BillyD

Attention Folks:

The political commentary in this LCF forum has got to stop. Not just in this thread but in all the LCF threads and ALL the rest of Bike Forums. It's disruptive. That's what the P&R forum is for, so everyone can let off their political steam in a centralized location. We do not want it in the cycling forums. Thanks for understanding.

Homebrew01

Fixed

McBTC

Because..

mconlonx

tandempower

That picture is a perfect example of something we don't see more of because of the car-centric business/employment culture.

Btw, Idk what kinds of posts are allowed anymore with the P&R strictness currently being levied, but if this is a P&R issue, please feel free to delete my post as well as the post it is in response to.

McBTC

The unique circumstances of a gondolier certainly provides possibilities for making use of a flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat as a chief means of transportation but how much sense would it make to emphasize the LBF (living bicycle free) nature of such a lifestyle?

JoeyBike

When I was living on the outskirts of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina I had a 17-18 mile commute each way for 18 months. My employer at the time gave me huge leeway for weather. Plus I had a key to the business so I could let myself in at any hour. Sometimes I would leave early to beat a storm, sometimes I had to wait for a storm front to pass over and follow it to work which would of course make me late. Once or twice I just had to take a "weather day" and stay home.

Obviously if an entire company took a "weather day" it would create too much lost revenue. But I could see that a certain culture of non-motorists could be accommodating on a small scale at least. I have friends who live in the frozen tundra of the USA and they get weather days all the time - and they drive cars! In a car-centrist society this is acceptable. Most USA companies would not like me using a bicycle lifestyle as an excuse for missing work. In a bike-centrist community this would be much more acceptable I believe.

Rollfast

Kids, you know that P&R is pretty much banishment for a thread anyway because it's Trollheim Lite.


I'm sticking to people trying not to die in car-bike wrecks and bike lanes and normal stuff.


Maybe after the election when y'all aren't totally freakin' out on that.

mconlonx

As a regular contributor to P&R, that's hurtful. True, but sometimes the truth hurts...

For some people LCF is a circumstance. For most LCF in the world, this is the case. That guy in the pic I posted simply does not have the option of loading that stuff into the back of his F-150/E150 and hauling it where it needs to go.

When I visit a close major metro area (Boston), I see people on cheap department store bikes getting around, who look poor and are usually non-white.

Homeless people using bikes much like carts; drunks who have been... encouraged by the state to not drive; older folks who can no longer drive; those mentally or medically prohibited from driving...

And then you get a little bit fringier -- college students riding bikes around.

But once you hit a certain income level, purchase or lease of a car is certainly an option. Even then, however, LCF could be simply as a result of circumstance. Telecommuting job. Job close enough to walk to. A good enough public transit system and comprehensive taxi/rideshare services that car ownership and use is not necessary.

To me, it becomes a lifestyle choice when one consciously opts out of car ownership. Moves to a city; obtains a telecommuting job; downsizes lifestyle; etc. in a purposeful attempt to avoid car ownership for its own sake.

With LCF as circumstance, those living that kind of life might very well opt for a car if their situation changed -- was paid better, moved from the city to the 'burbs, needed a car for job, etc. With those who adopt LCF as a lifestyle change, it would be the opposite -- they change their lives to purposely live without a car. For whatever reasons -- economic, moral/ethical, health, or even *gasp* political.

Leisesturm

Well... I'm just asking... how is this thread helpful to the forum's objective? How can a response to it not be "political"? I for one rarely start threads. I don't see that many threads started by anti-car zealots but I do see a fair number started by "LCF is a hard row to hoe, and no one except the chronic DUI or other marginalized sub-group lives that way" things then devolve into inflammatory rhetoric". I think the present thread is a perfect example. If the thin skinned among you don't want to hear how bad cars are for the environment then don't start threads about LCF as a negative impact lifestyle.

mconlonx

There's plenty of anti-car zealotry on display in this subforum... and the forum in general (ever checked out A&S...?).

But as my reply above points out (I hope...), it can be useful to differentiate between LCF by choice (lifestyle) or LCF simply because driving is not or no longer an option (circumstance).

It occurs to me that many, if not most who post here, are in the LCF by choice camp, rather than the LCF by circumstance category.

The politics of LCF involves cultural conditioning and legislation which changes circumstances so that LCF is favored and encouraged as a lifestyle choice. Social engineering away from use of cars for personal transportation, as much as current laws and cultural mores have encouraged their use.

Walter S

This subforum can actually support many common interests among both those LCF by circumstance or by choice!

McBTC

True and also the "R" aspect is strong when the 'reasoning' includes apocalyptic pronouncements of those who believe LCF is saving the world from evil petrol consumers who, among other evils, are causing the seas to rise.

mconlonx

Delving into the political issue of climate change is different than the meta-politics of LCF by choice or circumstance.

Personally, I think LCF is a great way to live and a good goal for many. I do wish I could live more CF, but it would involve other changes to my current lifestyle that I'm just not willing to compromise for that cause. LCF is simply not that great a priority in my life. However, if someone wants to go LCF because they think they will change the world, more power to them. Just don't project your ideals on me, pal...

It's kind of like a vegetarian/vegan diet -- there are those who do it because they've bought into political vegetarian arguments, there are those who are vegetarian by circumstance, and there are those who are vegetarian by choice but it has nothing to do with anything poltiical/ecological.

Walter S

And don't come around crying about how you're getting projected upon. The is the LCF forum where people can share their thoughts on the benefits of that lifestyle and the evils of cars based on their personal values . There are plenty of auto-zealotry sites you can hang out in if that's not your cup of tea.

Machka 

Posts about:

Do you live car free or car light? Do you prefer to use alternative transportation (bicycles, walking, other human-powered or public transportation) for everyday activities whenever possible? Discuss your lifestyle here.

cooker

Just don't dare to mention why you prefer it.

Machka 

I prefer my car light lifestyle because, for me, it is less hassle.

I don't have to deal with driving in traffic and looking for parking spots.

It is also less expensive because we don't have to insure, maintain, park etc. two vehicles.

Plus it means I can get some extra exercise, if I want it.

loky1179

OK, there's Gilligan's Island, and . . .

Ekdog

Is it okay to say you avoid cars because you're concerned about the environment or is that "political"?

McBTC

Yes because... bicycles don't grow on trees either.

Leisesturm

I hope for your sake that the whole Karma thing is just a myth...

Rollfast

That explains why the rusty chain I planted hasn't produced a crop yet.

ZMC888

I HATE cars.
Get over it already. They pollute the environment.
The people who drive them are often self-entitled and lazy.
They are a contributor to global warming, along with flying and agriculture.

It's not political. It's fact.

Machka 

It's your opinion.