Inspiration to kick your car to the curb

quinton · May 20, 2006

Colin Angus becomes first person to travel around the earth on human power (bike, foot, row-boat)

http://www.expeditionplanetearth.com/index.html

In June 2004 a team departed from Canada on what is undoubtedly the world’s most grueling race: To be the first to travel around the planet (land and ocean) entirely by human power. Three nations, Britain, the USA and Canada are attempting to be first in this quest.

The team is using zero-emissions travel to highlight issues with global warming and to inspire others to use non-motorized transportation.

Expedition Planet Earth is using non-motorized transportation to circumnavigate the earth. By travelling 42,000 km using only human power, the team hopes to promote awareness about global warming and demonstrate how effective human powered travel can be.

"If we can propel ourselves around the world. Will you propel yourself to work or school?"

geoffrey · May 22, 2006

I propel myself to school and work on nice days. I do my part. Especially considering the return trip from school is over 100km.

Asking everyone to completely get rid of their cars is both impossible and unreasonable. I still require it to travel long distances (I don't have time to bike to Ontario taking me weeks upon weeks to visit for a few days).

My life is significantly improved by technology, some of which is harmful to the environment. I won't change until someone introduces things that improve my life without emissions.

Do you not think that bike manufactures are a horribly polluting industry? All that transportation of mined resources, all that manufacturing with coal powered facilities (indirectly) and then all that rubber that needs to be replaced every few months. It's an incrediably resource intensive process.

Walk barefoot everywhere naked and live in a sod hut and I'll believe your sincerity on the issue.

betsy · May 22, 2006

"If we can propel ourselves around the world. Will you propel yourself to work or school?"

I can. I propel myself to the grocery store which is approx. 15 minutes away...and I try to do this everyday.

It's my exercise.

We have to start doing away with school buses for kids living nearby schools. Children have been used to being given rides, not to mention being programmed by mom and dad on a habit to use the car even for just a trip down the block.

Everyone of you probably heard this worn-out line from your middle-aged parents..."During my days...."

It's cliche'. But it's true.

But of course, let's be practical about this. It depends how far you need to propel yourself. There's no point in cutting back on rest and walking yourself to fatigue....you won't last long on that, physically and mentally.

If your aim is to help the environment, the best solutions I could think of is "scooters" and bikes. Apparently it's starting to be popular in Toronto. Consumes less gas. They'll just have to come up with a way to encourage that, especially in big, congested cities.

margrace · May 22, 2006

Do away with school buses, they still haven't found the body of the little girl murdered many years ago in Lowville Ont. who lived next door to the school. But it was a country school and not many people on the road. Here parents won't let their children walk to school, how about the little girl this week in Armstrong BC. Do away with school buses, think that one out.

Biblio Bibuli · May 22, 2006

I propel myself to school and work on nice days. I do my part. Especially considering the return trip from school is over 100km.

The Calgary area gets the most hours of sunshine a year, so you must be as aerobically fit as a fiddle.

betsy · May 23, 2006

Do away with school buses, they still haven't found the body of the little girl murdered many years ago in Lowville Ont. who lived next door to the school. But it was a country school and not many people on the road. Here parents won't let their children walk to school, how about the little girl this week in Armstrong BC. Do away with school buses, think that one out.

The news reports could get anyone feeling paranoid. At times I could swear that murder and mayhem is everywhere due to what I read....only to be baffled by contradicting reports that crime is actually down.

Most child crimes are perpetuated by those related or known to the child. If someone is determined enough to abduct a child in a public place in broad daylight....you think school busing will deter them? What about that pervert who abducted Cecilia from her own bedroom?

Kids have been walking to and from school for years where I live...and since we moved here (12 years), we've never had any incidents of abductions. If security is really a concern, I guess our citizens will be creative enough to think of ways to go about it. A "group walk" could be more fun.

geoffrey · May 23, 2006

I propel myself to school and work on nice days. I do my part. Especially considering the return trip from school is over 100km.

The Calgary area gets the most hours of sunshine a year, so you must be as aerobically fit as a fiddle.

It can be sunny and -25 in Calgary too remember. Below -10 and the car is driven. Between -10 and 0 I take the train, biking to it. The rest of the time, I bike right there.

Always bike to work downtown, and I live pretty much outside the south end of the city.

BubberMiley · May 23, 2006

Asking everyone to completely get rid of their cars is both impossible and unreasonable. ...Walk barefoot everywhere naked and live in a sod hut and I'll believe your sincerity on the issue.

I don't think the point is anybody hypocritically asking anyone to do anything they don't really do themselves. The point is that within the lifetimes of people on this planet (and very possibly within the lifetimes of middle-aged people on this planet) they will have to give up the everyday convenience of driving everywhere they go. Not necessarily because of pollution or global warming, but because there won't be the cheap oil for them to do it.

Our society isn't set up to handle that right now, so anyone using their ingenuity to live without cheap oil is doing us all a favour.

geoffrey · May 23, 2006

Asking everyone to completely get rid of their cars is both impossible and unreasonable. ...Walk barefoot everywhere naked and live in a sod hut and I'll believe your sincerity on the issue.

I don't think the point is anybody hypocritically asking anyone to do anything they don't really do themselves. The point is that within the lifetimes of people on this planet (and very possibly within the lifetimes of middle-aged people on this planet) they will have to give up the everyday convenience of driving everywhere they go. Not necessarily because of pollution or global warming, but because there won't be the cheap oil for them to do it.

Our society isn't set up to handle that right now, so anyone using their ingenuity to live without cheap oil is doing us all a favour.

Within reason Bubber, no reason to get rid of your car. A few people getting rid of their car would hardly be as effective as 75% of people taking transit just one day a week.

Baby steps here, I'm all for environmental sustainability, but it has to be reasonable. Let's see if we can get people taking public transit one day a week and go from there.

BubberMiley · May 23, 2006

Baby steps here, I'm all for environmental sustainability, but it has to be reasonable. Let's see if we can get people taking public transit one day a week and go from there.

I think people are too out to lunch on this issue to even take baby steps. It will take a global oil/food shortage for people to act on this issue. By then, it might be too late, but that's just the way it is.