Commuting by bicycle provides many benefits
Charles Winn (letter, April 13) advises cyclists to “go to a park, neighborhood or another safe venue” and asks whether he should slow down for an “inconsiderate person riding a bicycle on a two-lane road.”
As a bicycle commuter, I would note a few positives bicycle riding offers. We use no gas or oil, leaving more for drivers. The wear and tear on the roads due to bicycles is minimal. We do not pollute. We make practically no noise. Riders are generally healthy, and riding helps maintain good health.
I hope readers will consider biking. Not only would you too contribute to the shared benefits, you would find that the pleasures of powering yourself are considerable, the health benefits are noteworthy, and there is increasing evidence that those benefits extend beyond weight control and cardiovascular and mental health to keeping our brains sharp longer, reducing the possibility of Alzheimer’s disease.
So, Mr. Winn, I hope you will pedal to your destination some days and respect the legal right of bicycle riders to share the road on the days you drive.
Claire Morse
Greensboro
Comments (6)
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Cars run at their efficient and unpolluting best when they maintain a constant speed, not when they have to slow to almost nothing (shedding fibers from asbestos brakes into the environment, btw) and then getting back up to speed after passing a cyclist.
I would love to see numbers on gas/oil burned and added pollution caused directly by one cyclist slowing down 100 cars in a single lane 45mph zone (yeah, it's a low number of total cars for Greensboro, but we'll lean the numbers to the "unpolluting" side's advantage).
I bet, based on miles ridden, the added pollution and fuel spent because of everyone having to slow down and go around him works out to be just as much as if he'd never hopped on his bicycle at all.
There are no free lunches.
Roger
Posted on April 27, 2008 8:56 AM
All the talk about commuting via bicycle brings back fond memories of McNeill Smith going back and forth to his office each day by bike. He even biked to church on Sunday! He was so ahead of his time--on multiple counts!
Posted on April 27, 2008 11:36 AM
Bicycle riders seem to have an uncanny sense of timing. How do they know when I'm approaching from behind and without exception, there is a vehicle coming in the opposite direction forcing me to slow to a crawl behind them?
Posted on April 27, 2008 11:54 AM
"(shedding fibers from asbestos brakes into the environment, btw)"
Asbestos has not been used on brakes for quite a few years. If your car is so old it still has asbestos brake linings then it is probably unsafe to drive and long overdue a brake job.
Posted on April 27, 2008 8:16 PM
A swing and a miss, Billy.
2003 (over half the value was used in brakes):
"Government records say that isn’t the case. Information collected by port inspectors of the U.S. Customs Service and released by the U.S. Geological Survey show that last year asbestos products worth $208.9 million came into the country. Of that, $124.6 million was asbestos friction material for brakes, more than half mined in Canada"
http://murray.senate.gov/asbestos/031026-asbestos.pdf
2001:
The materials that were not banned included those in which asbestos fibers are generally well bound in the material, including:
-Automatic transmission components,
-Clutch facings,
-Disc brake pads,
-Drum brake linings,
-Brake blocks, and
-Gaskets
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/files/asbestos_brakes.pdf
April 2007
"Why should mechanics be concerned about asbestos exposure?
Because some, but not all, automotive brakes and clutches available or in use today may contain asbestos, professional automotive technicians and home mechanics who repair and replace brakes and clutches may be exposed to asbestos dust."
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/brakesbrochure.html
Look at page 8.6
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/asbestos/asbesmyb06.pdf
2000:
"The makers of 40 cars and light trucks were questioned by the P-I. All but two said they had stopped using the lethal fibers. General Motors said asbestos was still being used in its Chevy Cavalier and the Pontiac Sunbird and Sunfire models. Chrysler refused to answer the question "for competitive reasons."
"The P-I bought sets of new replacement brakes for eight different models of cars and light trucks. Four were labeled as containing asbestos, two had no markings and two were marked "asbestos-free."
Laboratory analysis of the brakes showed that three of the four labeled "asbestos" contained chrysotile and one of the unmarked brakes contained large amounts of tremolite and actinolite, both cancer-causing asbestos fibers. One of the "asbestos-free" brakes also contained tremolite, but at a lower level."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/uncivilaction/brks16.shtml
February 2008. The bill hoping to ban the stuff isn't law yet.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-742
My original comment stands. As does the fuel-wasting and increased pollution bit surrounding it.
Roger
Posted on April 28, 2008 8:52 AM
Has anyone considered making bike-lanes or separate bike paths along the side of the road? It does not appear to be that big of an investment and it will solve the problems of both motorists and bicyclists. Also, I would assess a small charge on a purchase of bicycles (5%) to finance such construction. Everybody wins.
Posted on April 28, 2008 3:54 PM