalize it that it's snowing out and they'll wait until April to start that New Year's Resolution. But by April, most people have forgotten that they made that promise to themselves and feel really no guilt about it.
Reader Comments (0/10)
I couldn't decide either. Maybe next time!
Trains
Trains pulled off an upset last round, can they do it again?
Green Pride (10/20)
Sorry, Trains, I don't have any really great anecdotes or witty remarks about how people love riding trains and how people herald them as the saviors of the environment. Yes, there is a lot of push for high speed rail to be installed in this country, but I don't see that as an environmental issue first and foremost. It's mostly an economic issue that people want to see cities connected by things other than roads and airports.
Green Guilt (0/20)
When was the last time that you rode a train? One of two things just happened. You either didn't have to think much about it because you do it every day and it's a necessity and not an environmental choice. The other is that you had to think for quite a while and couldn't really remember the last time. That's because it doesn't bother you that you're not riding trains. If you're concerned about your environmental footprint, you're going to do other things (like ride bikes) and not choose to ride the train more.
Reader Comments (0/10)
They're worth double now, so make sure you comment!
Time to tally the scores!
Bikes: 17
Trains: 10
Wow, lowest scores we've ever had here. Bikes are lucky that Trains were such an uninspiring competitor.
Next up: (2) Electric Vehicles vs. (3) Hybrid Vehicles. That should be interesting!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tournament Round 1, Match 5 - (1) Bikes vs. (8) Buses
Well, everyone should already know what this one's about (partly because of the title, also because I talked about it yesterday). This is redundant, but it's time for the match up between (1) Bikes vs. (8) Buses!
Bikes
Bikes, invented sometime before I was born so therefore during a time I don't really know or care about, have taken hold mostly for recreational purposes or for people in bigger cities. If you need me to explain more, I applaud your ability to use a computer.
Impact on the Environment (12/15):
As a t-shirt that I own says (it always comes down to the t-shirts, doesn't it?), Bikes get infinity miles per gallon of gas. That of course assumes you aren't drinking gasoline before you ride your Bike (I'd recommend E85. It's made from corn!), but you get the point. If everyone rode their Bikes everywhere, it would save a whole lot of gas, but people would have to take a whole lot of trips when moving. Just don't eat too much more when making those extra trips and Bikes and Biking is great for the environment.
Practicality (4/10):
Like I mentioned in the last paragraph, things like moving and long road trips can be more than a little difficult if you rely only on Bikes. That's why Biking is mainly used for recreational purposes.
Sustainability (9/10):
Bikes last a LOOOOOOONG time. Much fewer moving parts and things exploding inside them (how do you think gasoline engines work?) means Bikes will be around longer than cars. You buy a Bike and it can last for 20 or more years if you keep up with the maintenance. And no oil changes? I like the sound of that.
Awesomeness (9/10):
In my professional opinion, you can't be a true eco-hippie without having a Bike in your garage (or in your cave if you're taking the eco-hippie thing way too far). And how about this excuse: "I'm sorry, I can't go to my in-laws for Christmas because I don't own a car and it's too cold to ride my Bike." That'll get you out of so many things you don't want to go to!
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Buses
I'd say Buses were pretty well explained yesterday. Check it out if you're curious.
Impact on the Environment (8/15):
Buses, unlike Bikes, do feature things exploding inside their engines (hopefully just gasoline and not bombs like in the movie Speed), so they will naturally be less environmentally friendly. They do, however, use less gas per person than cars and trucks, so they are at least somewhat good for the environment.
Practicality (Either 4 (empty) or 7 (crowded) / 10):
The problem with Buses is that I've heard they're actually worse in terms of gas mileage per person than cars if they are underused. So people need to start riding the Bus much more often which would make Buses more crowded and really, who likes a crowded Bus? That just drops the awesomeness score down to 0.
Sustainability (3/10):
Buses require a lot of upkeep. Especially because they are part of a public service, if a Bus breaks down for whatever reason, there are a whole lot of passengers that will end up being horribly irate. There is also the potential for lawsuits if the Bus crashes, so who wants to deal with that mess?
Awesomeness (3 (empty) or 0 (crowded)/10):
Have you ever been on an empty Bus? It's nice, you get to stretch your feet out and relax. But even still, you can't relax too much because who knows who's sat in that seat before you and how often they clean the seats. Oh, and the fact that it stops every quarter of a mile can get a bit tedious. Now combine that with having to stand way too close to someone who you wonder where they've been before they got on that Bus and how often they clean themselves.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Bikes: 34
Buses: 18
This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to anyone. Check it out next time when (4) Biofuels and (5) Trains go head to head!
Bikes
Bikes, invented sometime before I was born so therefore during a time I don't really know or care about, have taken hold mostly for recreational purposes or for people in bigger cities. If you need me to explain more, I applaud your ability to use a computer.
Impact on the Environment (12/15):
As a t-shirt that I own says (it always comes down to the t-shirts, doesn't it?), Bikes get infinity miles per gallon of gas. That of course assumes you aren't drinking gasoline before you ride your Bike (I'd recommend E85. It's made from corn!), but you get the point. If everyone rode their Bikes everywhere, it would save a whole lot of gas, but people would have to take a whole lot of trips when moving. Just don't eat too much more when making those extra trips and Bikes and Biking is great for the environment.
Practicality (4/10):
Like I mentioned in the last paragraph, things like moving and long road trips can be more than a little difficult if you rely only on Bikes. That's why Biking is mainly used for recreational purposes.
Sustainability (9/10):
Bikes last a LOOOOOOONG time. Much fewer moving parts and things exploding inside them (how do you think gasoline engines work?) means Bikes will be around longer than cars. You buy a Bike and it can last for 20 or more years if you keep up with the maintenance. And no oil changes? I like the sound of that.
Awesomeness (9/10):
In my professional opinion, you can't be a true eco-hippie without having a Bike in your garage (or in your cave if you're taking the eco-hippie thing way too far). And how about this excuse: "I'm sorry, I can't go to my in-laws for Christmas because I don't own a car and it's too cold to ride my Bike." That'll get you out of so many things you don't want to go to!
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Buses
I'd say Buses were pretty well explained yesterday. Check it out if you're curious.
Impact on the Environment (8/15):
Buses, unlike Bikes, do feature things exploding inside their engines (hopefully just gasoline and not bombs like in the movie Speed), so they will naturally be less environmentally friendly. They do, however, use less gas per person than cars and trucks, so they are at least somewhat good for the environment.
Practicality (Either 4 (empty) or 7 (crowded) / 10):
The problem with Buses is that I've heard they're actually worse in terms of gas mileage per person than cars if they are underused. So people need to start riding the Bus much more often which would make Buses more crowded and really, who likes a crowded Bus? That just drops the awesomeness score down to 0.
Sustainability (3/10):
Buses require a lot of upkeep. Especially because they are part of a public service, if a Bus breaks down for whatever reason, there are a whole lot of passengers that will end up being horribly irate. There is also the potential for lawsuits if the Bus crashes, so who wants to deal with that mess?
Awesomeness (3 (empty) or 0 (crowded)/10):
Have you ever been on an empty Bus? It's nice, you get to stretch your feet out and relax. But even still, you can't relax too much because who knows who's sat in that seat before you and how often they clean the seats. Oh, and the fact that it stops every quarter of a mile can get a bit tedious. Now combine that with having to stand way too close to someone who you wonder where they've been before they got on that Bus and how often they clean themselves.
User Input (0/5):
Get those comments in, everyone!
Alright, let's tally those scores!
Bikes: 34
Buses: 18
This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to anyone. Check it out next time when (4) Biofuels and (5) Trains go head to head!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Green Tip #1: Hitching a Ride
So for the longest time, environmentalists have been advocating bicycle riding or walking as the most green way to travel. "Think of all the GHG's you could be eliminating!" your co-worker Gary proclaims. Meanwhile this train of thoughts runs through your head. 1) What is a GHG anyway? 2) A GHG kinda sounds like one of the steroids that major-league baseball players use. 3) Speaking of baseball, I wonder who the Cleveland Indians play tonight. 4) Maybe I should have some of the guys over tonight to watch the game. 5) Ugh, but then I'll have to invite Gary over because he's so nosy and he'll find out anyway. 6) I can't stand watching sports with him. 7) Maybe I could just go to the sports bar and watch it there. 8) Shoot, I'll need to get gas on my way there, because my Hummer is running low again.
At this point, Gary the environmentalist will know that you're thinking about Hummers and get on your case again about Green House Gases (oooh, that's what those are!) and how you should be riding a bike to work. Well, since you are a proud user of The Impractical Green Resource, you can easily win this arguement! While practical knowledge would say that bike riding, roller blading, snow-shoeing, etc. is the most eco-friendly, you know better!
In addition to all the extra time you take getting to places and being late for things, you are also exerting yourself so much more physically. And what happens when you exert yourself too much? Well, yes, I suppose hernias is a correct answer, but I was thinking you breathe harder. And with each breath that you breath out, you release more and more carbon dioxide and other GHG's.
The real most environmentally conscious method of transportation?
Hitchhiking.
Suck it Gary.
At this point, Gary the environmentalist will know that you're thinking about Hummers and get on your case again about Green House Gases (oooh, that's what those are!) and how you should be riding a bike to work. Well, since you are a proud user of The Impractical Green Resource, you can easily win this arguement! While practical knowledge would say that bike riding, roller blading, snow-shoeing, etc. is the most eco-friendly, you know better!
In addition to all the extra time you take getting to places and being late for things, you are also exerting yourself so much more physically. And what happens when you exert yourself too much? Well, yes, I suppose hernias is a correct answer, but I was thinking you breathe harder. And with each breath that you breath out, you release more and more carbon dioxide and other GHG's.
The real most environmentally conscious method of transportation?
Hitchhiking.
Suck it Gary.
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