tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post7549371866225443043..comments2024-02-27T01:52:06.519-08:00Comments on Kent's Bike Blog: Christine and Kent's talk from the Portland Towards Carfree Cities ConferenceKent Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906603746565831689noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-17459150774714976142009-11-13T03:54:05.732-08:002009-11-13T03:54:05.732-08:00Someone sent us a link to your fantastic article a...Someone sent us a link to your fantastic article after I posted on our trial of a Christiania delivery bike (http://theideaofhome.blogspot.com/2009/11/were-off.html) - our latest attempt to take three young children places without our car. One day, we'll get rid of the car altogether... Great to know we have kindred spirits out there!Alison Sampsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04492848177186327971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-60052829439426511812008-07-26T12:29:00.000-07:002008-07-26T12:29:00.000-07:00This was a fascinating article. Thanks for providi...This was a fascinating article. Thanks for providing it!Kelvin Mulckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365601871343065738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-54819776559583892012008-06-23T10:11:00.000-07:002008-06-23T10:11:00.000-07:00Kent, what a lot of wisdom you (and your wife) hav...Kent, what a lot of wisdom you (and your wife) have packed into your latest post. Thanks for posting and leading the way. My husband and I are in a curious half way between riding and driving; I like to drive once or twice a week to work and stack up chores for those days; he likes to do rides that are far far away and need cars to get to. (within the constraints of his work schedule)<BR/>This weekend for the first time i did all my routine shopping chores on my bike. Thanks again for setting a good example.Mimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062266088887216663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-25433085091479513212008-06-21T21:01:00.000-07:002008-06-21T21:01:00.000-07:00Anon,I'll be posting a more complete report of Ken...Anon,<BR/><BR/>I'll be posting a more complete report of Kent and Christine's multimodal adventures, but we rode the Amtrak bus from Seattle to Spokane, attended our son's graduation from Eastern Washington University, rode the Amtrak bus from Spokane to Portland, rode in my pal Mike Rasmussen's truck from the Amtrak Station to his place (we could have taken the bus for this leg but I'd told Michael we don't have any moral aversion to riding in a private vehicle). While at Michael's we got around on foot, going to a coffee shop and out to dinner Monday evening to a restaurant within a mile or so of his place. Christine went from Michael's place to the conference on the local bus, I rode my Dahon. After our talk, I walked Christine to the train station (she had to be back up in Seattle & Issaquah sooner than I did). I then walked back to the conference, skipped out on some of Andy Clarke's talk to ride my Dahon and go see my friend Beth at City Bikes and zipped back to the conference to catch Gil's wonderful talk. I used the Dahon to get over to City Hall & party in Portland Tuesday night and then rode back to Michael's. Wednesday I rode the Dahon to the conference, attended sessions there until five PM and then rode the train station, folded up my bike and took the Amtrak train up to Seattle. Rather than ride from the train station to Issaquah and then ride back in to work the next morning, I just rode from the train station to Bike Works and camped out there.<BR/><BR/>BTW, not that you asked but neither Christine or I have driven in years. We let our licenses lapse years ago. And in case you're wondering, reasearch reported by the Sightline institute says that riding an inter-city bus (like the one we took for a couple of legs of our journey) has a lower carbon footprint than taking the train. a fact I found surprising. We took the bus because the schedule worked better than the trains into and out of Spokane.<BR/><BR/>KentKent Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607372827627527450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-75639410862140278732008-06-21T18:44:00.000-07:002008-06-21T18:44:00.000-07:00Just reading this post opens my mind to new ideas....Just reading this post opens my mind to new ideas. I never thought about the times I walked with my parents when our car was broken in the 1970s - 80s. Those were natural opportunities to talk. I hate driving and my goal is to ride to work for the next school year, although I make no promises on extremely hot, cold or rainy days. One thing at a time...Reedy Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02664845646637533145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-55563347491199852452008-06-21T17:44:00.000-07:002008-06-21T17:44:00.000-07:00Kent,In the spirit of full disclosure, how did you...Kent,<BR/><BR/>In the spirit of full disclosure, how did you get there and back? Walk, ride, drive, fly? I think it matters.<BR/><BR/>Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-21686366583730728322008-06-20T11:50:00.000-07:002008-06-20T11:50:00.000-07:00K & C- What a great piece! I think it's kind of fu...K & C- <BR/><BR/>What a great piece! I think it's kind of funny that people find it strange to live without driving...I ride because I love it, and I prefer to do what I love. All the rest is gravy.<BR/><BR/>CraigCraig B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17291004022577238362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-36025148313198799462008-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:002008-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:00Thats very inspirational... I'm currently trying t...Thats very inspirational... I'm currently trying to rid myself of the anchor that is my car. I salvaged a great bike from one of my neighbors, I dont know why they didnt like it. Its a roadmaster, I know not the greatest bike, but it gets me around just fine. After I did a tune up, changed the brake pads, adjusted the gear shifters, new tire tubes, new tires, etc... It works awesome! I also got a new bike trailer to haul groceries and my son. I got my wife a new road bike also. We biked about 20 miles around town last weekend. Ya know getting coffee, groceries, going to the liquor store, etc. Its so much nicer than being cooped up in a car.<BR/><BR/>the way people are so freakin attached to their cars just doesnt make sense to me.... I wish I had the motivation to bike 18 miles to work each day, but it is one thing I cannot see myself doing at the moment. I would have to get up a good hour earlier than I do already, plus my wife has to work about 1/2 hour after I get off work, so I have to drive or we have to pay a baby sitter.<BR/><BR/>I really wish I lived closer to where I work... Oh well, I get to bike everywhere else on the weekends : )<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/><BR/>Eric<BR/>Worlds #1 antioxidant drink - www.jusmeplease.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-81830726329075957872008-06-20T08:53:00.000-07:002008-06-20T08:53:00.000-07:00Christine, Kent, I want to thank you so much for t...Christine, Kent, I want to thank you so much for this post. I've been cycling to and from work since March 08 and I'm loving it. Everyone is in an uproar about gas and now I'm using less than ever.<BR/><BR/>My car-free goal is more environmental/social/economic, but I certainly love to ride.<BR/><BR/>You've made so many amazing points in this article, I hope you don't mind if I include quotes (linked and cited, of course) on my blog.<BR/><BR/>This is an inspiration to me, thank you so much!Mr. Karatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319592115611204034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-49585798150632555732008-06-19T22:52:00.000-07:002008-06-19T22:52:00.000-07:00Truly, Kent, everyday that I roll out of bed tired...Truly, Kent, everyday that I roll out of bed tired or stressed and think I might drive, I know you're out there riding and I better get my butt out there too and after the first mile and breathing the damp foggy air, seeing the Tiger mtn cloud machine, passing through the warm and cold spots, I think I'm crazy to ever want to save a few minutes driving. The occasional hit of your philosphies from your blog are definitely worthwhile. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-75058993309389713162008-06-19T20:28:00.000-07:002008-06-19T20:28:00.000-07:00Great family stories there - my favorite part.Great family stories there - my favorite part.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-2311739389164825302008-06-19T20:07:00.000-07:002008-06-19T20:07:00.000-07:00Kent, you and Christine are an inspiration for all...Kent, you and Christine are an inspiration for all of us. I know I've made the effort to commute to work (though admittedly, a three block commute to school is nothing!), but more importantly, to use the bike in more and more of my daily routine. It will take time -- and likely gas going up to $5.00 a gallon -- to get my wife to start riding more, but at we're working on it. As Christine said, this wasn't something you both did overnight. Thank you for a great read, as always, and thank you for your work as a bike advocate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-20158718805827521482008-06-19T13:44:00.000-07:002008-06-19T13:44:00.000-07:00Thanks for sharing, I truly enjoyed it. Now I wil...Thanks for sharing, I truly enjoyed it. Now I will get on my bike and ride home from work. Then I have to drive my car to see my daughter. It's not a perfect world, but sometimes it's pretty good. Thanks again.Ainsley Wileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01530740963108838084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-35920414677071411362008-06-19T10:25:00.000-07:002008-06-19T10:25:00.000-07:00"I don't have time to waste driving!"-- there's a..."I don't have time to waste driving!"<BR/>-- there's a great idea for another T-shirt slogan!jim ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02161517903295268167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-44386722263617346632008-06-19T08:34:00.000-07:002008-06-19T08:34:00.000-07:00I did manage to play hooky from part of the confer...I did manage to play hooky from part of the conference to stop by City Bikes to check out Beth's wonderful shop, chat a bit with her, show off my Dahon and buy a nice wool cap. Portland is so dang packed with great bike folks that every time I'm there I think that I should come back and spend more time the next time. But there's so much to do everywhere...Kent Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607372827627527450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-32750493570660859002008-06-19T08:26:00.000-07:002008-06-19T08:26:00.000-07:00I am so sorry I had to work all week and miss stuf...I am so sorry I had to work all week and miss stuff like this at the conference! Especially this. Wonderful and inspiring and positively reassuring to folks like me who've lived carfree nearly as long. (I'm one of the folks who stopped driving because it got too expensive. The other realizations came later, after I'd been riding a bike and taking transit everywhere for a couple of years.)<BR/>Bravo!<BR/>..::applause::..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-80819400444897025982008-06-19T07:07:00.000-07:002008-06-19T07:07:00.000-07:00Awesome post Ken! Once again an inspiration to the...Awesome post Ken! Once again an inspiration to the rest of us.<BR/>We are one car closer to being car-free, as we just donated our car to NPR!CoCargoRiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08660935913938910138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-19298559754320511912008-06-19T06:58:00.000-07:002008-06-19T06:58:00.000-07:00There is one idea you presented that I have been t...There is one idea you presented that I have been thinking about for a while. I ride my bike to work because I like to ride. It also saves money but if I didn't like to ride I would take the bus. While economics may push some people to ride to work it does not insure that they will like it and may even cause them to resent it. Seeing others enjoying bike riding and presenting it as a great activity on its own is the way to go.<BR/><BR/>Choice is also important. When we bought our house we considered that the bus ran past the front door and that it was only 5 miles by bike to downtown where we worked. And even if we drove it was only 5 miles not the 30 miles that many people we know drive each way. <BR/><BR/>I can't say we will ever be car free but we are working hard not to be car dependent. I have been a full time bike commuter for years and get my wife to commute by bike now and then. Recently we have done some of our shopping by bike and are trying to do more. But, sometimes it feels good to fire up the Mustang put the top down and enjoy a ride on a warm evening to a favorite restaurant a few towns away. It is almost as much fun as riding a bike over Middlebury gap at 1:00AM and doing a 5 mile descent at 35mph through the narrow tunnel of light that two E6's create.<BR/><BR/>Ride safe.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12331752619520724148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-16566742887706689802008-06-19T06:12:00.000-07:002008-06-19T06:12:00.000-07:00Great presentation with some great quotes. Loved ...Great presentation with some great quotes. Loved reading it!dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196915510862112256noreply@blogger.com