gas, oil, war... argh! live downtown and ride a bike

[theivoryqueen]

the urban renaissance is happening. There are some good things going on, too! I like living close to my city center (Dallas), and riding a bike or walking lets me meet lots of new people. The insular world of commuting alone in a car leads to seperation and self-absorption - not to mention road-rage and pollution. I am sure most DUers already are pretty energy conservative people.

(edited for spellification)

[pagerbear]

1. Just reading an article on the subway about

...pedestrians and bikes reclaiming streets. Thought it was cool.

It's in this month's Utne Reader

[Demobrat]

2. My street is too steep for a bike.

And there are too many crazy drivers. I prefer to get around via New Balance, myself.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. True, in a way. False, in another.

Remember also that living in urban areas means that all your food and supplies are shipped in from afar; urban areas also produce huge amounts of waste heat, and trap a lot of heat in the cement and asphalt and they cover a lot of fertile ground (cities generally end up on the most fertile land in an area, since cities grow up around rivers or lakes usually).

Urban areas have to foist their garbage off on others, and tend to produce a lot of garbage.

So I can't say that downtown living is necessarily more environmental than living in a suburb or in the country. probably the most environmental is to live on a self-sustaining farm with a fair amount of trees and nuntouched nature on it.

But you are right that yes, if one has the chance, one should bike or ride public transport or walk as opposed to drive.

And don't use straws - a very earth-hating actions, using a straw.

And shop organic, and take your own bags to the grocery store, the drugstore, the bookstore, the everywhere you go type of store.

[hlthe2b]

5. use reusable (washable) straws!

I just got the neatest Nissan-Thermos insulated bottle with a pop-up straw that is washable and replaceable. While there are cheaper alternatives, this little jewel keeps drinks so very cold, for so long, I now make it a point to bring it with me if I'm going to buy a fountain drink from the local 7-11. Earns me a discount, too, for not using their cups. Who wants their old disposable plastic Brittany Spears or whatever their promotion cup dejeour any way?

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. reusable are just fine!

I have a nice mug from Iowa State with a bitchin' flexible straw - everything is good solid plastic. And yes, plastic is environmentally unsound, but if yer gonna build something out of it, build it solid so it doesn't crumple. My mug is from summer of 2000. Still going strong.

Love the idea that you are using it when you go to stores to get drinks, too.

Bless you!

[The empressof all]

4. Urban Life

One of the biggest things I miss about living in NYC is the public transportation. Who would have ever thought I would miss standing under someones smelly armpit in the summer-but it is true. There were great opportunities to meet others and a heightened sense of community than I feel sometimes out here in the boonies.