Comments on: Thanks, but No Thanks, Chevy

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:40:24 +0000

Well said! Its really too bad more people don't think this way.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:40:24 +0000

Well said! Its really too bad more people don't think this way.

By: Max Gladwell

Max Gladwell — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

A man of principles. Well done. Politely, too.

By: The Wrong Pitch, at the Wrong Time

The Wrong Pitch, at the Wrong Time — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:48:59 +0000

[...] but their job is not as easy as TrizCom’s as their pitches are unprofessional at best. The following was addressed to popular bicycle activist Chris Baskind: Because you are a green parent I thought [...]

By: solargroupies

solargroupies — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:19:17 +0000

Amen! Couldn't have said it better myself, Chris!

By: bitterend

bitterend — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:06:19 +0000

What is good about renting a car is you can pick a car you need. Personally since I joined the car-sharing club I have used the whole scale they offer, from the small one to the “mothership”. And I have used them only the time I have needed. For the longer trips I compare different options – bus/train/car.

By: chrisbaskind

chrisbaskind — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:28:16 +0000

There are bicycle activists who — in good faith — oppose bike lanes as a kind of “segregation.” I'm not one of them. People ride bicycles when they feel safe doing so. Even the Europeans, who are decades ahead of us on shifting traffic from four to two wheels, know that you *must* create facility for bike transport if you expect people to ride.

We have very little bicycle infrastructure in my county. I am aware of only one local company which makes any provision for secure bicycle parking (ironically, it's Gulf Power — which runs a coal-fired power plant here). Some major routes have bike lanes, but the markings are inconsistent, and the lanes seem to disappear in exactly the places they're most needed.

Lots of work to do. And please consider More Minimal a safe place to rant.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:16:48 +0000

You've hit the nail on the head Chris, city planners must make a way for this type of lifestyle choice. Another piece to the puzzle are “planned communities.” The 'burbs are killing us environmentally. They do not generally have any form of public transportation, most families are multi-care families, it takes more energy to move the building supplies to the area, the list goes on and on. The other effect of these domiciles is that there is little green space. The book “Last Child in the Woods” is clear about the need of children to have green space in which to grow their creativity and intelligence. Two square feet of grass is not going to cut it, and the parks are so manufactured that they feel more like mausoleums than parks. I live in a city wherein one avenue was designed by Frederick Olmsted. This street is full of green space. Over 100 years ago, those who designed and planned cities did so with more forethought than we have today. Planners today don't think past one generation – thus we could end up with areas of no inhabitants, but lots of wasted resources.

I will stop ranting for the day.

By: chrisbaskind

chrisbaskind — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:59:50 +0000

Since June, I've *needed* a car three times. Twice, I bummed rides. Once, I just let things fall down. Neither was a great option, but there's very little public transit here.

Next up: the Holidays. I'm guessing I'll have to rent a car at some point to see way-out-of-town family. Even at holiday rates, that's a much better deal than even a single month of car ownership.

The Equinox looks nice. I's reasonably efficient for a gas-burner — though not as efficient as pedaling.

By: BitterEnd

BitterEnd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:50:28 +0000

Just when you got rid of it they are trying to pull you back in.
Before I got rid of mine I estimated how much it would cost me to own a car. After that the decision was easy. For some people I maybe belong in a lower social status of life. But oh dear, I have fun…