powerhouse

Some areas, such as in the southern United States, now face a gas shortage. Some tank farms are empty. Many gas stations have no gas. Stations that do have gas have annoyingly long lines of people hoping to refuel their vehicles. Some people whose cars are running close to empty drive from station to station hoping for better luck.

In view of this situation, are you glad you own and use a bicycle?

Please discuss

acline

I've been using a bicycle as basic transportation for 4 years. I'm glad every time by kiester hits the saddle :-) My wife rides often for short trips around town. My kid rides to school. We're spending very little of our income on gas.

devianb

Being a car guy am I glad that I ride a bicycle? - no. I am happy that I don't have to worry about gas shortage since I do not currently drive.

ZombieButcher

There is no Gas shortage here in San Diego but even so I am glad that I ride a bike. However it is scary since my costumers drive their kids to my classes and if it hit hard here they might decide to skip classes for the day or week.

modernjess

I am glad that I own and ride several bikes.

I am not concerned with nor have I ever been motivated by gas, the expense of it or the lack of supply.

I ride because I can, I love it, and I think it's the right thing to do.

uke

Yeah, I dig the bike.

ItsJustMe

I'm glad I ride a bike, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with the price of gas.

I'd be riding a bike 5 days a week if someone gave me a Lexus and free gas.

ECDkeys

Amen to that.

I do have a car, and I use it when I have to travel out of town or transport over 100 lbs of gear. But anything else I use a bike with or without trailer.

I've even gotten to the point where I adjust my routine for biking. Next week I have to haul heavy cumbersome gear which would require my car, but I'm thinking of adjusting my gear requirements to something less bulky, less heavy, so I can transport it with my bike and trailer. It will mean a compromise with my job, but I will make it work.

I love not remembering the last time I filled up my gas tank.

politicalgeek

See my sig line

Wino Ryder

How's that go: "I was riding a bike when riding a bike wasn't cool!"....Yeah thats it. Kind of like a retake of that country song.

A few weeks ago after I had arrived at work and locked my bike and trailer up to the fence, a truck driver rolled up and said; "I see you're doing your part to save gas!"......The guy was nice enough so I was easy on him. I told him; "Yeah I save gas, but its got nothing to do with me riding a bike!....I've been riding a bike to work every day for five years."

I went on explaining to him why I ride a bike, and how much I enjoy being in the open air with a breeze in my face, making myself healthy and just generally having a good time. When I get in that mode, its like I'm preaching to the congregation, extolling the virtues of cycling and so on. The guy was fascinated, and he was nice, but I dont think I made him into a convert.

Oh well. I tried.

girljen

I'm glad I ride a bike.
I am bummed, however, that there are gas shortages. Imagine being someone who needs a car to haul a large family, commute across town, take business trips across the state, or give rides to a handicapped relative. Imagine trying to keep an ambulance company or fire department with prices and supply the way they are! The gas shortages are a bummer. They are a bummer that does not affect me personally, but a bummer nonetheless.

Tom Stormcrowe

Biggest problem in my life right now is that Purdue doesn't have enough bike racks all of a sudden and the Purdue Police Dept is "towing" bikes at overflowing racks.

xenologer

WTF?
Aren't cops supposed to Serve the public? Might they not be better of having a cop patrol the bike rack looking out for bike thieves instead of nabbing bikes themselves?
Hell, that might even help with the lack of racks, let people leave their bikes freestanding w frontwheel locked to frame and not worry about it being lifted cause the cop is there watching.

ekincam

I ride to school on two days out of the week and make 3 trips to campus. I have evening class twice a week, and ride to one of those evening sessions because it lets out before the sun goes down. The other session I have two classes and I don't get out until well into the night and I don't feel comfortable riding. I've rode at night before, but I'm not comfortable doing it so I drive about 3 mi to school.

The other 3 days I have work after class and Muni won't allow me to take my bike from school to work. Otherwise I'd bike to school, train to work, and ride home. So for those 3 days, I travel about 11 miles or so by diesel bus. A fuel shortage resulting in an increase in fares or reduction in already crappy service would be bad for me.

powerhouse

Maine is not one of those affected areas in regards to the current gas shortage. Legal blindness prevents me from operating a motor vehicle. I do, however, ride a bicycle for transportation, exercise, health, and for enjoyment. If I were able to drive and the city I live in were affected, I would be glad that It wouldn't directly impeed my daily life.

CbadRider

I was riding before the gas prices skyrocketed. When I'm not riding I take the train to work, so I only drive about 11K miles a year. My insurance is lower, and I only get my oil changed every 6 months.

I do spend a lot of money on bike stuff, though.

coldfeet

I'm glad I ride a bike because it keeps me healthy in body and mind.

Tabor

I am glad to ride my bike because I like riding my bike.

no1mad 

Fixed that for you. (People w/'Low Vision' have to lookout for each other, ya know?)

I too am legally blind. We currently do not have any shortage here in OK, but the price of gas does affect me. Between work/classes, I don't have the time to incorporate riding into my commute (so says the cager wife ). Don't mean to rant about the spousal unit. I ride when/where I can as schedule allows.

And as to the question if I'm glad that I ride a bicycle?

Throwmeabone

There's no gas shortage here. For me riding a bike is great for it's own sake, and so is driving a car for some trips.

Pasa09

Love Nature, love riding !?

velocycling

Higher gas prices only allows me to justify more Bicycle related spending.

jakbikesdc

ABSOLUTELY!
carfree since Jan. '07!

sourdoughT

Gasoline shortage hasn't come to Seattle...yet; however gas shortages and gas lines of late give me deja vu circa 1974 when I was riding my bike to high school.

Lamplight

I am glad I bike instead of drive, although this gas shortage is just the latest of many reasons.