What's so great about a car anyway?
by Scot Heisdorffer
This is why I'll take a bike any day:
A bicycle is:
- quiet and doesn't disturb anyone
- no problem with parking spots-I "park" my bike in my office
- easy to understand and repair-I can fix anything that breaks on my bike, thus I am self-reliant and not forced to rely on service stations and mechanics to solve my problems
- inexpensive- a car can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 a year to own and maintain, including tax (license plates), fuel, insurance and daily wear and tear. My bike costs less that $100 per year, $50 for tires and another $50 for a new chain and cassette. The money I save I then spend touring on my bike. My wife and I can tour all summer long (and still have money left over) on money I save by not owning a car
- great excercise-I bike 4,000 to 5,000 miles a year, that's a whole bunch of burned calories
- pollution-free and doesn't waste unrenewable natural resources
- not subject to speed limits or regulatory nonsense
- fun and exhilirating and as challanging as you make it
As a lifetime biker, I:
- am not held hostage by oil companies
- am not held hostage by the insurance industry
- can set an example so that others will think more progressively about transportation
- can actively promote the benefits of a car free existence
- can smell, feel, see, hear and even taste regions and cultures of the world at a pace that allows freedom and flexibility, no schedules!
By Scot Heisdorffer.
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