tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38420906.post1057791237947313912..comments2023-06-29T04:07:06.738-06:00Comments on The Boise Bus Blog: Car-free living in sprawl valley?Julie Fanselowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09914548762794031621noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38420906.post-19505892498704070232008-01-29T10:21:00.000-07:002008-01-29T10:21:00.000-07:00Julie, I posted some thoughts about the Idaho Eart...Julie, I posted some thoughts about the Idaho Earth Institute's Friday meeting, over at the <A HREF="http://bikenazi.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Bike Nazi</A>.Bikeboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17379272663647894409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38420906.post-34208118064873074482008-01-27T13:58:00.000-07:002008-01-27T13:58:00.000-07:00I hope you, your readers and contributors will emb...I hope you, your readers and contributors will embrace and participate in Boise's 1st Annual No Pants day, in support of more intelligent transportation solutions.<BR/><BR/>Please visit:<BR/><BR/>www.BOISEnopantsday.com<BR/><BR/>FAQ's for more informationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38420906.post-49058552081535893252008-01-25T16:30:00.000-07:002008-01-25T16:30:00.000-07:00Julie... Not sure if I'll make it. (Have to see w...Julie... Not sure if I'll make it. (Have to see what the CEO has planned, that I've forgotten about.) But I'm sure gonna try. (I'll probably pass on the potluck; hard to carry potato salad when the roads are slush-covered.)<BR/><BR/>If I'm there, I'll be wearing a lemon-yellow Gore-tex jacket (assuming bike transportation, at least). Graying hair and beard. HAPPY expression! (Being car-free will DO that to you.) So, if you see somebody matching that description, approach him and say, "Are you the bikeboy?"<BR/>(-;Bikeboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17379272663647894409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38420906.post-18995139452065116282008-01-25T13:03:00.000-07:002008-01-25T13:03:00.000-07:00Yay, Bikeboy! If you are there tonight, I would li...Yay, Bikeboy! If you are there tonight, I would like to meet you in person - and I want to see what sort of tires you hard-core cyclists have that allow you to negotiate the sort of slop we have on the roads today. <BR/><BR/>I am humbled and inspired by your dedication!Julie Fanselowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09914548762794031621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38420906.post-4857955734286705552008-01-25T12:55:00.000-07:002008-01-25T12:55:00.000-07:00Julie - you make great points, as always. (And I ...Julie - you make great points, as always. (And I read and agreed with most of what Mr. Johncox said yesterday.)<BR/><BR/>Personally, however, I believe the citizenry are equally to blame with the planners for our sprawl. If there weren't a market for all those houses out in Suburbia, it would still be farmland. <BR/><BR/>After all, it's the "American Dream" to live out on Heaven's Half-Acre, in the modern house, but surrounded by a picket fence and pastoral bliss. (The cruel irony is, that as the population heads for the country - not "real" country, but "close-in" country - the pastures are quickly replaced by pavement and rows of near-identical houses, and those dreamers have to wake up to reality. They're stuck living in "just another subdivision," but far enough away that it's a motor-vehicle trip to get <I>everywhere</I> they go!)<BR/><BR/>Another reason people live out "in the sticks" is to save a few bucks. Buy one of those cheaply-built tract houses and save $50 or $100 on the mortgage payment. Again, cruel irony - they end up spending more than that on additional gas for additional car trips. (And that doesn't even take into consideration the 2-hours-a-day behind the wheel!!)<BR/><BR/>Yep - it's tough to be car-free, especially if you live 5 or 10 miles away from <I>all</I> your destinations!<BR/><BR/>I very deliberately chose to live in a part of town that is close to my destinations - work, school, shopping, etc. To do otherwise imposes severe limitations on your transportation options. Strangely, it doesn't seem like that's a serious consideration for most people, when they're house-shopping.<BR/><BR/>Most people - myself included - strive for minimal dependency on motor vehicles, rather than total car-freedom. (Although that WOULD be fantastic!) I'm happy to report that between myself, my two bicycles, and my "BOB" trailer, I'm well over 90% car-independent. It's been 10+ years since I drove a car to work... right here in Boise, Idaho. (The wife has a minivan that I occasionally borrow to haul bulky and heavy stuff. And we go on family trips in that vehicle. But literally weeks and even months go by, where I never get in a car.)<BR/><BR/>I'll have to see if I can attend the car-free living presentation. (That's only about 3/4 mile from my place; if I go, it'll probably be on the 2-wheeler.)<BR/><BR/>Way back in February 2007, I posted some thoughts on Balish's book. Link by clicking <A HREF="http://bikenazi.blogspot.com/2007/02/how-to-live-well-without-owning-car.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>. (And I see you posted a comment, Julie. Small world, huh?) I was particularly interested in it because when he was writing it, somehow he found out about my car-free discipleship, and asked for some thoughts. And somewhere in that book is a quote from your's truly. (The book is available at the Boise Public Library.)Bikeboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17379272663647894409noreply@blogger.com