Comments on: Something brilliant and something(s) quirky. http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/01/27/something-brilliant-and-somethings-quirky/ Sitting up straight; The key to growing urban cycling Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:45:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Paul Martin http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/01/27/something-brilliant-and-somethings-quirky/comment-page-1/#comment-315 Paul Martin Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:12:17 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=1057#comment-315 Dear Mike, Thanks again for the continuing posts - inspiring! I read James Kunstler's blog on a regular basis and he is very entertaining. I think he has many valid points and I admire his passion. I had not seen his video before (I don't know how I missed it as I frequent TED.com regularly), so thank you for that! The Japanese bicycle parking is wonderful and I don't think 17 seconds is too much time to wait. I would be more worried about a power (or mechanical) failure which would trap all those bicycles but I'm sure those Japanese have thought of that. I think any new office/shopping building in the city should have one of these installed during construction instead of an underground carpark. In other news, I've clocked up 800km in 8 weeks on my nice sit-up bicycle and I'm loving it. I've not had this much fun cycling since I was a child. Not wearing a helmet makes it even more enjoyable and I'm yet to fall off. I've cycled in drenching rain and in the middle of the night. A friend mentioned that, a few days ago on a busy commuter bicycle path in Brisbane, a police officer was stationed for a few hours handing out warning notices for cyclists without bells - what an excellent use of police resources... *sigh* Regards, Dr Paul Martin Dear Mike,

Thanks again for the continuing posts – inspiring! I read James Kunstler’s blog on a regular basis and he is very entertaining. I think he has many valid points and I admire his passion. I had not seen his video before (I don’t know how I missed it as I frequent TED.com regularly), so thank you for that!

The Japanese bicycle parking is wonderful and I don’t think 17 seconds is too much time to wait. I would be more worried about a power (or mechanical) failure which would trap all those bicycles but I’m sure those Japanese have thought of that. I think any new office/shopping building in the city should have one of these installed during construction instead of an underground carpark.

In other news, I’ve clocked up 800km in 8 weeks on my nice sit-up bicycle and I’m loving it. I’ve not had this much fun cycling since I was a child. Not wearing a helmet makes it even more enjoyable and I’m yet to fall off. I’ve cycled in drenching rain and in the middle of the night.

A friend mentioned that, a few days ago on a busy commuter bicycle path in Brisbane, a police officer was stationed for a few hours handing out warning notices for cyclists without bells – what an excellent use of police resources… *sigh*

Regards,

Dr Paul Martin

]]> By: leftbanker http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/01/27/something-brilliant-and-somethings-quirky/comment-page-1/#comment-314 leftbanker Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:55:07 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=1057#comment-314 <i>The Geography of Nowhere</i> probably had more of an effect on me than any book I have ever read. This effect can be measured by my choices of living environments. I moved in constant search of livable cities, from suburban Washington D.C., to Miami, then to Seattle, and now Valencia, Spain. This book has shaped my own writing as well and I hope to publish a novel that is centered on the American suburban landscape some time soon. The problem in America is that few people know anything other than the strip mall model of urban-suburban architecture. However, when presented with what seems like an attack on their lifestyle, they become defensive and refuse to even consider an alternative. Too many people have accepted a life in which the automobile is responsible for effecting 100% of their transportation needs (in my current model car use represents 0%). I don’t think these people are making a choice, I don’t think they ever felt they had a choice. We have allowed the exigencies of Chili’s® parking requirements to dictate our urban planning with no voice given to the citizens. I feel that the need for a healthy and social living environment is the single most important factor in defining our happiness. The Geography of Nowhere probably had more of an effect on me than any book I have ever read. This effect can be measured by my choices of living environments. I moved in constant search of livable cities, from suburban Washington D.C., to Miami, then to Seattle, and now Valencia, Spain. This book has shaped my own writing as well and I hope to publish a novel that is centered on the American suburban landscape some time soon. The problem in America is that few people know anything other than the strip mall model of urban-suburban architecture. However, when presented with what seems like an attack on their lifestyle, they become defensive and refuse to even consider an alternative. Too many people have accepted a life in which the automobile is responsible for effecting 100% of their transportation needs (in my current model car use represents 0%). I don’t think these people are making a choice, I don’t think they ever felt they had a choice. We have allowed the exigencies of Chili’s® parking requirements to dictate our urban planning with no voice given to the citizens. I feel that the need for a healthy and social living environment is the single most important factor in defining our happiness.

]]> By: welshcyclist http://www.situp-cycle.com/2010/01/27/something-brilliant-and-somethings-quirky/comment-page-1/#comment-313 welshcyclist Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:28:23 +0000 http://www.situp-cycle.com/?p=1057#comment-313 Thanks for your posts, and the information you create and pass on, it's very interesting and informative. I always look forward to seeing a new one. Thanks for your posts, and the information you create and pass on, it’s very interesting and informative. I always look forward to seeing a new one.

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