Comments on: Biking in the City http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3904 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Wed, 13 May 2026 08:21:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3904&cpage=1#comment-22541 girldetective Mon, 30 May 2011 19:44:37 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3904#comment-22541 Kai, you make excellent points. I read the article as arguing for bikes over cars but think many of the things you note, like groceries, affordability and jobs would tend to be part and parcel of a bike-able place to live, and most bike-friendly places are also walk-friendly. Portland and Minneapolis, for example, rate highly for those things, as well as being very bike friendly cities. As gas prices rise and as world tensions continue to rise over oil rights, I think biking is a good alternative to driving if it works for you. Kai, you make excellent points. I read the article as arguing for bikes over cars but think many of the things you note, like groceries, affordability and jobs would tend to be part and parcel of a bike-able place to live, and most bike-friendly places are also walk-friendly. Portland and Minneapolis, for example, rate highly for those things, as well as being very bike friendly cities. As gas prices rise and as world tensions continue to rise over oil rights, I think biking is a good alternative to driving if it works for you.

]]> By: Kai Jones http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3904&cpage=1#comment-22539 Kai Jones Mon, 30 May 2011 16:36:46 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3904#comment-22539 I think that's a pretty load of self-serving justification. I mean, I walk around the downtown area of my city (Portland, OR) a lot and I think the bikes are a menace. Plus walking pace is even better for noticing things, and I can actually stop at the various places without a thought for where to lock up my transportation. Livability is more than "can I get there by bike?" It's "can I afford to live there? Can I get groceries I like easily? Can I get a good job in this place?" and lots of other questions. Not everything must be bike-able or walk-able or drive-able, we can have a mix of accessibility. Judging by bike leaves out people with mobility issues, people whose health doesn't permit that level of physical exercise (I have asthma and allergies), people who want things to be further apart (I don't want to live near my work, I like to compartmentalize my life more than that). I think that’s a pretty load of self-serving justification. I mean, I walk around the downtown area of my city (Portland, OR) a lot and I think the bikes are a menace. Plus walking pace is even better for noticing things, and I can actually stop at the various places without a thought for where to lock up my transportation.

Livability is more than “can I get there by bike?” It’s “can I afford to live there? Can I get groceries I like easily? Can I get a good job in this place?” and lots of other questions. Not everything must be bike-able or walk-able or drive-able, we can have a mix of accessibility.

Judging by bike leaves out people with mobility issues, people whose health doesn’t permit that level of physical exercise (I have asthma and allergies), people who want things to be further apart (I don’t want to live near my work, I like to compartmentalize my life more than that).

]]> By: inquirer http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3904&cpage=1#comment-22493 inquirer Thu, 26 May 2011 10:45:57 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3904#comment-22493 Houston is NOT a bikeable city. But Calgary is! I can't wait to get there and live outdoors (in the summer). In the winter I will happily stay inside my car. Houston is NOT a bikeable city. But Calgary is! I can’t wait to get there and live outdoors (in the summer). In the winter I will happily stay inside my car.

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