Matters of Transit

[applez]

1. The Z-Line across the Bay...I love it!

2. Small car safety.

3. Intermodal transit with folding bicycles!

4. Folding Bike Reviews: small wheel folding bikes; large wheel folding bikes; Bike Friday; Strida.

Strida v. A-Bike here. 2005 favs. Brompton best? Hmm.

For up to 7 miles, the Dahon Vitesse D7HG is recommended, as of May 08

Comments

[applez]

1. So cool, it has to happen. Funny Zipline evangelism though. ;-)

2. Tom, you may recall that it was my country that celebrated "Bash a Honda" during the last Nipponophobic phase. Seeing large beer-fueled American laborers in joyous sledge hammering of the efficient subcompacts tends to leave an impression. ;-)

EDIT: To answer your question seriously, unfortunately it's true - the average American consumer tends to believe "greater mass = greater safety," and actually find the intimidation factor (or at least the intimidation parity against other SUVs, trucks, buildings) acceptable or even desirable. I think there's little mistake that seniors and ethnically smaller women are a significant demographic for these vehicles' market (and marketing teams).

There's also something lodged deep in the typical American driver's psychology - they are not a member of a community, they are not sharing a public resource with others - they are a world entirely unto themselves, on their own orbit, that have the frequent irritation of being placed in circumstances that do not comport to that worldview at every inch. It's the psychology that feeds the classic and true stereotype of the driver simultaneously SMSing, personally grooming, and feeding/drinking while racing down the highway at 65mph+ bracing the steering wheel with their thighs. When a law has to be passed to reinforce common sense for public safety, then clearly common sense is dangerously deficient.

Even the "Chelsea Tractor" types at your end of the pond have a sense of broader allegience, even if it's only to their elite slice of the royal motoring club - to fight for their right to hurtle every bit as badly as their American counterpart in even less space.

3. It seems to me that all of developed society is on a permanent upward trend on personal cargo. 100 years ago, the workman was uniformed and had no more personal effects than class-defined uniform, a handkerchief, an attache case or tool box, some coin, and perhaps a packed lunch from the Missus (assuming he couldn't return home, or get a small bite with his booze up with the boys at the Union hall).

Today, it's rare to see anyone without at least a messenger bag, backpack, or rollaboard suitcase in addition to their clothing & personal electronics.

5. Worldwide, that makes sense to me - considering Chinese and Indian demand alone. I suspect there's a production triangle, with a wide base of bicycles, fewer motorscooters, fewest cars. Actually, I wonder how car production compares with truck production (3rd World omnibus platform) in much of the world.