I never realized what a toll bike riding can take on one's tush. I had been doing really well until I developed a rather painful, twin set of bruises on my lovely Schwinn shaped behind. I'd post a picture if it were appropriate... Okay probably even then...
As much as I hate to admit it, I haven't been as green as I'd like lately. I'm still sitting in a dark office (since my date of hire I've refused to turn on my lights for more than a minute. That's what I have these lovely windows for!) but I have been driving here. = X
I know, I know, I'm not proud of it!
But, I DO have some new interesting facts for you. These are from a free handout that I got at Starbucks recently. Please visit www.Good.is when you get a chance...
1. The wind in North Dakota alone could produce enough energy to provide 1/3 of the U.S.'s power.
2. For every pound of office paper recycled, CO2 emissions are reduced by 4 pounds (USE BOTH SIDES TOO!!)
3. If the number of Americans taking public transit to work increased by 10%, we could reduce CO2 emissions by almost 6,000,000,000 pounds per year!! That's only about 30,537,353.3 people!! That's probably smaller than your extended network on Myspace!!
Another easy thing you can do? Plant a tree! Seriously. Go to the store, get a seed or two, and sneak them into random people's yards at nights. Or in the far corners of your neighborhood park. Give it a name and write its biography. I bet people won't tear it down then.
PEOPLE, you do not have to wear Birkenstocks or eat tofu to make a difference. If everyone would drive one less day out of the week or take a bus, one more polar bear would have a nice ice beach to hang out.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I talk about it...
And now I'm about to BE about it!
I've decided to change my major to Environmental Studies
WHOOP WHOOP!
I've decided to change my major to Environmental Studies
WHOOP WHOOP!
Taking a car off the road would...
Okay, so these factoids aren't specific to the area I live in but they are useful nonetheless!
So ladies and gents did you know (drumroll pleaaaaasee)
That:
1. Under typical speeds on a local urban street, engines running cold produce 4-5 times the CO and twice the hydrocarbon emissions (a precursor to smog) per mile as engines running hot.
SOOO that trip to the corner market that you just HAD to get into your car for is producing waaaay more pollution that the one hour trip to see grandma on the weekend. So? Walk to the corner and save that gas to go see granny!
2. Nationwide, bicyclists forgoing auto travel save between 120 and 680 million gallons of gasoline per year, equivalent to 0.1%-0.6% of fuel consumed by passenger vehicles. This translates into significant savings of vehicle emissions: as much as 0.5% of NOx, 0.9% of hydrocarbons, and a 1.2% savings of CO.
(I told you!)
And 3: If every three bicyclists took one car off the road this is what we'd save per year...
* 5,800 tons of CO
* 320 tons of hydrocarbons
* 110 tons of NOx
Just some food for thought...
p.s. I got this information off of http://www.transalt.org/files/resources/blueprint/chapter18/chapter18d.html for those of you that would like to read more
So ladies and gents did you know (drumroll pleaaaaasee)
That:
1. Under typical speeds on a local urban street, engines running cold produce 4-5 times the CO and twice the hydrocarbon emissions (a precursor to smog) per mile as engines running hot.
SOOO that trip to the corner market that you just HAD to get into your car for is producing waaaay more pollution that the one hour trip to see grandma on the weekend. So? Walk to the corner and save that gas to go see granny!
2. Nationwide, bicyclists forgoing auto travel save between 120 and 680 million gallons of gasoline per year, equivalent to 0.1%-0.6% of fuel consumed by passenger vehicles. This translates into significant savings of vehicle emissions: as much as 0.5% of NOx, 0.9% of hydrocarbons, and a 1.2% savings of CO.
(I told you!)
And 3: If every three bicyclists took one car off the road this is what we'd save per year...
* 5,800 tons of CO
* 320 tons of hydrocarbons
* 110 tons of NOx
Just some food for thought...
p.s. I got this information off of http://www.transalt.org/files/resources/blueprint/chapter18/chapter18d.html for those of you that would like to read more
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Day 2 of my Schwinn Odyssey
This morning marks the second day that I have ridden my bike the 5 miles from school to work and I am happy to announce that I am feeling stronger by the minute.. er mile. I apologize to all of you hard core riders that are scoffing at my "5 mile trek" but give me time, I've just made the crossover.
I'm currently trying to get more people to jump onto the green wagon but all I've been met with so far is a bunch of lazy people that are unwilling to see all the benefits. I'm seriously considering canceling my Bally's membership to save the $37/mo 'cuz Lord knows I'll have thighs of steel at this rate.
Here's a little article from MSNBC that might interest some of you green folks:
Authorities and cycling advocates acknowledged that finding the money for the upgrades needed to accommodate all the new bike riders would be tough. But they said the move toward cycling was unlikely to reverse, and the sooner the fixes were made, the better.
“I believe in the future that cycling is going to not be just a trend, but a way of life for a lot of people,” said Gene Wells, owner of Fat Tire Cycle in Buckhannon, W.Va., an assessment that was echoed by Rebecca Anderson, advocacy director for Trek Bicycle Corp.
"Millions of people have bicycles hanging in the garage and they're getting them down and riding them,” Anderson said. “People are looking at the bicycle as more than just a toy.”
SOOOOO ladies and gentlmen, why stop being conformists now? Join those millions of people who are saving money AND getting in shape!!
I'm currently trying to get more people to jump onto the green wagon but all I've been met with so far is a bunch of lazy people that are unwilling to see all the benefits. I'm seriously considering canceling my Bally's membership to save the $37/mo 'cuz Lord knows I'll have thighs of steel at this rate.
Here's a little article from MSNBC that might interest some of you green folks:
Bikes or cars — who rules the road?
Accident toll rises as gas-shocked commuters opt for bicycles
By Alex Johnson
Over the last two months, Taylor Cabaniss’ morning commute has evolved into something entirely new. It has lengthened to an hour.
But that’s a good thing, said Cabaniss, a senior financial manager for Qualcomm Inc. in San Diego — it’s “just some good exercise opportunity, to get out a bit.”
Back in May, Cabaniss abandoned his car and began biking to work. With fuel prices topping $4 a gallon, it makes a big difference.
“I’m probably saving a gallon and a half a day — I imagine $6 a day,” he said.
Cabaniss’ story is a common one. Since the average price of gasoline hit about $3.25 a gallon early this year, bike sales have skyrocketed, the National Bicycle Dealers Association reported. Store owners across the country say two-wheelers are flying out the door faster than they can stock them.
“Gas prices have jacked our business quite a bit,” said Jamie McDonald, owner of Sunrise Cyclery in Minneapolis. “I’ve sold way more racks, way more bags, way more lights, way more fenders and more bikes in general than I ever have before.”
At Wheel Nuts in Alexandria, Va., a suburb of Washington, owner Ron Taylor sounds a common theme — he’s having trouble keeping up with both sales and repairs.
“With all of that business coming in, we’ve actually had to hire additional staff,” Taylor said. “We’re staying here late, trying to meet customers’ demands, trying to get their bikes back to them sooner.”
A way of life for a lot of people
Accident toll rises as gas-shocked commuters opt for bicycles
By Alex Johnson
Over the last two months, Taylor Cabaniss’ morning commute has evolved into something entirely new. It has lengthened to an hour.
But that’s a good thing, said Cabaniss, a senior financial manager for Qualcomm Inc. in San Diego — it’s “just some good exercise opportunity, to get out a bit.”
Back in May, Cabaniss abandoned his car and began biking to work. With fuel prices topping $4 a gallon, it makes a big difference.
“I’m probably saving a gallon and a half a day — I imagine $6 a day,” he said.
Cabaniss’ story is a common one. Since the average price of gasoline hit about $3.25 a gallon early this year, bike sales have skyrocketed, the National Bicycle Dealers Association reported. Store owners across the country say two-wheelers are flying out the door faster than they can stock them.
“Gas prices have jacked our business quite a bit,” said Jamie McDonald, owner of Sunrise Cyclery in Minneapolis. “I’ve sold way more racks, way more bags, way more lights, way more fenders and more bikes in general than I ever have before.”
At Wheel Nuts in Alexandria, Va., a suburb of Washington, owner Ron Taylor sounds a common theme — he’s having trouble keeping up with both sales and repairs.
“With all of that business coming in, we’ve actually had to hire additional staff,” Taylor said. “We’re staying here late, trying to meet customers’ demands, trying to get their bikes back to them sooner.”
A way of life for a lot of people
Authorities and cycling advocates acknowledged that finding the money for the upgrades needed to accommodate all the new bike riders would be tough. But they said the move toward cycling was unlikely to reverse, and the sooner the fixes were made, the better.
“I believe in the future that cycling is going to not be just a trend, but a way of life for a lot of people,” said Gene Wells, owner of Fat Tire Cycle in Buckhannon, W.Va., an assessment that was echoed by Rebecca Anderson, advocacy director for Trek Bicycle Corp.
"Millions of people have bicycles hanging in the garage and they're getting them down and riding them,” Anderson said. “People are looking at the bicycle as more than just a toy.”
SOOOOO ladies and gentlmen, why stop being conformists now? Join those millions of people who are saving money AND getting in shape!!
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