I've been riding my bike to work almost exclusively for 3 years now. Not because of the price of gas, but because the roads here in Minneapolis have too many cars on them, driven by too many idiots. 8 of the 10 miles I ride is bike path.

The availability of mass-produced snow-studded bicycle tires (search biketiresdirect.com if you're interested) has even made the winter commute plausible. I'd rather ride when it's 20 degrees and snowing than 40 degrees and raining. This spring has been sort of drag, but every time I take the car I regret it. You sort of get addicted to the ride.

I envy you guys, but alas, for myself it would be logistically impossible. If oj gets his way I suppose my wife and I will need to seperate and move closer to our respective jobs so we can ride our bikes. "Live Free or Die" used to be a state motto somewhere, right? Is it applicable to elitist social engineering projects as well?

As if any of us needed evidence that the power to tax is the power to coerce and destroy.

The public transportations Nazis (Notice: no apologies) will not rest until they convert the rest of us, by coercive means, of course, into umbrella-carrying, Euro-weenie like, soccer-watchers, meekly standing around waiting for the bus.

Fortunately, the rest of still hear the motormusic, as the tanks roll forward, and the aircraft stand for the gates of the sun.

I keep seeing the gas tax presented in terms of personal transportation, but what about the cost of shipping and transporting goods? A gas tax would go right into the cost of milk, etc, too.

As if any of us needed evidence that the power to tax is the power to coerce and destroy.

The public transportations Nazis (Notice: no apologies) will not rest until they convert the rest of us, by coercive means, of course, into umbrella-carrying, Euro-weenie like, soccer-watchers, meekly standing around waiting for the bus.

Fortunately, the rest of still hear the motormusic, as the tanks roll forward, and the aircraft stand for the gates of the sun.

Never has "tanks roll" sounded more apt.

mike:

If shipped by truck.

Lou Gots, dude, calm down before you blow a gasket!

I'd rather rely on my legs to get me around instead of being a prisoner of traffic jams, working for my car, and gas prices. Not to mention the better physical shape I'd be in than someone who drives everywhere. To me, that is being free.

P.S. I've never had a driver's license and I've managed to survive for 33 years! In four different countries! *gasp*

While we're at it, let's require the bicyclists to be licensed to use those roads, as well as paying licensing fees for their vehicles. (After all, the gax tax is a user fee that is supposed to be only for roads, but gets raided for the general fund and even bike trails which cars can't use. So quit whining about subsidized cars, or don't buy anything that used a truck for transportation.)

Let's enforce the traffic laws when it comes to bicyclists behavior, too. Things like blocking traffic, and slower vehicles yielding and keeping right, and signaling turns and in general, not acting like overgrown children so stupid that they want to play in traffic.

And didn't you realize that the new New Hampshire motto is "Live My Way or Die!"?

Does Mike Cox need a shower after pedaling 11 miles to work? Or does he share his workout with his co-workers the rest of the day?

Regarding taxes and traffic laws: I have no objection to bike trail user fees, especially if it would result in more bicycle route options around town. Many of the recreational trails around Minnesota and Wisconsin already require tags, so it wouldn't be unprecedented. As far as traffic laws go, I see a many more automobile violations in a typical commute than I see commuting cyclists breaking laws. Drivers don't respect crosswalks or bike lanes around here, and do not give you the 3 feet required by local ordinance when passing (usually to hurry up so they can stop at red light up ahead).

The only exception is, if it's raining or 28 below zero, I'm not standing around very long at a red light if there is no cross traffic and no cop.

As far as the shower issue goes, if it's really hot in the morning, I have a change of clothes in my bag, and a head dowsing and pitstop wash in the standard bathroom takes care of the B.O. problem. I keep my hair short for this reason.

Raoul:

The bike riders aren't wielding enormous weapons that most of them are incompetent to operate.

Tom:

Freedom is just choices. Choosing to drive no matter the cost is certainly an option.

I considered exercising for my commute, the trouble is you end up all sweaty and smelly at work. Lucky for him he has a government job.

I used to walk. You don't get very sweaty.

Try walking to work in the South on a summer day, paste boy.

Actually, now that actual evidence is starting to replace anecdotal evidence, what we're learning is that the recent increase in the price of gas had almost no effect on people's behavior.

Yes, it was far too minimal. We can jack the heck out of taxes.

I used to walk a mile to work when I lived in Chicago years ago. In the winter I had to worry about frostbite and hypothermia from the wind chill, in the summer dehydration from the heat and humidity.

Since then, I've tried to keep my commute as short as possible. Anyone who spends an hour on a commute, one-way (whether car or bike), is a first class fool. That's two hours (8% of a day) of one's life wasted, workout or not.

Yep, seen my share of stupid driving too, but considering there are a lot more drivers than bicyclists, that makes the percentage of stupidity from the latter much higher.

As for incompetent and destructive operators, ("most of them"?) it's not for a lack of trying or lack of desire, as anyone who's spent any amount of time walking on a hiking/biking trail will quickly come to discover. (Then again, like with the bicyclist on a road, maybe I just get to see more opportunites for bicycle stupidity, I guess...)

And if the increase gas prices had no effect, they why do the social engineers keep promoting such effects as their primary benefit? ("get people out of their cars.") It's just another sin tax, and like all good prudes, they just want to make a profit off of other people's vices. But never their own, you'll notice. The next person to say "raise taxes on X to cause me to stop me from buying/using X " will be the first.

Tell, you what, let's only impose these higer gas taxes and all your other transportation prescriptions in the Eastern Time Zone. That way you get to enjoy them, and most of the rest of use won't have to. (And in a few years, EST will only be observed in a few counties in New England. and in Canada..)

raoul:

I was in Chicago too. Of course, if I took the El I fell asleep and ended up in Evanston everytime.

rat:

I'm assured by excellent sources that you evolve to suit the climate...

No offense to anyone above but the guy who would ride into work a few days week would really stink even after showering. Telecommuting rather than biking.

Contrary to what oj says, everything shipped is on a truck at some point in the journey.

Needn't be for long.

When I was there, you had to change trains to get to Evanston, at Addison(?) or some such northside station. (One of the first computer stores, "the itty bitty machine company", was located in Evanston.) So falling alseep and ending up there was quite a feat. You sure it wasn't the Jackson Park station? I did get halfway to O'Hare once by mistake...

Orrin's against cities, against cars and against small populations.

I cannot quite make that work out.

Bike commuters are the world's most boring people and they dress funny and smell bad.

Although I spend part of my day in an air-conditioned room in front of a computer, other parts are spent doing stuff. I'll take Orrin seriously when I see some carless geek walking or biking home with a bale of peatmoss.

Automoblies are perfect for such limited purposes. But not for regular commuting.

"I used to walk. You don't get very sweaty."

Speak for yourself. When we lived in Manhattan, during the previous millenium, I walked to work. About 3 miles from 107st to 48St. if it was at all warm I was drenched. I would carry a clean shirt and change in my office. One day my boss used his pass key to unlock the door while I was changing. It was the beginning of the end for me.

I encourage all of you to walk or bike to work. That will reduce the congestion on the highways, enhancing my own driving experience.

Harry writes:

"Although I spend part of my day in an air-conditioned room in front of a computer, other parts are spent doing stuff. I'll take Orrin seriously when I see some carless geek walking or biking home with a bale of peatmoss."

How 'bout pulling a kayak rigged for fishing so he can stop at the lake and catch dinner? It's not that I'm against cars (wish global warming would kick in up here, big time)--the bike is a faster method of transport in this city for trips of 10 miles or less, especially during rush hour. It's less boring than sitting in a traffic jam and listening to bad talk radio.

And some of the most boring people that *I know are atheists.

Cars are to roads as tin cans are to tin can openers.

Without cars, you don't get roads.

If we use cars much less than we do now, the roads will fall apart.

The only mobile societies have used either cars or horses. Nothing else works.

We use cars a lot and the roads are falling apart--though bridges are even worse. When you let people use public infrastructure but don't make them pay the costs it's disastrous.

oj-

The irresponsible behavior exists almost solely on the side of the custodians of the maintainence funding. The users pay while the so-called custodians squander. It's called politics. The beauty of trust funds, 'authorities' and commissions etc.,etc., is their ability to isolate themselves to a large degree from the consequences of their irresonsible behavior. It's a politicians dream.

They don't pay what they cost.

By your definition of 'cost'. BTW how the heck do you know?

gas taxes, etc. don't cover even just the cost of the Federal Highway bills.

Bills or bills (small b)? What percentage of the funding for the fiasco up in Boston was federal? Is the amount growing? How much do you believe was wasted by mismanagement or political expediency?

None was wasted. That's just what you get for building roadways.

Mere blather. That's what one gets with the state operating outside of it's competence.

Exactly. Privatize the roads and make drivers pay their way.