Physical activity and environment

[Lemon Eddy]

So enlighten us, O might one, how are you going to FORCE car users out of their vehicles when there isn't a credible alternative to provide an inducement?

There's plenty of credible alternatives. Try cycling. Door step to door step convenience, and you get some exercise for free. Admittedly, if you're out of shape, that would explain why you find it such a sweaty experience initially...but that will pass, as fitness increases and lardiness decreases.

As for what will force you out of the car, let's hear it for economics. I work in the oil industry. 7 years ago, light sweet crude (the grade of crude thats used for petrol and diesel) was going for $12 a barrel. Now it's scraping $100, and as industrial demand from India and China ramp up, and the easy, low cost to production fields scale down production, that cost is just going to rise and rise. We might see some short term price fluctuations, the occasional drop, but over the next 10 years you can expect that price to double and then treble. How many car users might suddenly think a bike or bus isn't so bad when it's £10 a gallon.

 

[London_Calling]

That isn't really true. Much of Britain's urban landscape is basically Victorian, and the roads, which obviously weren't laid out with mass private transport in mind, can't really cope - although at least Victorian town planners did retain nice, wide main roads. What is true is that urban planning at least since the war, and in some cases since the 1930s, has usually favoured the motorist and the car's needs have been prioritised.

Maybe he meant 're-designed' (for the car) in relation to the Victorian era town centres, I would.

 

[Cobbles]

'Retaliation' for what, exactly?

For holding up the traffic through taking over half the roadspace for use 2% of the time.

"dressed like a condom"? What are you on about?

I've got blinding sleet driven by 40 MPH gusts at the moment. Shorts and a singlet would be a tad inappropriate for cycling - a full coverage waterproof outfit would be better - so stylish.

 

[Cobbles]

That isn't really true. Much of Britain's urban landscape is basically Victorian, and the roads, which obviously weren't laid out with mass private transport in mind, can't really cope.

Indeed - nothing larger than, say, a coach & 4 should be allowed into Victorian (and older) city centres.

During the 80's there was a vogue for Transit van sized buses - at least that meant that with the average non rush-hour load of driver plus 6 passengers they didn't look totally empty.

The taxi-bus seems to work well for most of SE Asia - perhaps we should trial that as opposed to slavish adherence to "bendy-bus-with-no-seats-is-king" attitudes?

 

[Lemon Eddy]

I've got blinding sleet driven by 40 MPH gusts at the moment. Shorts and a singlet would be a tad inappropriate for cycling - a full coverage waterproof outfit would be better - so stylish.

Well for starters, that waterproof outer layer is removable you know. Funnily enough, you can take it off at your destination.

As for the issue of what you look like when you arrive, well that's not hard either. As you appear to think of yourself at the top of the food chain, you may enjoy a private office, with bathroom and wardrobe. That works very well for me, but not everyone has such luck.

Of course, it also worked just as well when I didn't have my own office. I just kept a couple of suits and some shirts in a locker at work, and cycled in at a normal pace, which is really no more sweat inducing than walking. More often than not I was cycling in early to go to the gym anyway, allowing me to complete the last 5 minutes of my journey shaved, showered and gorgeous.

Frankly, in most circumstances (i.e. you're not a salesperson or van driver and don't need your vehicle for your job) people who claim they have no suitable alternative to driving to work are just being lazy or unimaginative.

 

[Cobbles]

Of course, it also worked just as well when I didn't have my own office. I just kept a couple of suits and some shirts in a locker at work, and cycled in at a normal pace, which is really no more sweat inducing than walking. More often than not I was cycling in early to go to the gym anyway, allowing me to complete the last 5 minutes of my journey shaved, showered and gorgeous.

But it's not just about driving to a single place of work.

It just isn't feasible to arrange to have a fresh clothing waiting at every possible destination.

 

[likesfish]

so your a sales rep then

 

[Cobbles]

so your a sales rep then

No, but I do visit a wide range of client sites where I deliver consultancy and I don't see how it'd be possible to arrange to have a suit waiting for me at their offices, never mind getting one out in advance to the likes of the Festival Theatre in advance of an evening at the Opera.

Suggestions? (without spending more than the cost of a personalised Limo service on having a suit waiting at every business/social locale where I didn't feel like turning up dressed in a ragbag of dayglo manmade fibres.

 

[Dj TAB]

Much as some of the responsibility for changing the publics behaviour falls at the feet of the government I'd like to see more pressure being exerted on employers to provide secure bike storage facilities as well as proper shower and changing facilities as well.

I'd concur no-one wants to arrive hot and bothered for work, however most times I go on buses or the tube I marvel at the extremes of temperature that users are subjected to. I was on a no 12 the other day and a lady fainted from the heat on the bus and had to be removed.

 

[Lemon Eddy]

Much as some of the responsibility for changing the publics behaviour falls at the feet of the government I'd like to see more pressure being exerted on employers to provide secure bike storage facilities as well as proper shower and changing facilities as well.

Damned right. Must be said though that a lot of big employers are already doing this.

 

[Lemon Eddy]

No, but I do visit a wide range of client sites where I deliver consultancy and I don't see how it'd be possible to arrange to have a suit waiting for me at their offices, never mind getting one out in advance to the likes of the Festival Theatre in advance of an evening at the Opera.

Suggestions? (without spending more than the cost of a personalised Limo service on having a suit waiting at every business/social locale where I didn't feel like turning up dressed in a ragbag of dayglo manmade fibres.

But it's not just about driving to a single place of work.

It just isn't feasible to arrange to have a fresh clothing waiting at every possible destination.

Meh, and furthermore, meh. The usual selection of pants excuses, displaying a particular lack of imagination.

Unless you are a rep, the majority of your working days are likely to be spent in one site. Cycle the days when you'll be in the office, drive on the days when you need to visit people. I'll usually weigh up the amount of travel involved in my day against the distance I'm commuting. I also try to plan my days a bit ahead. Can I visit the bank/accountant/lawyer/supplier when I'm out visiting the client in that neck of the woods. If so, cycle in as usual, taxi up to client, walk to other meeting, taxi back. Of course there are days when that's not practical, yet I'd say I manage to organise things so that I only need to drive about a day a week or less.

As for nights out, if I'm going to something where I might have a drink, I'll take a taxi. If I'm going to something where parking is good and it's a ways off, I'll take a car.

 

[Crispy]

I'll just say it again to be clear. The macbook's battery can be replaced in one step - the only tool you need is a coin. The memory and HD can be upgraded in 3 steps, and 3 screws need to be undone. It's designed to be user-serviced.

 

[soulman]

I'll just say it again to be clear. The macbook's battery can be replaced in one step - the only tool you need is a coin. The memory and HD can be upgraded in 3 steps, and 3 screws need to be undone. It's designed to be user-serviced.

 

[XR75]

Not very - so long as the alternative is a journey that takes longer, rammed rammed into a noisy metal shoe box full of folk whose idea of personal hygiene is a bath once a week whether they need it or not.

That's just the start of the criticisms.