We were talking about how within certain circles the car versus mass transit debate starts to develop tunnel-vision. We agree that, given the opportunity and access, people should take mass transit instead of their cars. Mass transit increases air quality, reduces nonpoint source pollution, and could even reduce congestion - all of this is assuming that new vehicles do not replace the vehicles that were taken off the road as drivers become riders.
But some times having a car is so much more convenient such as shopping for Thanksgiving dinner. Or when one has to buy paper goods. Lugging a 6 pack of paper towels on the bus is no fun for anyone, including and especially the other riders.
At the same time, when did a bike become short-hand for loser? Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic: How We Drive and What It Says About Us, wrote an interesting article about the movie Greenberg, whose main character's main mode of transportation is not his own car, and what does that say (or imply) about the man himself?
I have many happy memories riding my bike as a kid and I imagine that many other people do too. Unfortunately, a lot of people think that bikes are only for kids. But there are literally hundreds of highly educated people who possess bachelors, masters degrees, and even advanced degrees, who use bicycles as their predominant, or only form of transportation, including Dr. Donald Shoup, PhD.
Yet some bikers become so single-minded in their passion that they think that's what good for them should be good for everyone confoundit, to quote Nero Wolfe.
As with many things in life, except chocolate and Italian men, I believe that a little moderation never hurt on either side of the debate.
