Comments on: McCain: Drilling Is the Cure for What Ails U.S. http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/mccain-drilling-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-us/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lee Watkins http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/mccain-drilling-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-us/comment-page-1/#comment-53954 Lee Watkins Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:53:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/mccain-drilling-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-us/#comment-53954 Fritz I agree. The bike allows a person to use 1/3 the energy to travel the same given distance compared to walking or carrying something - and that is when pedaling. The other benefit is that when you stop doing work (pedaling) you keep moving at the same speed - which degrades only with air drag and rolling resistance - which are extremely low. Since all work is done in a circular motion, the body works at it's own maximum efficiency with the minimum impact possible. Also, when cargo is stacked on the bike, you no longer have to fight it's gravity except to the degree that the road is not level - always more efficient than carrying by hand. The bike is simply a tool to increase the efficiency of the human body. How exactly will that ever be backwards? It seems to me that doing a job with the least amount of energy necessary would be the most sensible option - and so far the bike still holds that title. Fritz I agree. The bike allows a person to use 1/3 the energy to travel the same given distance compared to walking or carrying something – and that is when pedaling. The other benefit is that when you stop doing work (pedaling) you keep moving at the same speed – which degrades only with air drag and rolling resistance – which are extremely low. Since all work is done in a circular motion, the body works at it’s own maximum efficiency with the minimum impact possible. Also, when cargo is stacked on the bike, you no longer have to fight it’s gravity except to the degree that the road is not level – always more efficient than carrying by hand. The bike is simply a tool to increase the efficiency of the human body. How exactly will that ever be backwards? It seems to me that doing a job with the least amount of energy necessary would be the most sensible option – and so far the bike still holds that title.

]]> By: Fritz http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/mccain-drilling-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-us/comment-page-1/#comment-53921 Fritz Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:44:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/mccain-drilling-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-us/#comment-53921 Those commercials made me angry. It's neither McCain or Obama's fault that energy prices are where they are. I think it's great that McCain wants to invest in alternative energy much more than Bush ever did and while drilling won't help our energy situation (unless too much capital is wasted on it) it won't hurt it either--the environment is another issue. And I can't fathom why people think going on bikes is backwards. Walking isn't backwards, why would biking be? People still don't get that often biking is less effort, cheaper, healthier, and more enjoyable. I don't think every need to bike on their trips from NYC to DC, but on your 2 mile ride which would take you twice as long to drive or walk you should use the best option--a bike. Preaching to the choir, I know, but it's frustrating. Those commercials made me angry. It’s neither McCain or Obama’s fault that energy prices are where they are. I think it’s great that McCain wants to invest in alternative energy much more than Bush ever did and while drilling won’t help our energy situation (unless too much capital is wasted on it) it won’t hurt it either–the environment is another issue.

And I can’t fathom why people think going on bikes is backwards. Walking isn’t backwards, why would biking be? People still don’t get that often biking is less effort, cheaper, healthier, and more enjoyable. I don’t think every need to bike on their trips from NYC to DC, but on your 2 mile ride which would take you twice as long to drive or walk you should use the best option–a bike. Preaching to the choir, I know, but it’s frustrating.

]]> By: Steve http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/mccain-drilling-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-us/comment-page-1/#comment-53899 Steve Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:48:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/mccain-drilling-is-the-cure-for-what-ails-us/#comment-53899 Wow. I avoid Brooks like the plague as he is an incoherent dope who just makes shit up in the service of his "opinions", but that "sinfulness" line takes the cake. BTW, kudos to a reader and bike commuter in evil Dallas, TX. Wow. I avoid Brooks like the plague as he is an incoherent dope who just makes shit up in the service of his “opinions”, but that “sinfulness” line takes the cake.

BTW, kudos to a reader and bike commuter in evil Dallas, TX.

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