Why does Cash for Clunkers get more media coverage than the Bicycle Commuter Act?

[taterguy]

Both programs provide financial incentives for individuals who reduce their oil consumption.

It's true that not too many people are participating in the BCA but how many people know about it? I know plenty of people that could use an extra couple hundred dollars a year.

It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that almost all media outlets rely heavily on advertising revenue from cars and associated products could it?

Money doesn't talk it swears.

[Wickerman]

1. Got a link to the BCA?

I'll be the first, as a cyclist, to say I've not heard of it.

[taterguy]

2. Here's an article from the League of American Bicyclists

You haven't heard of it because it hasn't been on the front page of your newspaper for a week, or the lead story on the evening news.

http://www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php

[Forkboy]

3. Because there's thousands of motorists for every cyclist?

:shrug:

[taterguy]

6. Only a tiny fraction of motorists are eligible for Cash for Clunkers

So if you do the math that way it's more even.

And wouldn't there be more cyclists if people knew that they could give themselves a $240 raise simply by biking to work?

[Forkboy]

8. In this country, no. I don't think that would entice many to give up their cars.

It would take a lot more money than that. Cars are like guns in this country. People won't give them up, and many have a downright fetish for them.

And I would think that even the tiny fraction of motorists eligible is still higher than the number of cyclists. Not trying to be mean, as I know you're one yourself (and I'm sympathetic, being a walker), but I see maybe one cyclist...a month.

[taterguy]

9. They don't have to give them up, they just have to bike to work 3 days a week

There are lots of people that live within a couple miles of their job.

Most drive to work because they have no incentive not to. They're not swayed by gas prices since they're only driving a few miles anyway.

But then maybe some households might realize they don't really need cars for every driver and we couldn't have that could we?

[Forkboy]

10. Not arguing that it doesn't makes sense, or that it wouldn't be nice to see.

I think people already realize this, just like they realize that we go to wars so they can drive them. At some level people HAVE to know these things. I think they don't care.

"Only a few miles" may not sound like much to a regular biker, but to the average person I bet it does. Malls are designed so that there's never an area where shoppers can see more than a few hundred feet ahead, at most, because it was found that many of them would get into their car and drive to the other side if they could see that far (there's a documentary on malls somewhere where they go into this in detail). Go to any mall built in the last few decades and see if there's any sight lines from one end of the mall to the other, all the way through, with no interruption. We're a pretty lazy country in general.

Your idea is a great one to me, but I haven't had a vehicle in years so I'm already used to walking or using public transport (something else we should push more). I just don't see it being important to the very people we need to convince.

[taterguy]

11. The philosophical question is whether or not greed trumps laziness

Given the proper incentives it can.

$240 is just enough to get people's attention.

And I'm sure there are countless families out there wondering how they can bring more money in.

Interesting tidbit about the malls. If you remember the name of the documentary I'll have to check it out some day.

[JVS]

4. Well tell me about BCA, so I can cash in on that too!

[taterguy]

7. I'll be happy to kind sir!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6204018&mesg_id=6204043

[JVS]

13. I don't qualify because I get a bus pass with work

[arcadian]

5. Because there is more thinking involved.

With the bicycle program.

[taterguy]

12. Actually one of the things I like the most about bikes is the lack of thinking

No worrying about car loans, when the tags need to be renewed, when it has to be inspected, etc.

[arcadian]

14. Yeah but to most people their car is an extension of themselves.

The Cash for Clunkers program breaks it down to the most simplest of caveman terms, car = money.