Claim #1: At least 95% of physically-able men in America could walk or ride a bicycle to the nearest grocery store and haul home 20 pounds of groceries at least one time per month. I don't mean "some-day/one-day"; I mean right now, the way things are and the way they are not.
It might take a lot of free-time (especially if one's idea of "getting away from it all" means choosing to live 10 miles from the nearest grocery store!) It might require significant physical effort (albeit almost certainly less than is healthy from a cardio-vascular standpoint). It would entail dressing for inclement weather sometimes. It might result in modest physical discomfort on occasion. It could even involve a bit of physical risk (being hit by a car, being mugged, etc.). And it would almost certainly feel lonely - even a bit scary - in many American communities. BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE (for most able men) - all that is required is a bit of.manliness. Claim #2: We will need many more men doing this (and similar errands) before we can BEGIN to have informed and effective public conversations about what we will need to do to make our communities safe, practical, and welcoming for our women, children, elderly, and handicapped to walk, roll wheelchairs, push baby strollers, pedal tricycles, and ride bicycles (i.e. Complete Streets). Claim #3: We (pedestrian/bicycle/transit advocates) should NEVER, EVER say (in effect), "People have NO choice but to drive". Not only is this demonstrably untrue, it reinforces the already-pervasive sense of individual helplessness which is paralyzing our nation. Buck-passing is no foundation for self-government. Let's get out there and challenge guys, "Get off your butt! Man up our streets!" Hans Noeldner Pedestrian/Bicycle/Transit/Sustainability Advocate Chair, Madison Peak Oil Group <http://www.entropicjournal.blogspot.com/> www.entropicjournal.blogspot.com Oregon, Wisconsin 608-444-6190 "If such a thing as free will is possible, it will manifest itself among citizens who live as though we already have it."
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
